How they finish in the B10....from best to worst

[TwinDegrees2]

Looking at the overall performance of the league so far in pre-season, I think the league is down with three teams at the top....Maryland, MSU, and Purdue. Alone at the bottom is Rutgers who may not win a game.

My picks....what's yours?

Cream of the crop:
1. Purdue (too much interior size and too strong a defense)
2. MSU (Izzo has a solid group this year)
3. Maryland (might win it with a different coach)

Second Tier...Any of these three could finish 4th through 6th or even 8th)
4. TIE Indiana (Even Crean can't screw up this much offense...can he)
4. TIE Wisconsin (I know...there's no Bo, but they'll still surprise)
6. Michigan (Not as good as in the past, but decent in a weaker enough in a weaker league)

Not horrible teams...but not great this year and one or more could surprise
7. OSU (Matta is too good a coach to finish any worse)
8. Northwestern (This is the year they make a tourney)
9. Iowa (Like IU, coaching is a rare commodity with the Hawkeyes)
10. Illinois (Had high hopes for Groce because he's a Taylor guy but now....)

Weak Sisters with no chance
11. Nebraska
12. Minnesota
13. PSU

Will they win a game
14. Rutgers (more MAC than B10)

 

[punaj]

Pretty solid picks... I think Iowa is a lot better than 9 though, probably more like 4 IMO. I also like NU to be better than OSU.

 

[TopSecretBoiler]

1.a Maryland
1.b Purdue
3. MSU
4. Iowa
5. Indiana
6. Michigan
7. O$U
8. NW
9. Whiskey
10. Illinois
11. Minnesota
12. Nebraska
13. PSU
14. Rutgers

 

[delish1]

Looking at the overall performance of the league so far in pre-season, I think the league is down with three teams at the top....Maryland, MSU, and Purdue. Alone at the bottom is Rutgers who may not win a game.

My picks....what's yours?

Cream of the crop:
1. Purdue (too much interior size and too strong a defense)
2. MSU (Izzo has a solid group this year)
3. Maryland (might win it with a different coach)

Second Tier...Any of these three could finish 4th through 6th or even 8th)
4. TIE Indiana (Even Crean can't screw up this much offense...can he)
4. TIE Wisconsin (I know...there's no Bo, but they'll still surprise)
6. Michigan (Not as good as in the past, but decent in a weaker enough in a weaker league)

Not horrible teams...but not great this year and one or more could surprise
7. OSU (Matta is too good a coach to finish any worse)
8. Northwestern (This is the year they make a tourney)
9. Iowa (Like IU, coaching is a rare commodity with the Hawkeyes)
10. Illinois (Had high hopes for Groce because he's a Taylor guy but now....)

Weak Sisters with no chance
11. Nebraska
12. Minnesota
13. PSU

Will they win a game
14. Rutgers (more MAC than B10)

Impossible to separate the top three right now objectively, but then I like your list mostly. pretty close to the one I posted a while ago. I think you have Wisconsin too high and Iowa slightly low. I'd go with this now

1. Purdue (sure, why not)
2. Maryland
3. MSU
4. IU
5. Michigan
6. Iowa
7. Ohio State
8. Northwestern
9. Wisconsin
10. Illinois
11-14. doesn't matter

 

[BoilerFan#35]

1. Maryland
2. Purdue
3. MSU
4. Iowa
5. Wisky
6. IU
7. Northwestern
8. Michigan
9. Ohio State
10. Penn State
11. Nebraska
12. Illinois
13. Minnesota
14. Rutgers

 

[lbodel]

Looking at the overall performance of the league so far in pre-season, I think the league is down with three teams at the top....Maryland, MSU, and Purdue. Alone at the bottom is Rutgers who may not win a game.

My picks....what's yours?

Cream of the crop:
1. Purdue (too much interior size and too strong a defense)
2. MSU (Izzo has a solid group this year)
3. Maryland (might win it with a different coach)

Second Tier...Any of these three could finish 4th through 6th or even 8th)
4. TIE Indiana (Even Crean can't screw up this much offense...can he)
4. TIE Wisconsin (I know...there's no Bo, but they'll still surprise)
6. Michigan (Not as good as in the past, but decent in a weaker enough in a weaker league)

Not horrible teams...but not great this year and one or more could surprise
7. OSU (Matta is too good a coach to finish any worse)
8. Northwestern (This is the year they make a tourney)
9. Iowa (Like IU, coaching is a rare commodity with the Hawkeyes)
10. Illinois (Had high hopes for Groce because he's a Taylor guy but now....)

Weak Sisters with no chance
11. Nebraska
12. Minnesota
13. PSU

Will they win a game
14. Rutgers (more MAC than B10)

I haven't seen a lot of Big Ten teams this year, so I won't do a full run down.

On Maryland, I'd say they are a tough match-up for us at this point, particularly on the perimeter.

Ohio State has had some struggles, but they also have a lot of talent on their team (which has been on display vs. Kentucky). They will only get better as time goes on.

On the same note, I'd say Wisconsin is in the same boat - they've had some struggles, but will give some teams fits still and get better as time goes on. However, I think Ohio State has a much higher ceiling.

 

[Mandeville LA]

Iowa does us a huge favor tonight and knocks off MSU.

I do feel bad for Izzo having to coach tonight, I saw that his father passed yesterday.

 

[boilerupstatesc]

Agree with your 1st tier.

My second tier:

Iowa
OSU
Michigan
+/- on Indiana

These second tier teams are teams that can beat us on any given night if we have a lapse of focus, or if they just go off.

3rd tier teams, I would personally define as teams we should beat even if they have a great game and/or we aren't hot.