Summer camp is here! Most roster spots have been filled and the new transfers and recruits are reporting to campus. As the dust starts to settle, we graded each Big Ten team’s offseason.
Well it was an eventful offseason for the Big Ten! Several fanbases expectations for their team have gone sky high while others have taken a 100 foot dive.
For some teams with open scholarships, there is still some extra credit available to improve their grade. For now, we can only grade on the work that has been completed.
All right, let’s pass out the grades!
Illinois
Moving On: Matthew Mayer
Transfers Out: Skyy Clark, Jayden Epps, RJ Melendez, Brandon Lieb
Transfers In: Marcus Domask, Quincy Guerrier, Justin Harmon
Recruits: Amani Hansberry, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn
Key Returning: Terrence Shannon Jr, Coleman Hawkins, Ty Rodgers, Dain Dainja, Sencire Harris, Luke Goode
Illinois brought in real talent from the portal in Marcus Domask, Quincy Guerrier and Justin Harmon. The Illini have another solid couple of freshmen in Amani Hansberry and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn coming to Champaign too. However, they failed to address the point guard situation missing on several guys. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins both returning bring a lot of optimism regardless of who brings the ball up.
Grade: B
Indiana
Moving On: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Race Thompson
Transfers Out:Tamar Bates, Jordan Geronimo, Logan Duncomb
Transfers In: Kel’el Ware, Payton Sparks, Anthony Walker
Recruits: Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, Jakai Newton
Key Returning: Xavier Johnson, Malik Reneau, Trey Galloway, CJ Gunn, Kaleb Banks
Mike Woodson did a tremendous job to overhaul the roster in the Post-Trayce Jackson Davis era. Grabbing a former top 10 recruit in Kel’el Ware and being opportunistic to grab another top 10 recruit in Mackenzie Mgbako sealed a great offseason even if they missed on some targets.
Grade: A+
Iowa
Moving On: Kris Murray, Connor McCaffery, Filip Rebraca
Transfers Out: Ahron Ulis, Josh Ogundele
Transfers In: Ben Krikke, Even Brauns
Recruits: Pryce Sandfort, Ladji Dembele, Brock Harding, Owen Freeman
Key Returning: Tony Perkins, Patrick McCaffery, Payton Sandfort, Dasonte Bowen, Josh Dix
The Hawkeyes did the hard thing in todays College Basketball: keep your players. Losing only Ahron Ulis and Ogundele to the transfer portal is key for the player development that Iowa thrives off of. See the Murray brothers, Luka Garza, Joe Weiskamp, etc. So is landing a good recruiting class. Ladji Dembele, Owen Freeman and Brock Harding are promising young players while Pryce Sandfort continues the family traditions in Iowa City. The offseason is rounded out with transfers Ben Krikke and Even Brauns who look to fill the vacant frontcourt.
Grade: B-
Maryland
Moving On: Don Carey
Transfers Out:Hakim Hart, Ian Martinez, Ike Cornish, others
Transfers In: Jordan Geronimo, Mady Traore, Chance “Sniper” Stephens
Recruits: Deshawn Harris-Smith, Jamie Kaiser, Jahnathan Lamothe, Braden Pierce
Key Returning: Jahmir Young, Donta Scott, Julian Reese, Jahari Long, Noah Batchelor
Kevin Willard is bringing in a strong recruiting class in his first full cycle highlighted by DeShawn Harris-Smith and Jamie Kaiser. Pair that with some experienced transfers in Mady Traore, Jordan Geronimo, and Chance “Sniper” Stephens and everything should fill in nicely around Jahmir Young, Donta Scott, and Julian Reese. The Terps get dinged for losing Hakim Hart to Villanova and missing on Hunter Dickinson. Still, a solid offseason should have Maryland fans excited for the future under Willard.
Grade: B+
Michigan
Moving On: Kobe Bufkin, Jett Howard
Transfers Out: Hunter Dickinson, Gregg Glenn, Isaiah Barnes
Transfers In: Olivier Nkamouah, Nimari Burnett, Tray Jackson
Recruits: George Washington III
Key Returning: Jaelin Llewellyn, Dug McDaniel, Terrance Williams, Tarris Reed Jr, Youssef Khayat
Michigan had one of the toughest off seasons in the Big Ten. Losing their best three players in Kobe Bufkin, Jett Howard and Hunter Dickinson and replacing them with Nimari Burnett, Tray Jackson and Olivier Nkamhoua isn’t a great look. I like George Washington III a lot but losing their only other recruit in Kante is another tough blow. Michigan has some potential to improve their grade with some scholarship spots open, but the well of talent has dried up at this point.
Grade: D
Michigan State
Moving On: Joey Hauser
Transfers Out: Pierre Brooks
Transfers In: None
Recruits: Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears Jr, Coen Carr, Gherig Normand
Key Returning:Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, Jaden Akins, Malik Hall, Mady Sissoko, Tre Holloman, Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper
MSU had the best offseason of any team in the Big Ten bringing back Tyson Walker, Malik Hall, AJ Hoggard, Jaden Akins, etc. and adding one of the best recruiting classes in the country headlined by Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears.
The Spartans lose Joey Hauser and Pierre Brooks, but with the reinforcements coming and all the experience retained it will be Final Four or Bust expectations in East Lansing.
Grade: A+
Minnesota
Moving On: Taurus Samuels
Transfers Out: Jamison Battle, Ta’Lon Cooper, Jaden Henley, Treyton Thompson
Transfers In: Mike Mitchell Jr, Elijah Hawkins
Recruits: Cameron Christie, Kristupas Keinys
Key Returning: Dawson Garcia, Braeden Carrington, Pharrel Payne, Josh Ola-Joseph, Isaiah Ihnen
The Golden Gophers are a tough eval. On one hand, they lost two of their three best players in Jamison Battle and Ta’Lon Cooper. On the other, they gained two rising junior guards with some pop in Mike Mitchell Jr. and Elijah Hawkins. Cameron Christie is a good recruit, Keinys is a mystery, but losing 5-Star big Dennis Evans really hurts. Coach Ben Johnson and Minnesota will need a big jump from the ‘22 class to make the needle move.
Grade: C
Nebraska
Moving On: Derrick Walker Jr, Sam Griesel, Emmanuel Bandoumel
Transfers Out: Denim Dawson, Quaran McPherson, Oleg Kojenets, Wilhelm Breidenbach
Transfers In: Rienk Mast, Brice Williams, Ahron Ulis, Josiah Allick
Recruits: Eli Rice
Key Returning: Keisei Tominaga, CJ Wilcher, Juwan Gary, Jamarques Lawrence, Ramel Lloyd Jr
Nebraska lost seven players including stars like Derrick Walker Jr. and Sam Griesel but replaced them with a lot of talent. Rienk Mast, Brice Williams, Ahron Ulis and Josiah Allick are all experienced players ready to make an impact. Ramel Lloyd Jr is a top 120 recruit coming off a redshirt to join Eli Rice to add some youth and potential. International superstar Keisei Tominaga returning adds a little more pop for a solid offseason for Coach Hoiberg and Big Red.
Grade: B
Northwestern
Moving On: Chase Audige
Transfers Out: Robbie Beran, Julian Roper
Transfers In: Ryan Langborg, Justin Mullins, Blake Preston
Recruits: Jordan Clayton, Blake Barkley, Parker Strauss
Key Returning: Boo Buie, Ty Berry, Matthew Nicholson, Brooks Barnhizer, Nick Martinelli
Northwestern had a nice summer bringing back their All-Big Ten guard Boo Buie and adding three productive transfers to fill in around the edges. The freshmen likely will have small roles this year but will develop and be important going forward. Losing Chase Audige hurts but the Cats are ready to run it back after their 2nd place finish in conference last year.
Grade: B+
Ohio State
Moving On: Brice Sensabaugh, Justise Sueing, Isaac Likele, Sean McNeil
Transfers Out: Eugene Brown, Tanner Holden, Seth Towns
Transfers In: Jamison Battle, Evan Mahaffey, Dale Bonner
Recruits: Taison Chatman, Scotty Middleton, Devin Royal, Austin Parks
Key Returning: Zed Key, Bruce Thornton, Felix Okpara, Roddy Gayle Jr
OSU will bring in one of the best recruiting classes in the country to pair with the exciting potential of the ‘22 class members Bruce Thornton, Felix Okpara, and Roddy Gayle. Add in Coach Holtmann poaching 3 power five transfers in Jamison Battle (Minnesota), Evan Mahaffey (Penn State) and Dale Bonner (Baylor) and it was another great offseason revamp for the Buckeyes. Can they turn this year’s offseason hype into in-season success?
Grade: A
Penn State
Moving On: Jalen Pickett, Seth Lundy, Andrew Funk, Camren Wynter
Transfers Out: Kebba Njie, Evan Mahaffey, Caleb Dorsey, Dallion Johnson
Transfers In: Qudus Wahab, Rayquawndis Mitchell, Ace Baldwin, Nick Kern, Zach Hicks, Puff Johnson, Leo O’Boyle, D’Marco Dunn, Favour Aire
Recruits: Bragi Guomundsson
Key Returning: Kanye Clary, Demetrius Lilley, Jameel Brown
Nobody in the Big Ten had more turnover than Penn State with Shrewsbury leaving. Coach Rhodes capitalized on the new transfer era and brought in big upside players from the portal like Ace Bailey, Puff Johnson, D’Marco Dunn, Rayquawndis Mitchell, etc. In year one, Rhoades already has a roster he can go to war with.
Grade: A-
Purdue
Moving On: David Jenkins
Transfers Out: Brandon Newman
Transfers In: Lance Jones
Recruits: Myles Colvin
Key Returning: Zach Edey, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Mason Gillis, Caleb Furst, Trey Kaufman-Renn
A top 10 team all of last season lost two bench players, Newman and Jenkins, and replaced them with a top 100 recruit Myles Colvin, a grad transfer and defensive specialist in Lance Jones, and two Redshirt Freshmen in Camden Heide and Will Berg. The Boilermakers also return the best player in College Basketball in Zach Edey. Could the transfer portal maybe have been more exciting? Sure, but boring offseasons have lead to great regular seasons for Purdue the past few years.
Grade: B-
Rutgers
Moving On: Caleb McConnell
Transfers Out: Paul Mulcahy, Cam Spencer, Oskar Palmquist, Dean Reiber, Jalen Miller, Logan Stephens
Transfers In: Noah Fernandes
Recruits: Gavin Griffiths, Jamichael Davis, Emmanuel Ogbole
Key Returning: Cliff Omoruyi, Mawot Mag, Aundre Hyatt, Derek Simpson, Antwone Woolfolk
An exodus from New Jersey has seen Coach Pikiell lose cornerstones of last year’s team in Paul Mulcahy, Caleb McConnell, and Cam Spencer. In total, Rutgers lost 6 players to the portal and only brought in Noah Fernandes. Keeping Mawot Mag, Aundre Hyatt and Cliff Omoruyi prevents the Scarlet Knights from getting a D. Let’s hope Derek Simpson and 4-star freshman Gavin Griffiths ball out because otherwise this Rutgers roster could be in trouble. Until then, Rutgers fans are on pins and needles for Dylan Harper news.
Grade: C-
Wisconsin
Moving On: Jahcobi Neath
Transfers Out: Jordan Davis
Transfers In: AJ Storr
Recruits: Gus Yalden, Nolan Winter, John Blackwell
Key Returning: Tyler Wahl, Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl, Connor Essegian, Markus Ilver
Wisconsin is up there with Purdue for the most returning talent in the conference. Bringing Tyler Wahl back and adding upside players like AJ Storr and Gus Yalden to last year’s core should have Badger fans excited. Coach Gard has a team poised to return to the top of the conference standings in ‘23-24.