NCAA Basketball

Quick Links

Top 10 Players in Big Ten Entering 2014-15 Basketball Season

+Read full article

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Top 10 Players in Big Ten Entering 2014-15 Basketball Season

Coming into the new season, the nation's top conference has lost Big Ten Player of the Year Nik Stauskas as well as fellow first-round picks Gary Harris, Adreian Payne, Noah Vonleh and Mitch McGary. There may not be five first-round draft picks in the Big Ten this year, but there are some very strong junior and senior leaders stepping in to fill the void.

Coming into the new season, the nation's top conference has lost Big Ten Player of the Year Nik Stauskas as well as fellow first-round picks Gary Harris, Adreian Payne, Noah Vonleh and Mitch McGary. There may not be five first-round draft picks in the Big Ten this year, but there are some very strong junior and senior leaders stepping in to fill the void.

10. D.J. Newbill, G, Sr., Penn State

10. D.J. Newbill, G, Sr., Penn State

D.J. Newbill flourished playing alongside senior PG Tim Frazier last season, but Pat Chambers will need Newbill to move back to a distributor role. Although Penn State may be one of the bottom teams in the Big Ten this season, Newbill's scoring won't be the reason why. Expect just under 20 points per game in Newbill's senior season as the go-to guy in State College.

9. Dez Wells, Wing, Sr., Maryland

9. Dez Wells, Wing, Sr., Maryland

Maryland's leading scorer, Dez Wells will be the Terps physical and emotional leader as Mark Turgeon's team transitions to the Big Ten. Wells may be unfamiliar to Big Ten fans, but he is a free-throw machine who does most of his scoring in the paint. If his three-point shot can improve, Wells will be one of the better scorers in the conference.

8. Andre Hollins, G, Sr., Minnesota

8. Andre Hollins, G, Sr., Minnesota

Andre Hollins will be the leader for the Golden Gophers in his senior season. The scoring guard saw a dip in his three-point percentage last season after posting an excellent 42 percent as a sophomore. A sprained ankle hampered Hollins' play last season, and he should have his most productive year yet if he can stay healthy.

7. Aaron White, F, Sr., Iowa

7. Aaron White, F, Sr., Iowa

White was one of the most efficient players in the nation last season, combining an excellent inside game with very good free-throw shooting. The Iowa forward is also a strong rebounder and will get some of the shots graduated star wing Roy Devyn Marble had last season.

6. Branden Dawson, F, Sr., Michigan State

6. Branden Dawson, F, Sr., Michigan State

Dawson is a strong, bouncy forward who is very difficult to contain on the glass. An unpolished offensive player, much of Dawson's production comes from put-backs and transition, but his athleticism makes him one of the best and most versatile defenders in the Big Ten.

5. Sam Dekker, F, Jr., Wisconsin

5. Sam Dekker, F, Jr., Wisconsin

Dekker doesn't do any one thing incredibly but his versatility and intelligence are as good as any in the conference. One of the least turnover-prone players in the Big Ten, Dekker's solid jump shot and inside game make him a very difficult player to defend.

4. Terran Petteway, Wing, Jr., Nebraska

4. Terran Petteway, Wing, Jr., Nebraska

Petteway was one of the highest usage players in the Big Ten a season ago. That situation is unlikely to change as he is the heart and soul of Tim Miles' team once again. If Petteway can improve on his merely OK jump shot, Nebraska will be a very dangerous team.

3. Yogi Ferrell, G, Jr., Indiana

3. Yogi Ferrell, G, Jr., Indiana

After spending his freshman season as a role player to Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo, Ferrell took over the Hoosiers last year and took a huge leap in usage and efficiency. His jump shot was much better while still maintaining an excellent assist rate. Ferrell is the best point guard in the Big Ten, and Indiana's tournament hopes lie with the junior guard.

2. Caris LeVert, Wing, Jr., Michigan

2. Caris LeVert, Wing, Jr., Michigan

LeVert was a multi-talented second option to Nik Stauskas as a sophomore. His duties ranged from being a secondary ball-handler to defensive stopper, and an offseason hitting the weight room hard has transformed LeVert into a possible lottery pick in next year's NBA Draft. If LeVert can maintain his efficiency with more attention from opposing defenses, he will be one of the best players in the country.

1. Frank Kaminsky, C, Sr., Wisconsin

1. Frank Kaminsky, C, Sr., Wisconsin

The seven-foot Kaminsky is an unstoppable force offensively in college basketball. He is an effective stretch-five who can knockdown shots on the perimeter if he has a cushion or beat defenders off the dribble if they take his jumper away. Kaminsky will be a terror for Wisconsin to build its gameplan around and should be in the conversation for National Player of the Year honors.

Sam Mattfolk is a writer for RantSports.

Your Favorites

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 42 mins ago

Kevin Ollie's Prediction On Who Could Make Final Four

UConn head coach Kevin Ollie gives his prediction on which remaining NCAA Tournament teams could make the Final Four and how the Huskies' loss in the tournament could give his team motivation to make a run in next year's big dance.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 2 hours ago

Miami Hurricanes Basketball And Jim Larranaga Play Baseball Before Sweet 16

Miami Hurricanes basketball played a little "ballroom baseball" ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup with Villanova. Head coach Jim Larranaga arranged the event and loosened everyone up before the big game against the Wildcats. Enjoy this video which is courtesy of Canes All Access.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 3 hours ago

Notre Dame's Zach Auguste Doubles As Team Barber

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 4 hours ago

Team That Will Rise To The Occasion: Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are hoping to duplicate what they did last year, except this time as the NCAA Tournament's latest Cinderella team. The Zags made it to the Elite Eight in 2014-2015, and have a chance to repeat that feat this year after getting into the big dance by winning the WCC Tournament. In this "DiGiorno Rise to the Occasion," see how they plan to elevate their game to get Mark Few closer to his first Final Four appearance.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 5 hours ago

Claymation: Christian Laettner's Shot vs. Kentucky

Christian Laettner's shot to beat Kentucky in overtime and help Duke advance to the Final Four in 1992 is considered to be the NCAA Tournament's greatest play by some. Enjoy this claymation re-enactment of "The Shot" starring Laettner, Grant Hill, and Thomas Hill.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 5 hours ago

A Look At Gonzaga-Syracuse Sweet 16 Matchup | Inside the WCC

The Gonzaga Bulldogs take on the Syracuse Orange in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament Friday. Campus Insiders' basketball analyst Jordan Cornette breaks down what to expect from the Zags in the latest edition of "Inside the WCC."

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 6 hours ago

6 ACC Teams in the Sweet 16

The ACC has 6 teams in the Sweet 16 and they're setting a new standard as the best conference in college basketball. ACC Digital Network host Jeff Fischel looks at how people are reacting to the Atlantic Coast Conference's domination in the NCAA Tournament.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 7 hours ago

UNC's Isaiah Hicks: The Sleepy Dunker

UNC's Isaiah Hicks has been a key cog for the Tar Heels this season, and was named the ACC 6th Man of the Year for his efforts. On the court he is a fierce competitor, known for his powerful dunks that electrify the crowd. ACC Digital Network host Jeff Fischel found out that off the court the energy level drops off - considerably. Find out why he's the "Sleepy Dunker" right here.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 7 hours ago

Batman Or Superman: Anthony Davis Or Shaquille O'Neal

While two comic book titans battle it out on the silver screen, we're wondering who would win a battle between the titans of college sports. Today's matchup: Anthony Davis Or Shaquille O'Neal. You decide the winner... but first, you must watch the video.

Comment

0 Comments

Close Article Return to stream X

NCAA Basketball• Videos• 23 hours ago

Mountain West Daily (3/22/16)

San Diego State and Nevada continue to advance in post-season play and the Mountain West announces its Women’s Track & Field Athletes and Golfer of the Week award honorees.

Comment

0 Comments

Full Coverage

March Madness

Playlist

The NCAA men's college basketball tournament, colloquially known as March Madness, is here again. RantSports has you covered!

Your Favorites