The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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NOVEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 39 2024-25 BASKETBALL PREVIEW 1. Purdue (34-5, 17-3 Big Ten last season) The Boilermakers lost big man Zach Edey, the two-time national player of the year, but it's hard not to give Matt Painter and Co. the benefit of the doubt, especially with a veteran backcourt featuring juniors Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. 2. UCLA (16-17, 10-10 Pac-12) New to the Big Ten along with Oregon, USC and Washington, the Bruins are a great fit in the league with head coach Mick Cronin at the helm. They return four starters and added impact transfers Tyler Bilodeau (14.3 points per game at Oregon State) and William Kyle III (13.1 points per game at South Dakota State) in the backcourt and frontcourt, respectively. 3. Indiana (19-14, 10-10) The pressure is on for head coach Mike Woodson, who missed the NCAA Tournament in his third season in 2023-24, but he did work in the portal this offseason. Arizona transfer Oumar Ballo is the best big man in the conference, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection a year ago, and Washington State import Myles Rice will add much-needed firepower at a guard spot. 4. Oregon (24-12, 12-8) Sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad didn't just beat U-M with a game-winner in overtime last season, he was a real- deal frosh and is ready to take the next step. Oregon has high-level talent around him, too. 5. MICHIGAN (8-24, 3-17) It may take the Maize and Blue time to adjust to so many new players and a fresh style of play, but there's as much talent on the roster as any in the league, and head coach Dusty May has proven he's a winner. 6. Rutgers (15-17, 7-13) Rutgers fans suffered through last year's sub-.500 record but saw light at the end of the tunnel. Wing Ace Bailey and guard Dylan Harper, the Nos. 2 and 3 prospects in the 2024 class per the On3 Industry Ranking, will make an impact. 7. Michigan State (20-15, 10-10) The Spartans lost veteran guards Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard, needing senior Jaden Akins to take the leap they've been waiting for over the last couple seasons. Sophomore big Xavier Booker is set for a breakout, and senior forward Frankie Fidler, an Omaha transfer, rounds out a strong front line. 8. Illinois (29-9, 14-6) Head coach Brad Underwood is embracing the task of building almost an entirely new roster every season. It worked last year, with the Illini making the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 with a bunch of fresh faces. Underwood made some pickups in the portal again and can fit the pieces together. 9. Ohio State (22-14, 9-11) The Buckeyes won 8 of 11 games under then-interim head coach Jake Diebler to conclude last season. He's been promoted as the full-time head man, and he has his point guard back in Bruce Thornton. In addition, guard Meechie Johnson Jr. (14.1 points per game last season) has transferred back to Columbus from South Carolina. 10. Iowa (19-15, 10-10) Senior forward Payton Sandfort made a whopping 94 three-pointers last sea- son, and head coach Fran McCaffery's teams can always score. Defense is a dif- ferent story, but the Hawkeyes have found ways to win at a solid clip regardless. 11. Wisconsin (22-14, 11-9) The Badgers return about half of their core from last season's team that earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While losing AJ Storr, Tyler Wahl and Chucky Hepburn is no small thing, Greg Gard can rely on sharpshooter Max Klesmit, big man Steven Crowl and Missouri transfer John Tonje, who's healthy again after missing most of last season with an injury. 12. Northwestern (22-12, 12-8) Northwestern made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history the last two seasons, but Boo Buie isn't returning through the door to Welsh-Ryan Arena this year. The point guard was the heart and soul of the team over the last five seasons, though senior guard Brooks Barnhizer is a stellar player to build around. 13. Maryland (16-17, 7-13) Point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie was a big-time pickup from Belmont, and for- ward Julian Reese has been a solid player in the league for a while now, but head man Kevin Willard's Terps don't have a lot of firepower. 14. Nebraska (23-11, 12-8) Nebraska made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013-14 and, generally speaking, is on the upswing. However, program legend Keisei Tomi- naga went pro in Japan, and do-it-all big Rienk Mast is out for the season with a knee injury. That's a lot to overcome. 15. USC (15-18, 8-12 Pac-12) Eric Musselman was part of a crazy coaching carousel last year, leaving Arkan- sas, where he made two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16, for USC. It may take him some time to get back to the second weekend, though. 16. Washington (17-15, 9-11 Pac-12) Danny Sprinkle is facing an uphill climb in Year 1 at Washington, set to rely on multiple mid-major transfers in his rotation. 17. Penn State (16-17, 9-11) Ace Baldwin Jr. is one of the best point guards in the Big Ten, but he doesn't have enough of a supporting cast. 18. Minnesota (19-15, 9-11) It's stellar forward Dawson Garcia and everyone else on the Minnesota roster, which was decimated by players leaving through the portal. — Clayton Sayfie BIG TEN PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS Redshirt senior center Oumar Ballo is now at Indiana after transferring from Arizona, where the 7-footer was a two-time All-Pac-12 first-team selection. PHOTO COURTESY ARIZONA ATHLETICS TOP FIVE PLAYERS IN THE BIG TEN Oumar Ballo, C, Indiana Braden Smith, G, Purdue Jackson Shelstad, G, Oregon Ace Baldwin Jr., G, Penn State Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan