B1G Predictions: Preseason

By Jacob Lipnik on November 16, 2014

Big Ten basketball is finally back this week, to save us all from the absolute tedium that is the conference’s football season. The Big Ten should once again be one of the best, if not the best, conferences in the country. It boasts the pre-season 3rd ranked team in the country, in Wisconsin, as well as three teams in the top 20 overall and five in the top 25. And with many of those teams being filled with young, inexperienced lineups, they should only improve as the season goes on. But who, in this loaded conference, will be the best player? The most improved player? Who will be the best coach? I’m here to answer all of those questions; here are my 2014 preseason Big Ten predictions:

Freshman of the year: D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State

Ohio State lost a lot from last year’s team, but one of the most notable departures is Laquinton Ross, who shouldered much of the offensive workload. While reliable guards Shannon Scott and Sam Thompson return, both specialize in defense, not offense. So going into this season, the biggest question mark for the Buckeyes is: who will score? That’s where D’Angelo Russell comes in. This true freshman shooting guard from Kentucky, a top 20 recruit according to just about every recruiting site, is going to come in right away and carry the scoring load for his team. He’s got a smooth jump shot and can flat out make big plays. And in an offense barren of many other scoring threats, he’ll have plenty of opportunity to put up big numbers. As one of the top scorers on a solid Ohio State team, Russell is a safe bet to win top freshman honors in the conference.

Most Improved Player: Zak Irvin, Michigan

If there’s one thing Michigan’s basketball program has been known for the last few years, it’s been huge player improvements between the freshman and sophomore years. Zak Irvin is poised to be the next Wolverine to make that leap. Last season, he was one of the best three point shooters in the conference, knocking down over 43% of his three-point attempts. While he wasn’t as prolific driving to the basket, draining mid-range jumpers, or setting up teammates, he didn’t need to be—and he wasn’t asked to be. He was much like Nik Stauskas his freshman year: a three-point specialist not asked to do anything else on a team already packed with other stars. And look what Stauskas did his sophomore year, when he had the chance to be the star. Irvin should make that same jump as Stauskas; with Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III, and Mitch McGary all gone, Michigan needs playmakers besides Caris LeVert to step up, and Irvin will be that guy, showing he is much more than just a shooter.

via flickr.com

Coach of the Year: John Beilein, Michigan

Call this a homer pick if you want, but Beilein has proven that he can do more with less than any coach in the conference over the last few seasons. This year should be no different. I expect Beilein to figure out how to make his young, inexperienced roster click in all the right ways, putting them in place to be one of the top few teams in the league. And doing that with only two juniors playing meaningful minutes and potentially two freshman in the starting lineup is award-worthy in my eyes.

Player of the Year: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin

This one is easy. Kaminsky is the best player on by far the best team in the conference—he’s even considered one of the top players in the entire country, making the preseason All-American team. After his breakout year last season, Kaminsky should be even better in 2014-2015. With the ability to post up and to step back and drain threes, he’s almost impossible to stop on the offensive side of the ball. He holds his own on defense, too. Kaminsky is going to be dominant in the Big Ten this year, and will be a huge reason why Wisconsin wins the next award on this list.

via flickr.com

Conference champion: Wisconsin

This is another easy pick. After reaching the Final Four last season, Wisconsin returns its entire roster except for senior shooting guard Ben Brust. But sophomore guard Bronson Koenig should fill in for his production just as well, and maybe even better. Nigel Hayes should make a huge jump from an already very impressive freshman campaign—apparently he can shoot threes now too, which is a terrifying prospect to the rest of the Big Ten. I’ve already talked about Kaminsky, but Sam Dekker might be just as good; a potential lottery pick in the NBA draft, he could even challenge Kaminsky for player of the year honors. And leading all of this talent is senior point guard Traevon Jackson, a steady hand prone to very few mistakes. Simply stated, Wisconsin is loaded. They are the prohibitive favorite to win the Big Ten—and maybe even the national championship.

 

 

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