I thought it would be cool to see what everyone thought about who are the top players in the conference at each spot. I figured we could do top 5: (Assume all players testing the waters return and players are where they play for their team)
Mine:
Point Guard
Melo Trimble
Bronson Koenig
Derrick Walton Jr
Cassius Winston
Robert Johnson
Shooting Guard
Peter Jok
James Blackmon Jr
Joshua Langford
Kendrick Nunn
Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman
Small Forward
Nigel Hayes
Vince Edwards
OG Anunoby
Miles Bridges
Malcolm Hill
Power Forward/Stretch 4
Caleb Swanigan
Vitto Brown
Troy Williams
Zak Irvin
Keita Bates-Diop
Center
Ethan Happ
Thomas Bryant
Isaac Haas
Damonte Dodd
Gavin Schilling
I think the bigs are really weak and that it shows how weak the conference will be. Believe me I do not think that any of the 3 UM guys are all-americans but they can be all-conference players due to the lack of talent next year. What do you all think.
I think that you made a good list and I think that we could parse through a debate of which player and how high (e.g. I think Bridges is going to be a beast for State and should be higher). My only quip would be to put Irvin as a 3. That really is his position (if not 2) and he just ends up playing out of position for Michigan because they lack the resources for someone else to step in there
I agree with what you said about Irvin but I stated above to put them where they play for there team so that’s why Irvin was slated at the 4 but I do agree he should be a 2 or 3
I like the inclusion of Harris on your list buckets. Depending if his role is bigger this upcoming year and not just playing 20 mpg he could be in for a big year.
I just don’t see Albrecht being on over Walton Sanders Tum Tum Lyle McIntosh and Johnson. Who knows what he will be like back from injury but I respect your opinion
In a starter’s role it’s conceivable he can average 12 and 6 while shooting 35 or 40% from 3, and not turning over the basketball. Sanders is wildly inconsistent and careless with the ball, which is why I put him 5th. If Purdue elects to bring Spike off the bench then you’re definitely right though.
I think the two Illinois players on this list, Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn, have potential to be All Big Ten 1st team. The rest of the roster isn’t good there, but those two will run the team and should steal a couple games from contenders.
They remind me a little of the DeShawn Sims/Manny Harris team where you’ve got 2 near-elite offensive options and not much else. Malcolm Hill is one of my favorites to watch in the league
Have no idea how you placed Walton, and especially Winston (never played a college game) in front of Sanders, who put up 16 & 4 as a freshman and probably has the most raw talent out of that entire list.
Bryant is the top center for sure.i like haap too but Bryant is a legit nba caliber center. Also rahkman is underrated.im willing to bet he’s at least better than Harris. Possibly a better player than blackmon
Fair enough…now that you point that out I think I just forgot about Sanders because he is lost in the garbage going on at Rutgers. Not too sure about the hill choice either. Thank you!
Walton put up 12 and 4 (30 more assists in total) and averaged 2 more rebounds, averaged 1 less TO, and shot a higher % from 3 and FT (lower total %, albeit). I could see the possibility of Sanders being the better player next year, since he is younger and, therefore, could have more room to grow. But I think it’s a close argument, and I would have Dwalt ahead, even from just a stat standpoint. Definitely agree on Sanders > Winston.
But Bridges also hasn’t played a college game yet, so putting him ahead of Malcolm Hill is tough for me. Especially because Hill was a 2nd team all-B1G player. I would probably only have Bridges ahead of OG, with the list going: Hayes, Hill, Edwards, Bridges, OG.
Also curious that Andrew White was left off Mgo’s list. I would have him 3rd, maybe 2nd. I would also have MAAR ahead of Langford because, even with Langford having much more ‘projected’ talent, MAAR has produced at the B1G level.