Retention is the secret within the Huge Ten. The league returns 14 of the top-30 scorers from a 12 months in the past. No different high-major league returns greater than seven. This 12 months’s Huge Ten seems to be extraordinarily much like final 12 months’s SEC, the place double-digit rosters seem stacked on paper.
It speaks to the funding in basketball, and we noticed that within the teaching carousel as effectively. Iowa plucked Ben McCollum, one of many hottest names within the cycle. Indiana stole West Virginia’s Darian DeVries. Buzz Williams opted to depart Texas A&M for Maryland. Minnesota had a present fall into its lap with Niko Medved, a former Gophers supervisor again within the day, nonetheless being accessible.
The starpower on the prime of the league is apparent with 4 true Nationwide Championship contenders rising, however the Huge Ten may feasibly make a run at placing 14 groups into the NCAA Event, similar to the SEC did a 12 months in the past.
2025-26 CBS Sports activities preseason particular person awards: Purdue’s Braden Smith earns Participant of the 12 months honors
Matt Norlander
A wonderful massacre awaits.
CBS Sports activities Huge 10 Preseason Participant of the 12 months
Braden Smith | Purdue | G
Braden Smith is the final word conductor for a Purdue offense that ought to hit some sky-high notes in 2025-26. Smith makes everybody’s life simpler together with his really feel, imaginative and prescient and manipulation of defenses. The reigning Huge Ten Participant of the 12 months has a solution for each defensive protection, and Smith has gotten higher and higher each season. He splashes treys. His midrange pull-ups are computerized. His baseline fadeaways are unguardable. He is a free security defensively who generates takeaways. He is the Chris Paul of school basketball.
Smith may lasso Bobby Hurley’s all-time help report and cement himself as probably the greatest level guards in faculty basketball historical past if he could lead on the Boilermakers to the title.
CBS Sports activities Huge 10 Preseason Freshman of the 12 months
Kayden Mingo | Penn State | G
Mingo is the highest-rated recruit that Penn State has inked within the fashionable period. Within the spreadsheets, the 6-3, 195-pound lead guard is projected for the biggest utilization charge of any rookie within the Huge Ten, however he additionally seems to be like a terrific tradition match for a Mike Rhoades-led membership. Mingo is a hard-nosed level of assault defender who can do some little bit of the whole lot offensively as a three-level scorer and nifty playmaker. It will be unusual to see Rhoades stalking the sideline with out his long-time level guard, Ace Baldwin, wreaking havoc, however Mingo may very well be an improve sooner relatively than later.
4 extra gamers to observe
Yaxel Lendeborg | F | Michigan: Lendeborg was the top-rated switch within the portal, and he modifies the complexion of Michigan’s membership as a pass-dribble-shoot ahead, who may’ve simply been within the NBA already. He is an enormous guard, and Dusty Could will optimize his shot weight-reduction plan. Anticipate far more 3-pointers, a ton of rebounds, loads of push-aheads in transition and a boatload of manufacturing.
Trey Kaufman-Renn | F | Purdue: Braden Smith will get his well-deserved pub, however Kaufman-Renn calls for some respect, too. The 6-foot-9 ahead has gentle arms and performs with each energy and finesse. His little floaters, runners and push photographs within the paint are unstoppable, and he is a sneaky-great decision-maker as effectively. Statistically, Kaufman-Renn is on the identical wavelength as former Gonzaga star Drew Timme; he simply will get half the love. Kaufman-Renn’s rise into an All-American could make redshirting cool once more.
Nate Bittle | C | Oregon: Bittle may very effectively be the very best middle in America. The senior was one of many elite post-up scorers, and he marries that low-post dominance with a feathery face-up recreation. Oh, and he shot 40% from downtown in Huge Ten play. Bittle is hard on the glass, protects the rim at a excessive degree, strikes his toes on the perimeter and may make good reads, too. He is the entire bundle on the 5-spot.
John Blackwell | G | Wisconsin: Being the top of the snake in Wisconsin’s offense is a particular reward. It is Blackwell’s flip to observe the template AJ Storr and John Tonje set. Blackwell stuffed the stat sheet with 15.8 factors, 5.1 rebounds and a pair of.2 assists final season, however he is primed to do much more harm in 2025-26. He is one of many strongest pound-for-pound guards within the Huge Ten, and Wisconsin’s cavalry of shooters ought to invert the ground for Blackwell to bury small guards into the stanchion. Too huge, too sturdy, too quick, too good.
Huge Ten predicted order of end
1. Purdue
Breakdown: Purdue’s goal is to be the No. 1 offense in America. With Smith and Kaufman-Renn operating the present, it is totally within the playing cards as a result of Purdue will get the shot it needs on each journey. The Smith-to-Kaufman-Renn connection scored a scorching 236 factors final 12 months, per CBB Analytics. You may’t cease it. You may solely hope and pray the ball does not go in, this time.
However protection and rebounding can flip Purdue from good to particular. A wholesome model of 7-foot-4 freshman Daniel Jacobsen and the addition of South Dakota State switch huge man Oscar Cluff completely change the complexion of this frontcourt. Kaufman-Renn does not need to be Purdue’s rim protector anymore, and Purdue’s backcourt is plagued by high-level choices. Fletcher Loyer, dubbed ‘Huge Sport Fletch’, is among the elite catch-and-shoot assassins. CJ Cox and Gicarri Harris shall be higher in 12 months 2. Israeli freshman Omer Mayer will assist this membership, too.
Matt Painter is on the verge of a particular marketing campaign.
2. Michigan
Breakdown: Michigan’s frontline is intimidating and must be the largest plus for this membership. Yaxel Lendeborg has a do-it-all skillset, Morez Johnson devours rebounds and 7-3 middle Aday Mara was one of the crucial productive per-minute gamers within the Huge Ten final 12 months. Do not be shocked if Dusty Could flirts with enjoying all three bigs collectively to smash opponents to smithereens. Could so clearly needs to dominate the rim battle on each ends, thump opponents on the glass and unleash Elliot Cadeau, Lendeborg and Johnson in transition.
This may very well be the very best defensive crew within the Huge Ten, and it would should be as a result of there are questions on how this halfcourt offense coalesces. Cadeau seems to be like an actual improve at level guard, however some capturing issues may emerge and drive Michigan to not play its optimum defensive lineup.
3. UCLA
Breakdown: UCLA’s level guard play was not ok, however Donovan Dent will rework that room in a flash. His burst is … totally different. The Bruins have been in a position to retain Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau, and Cronin ought to reap the rewards of the 12 months 2 switch surge. UCLA’s Huge 4 of Dent-Clark-Dailey-Bilodeau can go to warfare in opposition to anyone, however the middle platoon of Xavier Booker and San Diego switch Steven Jamerson II will loom giant. If UCLA’s bigs do not rebound on the degree Cronin calls for, this protection cannot be fairly as electrical.
However there is a ton to love concerning the Bruins. Two level guards on the ground on the identical time? Yessir. Taking pictures choices in all places? Mhhmm. Additional transition factors? Coming proper up. Nonetheless a nasty level of assault protection that can take the ball away? You already know it.
It is Cronin Ball at its most interesting, solely with an All-American at level guard. That is going to work.
4. Illinois
Breakdown: Purdue seems to be like the very best offensive crew within the Huge Ten, however Illinois and the Balkan Boys is an in depth second. The Ivisic twins (Tomislav and Zvonimir) are arguably the 2 best-shooting facilities in all of school basketball. Illinois may realistically get near 100 3-pointers from its 5-man spot, and that opens up a potpourri of choices.
Brad Underwood needs to get again to enjoying sooner, and he is received the personnel to do it with Kylan Boswell, Andrej Stojakovic, Keaton Wagler and Serbian veteran Mihailo Petrovic. A lightning-strike transition offense with a gradual, methodical matchup-hunting halfcourt offense provides Illinois actual selection. Freshman huge man David Mirkovic is a mauler on the 4 who can move, dribble and shoot. Stojakovic scored 17.9 factors an evening within the ACC with no floor-spacing facilities. He may make a killing on this scheme, and Boswell might be one of many prime two-way guards within the Huge Ten.
Illinois’ ball motion and scheme versatility offensively ought to result in much-improved shot choice. Plus, Underwood is bullish {that a} new defensive coordinator rent (Camryn Crocker from Colgate) will add simply sufficient changeups to assist an enormous crew get extra stops.
5. Oregon
Breakdown: Continuity at level guard and middle could be a cheat code, particularly when it is All-Huge Ten abilities like Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle. With shot-hungry position gamers headed out the door, Shelstad and Bittle ought to waltz into huge stat strains. This feels just like the 12 months for Kwame ‘KJ’ Evans Jr. to interrupt free and solidify himself as probably the greatest gamers on this membership. The 6-9 ahead is a terrific defender, and Oregon was at its very best (+36.2 internet ranking, 99th percentile nationally) when Shelstad, Bittle and Evans have been on the ground collectively final 12 months.
If the position gamers are hits, Oregon is a contender. Texas switch Devon Pryor is a freakshow athlete, who will buff up this wing protection. Elon switch TK Simpkins simply must be a stable secondary scorer, and the Geese shall be in enterprise. Dana Altman additionally has amassed actual depth within the frontline with Ege Demir and Sean Stewart.
This crew can completely do harm as a result of it has a dude at lead guard and an absolute monster at middle.
6. Michigan State
Breakdown: Protection must be the calling card for these Spartans. Jeremy Fears Jr. can definitely make a run at Huge Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months, and Tom Izzo has a steady of sturdy huge fellas, specifically Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper and Cam Ward, to implement MSU’s calling playing cards as glass-cleaners. As per traditional, when you let Michigan State run, you are at risk. Junior wing Coen Carr is possibly the very best athlete in all of school basketball. No rim is secure when he is on the ground, and he is one other weapon defensively.
The draw back with Michigan State is a halfcourt offense that does not venture to have a ton of juice. The guard depth is simply not the identical after Tre Holloman, Jase Richardson and Jaden Akins all departed. Samford switch Trey Fort can fill it up, however can he defend on the required degree? Izzo is banking on an emergence from sophomore Kur Teng and even freshman Jordan Scott, who has impressed in preseason exercises. A season-ending patellar harm to prized FAU switch Kaleb Glenn is a serious bummer that can have real-deal ramifications on this depth chart. The margin for error is skinny, however a blanketing protection, glorious rebounding and a turbo transition assault can take you a heck of a great distance.
7. Wisconsin
Breakdown: Wisconsin’s offense misplaced sterling offensive coordinator Kirk Penney, however these classes discovered are right here to remain. The Badgers’ offense has the items to shred, but once more. Nick Boyd is a lightning-quick veteran lead guard, John Blackwell is a flat-out stud and Wisconsin’s frontcourt mixture of Austin Rapp and Nolan Winter can each stretch the ground and drill 3-pointers. Wisconsin may have a great deal of capturing on the ground always, and Virginia switch Andrew Rohde provides Greg Gard one more guard who can move, dribble and shoot at an environment friendly degree.
Wisconsin is not fairly as deep, however the Badgers’ player-development program has made a dwelling for years, spawning helpful position gamers out of relative anonymity. It must do it once more in 2025-26 to spherical out the rotation. Protection in the end controls Wisconsin’s ceiling as a Huge Ten championship contender. Winter must be a two-way star and a real-deal anchor defensively for the Badgers to go on a deep run.
8. Iowa
Breakdown: A wizard level guard like Bennett Stirtz and a very good coach in Ben McCollum give Iowa an opportunity to compete each night time. This mind-meld between coach and level guard is a floor-raising mixture, and Iowa has a dynamic motion shooter in Brendan Hausen, a number of glorious cutters and a pointy secondary playmaker in Alvaro Folgueiras so as to add a bit extra selection to the Stirtz Present.
McCollum should get inventive defensively as a result of this roster does not have a confirmed conventional middle and may very well be slightly gentle in its britches for the Huge Ten brutes. Oh, and Iowa goes to play sooner than you assume. Be a buddy, inform a buddy.
9. USC
Breakdown: USC goes to be improved in 12 months 2 underneath Eric Musselman as a result of the inside protection will leap from a serious weak spot to a big energy. Jacob Cofie, Amarion Dickerson and 7-5 middle Gabe Dynes have been vital portal provides to buff up that protection.
Oh, and it paid the massive bucks for Rodney Rice and Chad Baker-Mazara, who’re confirmed high-major flamethrowers.
A preseason knee harm to five-star freshman Alijah Arenas is a serious bummer, nevertheless it’s opened the door for UNC Asheville switch Jordan Marsh to get extra burn at level guard. Marsh’s willingness to deal with the creator position ought to enable Rice and Baker-Mazara to be a bit extra snug as off-ball scorers.
USC has some, uh, volatility in its profile, however the expertise is so apparent and the depth is actual. The protection shall be very, very stiff. Like top-30 within the nation. I am assured of that. The offense could not look fairly some nights, however Musselman has sufficient bites on the apple on this roster to discover a mixture that is ok to get the Trojans again to the Huge Dance.
10. Ohio State
Breakdown: Purdue and Ohio State have been the one high-major groups to return their three greatest gamers. Bruce Thornton gives 17 factors an evening on elite effectivity. John ‘Juni’ Mobley Jr. could very effectively be the very best shooter in the complete league, and Devin Royal is a mismatch-hunting downside. The Buckeyes’ offense simply has to hum, particularly after the sharp addition of Santa Clara 7-foot switch Christoph Tilly. The large fella has a formidable mixture of measurement, capturing and really feel as a connector.
However Ohio State’s personnel defensively is not something to put in writing house about. When Ohio State wanted a cease final 12 months, it could not get one. Opponents racked up an absurd 135.3 offensive ranking in opposition to Ohio State in clutch time, per CBB Analytics. That was the worst within the Huge Ten. Freshman ahead A’mare Bynum is a succesful inside defender and must be able to go. If Ohio State’s protection can keep contained in the top-50 nationally, it can make the Huge Dance and ease the scrutiny on Jake Diebler.
11. Indiana
Breakdown: Indiana’s mixture of ability and capturing jumps off the tape. Tucker DeVries and Lamar Wilkerson are skilled net-shredders, and toolsy 6-10 huge man Reed Bailey has the deal with, imaginative and prescient and slippery drives that draw comparisons to former Michigan star Danny Wolf. Indiana is primed to take a ton of treys in 2025-26, which can really feel like paradise after 4 years of ending final or second-to-last within the Huge Ten in 3-point charge underneath Mike Woodson.
Control the purpose guard play. Troy switch Tayton Conerway and DePaul switch Conor Enright have to ace their roles. Indiana desperately wants its zoom-zoom guards to stress the rim persistently and create these open 3-pointers. Darian DeVries additionally wants ’em to be nasty point-of-attack defenders as a result of the inside protection goes to be a serious trigger for concern. When Indiana’s 3-pointers are dropping, the Hoosiers may beat anybody within the league. However a shaky rim protection may result in some rocky moments. Florida switch huge man Sam Alexis must be an asset.
12. Washington
Breakdown: Washington is all-in on making a critical surge in 12 months 2 underneath Danny Sprinkle. There are legitimately 12 or 13 guys on this roster who may get minutes in a Huge Ten recreation tomorrow. The combat for minutes and roles shall be fierce.
It is laborious to completely illustrate simply how improved Washington’s guard play shall be after the inflow of Wesley Yates III (baller), Desmond Claude (bucket, however it’s a must to do it his method), Quimari Peterson (baller) and four-star freshman JJ Mandaquit (baller). It is a sharp mixture of set-the-table guys, halfcourt isolation bucket-getters, floor-spacers and transition menaces in that group.
Yates must be Washington’s greatest free agent addition, however solely by a hair as a result of German freshman Hannes Steinbach goes to be a flat-out stud. The 6-foot-11 huge man has terrific arms and is a double-double machine. He earned my vote for Huge Ten Freshman of the 12 months on this train.
The depth and optionality on this roster is so obvious. UW is an NCAA Event crew in 2025-26.
13. Maryland
Breakdown: Maryland goes to hit you underneath new head coach Buzz Williams. The Terrapins’ front-line trio of Elijah Saunders, Solomon Washington and Pharrel Payne is among the most bodily items within the league. Offensive rebounding and inside protection must be actual strengths of this membership, however guard play is the separator between good and nice on this league. Can Williams, lengthy a beacon of positivity, instill confidence again into Myles Rice? Isaiah Watts, Darius Adams and Diggy Coit can all spherical out this backcourt rotation, however the Terps cannot return to the Huge Dance with out Rice being a stud once more.
This roster has strengths that journey within the Huge Ten each night time, however the Terps have been snake-bitten within the preseason, shedding Kansas switch wing Rakease Passmore to an Achilles harm and Washington to a multi-week ankle harm. Maryland has to get Washington again into the combo to achieve the height of its powers defensively. He is one of many elite wing defenders in all of school basketball.
14. Nebraska
Breakdown: A wholesome Rienk Mast is an issue. The Nebraska huge man simply makes the Huskers go as a pick-and-pop weapon who can rating inside and outside and move the ever-lovin’ cowl off the rock. Fred Hoiberg is among the greatest offensive masterminds in faculty basketball, and he may have at the least one dynamic shooter on the ground always with Pryce Sandfort or Connor Essegian. Nebraska additionally well loaded up on a cavalry of playable huge males behind Mast, highlighted by Central Michigan switch Ugnius Jarusevicius and returning junior Berke Buyuktuncel, who might be probably the greatest defenders within the league.
In the end, guard play may decide whether or not Nebraska is dancing. Jamarques Lawrence is primed to get the primary crack at that ultra-important position.
15. Northwestern
Breakdown: Nick Martinelli and his unguardable “flipper” is again to defend his Huge Ten scoring title. Good luck and greatest needs attempting to maintain him underneath 20 an evening. Chris Collins’ supporting forged will look vastly totally different, however there’s expertise right here. Jitterbug level guard Jayden Reid will convey some pizzazz, and sophomore KJ Windham is a large breakout candidate. He simply lives within the gymnasium and positively confirmed what he may do down the stretch as a freshman. Holy Cross switch Max Inexperienced and top-100 freshman Tre Singleton are fascinating younger bets who ought to stick on this rotation, too.
Cincinnati switch Arrinten Web page is shaping as much as be a large X-Issue. It is virtually unimaginable for Northwestern’s protection to remain afloat with out Web page providing actual attraction as a bodily specimen and terrifying rim protector.
16. Minnesota
Breakdown: Niko Medved has constructed a veteran-laden lineup stacked stuffed with complementary skillsets. His layered, exact offense could be a huge wing’s paradise, particularly when you can shoot. Enter Cade Tyson. The downtrodden North Carolina switch seems to be each bit the a part of a revival candidate on this scheme, and Minnesota has two guards (Isaac Asuma and Chansey Willis Jr.) who ought to mesh effectively collectively. There’s capturing, playmaking and plenty of wing depth on this roster, specifically Bobby Durkin and Jaylen Crocker-Johnson.
The middle trio of Robert Vaihola, Nehemiah Turner or Grayson Grove does not encourage a ton of confidence, however Medved has made a profession doing extra with much less.
17. Rutgers
Breakdown: Protection must be the secret for Steve Pikiell’s group to seek out any success. Junior guard Jamichael Davis can warmth up the ball. Emmanuel Ogbole is a large inside defender. Dylan Grant leads a steady of huge wings that Pikiell may have at his disposal. However it’s laborious to see this offense discovering pathways to success on a nightly foundation. Tariq Francis stepback 3-pointers? Darren Buchanan bully-ball drives? Harun Zrno is so clearly going to should be a bucket-getter to outlive within the Huge Ten.
This roster simply does not look as much as par with its Huge Ten counterparts.
Dylan Harper, you might be missed.
18. Penn State
Breakdown: Prized freshman Kayden Mingo and returning guard Freddie Dilione V shall be Penn State’s prime trigger-men all 12 months, however Mike Rhoades wants a few of his upside swings to attach in a serious technique to flirt with a NCAA Event bid. Freshman Turkish guard Melih Tunca gives capturing and playmaking attraction. Eli Rice is lastly wholesome and will add some floor-spacing pop with nice positional measurement at 6-8.
However this roster took a large hit after Yanic Konan Niederhauser vaulted right into a first-round choose late within the pre-draft course of. Penn State had critical capital tied up with the hopes of getting the 7-footer again to Completely satisfied Valley for 12 months 2, nevertheless it was not meant to be. The fallout is apparent. This frontcourt room is among the least-proven, high-major items within the Huge Ten. Croatian huge man Ivan Juric or UIC switch Sasa Ciani higher be as much as the problem, or this inside protection may get pulverized.