I wanted to do a preview of BT teams this year.......what follows are my prediction for the #8-14 teams, for conversation. I've tried to be as accurate as possible, but if you see mistakes let me know......
8. Ohio State:
--Duane Washington....6'3" 210 lbs
--CJ Walker..................6'1" 205 lbs
--Kyle Young.................6'8" 225 lbs
--EJ Liddell....................6'7" 240 lbs
--Ibrahima Diallo...........6'10" 220 lbs
--Justin Ahrens..............6'6" 195 lbs
--Musa Jallow................6'5" 210 lbs
--Seth Towns..................6'8" 230 lbs.......Harvard grad T
--Justice Suenig.............6'6" 210 lbs........Cal Transfer
--Eugene Brown.............6'6" 185 lbs........Freshman, #100 Rivals
--Zed Key........................6'8" 245 lbs........Freshman, #113 Rivals
--Comments & Questions: This placement for OSU depends on Towns being able to come back after missing 2 years with injury. He was the Ivy League PoY in '18, and a #1-3 grad transfer this year even with the injury ??s. Suenig was another good get, leading a bad Cal team in scoring and rebounding (14/6) 2 years ago. Liddell is said to be a breakout guy this year. Young has been injured, but is very valuable when healthy. Diallo would be a weak starting center.....Key may get early pt. OSU appears to have a higher ceiling than Purdue, but a lower floor if the injuries to Towns & Young don't work out in their favor. They also lack a true center. They need both to be healthy.
EDIT: I left off Abel Porter, a 6'3" grad transfer from Utah St. He's expected to be the main back-up to both starting guards. He sounds like a Dakich Jr. type...........
9. Purdue:
--Eric Hunter..........6'4" 175 lbs
--Travion Williams.6'9" 270 lbs
--Aaron Wheeler....6'9" 205 lbs
--Sasha Stefanovic 6'4" 190 lb
--Isaiah Thompson.6'1" 160 lbs
--Emanuel Dowuona.6'10" 230 lbs
--Brandon Newman.6'5" 190 lbs
--Jaden Ivey............6'4" 180 lbs
--Ethan Morton........6'6" 180 lbs
--Mason Gillis..........6'7" 210 lbs
--Comments & Questions: Purdue could be better than this if 1. Williams takes his game from 13/8.5 in BT play last year to 16/11. Can he do that, or will he level off? 2. Wheeler regains his mojo. He looked scary good sometimes as a freshman. Last he he just looked scary.
I know Purdue fans are bragging about Newman, Morton & Ivey....to me, they look to be about a wash with, say, Franklin, Geronimo, Galloway & Leal.
10. Minnesota:
--Marcus Carr.........6'2" 195 lbs
--Gabe Kalscheur...6'4" 200 lbs
--Isaiah Ihnen.........6'9" 210 lbs
--Jarvis Omersa.....6'6" 235 lbs
--Tre Williams.........6'5" 195 lbs
--Eric Curry.............6'9" 240 lbs.......Injured 2020
--Both Gach............6'6" 210 lbs**....Utah transfer
--Liam Robbins......7'0" 235 lbs.......Drake grad T
--Brandon Johnson.6'8" 220 lbs.......WM grad T
--David Mutaf..........6'5" 190 lbs.......Turkish freshman
--Jamal Mashburn JR 6'2" 175 lbs....Freshman, #119 Rivals
--Comments & Questions: This roster is quite the mishmash, but I like Minnesota's 2020 potential more than on some of the forecasts I've seen. Curry was a '20 starter until his injury. Robbins & Johnson are a more-than-capable transfer duo. Gach was Utah's 2nd leading scorer....he's a wildcard because he has to get a waiver to play this year. Mutaf and Mashburn are guys who might contribute as freshmen.
EDIT: I thought Robbins was already eligible for this year. Apparently (as of 8/5) he is still seeking a waiver. If he doesn't get a waiver it will be a huge deal to this MN team. They would have to go with Curry, 6-10 FR Matrice Mitchell, or 6-10 Soph Sam Freeman.....
11. Maryland:
--Eric Ayala...........6'5" 195 lbs
--Darryl Morsell.....6'5" 200 lbs
--Aaron Wiggons...6'6" 200 lbs
--Donta Scott.........6'7" 225 lbs
--Chol Marzial........7'2" 230 lbs
--Hakim Hart..........6'6" 200 lbs
--Galin Smith..........6'9" 240 lbs........'Bama Transfer
--Jarius Hamilton....6'8" 234 lbs........BC Transfer
--Arnoud Revaz.....6'10" 220 lbs......Swiss FR
--Comments & Questions: This not a good time to be a Maryland basketball fan. They really struck out on big-time pg recruits and grad transfers. Neither 6'1" Marcus Dockery nor 6'3" Aquian Smart were in Rivals top 150 last year, but one or both will have to see plenty of time in '20-'21. The news is not much better on the front line. Smith & Hamilton are mediocre grad transfers but both will see plenty of time. Marzial doesn't look ready to start. Hart wasn't very productive as a freshman. Revaz, from Switz., has experience in the EU18 league and might surprise. UCLA was also looking at him.
12. Penn State:
--Jamari Wheeler......6'1" 170 lbs
--Myron Jones...........6'3" 177 lbs
--Myles Dread...........6'4" 220 lbs
--Seth Lundy.............6'6" 219 lbs
--John Harrar............6'9" 240 lbs
--Izaiah Brockington..6'4" 200 lbs
--Valdir Manuel..........6'9" 225 lbs.....Freshman
--Abdou Tsimbila.......6'8" 230 lbs......Freshman
--Comments & Questions: PSU, like Maryland, needed 1 or 2 impact recruits, and didn't get them. They recruited 5 freshman, none of whom were top 150 guys for Rivals. The two listed seem like the most likely to play, due to need, Some people think Lundy might have a break-out year.
13. Northwestern:
--Boo Buie...............6'2" 180 lbs
--Miller Kopp............6'7" 210 lbs
--Pete Nance...........6'10" 225 lbs
--Ryan Young...........6'10" 235 lbs
--Ryan Grier.............6'2" 185 lbs
--Anthony Gaines.....6'4" 205 lbs
--Chase Audige........6'4" 200 lbs......Transfer from Bill & Mary
--Ty Berry..................6'3" 180 lbs......PG, #110 Rivals
--Comments & Questions: Boo looked like an emerging star last year, and Kopp's a nice player. Transfer Audige will probably start. Berry seemed underrated at #110 in Rivals.....he's also a candidate to start.
14. Nebraska:
--Thor Thorirjarnason....6'6" 206 lbs
--Yvan Ovedraogo.........6'9" 260 lbs
--Akol Arop....................6'6 190 lbs
--Teddy Allen.................6'5" 200 lbs.......JC transfer
--Kobe Webster.............6'0" 170 lbs.......WIU Transfer
--Lat Mayen...................6'9" 205 lbs........JC transfer
--Shamiel Stevenson.....6'6 245 lbs........Nevada Transfer
--Derrick Walker.............6'8' 235 lbs.......TENN Transfer
--Dalano Banton.............6'8" 195 lbs.......WK Transfer
--Eduardo Andre.............6'10" 220 lbs.....English Freshman
--Comments & Questions: Nebraska will be a very interesting team to watch in the non-conference, if only to see who will start. Only the first 2 players mentioned started last year. Allen was a Nebraska HS product who put up big scoring #s at the JC level. Webster, from Indy, was very successful at WIU, and looks like the starter at PG. Mayen had nice JC #s (esp. rebs) and will probably start. Stevenson started 13 games at Pitt as a frosh 2 years ago. Walker & Banton look like reaches. Andre is a freshman from London who was not in the Rivals 150, but who was also offered by Illinois, Maryland, and A&M.
8. Ohio State:
--Duane Washington....6'3" 210 lbs
--CJ Walker..................6'1" 205 lbs
--Kyle Young.................6'8" 225 lbs
--EJ Liddell....................6'7" 240 lbs
--Ibrahima Diallo...........6'10" 220 lbs
--Justin Ahrens..............6'6" 195 lbs
--Musa Jallow................6'5" 210 lbs
--Seth Towns..................6'8" 230 lbs.......Harvard grad T
--Justice Suenig.............6'6" 210 lbs........Cal Transfer
--Eugene Brown.............6'6" 185 lbs........Freshman, #100 Rivals
--Zed Key........................6'8" 245 lbs........Freshman, #113 Rivals
--Comments & Questions: This placement for OSU depends on Towns being able to come back after missing 2 years with injury. He was the Ivy League PoY in '18, and a #1-3 grad transfer this year even with the injury ??s. Suenig was another good get, leading a bad Cal team in scoring and rebounding (14/6) 2 years ago. Liddell is said to be a breakout guy this year. Young has been injured, but is very valuable when healthy. Diallo would be a weak starting center.....Key may get early pt. OSU appears to have a higher ceiling than Purdue, but a lower floor if the injuries to Towns & Young don't work out in their favor. They also lack a true center. They need both to be healthy.
EDIT: I left off Abel Porter, a 6'3" grad transfer from Utah St. He's expected to be the main back-up to both starting guards. He sounds like a Dakich Jr. type...........
9. Purdue:
--Eric Hunter..........6'4" 175 lbs
--Travion Williams.6'9" 270 lbs
--Aaron Wheeler....6'9" 205 lbs
--Sasha Stefanovic 6'4" 190 lb
--Isaiah Thompson.6'1" 160 lbs
--Emanuel Dowuona.6'10" 230 lbs
--Brandon Newman.6'5" 190 lbs
--Jaden Ivey............6'4" 180 lbs
--Ethan Morton........6'6" 180 lbs
--Mason Gillis..........6'7" 210 lbs
--Comments & Questions: Purdue could be better than this if 1. Williams takes his game from 13/8.5 in BT play last year to 16/11. Can he do that, or will he level off? 2. Wheeler regains his mojo. He looked scary good sometimes as a freshman. Last he he just looked scary.
I know Purdue fans are bragging about Newman, Morton & Ivey....to me, they look to be about a wash with, say, Franklin, Geronimo, Galloway & Leal.
10. Minnesota:
--Marcus Carr.........6'2" 195 lbs
--Gabe Kalscheur...6'4" 200 lbs
--Isaiah Ihnen.........6'9" 210 lbs
--Jarvis Omersa.....6'6" 235 lbs
--Tre Williams.........6'5" 195 lbs
--Eric Curry.............6'9" 240 lbs.......Injured 2020
--Both Gach............6'6" 210 lbs**....Utah transfer
--Liam Robbins......7'0" 235 lbs.......Drake grad T
--Brandon Johnson.6'8" 220 lbs.......WM grad T
--David Mutaf..........6'5" 190 lbs.......Turkish freshman
--Jamal Mashburn JR 6'2" 175 lbs....Freshman, #119 Rivals
--Comments & Questions: This roster is quite the mishmash, but I like Minnesota's 2020 potential more than on some of the forecasts I've seen. Curry was a '20 starter until his injury. Robbins & Johnson are a more-than-capable transfer duo. Gach was Utah's 2nd leading scorer....he's a wildcard because he has to get a waiver to play this year. Mutaf and Mashburn are guys who might contribute as freshmen.
EDIT: I thought Robbins was already eligible for this year. Apparently (as of 8/5) he is still seeking a waiver. If he doesn't get a waiver it will be a huge deal to this MN team. They would have to go with Curry, 6-10 FR Matrice Mitchell, or 6-10 Soph Sam Freeman.....
11. Maryland:
--Eric Ayala...........6'5" 195 lbs
--Darryl Morsell.....6'5" 200 lbs
--Aaron Wiggons...6'6" 200 lbs
--Donta Scott.........6'7" 225 lbs
--Chol Marzial........7'2" 230 lbs
--Hakim Hart..........6'6" 200 lbs
--Galin Smith..........6'9" 240 lbs........'Bama Transfer
--Jarius Hamilton....6'8" 234 lbs........BC Transfer
--Arnoud Revaz.....6'10" 220 lbs......Swiss FR
--Comments & Questions: This not a good time to be a Maryland basketball fan. They really struck out on big-time pg recruits and grad transfers. Neither 6'1" Marcus Dockery nor 6'3" Aquian Smart were in Rivals top 150 last year, but one or both will have to see plenty of time in '20-'21. The news is not much better on the front line. Smith & Hamilton are mediocre grad transfers but both will see plenty of time. Marzial doesn't look ready to start. Hart wasn't very productive as a freshman. Revaz, from Switz., has experience in the EU18 league and might surprise. UCLA was also looking at him.
12. Penn State:
--Jamari Wheeler......6'1" 170 lbs
--Myron Jones...........6'3" 177 lbs
--Myles Dread...........6'4" 220 lbs
--Seth Lundy.............6'6" 219 lbs
--John Harrar............6'9" 240 lbs
--Izaiah Brockington..6'4" 200 lbs
--Valdir Manuel..........6'9" 225 lbs.....Freshman
--Abdou Tsimbila.......6'8" 230 lbs......Freshman
--Comments & Questions: PSU, like Maryland, needed 1 or 2 impact recruits, and didn't get them. They recruited 5 freshman, none of whom were top 150 guys for Rivals. The two listed seem like the most likely to play, due to need, Some people think Lundy might have a break-out year.
13. Northwestern:
--Boo Buie...............6'2" 180 lbs
--Miller Kopp............6'7" 210 lbs
--Pete Nance...........6'10" 225 lbs
--Ryan Young...........6'10" 235 lbs
--Ryan Grier.............6'2" 185 lbs
--Anthony Gaines.....6'4" 205 lbs
--Chase Audige........6'4" 200 lbs......Transfer from Bill & Mary
--Ty Berry..................6'3" 180 lbs......PG, #110 Rivals
--Comments & Questions: Boo looked like an emerging star last year, and Kopp's a nice player. Transfer Audige will probably start. Berry seemed underrated at #110 in Rivals.....he's also a candidate to start.
14. Nebraska:
--Thor Thorirjarnason....6'6" 206 lbs
--Yvan Ovedraogo.........6'9" 260 lbs
--Akol Arop....................6'6 190 lbs
--Teddy Allen.................6'5" 200 lbs.......JC transfer
--Kobe Webster.............6'0" 170 lbs.......WIU Transfer
--Lat Mayen...................6'9" 205 lbs........JC transfer
--Shamiel Stevenson.....6'6 245 lbs........Nevada Transfer
--Derrick Walker.............6'8' 235 lbs.......TENN Transfer
--Dalano Banton.............6'8" 195 lbs.......WK Transfer
--Eduardo Andre.............6'10" 220 lbs.....English Freshman
--Comments & Questions: Nebraska will be a very interesting team to watch in the non-conference, if only to see who will start. Only the first 2 players mentioned started last year. Allen was a Nebraska HS product who put up big scoring #s at the JC level. Webster, from Indy, was very successful at WIU, and looks like the starter at PG. Mayen had nice JC #s (esp. rebs) and will probably start. Stevenson started 13 games at Pitt as a frosh 2 years ago. Walker & Banton look like reaches. Andre is a freshman from London who was not in the Rivals 150, but who was also offered by Illinois, Maryland, and A&M.
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