We have learned a lot about the Big Ten basketball teams almost two months into the season. Some teams have played well above the expectations of the preseason, while others have struggled out of the gate. Here are the biggest stock risers and fallers in Big Ten basketball.
Big Ten Basketball: Stock Risers and Fallers
Stock Risers
Penn State
The Big Ten’s biggest riser is the Penn State Nittany Lions. Heading into the season, Penn State was picked to finish 17th in the preseason media poll. This was not completely unexpected as the Nittany Lions missed the NCAA Tournament last year and had a ton of roster turnover. Now they are 9-2 with a win over Purdue. The team is incredibly balanced with 6 players averaging 10 points per game or more. They are led by Ace Baldwin, who was an all-conference selection in the preseason. Overall, the Nittany Lions are playing much better than their preseason expectations. While they probably won’t challenge for the conference championship, they are likely to make March Madness this season.
Maryland
The Terps had slightly higher expectations coming into the season, specifically due to a strong portal class and the addition of 5-star freshman Derik Queen. However, the departure of superstar Jahmir Young left many questions about the team’s roster. But many of those questions have been answered so far this season. A blowout win against Ohio State and close results against Marquette and Purdue have led to some hype around the Terps program. This is coupled with Queen playing much better than expected and transfer point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie being able to take over the Jahmir Young role well. The Terps still need a marquee win before you can consider them to be a top contender, but they are all but an NCAA Tournament lock this season.
Stock Fallers
Rutgers
The incoming freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper propelled Rutgers to a number 7 ranking in the Big Ten preseason poll. Bailey and Harper have lived up to the hype so far, but that is about it. The team has struggled to find other scoring options outside of those two. The Scarlet Knights have a terrible loss to Kennesaw State which will certainly hurt them this March. While the team was never expected to win the conference, they are now looking at the possibility of finishing towards the bottom.
Indiana
The Hoosiers had a ton of preseason hype. They brought in a very good transfer class, led by Arizona’s big man Oumar Ballo. He has played well, but not nearly as good as he did last season. The Hoosiers have a good record but have two very bad losses against Nebraska and Louisville. It is hard to pinpoint what is exactly what is wrong with Indiana this year. Many will point to the new pieces not fitting together and others will point to an antiquated playstyle that puts an emphasis on bigs. Overall, they are not playing up to the standard of the team which is unacceptable given the talent on the roster.
Ohio State
Despite a new head coach, the Buckeyes had decently high expectations coming into the season. But things have started off poorly this year. They have had three blowout losses to Auburn, Maryland, and Texas A&M, leading to significant drops in the team’s analytical rankings. Much of the team’s struggles have been a result of poor inside presence. With the loss of Aaron Bradshaw, there are virtually no solid big men in the rotation. It is shaping up to be a long season in Columbus if the team cannot find solid play from its bigs.
