Offseason Grades for Every Big Ten Basketball Team

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.