We’re just over three months away from the start of the 2024-25 college basketball season.
As he does each year, well-known national college basketball reporters Jon Rothstein published his annual Big Ten power rankings for College Hoops Today, and also named his All-Big Ten first team, key freshmen and transfers to know, and more.
As expected by most, the 18-team league’s two Indiana-based teams are expected to be fighting at the top for the league crown.
Rothstein ranked defending champion Purdue as his top team, with Indiana coming in second.
For Purdue, Rothstein projects a smaller starter lineup that would include Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, Myles Colvin, Cam Heide and Trey Kaufman-Renn.
Rothstein’s IU starting lineup is in line with what most expect — Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau, and Oumar Ballo.
Rothstein named Smith his preseason league player of the year, and he included Ballo on the league’s first team.
Among 15 anticipated impact freshmen in the Big Ten, Rothstein named IU 5-star Bryson Tucker.
Transfers are expected to play a key role for IU, and Rothstein named four of Indiana’s five on two lists. He says Ballo, Rice and Caryle are all part of 20 “impact Big Ten transfers,” and Luke Goode is one of 15 “under-the-radar” Big Ten transfers.
Rothstein named 10 Big Ten breakout players, but didn’t include anyone from IU.
Check out his complete analysis for full league power rankings and players to know.
Indiana opens the 2024-25 season on Nov. 6 against SIU Edwardsville.
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