A Big Ten men’s basketball preseason poll conducted by writers from The Athletic and The Columbus Dispatch was released on Monday as Big Ten media days kicked off in Minneapolis.
After nearly slipping out of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Indiana Hoosiers were tabbed as the preseason favorites in the poll, which is not the official Big Ten preseason poll. Trayce Jackson-Davis (18.3 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game in 2021-22), who was the poll’s preseason Player of the Year, returns for Mike Woodson’s squad, along with second-team honoree Xavier Johnson. Five-star recruit and now Indiana freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino joins the fray as well as the Hoosiers look for their first conference title in seven years.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers did not receive such a favorable prospectus and were predicted to finish last in the Big Ten after a 10-22 season overall and 4-16 record in conference play last season. The Huskers’ mark in Big Ten action matched Minnesota for the worst in the conference.
None of the Huskers’ hoopers received a vote in any all-conference team voting but Nebraska’s youthful new-look group could be candidates to surprise.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg no longer has the services of Alonzo Verge, Kobe Webster and both Trey and Bryce McGowens, the latter of which was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft by Charlotte Hornets.
Transfers Sam Griesel (14.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.4 APG in 2021 at North Dakota State), Emmanuel Bandoumel (10.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG at SMU) and Juwan Gary (6.5 PPG at Alabama) will infuse new blood on the court in Lincoln, along with a crop of JUCO transfers and freshman Ramel Lloyd, a four-star recruit out of nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon High School in California.
The Huskers’ biggest returner is senior forward Derrick Walker, who started every game last year. Walker led Nebraska in rebounds and broke the Huskers’ single-season record for field goal percentage by shooting 68.3% from the field.
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The results of the poll are listed below, with each team’s number of total voting points, first-place votes and all-conference honorees, according to the poll.
#14: Nebraska
Derrick Walker
Mar 9, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Derrick Walker (13) shoots the ball while Northwestern Wildcats center Ryan Young (15) defends in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 42
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: None
#13: Northwestern
Nebraska Cornhuskers, Bryce McGowens
Feb 5, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Bryce McGowens (5) drives against Northwestern Wildcats guard Chase Audige (1) in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 56
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Boo Buie (receiving votes)
#12: Minnesota,
Feb 9, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Bryce McGowens (5) moves against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Sean Sutherlin (24) in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 86
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Jamison Battle (2nd team), Dawson Garcia (receiving votes for Transfer of the Year and for all-conference)
#11: Penn State
Mar 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Seth Lundy (1) shoots the ball while Ohio State Buckeyes guard Cedric Russell (2) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 118
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Jalen Pickett (receiving votes)
#10: Maryland
Feb 18, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Donta Scott (24) dribbles up court against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 153
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Donta Scott (receiving votes), Jahmir Young (receiving votes for all-conference and Transfer of the Year)
#9: Wisconsin
Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl (5) reacts after being fouled after hitting a basket against Colgate during the second half in their first round game in the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum on Friday.
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Points: 191
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Chucky Hepburn (2nd team), Tyler Wahl (2nd team)
#8: Rutgers
Jan 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) defends a late shot by Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Bryce McGowens (5) in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 202
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Clifford Omoruyi (1st team), Caleb McConnell (receiving votes), Paul Mulcahy (receiving votes)
#7: Iowa
Iowa twin basketball forwards Keegan Murray, right, and Kris Murray, left, smile on the bench during a game against Northwestern, Feb. 28, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Points: 235
First-place votes: 1
All-conference honorees: Kris Murray (1st team, receiving votes for Player of the Year), Patrick McCaffrey (receiving votes)
#6: Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Justice Sueing (14) goes up for a shot while guarded by Michigan State Spartans forward Aaron Henry (0) during Sunday’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on January 31, 2021. Ohio State won the game 79-62.
Points: 253
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Justice Sueing (receiving votes), Zed Key (receiving votes), Brice Sensabaugh (receiving votes for Freshman of the Year)
#5: Purdue
Jan 14, 2022; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Bryce McGowens (5) drives toward the basket against Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) during the first half at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 279
First-place votes: 1
All-conference honorees: Zach Edey (1st team)
#4: Michigan State
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo talks to forward Gabe Brown during the second half of MSU’s 85-76 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Greenville, South Carolina.
Points: 281
First-place votes: 0
All-conference honorees: Malik Hall (receiving votes), AJ Hoggard (receiving votes), Tyson Walker (receiving votes), Tre Holloman (receiving votes for Freshman of the Year)
#3: Michigan
Mar 19, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) celebrates defeating the Tennessee Volunteers during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 328
First-place votes: 1
All-conference honorees: Hunter Dickinson (Player of the Year), Jett Howard (receiving votes for Freshman of the Year), Jaelin Llewellyn (receiving votes for all-conference team and Transfer of the Year)
#2: Illinois
Mar 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Coleman Hawkins (33) reacts to a call against the Houston Cougars in the first half during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 339
First-place votes: 6
All-conference honorees: Terrence Shannon (Transfer of the Year, 2nd team), Matthew Mayer (receiving votes for all-conference and Transfer of the Year), Coleman Hawkins (receiving votes), RJ Melendez (receiving votes), Skyy Clark (receiving votes for Freshman of the Year), Ty Rodgers (receiving votes for Freshman of the Year)
#1: Indiana
Mar 17, 2022; Portland, OR, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) and guard Xavier Johnson (0) high-five against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the first half during the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Points: 377
First-place votes: 19
All-conference honorees: Trayce Jackson-Davis (1st team, receiving votes for Player of the Year), Jalen Hood-Schifino (Freshman of the Year), Xavier Johnson (2nd team), Race Thompson (receiving votes)
Story originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire
