The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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NOVEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 43 2022-23 BASKETBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE 1. Indiana (21-14 overall, 9-11 in Big Ten last season) [AP No. 13] The Hoosiers made the NCAA Tourna- ment last year for the first time since 2016 and have their best player, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, back for one last ride. Four- star freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, the No. 25 player in his class per the On3 Consensus, will add to a talented sup- porting cast that includes forward Race Thompson and point guard Xavier John- son. 2. Michigan (19-15, 11-9) [AP No. 22] Like Indiana, the Maize and Blue have their centerpiece back in big man Hunter Dickinson. U-M has seven scholarship newcomers, and several of those new faces should make big impacts, such as Princeton graduate transfer point guard Jaelin Llewellyn and four-star freshman guard Jett Howard. 3. Illinois (23-10, 15-5) [AP No. 23] The Fighting Illini won a share of the Big Ten regular season a year ago but saw their top players depart the program, including first-team all-conference cen- ter Kofi Cockburn. They have eight new faces on the team, but Texas Tech transfer guard Terrence Shannon Jr., Baylor for- ward transfer Matthew Mayer and others make them a contender again. 4. Michigan State (23-13, 11-9) The Spartans' center spot is a huge question mark, and they have only 10 scholarship players. However, they return their backcourt, including a breakout can- didate in guard Jaden Akins, and tout an experienced forward in Malik Hall. 5. Purdue (29-8, 14-6) The Boilermakers will look different from last season in a number of ways, but one thing will look the same — the low-post presence that is 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey (14.4 points per game on 64.6 percent shooting a year ago). Concerns lie in the backcourt, though, and whether Edey can be the team's alpha. 6. Iowa (26-10, 16-8) Iowa lost a lottery pick in forward Keegan Murray, but his twin brother, Kris, is a projected draft pick for next year and will compete for first-team All-Big Ten honors. He averaged 9.7 points on 47.9 percent shooting last season and will lead the Hawkeyes this winter. 7. Rutgers (18-14, 12-8) The Scarlet Knights may be one of the top defensive teams in the league this season, led by center Clifford Omoruyi, who can also fill up the stat sheet on the offensive end. Veteran guards Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell both headline the squad, as well. 8. Ohio State (20-12, 12-8) The Buckeyes' top two players — forward E.J. Liddell (19.4 points per game) and guard Malaki Branham (13.7) — are now in the NBA. Head coach Chris Holtmann hit the transfer portal hard, finding some gems, but there's no telling how the roster will jell around forward Justice Sueing. 9. Maryland (15-17, 7-13) First-year head coach Kevin Willard will attempt to turn around the Terrapins' fortunes, and he has some nice pieces to work with. Forward Donta Scott and guard Hakim Hart were third and fourth on the team in scoring last season, re- spectively, and the squad got a boost from Charlotte guard transfer Jahmir Young, who scored in double figures ev- ery game last season. 10. Wisconsin (25-8, 15-5) The Badgers ripped through the Big Ten and grabbed a share of the regular-season crown despite being picked 10th by the media. That's where we have them this season, due in large part to losing the con- ference's Player of the Year, Johnny Davis. 11. Penn State (14-17, 7-13) Eight of Penn State's 13 conference losses came by six or fewer points, and now the Nittany Lions are seeking a breakthrough under second-year head man Micah Shrewsberry. Their top two scorers, guard Jalen Pickett (13.3 points per game in 2021-22) and wing Seth Lundy (11.9), highlight an experienced unit. 12. Minnesota (13-17, 4-16) Forward Jamison Battle is expected to take the next step as a premier player in the Big Ten, but he and North Carolina big man transfer Dawson Garcia will have their hands full in head coach Ben John- son's second campaign. 13. Northwestern (15-16, 7-13) Four of the team's top six scorers are back on the roster. However, those play- ers return from a team that went well under .500 in the league. 14. Nebraska (10-22, 4-16) Head coach Fred Hoiberg doesn't ap- pear any closer to a turnaround in his fourth season than he did in his first. The Cornhuskers have finished 14th, 14th and 13th in the Big Ten in his three years at the helm. Top 5 Players In The Big Ten 1. Michigan center Hunter Dickinson Dickinson doesn't get enough attention na- tionally because he's not a top-tier NBA Draft prospect, but he's a dominant college player. He averaged 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season. 2. Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis Jackson-Davis has led all Big Ten players in scoring since 2019-20 and averaged 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds a year ago. He's a difference-maker on both ends of the floor. 3. Iowa forward Kris Murray His twin, Keegan, the No. 4 overall pick in this past summer's NBA Draft, averaged 7.2 points per game in 2020-21, before leading the league with 23.5 a year ago. Kris posted 9.7 per outing last season and could take a huge leap as the main focus of the Hawkeyes' always-prolific offense. 4. Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi He finished last season in the top 10 in the Big Ten in blocked shots, field goal percent- age and rebounding, and will emerge as even more of a force this year. 5. Purdue center Zach Edey The 7-foot-4, 290-pounder has played more than 25 minutes in a game just twice. But he makes a huge impact when he's on the floor, having recorded 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season (30.3 and 16.2 per 40 minutes, respectively). — Clayton Sayfie BIG TEN PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS Indiana senior forward Trayce Jackson- Davis was picked by the media as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Last year he led the team in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (8.1) average, field goal percentage (58.9) and blocked shots (81). PHOTO COURTESY INDIANA ATHLETICS