2023/24 Outlook

[Mavric]

 

[BigRedBuster]

 

[ECisGod]

ESPN's latest bracketology has 7 B1G teams in the tournament - Purdue & MSU as 1 seeds, Illinois (5), Wisconsin (7), Maryland (8), Northwestern (9), Indiana (10).  Ohio State in first four out & Rutgers, Michigan & Iowa in next four out.  I do find it odd that three of the seven would be in the South Region (Illinois, Wisconsin & Northwestern).

[ECisGod]

CBS Sports agrees with the B1G preseason poll.  Huskers 12th.  The do have Tominaga as a player to watch.

 

Big Ten expert picks 2023-24: Predictions, projected order of finish, overrated and underrated teams - CBSSports.com

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Keisei Tominaga | G | Nebraska: Tominaga was the Big Ten's best player not named Zach Edey during the final month of the 2022-23 season. He averaged 20.3 points on an absurd 55.7% shooting over Nebraska's final nine games, when the Cornhuskers went 6-3. He is the key to Nebraska's hopes of breaking through in coach Fred Hoiberg's fifth season

 

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12

Nebraska

Nebraska finally made strides in coach Fred Hoiberg's fourth season after winning 10 or fewer games in his first three years. The Cornhuskers finished 16-16 (9-11 Big Ten) and won six of their final eight regular season games. The reason for the late-season surge? Keisei Tominaga. The 6-2 guard averaged 20.3 points while shooting 55.7% from the floor and 43.1% from 3-point range over Nebraska's final nine games. He's back for a final season but needs needs some help after last year's No. 2 and 3 scorers departed. A deep transfer class headlined by first-team All-Missouri Valley big man Rienk Mast from Bradley and ex-Iowa guard Ahron Ulis has potential.

 

[Mavric]

44 minutes ago, ECisGod said:

ESPN's latest bracketology has 7 B1G teams in the tournament - Purdue & MSU as 1 seeds, Illinois (5), Wisconsin (7), Maryland (8), Northwestern (9), Indiana (10).  Ohio State in first four out & Rutgers, Michigan & Iowa in next four out.  I do find it odd that three of the seven would be in the South Region (Illinois, Wisconsin & Northwestern).

 

So last year Northwestern was a #7 seed at 12-8 in the conference (tied for the second-best record in the B1G).  Michigan State was also a #7 seed.  Maryland, Illinois and Iowa were all #8/#9 seeds at slightly over .500 in-conference.  Penn State was a #10 seed at 10-10.

 

It would appear that Purdue, MSU and Illinois would be expected to be better based on the higher seeding.  Which means they have more wins and fewer for everyone else to go around.  So after those three, not many more than a game or two above .500 in the conference.

[ECisGod]

4 minutes ago, Mavric said:

 

So last year Northwestern was a #7 seed at 12-8 in the conference (tied for the second-best record in the B1G).  Michigan State was also a #7 seed.  Maryland, Illinois and Iowa were all #8/#9 seeds at slightly over .500 in-conference.  Penn State was a #10 seed at 10-10.

 

It would appear that Purdue, MSU and Illinois would be expected to be better based on the higher seeding.  Which means they have more wins and fewer for everyone else to go around.  So after those three, not many more than a game or two above .500 in the conference.

The only preseason computer predictions I can find are at Bart Torvik.  He has Purdue at 15-5, MSU at 13-7, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Northwestern & Ohio State at 11-7, Nebraska & Iowa at 10-10, Rutgers at 9-11, Michigan at 8-10, Minnesota at 5-15 & Penn State at 4-16. Have fun figuring out the tiebreakers for third if that happens.

 

It looks like it will be a lot like last year - a couple of teams at the top and bottom and a big cluster in the middle.

[BigRedBuster]

1 minute ago, ECisGod said:

The only preseason computer predictions I can find are at Bart Torvik.  He has Purdue at 15-5, MSU at 13-7, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Northwestern & Ohio State at 11-7, Nebraska & Iowa at 10-10, Rutgers at 9-11, Michigan at 8-10, Minnesota at 5-15 & Penn State at 4-16. Have fun figuring out the tiebreakers for third if that happens.

 

It looks like it will be a lot like last year - a couple of teams at the top and bottom and a big cluster in the middle.

Well, hopefully, we get the conference season started off well instead of being bad and then good at the end.

[ECisGod]

45 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

Well, hopefully, we get the conference season started off well instead of being bad and then good at the end.

It would be nice if that happened.  I think the NC schedule is set up to give the team confidence.  Other than the Creighton & K-State games they are all easily winnable.  I'm not sure what K-State has this year, but it's in Manhattan and will be Sunday after finals week where practices will be shorthanded/inconsistent because of player availability.

[BigRedBuster]

 

[ECisGod]

1 hour ago, BigRedBuster said:

 

Was just going to point that out.  That puts them 11th in the B1G.

 

Purdue #1

MSU #13

Illinois #19

Wisconsin#20

Marlyand #22

OSU #35

Michigan #44

Indiana #49

Iowa #50

Nebraska #58

Rutgers #59

Penn St #85

Minnesota #112

 

Only two NC matchups matter:

 

Creighton #12

K-State #25

 

Third best NC team is Duquesne at 89.  Even Oregon State is only at 175 (one place behind Cal State Fullerton).   If they don't go at least 9-2 in NC, it could be a long season.

 

NC average is 207, conference average is 45.

[BigRedBuster]

16 minutes ago, ECisGod said:

Was just going to point that out.  That puts them 11th in the B1G.

 

Purdue #1

MSU #13

Illinois #19

Wisconsin#20

Marlyand #22

OSU #35

Michigan #44

Indiana #49

Iowa #50

Nebraska #58

Rutgers #59

Penn St #85

Minnesota #112

 

Only two NC matchups matter:

 

Creighton #12

K-State #25

 

Third best NC team is Duquesne at 89.  Even Oregon State is only at 175 (one place behind Cal State Fullerton).   If they don't go at least 9-2 in NC, it could be a long season.

 

NC average is 207, conference average is 45.

Yeah...they need to take care of business in the non-con.  9-2 should be the expectations.  Anything worse than that should be looked at as troublesome.  But...it sure would be awesome to be 10-1 or 11-0.  

 

It's probably going to be another non-con where we start conference play still not knowing how good we are.

[ECisGod]

28 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

Yeah...they need to take care of business in the non-con.  9-2 should be the expectations.  Anything worse than that should be looked at as troublesome.  But...it sure would be awesome to be 10-1 or 11-0.  

 

It's probably going to be another non-con where we start conference play still not knowing how good we are.

At least the two December conference games aren't virtually unwinnable like the last several seasons.  MSU will be tough, but at Minnesota should be winnable.

 

Only three weeks until Lindenwood...

[ECisGod]

With there being 20 days until the first game that counts + they have a "secret" scrimmage with Utah on Saturday, it's time to guess starting lineups.

 

PG - Lawrence/Coleman - whichever doesn't start will likely be the first off the bench most games.  I'm guessing Lawrence will win the starting job.

SG - Tominaga

SF/Wing - Williams

PF/Wing - Gary

C - Mast

 

PG - Coleman/Lawrence

SG - Wilcher

SF/Wing - Lloyd/Rice

PF/Wing - Allick - he will probably be the first "big" off the bench.

C - Keita

 

Hard to figure out between Lloyd & Rice.  Rice was impressive in Spain this summer & not much was said about Lloyd.  Rumors were that Lloyd looked really good in practice while he redshirted last year.

 

I'm sure Hoiberg will be in the rotation. 

 

Jacobson might find his way into the rotation based on his performance in Spain.

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see Diop redshirt. 

 

Ulis will sit until the NCAA decides what to do with his gambling issue.  Based on what NCAA rules are and what he's admitted to, I'd be shocked if he ever plays college basketball again.

 

Grace & Burt will probably only play in mop up situations.

[Comish]

5 hours ago, ECisGod said:

With there being 20 days until the first game that counts + they have a "secret" scrimmage with Utah on Saturday, it's time to guess starting lineups.

 

PG - Lawrence/Coleman - whichever doesn't start will likely be the first off the bench most games.  I'm guessing Lawrence will win the starting job.

SG - Tominaga

SF/Wing - Williams

PF/Wing - Gary

C - Mast

 

PG - Coleman/Lawrence

SG - Wilcher

SF/Wing - Lloyd/Rice

PF/Wing - Allick - he will probably be the first "big" off the bench.

C - Keita

 

Hard to figure out between Lloyd & Rice.  Rice was impressive in Spain this summer & not much was said about Lloyd.  Rumors were that Lloyd looked really good in practice while he redshirted last year.

 

I'm sure Hoiberg will be in the rotation. 

 

Jacobson might find his way into the rotation based on his performance in Spain.

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see Diop redshirt. 

 

Ulis will sit until the NCAA decides what to do with his gambling issue.  Based on what NCAA rules are and what he's admitted to, I'd be shocked if he ever plays college basketball again.

 

Grace & Burt will probably only play in mop up situations.

Hearing rumblings that Keita still not healthy yet

[Mavric]

7 hours ago, Comish said:

Hearing rumblings that Keita still not healthy yet

 

Pretty sure he's not.