Nebraska Picked Last In First Big Ten Projections

Believe it or not we have early projections out now for college basketball. Lindy’s Sports released projections for the Big Ten, Andy Katz released his preseason top-36, and Lunardi has the latest bracketology (well, okay it is from last month’s post-draft withdrawal deadline) projections. Let’s start off first with the Big Ten projections from Lindy’s.

Lindy’s Sports

Lindy’s Sports is a bit cooler on Iowa than other outlets as you can see, but they most notably for readers of this article have the Cornhuskers No. 14.

Big Ten Rankings

1. Wisconsin Badgers
2. Iowa Hawkeyes
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
4. Michigan State Spartans
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
7. Indiana Hoosiers
8. Michigan Wolverines
9. Minnesota Golden Gophers
10. Purdue Boilermakers
11. Maryland Terrapins
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
13. Northwestern Wildcats
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers

In addition, they project Wisconsin to make a run to the Elite 8, Iowa and Illinois to advance to the Sweet 16, MSU and OSU to make the second round, and Indiana and Rutgers to lose in the first round. Seven teams is a large group, but noticeably smaller than the total that would have likely made the tournament last season when as many as ten were expected prior to cancellation.

Lindy’s Sports also makes predictions for who will qualify for the All-Big Ten teams, and again no Huskers make the cut.

First Team All-Conference

• Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois)
• Marcus Carr (Minnesota)
• Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)
• Nate Reuvers (Wisconsin)
• Luka Garza (Iowa)

Second Team All-Conference

• Joe Wieskamp (Iowa)
• Rocket Watts (Michigan State)
• Trevion Williams (Purdue)
• Aaron Henry (Michigan State)
• Kofi Cockburn (Illinois)

Third Team All-Conference

• Ron Harper Jr. (Rutgers)
• D’Mitrik Trice (Wisconsin)
• E.J. Liddell (Ohio State)
• Seth Towns (Ohio State)
• Joey Hauser (Michigan State)

Katz Top 36

The Big Ten is well represented in the rankings, though readers will likely not be surprised Nebraska is not listed here either. As for competition in league play it will come as no surprise it will be stiff as the Big Ten has the most of any conference in both the top-five and top-ten with Illinois No. 4, Iowa No. 5, and Wisconsin No. 6. After that is it Michigan State No. 12, Rutgers No. 13, Michigan No. 17, Indiana No. 18, and Purdue No. 32, with Ohio State receiving “Under Consideration” mention. The Creighton Bluejays also rank at No. 16.

It should come as no surprise the Big Ten, while expected to be down some in talent compared to last year, is still a murderer’s row of stiff competition ahead this season. The conference is still stacked with depth and a bench of quality coaching staffs. At least one benefit Husker fans can hope for is reduced fan attendance limits some of the inherent home advantage college basketball enjoys.

Lunardi Post-Draft Withdrawal Deadline Brackets

Again, nobody reading this is shocked to know Nebraska isn’t projected to make the big dance this year. However, for the sake of seeing what the conference competition is shaping up to be via early-projections, I am still going to take a look.

South

Iowa-2 seed
Creighton-3 seed

Midwest

Wisconsin-2 seed
Purdue-8 seed

West

Michigan State-3 seed
Illinois-4 seed
Indiana-7 seed

East

Ohio State-4 seed
Rutgers-6 seed
Michigan-7 seed

Let me all call your attention to that last region where Rutgers is a higher seed than Juwan Howard’s Wolverines squad. You hate to see it, folks. College basketball starts November 25!