2023/24 Outlook
- Thread starter ECisGod
- Start date
BigRedBuster
International Man of Mystery
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ECisGod
Starter
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
Starter
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
Big Ten expert picks 2023-24: Predictions, projected order of finish, overrated and underrated teams - CBSSports.com
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
Starter
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
International Man of Mystery
Well, hopefully, we get the conference season started off well instead of being bad and then good at the end.
ECisGod
Starter
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.
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BigRedBuster
International Man of Mystery
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ECisGod
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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.
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
International Man of Mystery
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
Starter
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
Starter
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.
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
All-Conference