City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)

(Ed. Note: This article is part of CoBL's 2015-16 College Season Preview, which will run from October 2-November 13, the first day of games. For the complete rundown, click here)
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The Big Ten came oh so close to getting its first national title since 2000 when Wisconsin made the championship game last April. Alas, the Badgers fell to Duke and the conference has still not taken home the nation’s biggest trophy since Michigan State won it all more than 15 years ago.

Maryland has won a national championship in that time, however, doing so in 2002 as a member of the ACC. The Terps enter the season with the best odds of any team in the conference to do so this year led by sophomore sensation Melo Trimble.

The Terps are the favorites, but it is shaping up to be another loaded and competitive year in the league with Michigan State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Purdue and Michigan joining Maryland as teams that could make a run at the top of the league.

Here’s our team-by-team breakdown of the 14-team conference and also our preseason All-Big Ten selections:

CoBL’s Preseason Big Ten First Team
Melo Trimble -- Soph. Guard -- Maryland
Yogi Ferrell -- Sr. Guard -- Indiana
Denzel Valentine -- Sr. Forward -- Michigan State
Nigel Hayes -- Jr. Forward -- Wisconsin
A.J. Hammons -- Sr. Center -- Purdue

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1. Maryland Terrapins
Head coach: Mark Turgeon (5th season, 87-50 .635)
Last year: 28-7, lost in Big Ten semifinal, lost in NCAA Third Round
Key returnees: Melo Trimble (16.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Jake Layman (12.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Key departures: Dez Wells (15.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Key newcomers: Rasheed Sulaimon (Transfer from Duke), Diamond Stone (Freshman)
Outlook: The Terps are one of the best teams in the country and have a great shot to win the Big Ten in their second year in the conference. Led by Trimble, who passed up the NBA Draft for his sophomore year, Maryland has a deep attack. The additions of Sulaimon and Stone pad the team in the back and front court.

2. Michigan State Spartans
Head coach: Tom Izzo (21st season, 495-199, .713)
Last year: 27-12, lost in Big Ten championship; lost in NCAA semifinal
Key returnees: Denzel Valentine (14.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Bryn Forbes (8.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
Key departures: Travis Trice (15.3 ppg, 5.1 apg), Branden Dawson (11.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg)
Key newcomers: Deyonta Davis (Freshman), Matt McQuaid (Freshman)
Outlook: Always a threat in March, Izzo’s team proved that again last season with a run to the Final Four. The Spartans do lose their offensive engine with the departure of Trice. But MSU has a loaded frontcourt, led by Valentine, that will likely be among one of the top rebounding teams in the country.

3. Indiana Hoosiers
Head Coach: Tom Crean (5th season, 121-111, .522)
Last year: 20-14, lost in Big Ten Quarterfinals, lost in NCAA 2nd round
Key Returnees: Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (16.3 ppg, 4.9 apg), Troy Williams (13 ppg, 7.4 rpg)
Key Departures: Hanner Mosquera-Perea (6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Emmitt Holt (3.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Key newcomers: Thomas Bryant (Freshman), O.G. Anunoby (Freshman), Max Bielfeldt (Transfer from Michigan)
Outlook: The Hoosiers return their top five scorers from last season’s team that appeared in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana’s freshmen class of five-star Thomas Bryant, O.G. Anunoby and Juwan Morgan are all expected to contribute immediately on a team that lacks depth at the forward position. Due to the offseason dismissals of Hanner Mosquera-Perea and Emmitt Holt, IU will rely on Michigan transfer and graduate student Max Bielfeldt as well as junior Collin Hartman to bolster its frontcourt rotation.

4. Wisconsin Badgers
Head coach: Bo Ryan (15th season, 357-125, .741)
Last year: 36-4, won Big Ten, lost in NCAA final
Key returnees: Nigel Hayes (12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Bronson Koenig (8.7 ppg, 2.5 apg)
Key departures: Frank Kaminsky (18.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Sam Dekker (13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Traevon Jackson (8.1 ppg, 2.6 apg)
Key newcomers: Alex Illikainen (Freshman)
Outlook: Losing your leading scorer is never easy, especially when that person is the National Player of the Year. And it doesn’t help when you also lose your second-leading scorer, point guard and a few solid role players. But Wisconsin and Ryan are always a threat to make a run at the Big Ten, and Hayes should emerge as one of the top players in the conference.

5. Purdue Boilermakers
Head Coach: Matt Painter (11th season, 212-124 .631)
Last Year: 21-13, lost in Big Ten quarterfinal, lost in NCAA Second Round
Key Returnees: A.J. Hammons (11.9 ppg. 6.6 rpg), Rapheal Davis (10.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Key Newcomers: Caleb Swanigan (Freshman), Ryan Cline (Freshman)
Outlook: Purdue is arguably the deepest team in the Big Ten, as the Boilermakers could legitimately make a case for a steady ten-man rotation. Highly touted freshman Swanigan joins a team that already returns four of its top five scorers from a year ago. Purdue also has size. Swanigan, at 6-foot-9, is expected to start with 7-footer Hammons and 7-foot-2 Isaac Haas in the frontcourt.

6. Michigan Wolverines
Head coach: John Beilein (9th Season, 166-110, .601)
Last year: 16-16, lost in Big Ten quarterfinals
Key returnees: Caris LeVert (14.9 pts, 4.9 rpg, 3.7 apg) Derrick Walton Jr. (10.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3 apg), Spike Albrecht (7.5 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.3 rpg), Zak Irvin (14.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Key departures: Max Bielfeldt (5.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Key newcomers: Moritz Wagner (Freshman)
Outlook: LeVert and Walton both suffered season-ending injuries last season that cut the Michigan playoff run short. But even with these two piece, the Wolverines struggled to put things together at times. Whether another year of experience helps them remains to be seen, but it could be another long season, especially in a stacked conference, if the Wolverines can’t manage the talent they have at their disposal.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes
Head coach: Thad Matta (11th Season, 299-94, .761)
Last year: 24-11, lost in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal, lost in NCAA Tournament third round
Key returnees: Jae’Sean Tate (8.8 ppg, 5 rpg), Marc Loving (9.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Key newcomers: Austin Grandstaff (Freshman), Daniel Giddens (Freshman), A.J. Harris (Freshman), JaQuan Lyle (Freshman)
Key departures: D’Angelo Russell (19.2 pts, 5.6 rpg, 5.2 apg)
Outlook: Ohio State loses its do-it-all player in Russell, who went No. 2 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. But the Buckeyes 2015 recruiting is some of the best in the conference, highlighted by Lyle, a five-star prospect expected to be a significant playmaker from Day 1.  

8. Iowa Hawkeyes
Head coach: Fran McCaffery (6th season, 96-75, .561)
Last year: 22-12, lost in 2nd round of Big Ten, lost in NCAA third round
Key returnees: Jarrod Uthoff (12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Peter Jok (7 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Key newcomers: Isaiah Moss (Freshman), Brandon Hutton (Freshman), Andrew Fleming (Freshman)
Key departures: Aaron White (16.4 ppg 7.3 rpg)
Outlook: Iowa will return four starters from last season and have one of the best players in the conference in Uthoff leading the team in his senior season. Add in a solid group of recruits and the Hawkeyes are poised to remain competitive in the Big Ten.

9. Illinois Fighting Illini
Head Coach: John Groce (4th season, 62-42, .596)
Last Year: 19-14, lost in Big Ten second round, lost in NIT first round
Key Returnees: Malcolm Hill (14.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Kendrick Nunn (11.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Key departures: Rayvonte Rice (16.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
Key Newcomers: Jalen Coleman-Lands (Freshman), D.J. Williams (Freshman), Mike Thorne Jr. (Transfer from Charlotte)
Outlook: The Illini return two of their top three leading scorers from last season’s NIT-appearing team, but lose leading scorer and rebounder Rayvonte Rice to graduation. Head coach John Groce will have multiple moving parts with three highly-touted freshmen and two transfers, including Trenton native and former La Salle guard Khalid Lewis. Groce will look to guide Illinois back to the NCAA Tournament amidst a very deep Big Ten field.

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Head Coach: Richard Pitino (3rd season, 43-28, .606)
Last Year: 18-15, lost in Big Ten second round
Key Returnees: Carlos Morris (11.1 ppg), Nate Mason (9.8 ppg, 2.8 apg)
Key departures: Andre Hollins (13.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Maurice Walker (11.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
Key Newcomers: Kevin Dorsey (Freshman), Ahmad Gilbert (Freshman), Jordan Murphy (Freshman)
Outlook: The Golden Gophers will be one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten season. Minnesota has lost its top two leading scorers in Andre Hollins and Maurice Walker due to graduation and will rely on its backcourt to score. Sophomore guard Nate Mason and senior guard Carlos Morris should carry the team, as Morris is only one of two scholarship seniors on Richard Pitino’s roster.

11. Northwestern Wildcats
Head coach: Chris Collins (3rd season, 29-36, .446)
Last year: 15-17, lost in second round of Big Ten
Key returnees: Tre Demps (12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Alex Olah (11.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
Key departures: JerShon Cobb (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Key newcomers: Aaron Falzon (Freshman), Joey van Zegeren (Transfer from Virginia Tech)
Outlook: Chris Collins’ third team at Northwestern should be his best. The Wildcats bring back their top four scorers from last season and add a promising freshman in Falzon and a veteran that has logged Power 5 minutes in van Zegeren. Northwestern still might not make its first ever NCAA Tournament, but Big Ten opponents won’t be able to sleep on the team.

12. Penn State Nittany Lions
Head coach: Pat Chambers (5th season, 56-75, .427)
Last year: 18-16, (4-14 Big Ten), lost in Big Ten quarterfinals
Key returnees: Shep Garner (9.2 ppg, 2.3 apg), Brandon Taylor (9.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Key departures: D.J. Newbill (20.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.1 apg); Ross Travis (5.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Geno Thorpe (8.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Key newcomers: Josh Reaves (Freshman), Mike Watkins (Freshman), Deividas Zemgulis (Freshman)
Outlook: The loss of Newbill will inevitably hurt Penn State, but the team does have a plethora of players that can collectively contribute to help offset the loss. A mix of veteran players, young, developing players and a promising recruiting class will look to lay the foundation in the future of Pat Chambers' program.

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Head coach: Tim Miles (4th season, 47-49, .490)
Last year: 13-18, lost in Big Ten first round
Key returnees: Shavon Shields (15.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 apg) Benny Parker (4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.50 spg)
Key departures: Terran Petteway (18.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Walter Pitchford (7.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Key newcomers: Ed Morrow Jr. (Freshman), Glynn Watson (Freshman)
Outlook: The departure of Petteway opens the door for Shields to be the focal point and vocal leader of a young Cornhuskers team that has nine freshmen and sophomores, including a pair of four-star recruits in Morrow and Watson.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Head Coach: Eddie Jordan (3rd season, 22-43 .338)
Last Year: 10-22, lost in Big Ten first round
Key Returnees: Bishop Daniels (8.4 ppg), Mike Williams (6.3 ppg)
Key departures: Myles Mack (13.4, 4.0 rpg), Kadeem Jack (13.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Key Newcomers: Corey Sanders (Freshman)
Outlook: Eddie Jordan will try to lift Rutgers out of the Big Ten cellar in his third year at the helm. The Scarlet Knights will turn the page in this season’s campaign, as leading scorers Myles Mack and Kadeem Jack have both graduated. Rutgers will need balanced scoring in order to compete in the Big Ten, which starts from returning guards Bishop Daniels and Mike Williams.