Ranking the Big Ten Basketball Teams for 2011

 How the Big Ten Basketball Teams Rank for 2011!  Michigan State: They will get a healthy Kalin back after making a run without him. Unlike other

 

Spartan fans will be smiling, but I doubt the Wolverines will when the 2011 Big Ten basketball season is over. Photo courtesy of Mark Boomgaard

How the Big Ten Basketball Teams Rank for 2011!

 

1. Michigan State: They will get a healthy Kalin back after making a run without him. Unlike other schools that are also getting good freshmen talent, they won’t have to rely on them as heavily. They also have the best coach in the country. Draymond, Korie and Durrell are having great off seasons along with Roe getting healthy and the two bigs (Sherman and Nix) maturing.
2. Purdue: Hummel battled injuries last year and they still did well. I think the loss of Kramer is much bigger than anyone thinks. That one loss is what I think makes the difference.
3. Ohio State: They lose Turner and that hurts. At the end, Turner showed some blatant signs of being about himself and selfish and his loss could make them want to prove they weren’t all about him. Needing to rely on freshmen is dangerous and that is why I have them this low.
4. Illinois: Illinois has a great mix of experience and youth. I think Weber is way underrated and the abuse he gets from their fans amazes me. If his veteran players can mature more this off-season, they could go as high as three. This is a very solid and good team with some youth. Again, they would have to rely on too many freshmen to be rated much higher than this.
5. Northwestern: The Wildcats will have three key players back in Shurna, Coble and Crawford. This will be Coach Carmody’s best team ever and should make the dance after getting shafted last year.
6. Wisconsin: Can the Badgers get points from the three-point line and the long two? We know what Ryan somehow manages to get inside each year, but how far can they come and how fast? The best coach in the Big Ten tournament will have to show what he can do in the regular season.
7. Minnesota: They lost talent, but they kept a lot and you can’t underestimate Tubby Smith. They will make another NCAA appearance, but at some point Tubby will bolt, after 2011 wouldn’t shock me.
8. Indiana: They will be an NIT team in 2011, but not ready to make the next step. IU fans will be in an uproar when 2011 ends.
9. Penn State: With Battle back they will continue to be effective, not great, but effective. Their frontcourt will be improved.
10. Iowa: New head coach Fran McCaffery is a great coach and was a good hire. His system will do well in Iowa and I expect him to succeed, but not in 2011.
11. Michigan: The Wolverines lost a lot, and are small. Only Novak returns and they will need a lot from a lot of young players. I like Coach B, but this is going to be a horrendous year in Ann Arbor.