Wisconsin Should Be Big Ten Favorite As New Season Tips Off

By Matt Johnson @mattytheole on October 17, 2014

When it comes to Big Ten basketball for 2014-15, conference members figure to be see a whole lot of red. Actually, make that a whole lot of red and white.

The conference released its annual media poll for the upcoming season on Thursday, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, the Wisconsin Badgers are expected to walk away with the league title before all is said and done.

The Badgers return the conference’s most accomplished and balanced roster. Coming off a 30-win campaign that netted coach Bo Ryan’s squad a Final Four appearance, expectations have never been higher in Madison. Highly-skilled Frank Kaminsky and emerging star Sam Dekker provide the biggest reasons why and folks who pack the Kohl Center on a regular basis can look forward to big things this season.

As for the rest of the conference, much remains unsettled. While the Badgers return almost all their firepower from last season, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State all lost key components and appear more vulnerable than they have in past seasons.

On the other side of the ledger stands Nebraska, the surprise team of 2013-14 that returns most of its key players after a Cinderella run that netted the Cornhuskers an unexpected spot in the NCAA Tournament. If coach Tim Miles’ squad can improve their road performance from last season, the Cornhuskers could emerge as primary challengers to the Badgers atop the Big Ten standings.

Then there are teams like Minnesota and Iowa that enter the season on opposite ends of the momentum scale. The Gophers return four starters from their NIT champion outfit and appear primed for a run at the bigger tourney this time around. Iowa, on the other hand, hopes to regain the mojo that mysteriously abandoned them last season, dooming a once promising 2013-14 campaign with a First Four defeat to Tennessee in the NCAAs.

The biggest question mark for both the Gophers and Hawkeyes will be their ability to maintain consistency. Both have enough pure talent to make the NCAAs and challenge the conference big boys on any given night. Consistent, night-to-night performances proved to be each team’s downfall last season.

Much the same can be said of Illinois. With energetic coach John Groce back on the sideline to go along with an intriguing roster of talent, the Illini figure to be in a dogfight with the Gophers, Hawkeyes and perhaps the Wolverines, Spartans and Buckeyes for positioning from day one.

Indiana also could be in the mix depending upon how their highly-rated recruiting class pans out. One thing is for sure; coach Tom Crean will lean on guard Yogi Ferrell more than ever. Don’t be surprised if the league’s best lead-guard is up to the challenge.

Just where newcomers Maryland and Rutgers fit into the mix remains to be seen. The Terrapins appear better equipped to handle the rigors of Big Ten action, having spent years treading in the always treacherous ACC. Nevertheless, coach Mark Turgeon needs to quell the offseason turmoil that caused five players to transfer out of the program.

As for the Scarlet Knights, they’re in the midst of a rebuilding project under Eddie Jordan. Folks in New Jersey will need to patient as it could take a while for Rutgers to make a splash in their new conference.

What about Purdue, Northwestern and Penn State? The Wildcats enter year-two under Chris Collins with three returning starters from their 14-19 team of 2013-14 team. Penn State, meanwhile returns, one of the league’s best players in D.J. Newbill and could breakout from last year’s wildly inconsistent 10th place team.

As for the Boilermakers, coach Matt Painter is beginning to feel a little heat. Purdue hasn’t made the NCAAs for the past two seasons. Still, the Boilermakers return one of the league’s best big-men in A.J. Hammons and have enough talent for a jump in the standings.

Add it all up and the Big Ten appears more topsy-turvy than it has in years. One thing appears clear, however: Wisconsin will be top dogs when all is said and done. After that, expect plenty of the unexpected as Big Ten basketball kicks into high gear.

Matt Johnson is a Big Ten basketball writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter at mattytheole or “like” him on Facebook.