I don't buy it.
I can’t blame the media for not having much pre-season faith in Collins and the Cats. However, I don’t think they’re looking at the reality of the middle tier of the B10 compared to the Cats. I understand NU’s not going to be mentioned with Michigan, Purdue, the f-ing Illini, OSU, Maryland and Michigan State.
But once you get beyond that, NU can play with the group of Rutgers, Wisconsin and Iowa with even the slightest improvement. I don’t think it will take a lot.
And at least one of those teams is going to be a tournament team.
I’ve only seen a few season previews, but NU is clearly predicted below this group. The one exception is the ESPN preview highlighted out here.
Also, I hope NBA Mike Woodson doesn’t know what he’s doing, and IU drops into this group. No telling what they're going to do. However, to balance that idea, I think it’s fair to guess Hoiberg is starting to get his stuff together in Nebraska like he did at Iowa State. Maybe they will join the Iowa, Rutgers and Wisconsin group.
Take a deep look at Iowa, Wisconsin and Rutgers. I don’t buy that the Cats aren’t in the neighborhood with this bunch. And with a more consistent Buie and Nance as well as a third someone simply shooting 35% from 3, well ... that's more than a slight improvement.
Iowa
Returning starters - Bohannon 10 p/g, C. McCaffrey 3 p/g.
We should probably add Keegan Murray even though he wasn’t a starter – 7.2 p/g, 5.1 r/g
Impact new guys - 0 top 100s. They have a 6-9, 222 F transfer from North Dakota, Filip Rebraca, 16.8 p/g, 7.6 r/g (23 pts, 6 r vs Minn … 11 pts, 6 r vs. Drake, 8pts, 9 r vs. ORU)
20-21 Conference Defense – 71.9 p/g, 41% opponent FG
Losses - Garza, Wieskamp, Frederick
“Needs three newcomers to produce immediately upfront.”
Wisconsin
Returning starters - F-ing cheapshot Davison is avoiding his overseas career for another year – 10 p/g. His 1300 points is more than all of his teammates combined
Tyler Wahl will probably be the next typical Wisconsin big guy – 5.2 p/g, 4.3 r/g.
Impact new guys - Cinn 7-1 transfer Chris Vogt averaged 11 p/g, 5 r/g in 19-20 before a torn labrum last year.
Jahcobi Neath is a 6-3, 200 transfer from Wake Forest – 3.8 p/g
Chucky Hepburn is their top recruit. Chris Hodges did not play in 2020 due to COVID. 0 top 100s
20-21 Conference Defense – 66.1 p/g, 44% opponent FG
Losses - Trice, Potter, Reuvers, Ford, Anderson and another guy who lives down the hall from them at the retirement community.
“A bright spot here is sophomore Jonathan Davis.”
“Steven Crowl couldn’t crack the rotation last year, but Gard sees huge things in his future as the next Badgers nig man who’s equally effective inside and outside.”
Rutgers
Returning starters – Harper, Jr. 14.9 p/g, Mulcahy 5.9 p/g, Geo Baker 10.4 p/g
6-11 Omoryuri is not a returning starter, but he was a top-50 recruit in ’20. From the Athletic: “This team could make more noise than an eighth-place finish if Cliff Omoruyi takes a big step forward as a sophomore.”
Impact new guys - 0 top 100s. LSU transfer Aundre Hyatt played 15 minutes a game in Baton Rouge.
Losses – Boy, did the portal screw Rutgers! They would have had three other players returning with 20+ minutes/game in the conference. Jacob Young (28.6 m/g, 14.2 p/g) hit the road for Nike U. Montez Mathis (20.2 m/g) went to St. John’s and Myles Johnson (25.6 m/g) left for UCLA. Ouch.
Outside of Harper, Baker, Mulcahy, Omoryuri and Caleb McConnell, the next most experienced returning player played six mins/game. But with Jaden Jones, I get the feeling Rutgers might be at the top of this B10 middle tier. I don’t see Baker and Harper being outplayed by any two other guards from any these teams.
20-21 Conference Defense – 68.6 p/g, 43% opponent FG
I can’t blame the media for not having much pre-season faith in Collins and the Cats. However, I don’t think they’re looking at the reality of the middle tier of the B10 compared to the Cats. I understand NU’s not going to be mentioned with Michigan, Purdue, the f-ing Illini, OSU, Maryland and Michigan State.
But once you get beyond that, NU can play with the group of Rutgers, Wisconsin and Iowa with even the slightest improvement. I don’t think it will take a lot.
And at least one of those teams is going to be a tournament team.
I’ve only seen a few season previews, but NU is clearly predicted below this group. The one exception is the ESPN preview highlighted out here.
Also, I hope NBA Mike Woodson doesn’t know what he’s doing, and IU drops into this group. No telling what they're going to do. However, to balance that idea, I think it’s fair to guess Hoiberg is starting to get his stuff together in Nebraska like he did at Iowa State. Maybe they will join the Iowa, Rutgers and Wisconsin group.
Take a deep look at Iowa, Wisconsin and Rutgers. I don’t buy that the Cats aren’t in the neighborhood with this bunch. And with a more consistent Buie and Nance as well as a third someone simply shooting 35% from 3, well ... that's more than a slight improvement.
Iowa
Returning starters - Bohannon 10 p/g, C. McCaffrey 3 p/g.
We should probably add Keegan Murray even though he wasn’t a starter – 7.2 p/g, 5.1 r/g
Impact new guys - 0 top 100s. They have a 6-9, 222 F transfer from North Dakota, Filip Rebraca, 16.8 p/g, 7.6 r/g (23 pts, 6 r vs Minn … 11 pts, 6 r vs. Drake, 8pts, 9 r vs. ORU)
20-21 Conference Defense – 71.9 p/g, 41% opponent FG
Losses - Garza, Wieskamp, Frederick
“Needs three newcomers to produce immediately upfront.”
Wisconsin
Returning starters - F-ing cheapshot Davison is avoiding his overseas career for another year – 10 p/g. His 1300 points is more than all of his teammates combined
Tyler Wahl will probably be the next typical Wisconsin big guy – 5.2 p/g, 4.3 r/g.
Impact new guys - Cinn 7-1 transfer Chris Vogt averaged 11 p/g, 5 r/g in 19-20 before a torn labrum last year.
Jahcobi Neath is a 6-3, 200 transfer from Wake Forest – 3.8 p/g
Chucky Hepburn is their top recruit. Chris Hodges did not play in 2020 due to COVID. 0 top 100s
20-21 Conference Defense – 66.1 p/g, 44% opponent FG
Losses - Trice, Potter, Reuvers, Ford, Anderson and another guy who lives down the hall from them at the retirement community.
“A bright spot here is sophomore Jonathan Davis.”
“Steven Crowl couldn’t crack the rotation last year, but Gard sees huge things in his future as the next Badgers nig man who’s equally effective inside and outside.”
Rutgers
Returning starters – Harper, Jr. 14.9 p/g, Mulcahy 5.9 p/g, Geo Baker 10.4 p/g
6-11 Omoryuri is not a returning starter, but he was a top-50 recruit in ’20. From the Athletic: “This team could make more noise than an eighth-place finish if Cliff Omoruyi takes a big step forward as a sophomore.”
Impact new guys - 0 top 100s. LSU transfer Aundre Hyatt played 15 minutes a game in Baton Rouge.
Losses – Boy, did the portal screw Rutgers! They would have had three other players returning with 20+ minutes/game in the conference. Jacob Young (28.6 m/g, 14.2 p/g) hit the road for Nike U. Montez Mathis (20.2 m/g) went to St. John’s and Myles Johnson (25.6 m/g) left for UCLA. Ouch.
Outside of Harper, Baker, Mulcahy, Omoryuri and Caleb McConnell, the next most experienced returning player played six mins/game. But with Jaden Jones, I get the feeling Rutgers might be at the top of this B10 middle tier. I don’t see Baker and Harper being outplayed by any two other guards from any these teams.
20-21 Conference Defense – 68.6 p/g, 43% opponent FG
