The college hoops offseason is painfully long. But we're almost through it! And now it's time to get ready/informed for 2014-15 with our month-long worth of ample preseason content here at CBSSports.com. We'll be previewing all of the major conferences in addition to giving you a bevy of other features. Today's lookahead examines the Big East. And be sure to head here for our hub of preseason goodies.
While there will be arguments made that this is still the best league in college basketball, it's fair to temper expectations just a smidge for the Big Ten this season. At the top the league won't have, you know, three or four teams considered reasonable candidates for the Final Four, as has been the case in the past few years. But this could be a big year for the conference in terms of strength among middle-of-the-pack teams. Clubs 5-10 could be bunched but finish above .500, only increasing the league's power numbers and giving it a good chance at seven or more bids come March.
Winning out of league is essential for that, and that's been something the Big Ten's excelled in. The league has won 68 percent or more of its non-conference games every year since 2002-03. It seems people have finally come around to realizing that B1G hoops are no longer slow and a grind. There's quality and depth here. And a few really fun players as well.
This season, it starts with Wisconsin, the overwhelming league favorite.
And remember, the last aftershocks of conference realignment at the major level take place here, with Rutgers and Maryland joining the ranks. Yes, that's really weird, and it's going to take a while to train your brain to remember.
Here's a preview of the Big Ten:
Coach’s Take
The league's best player?
"I'm a big (Terran) Petteway fan. What are the other options? (Caris) LeVert, (Branden) Dawson and the Wisconsin kids. I know this: We played Petteway and he beat our ass. He guards, can get his shot off any time he wants. I know he's almost unguardable. He's extremely lethal in the ball screen situation. Almost the way Trey Burke was. Just really hard to guard. Do you stop him, give up the roll, or protect the rim and give up the jumper?"
On Sam Dekker:
"We talk about how he's grown to 6-9 and all that, but all he hurts us on is open 3s and cuts. He's an active cutter. We haven't really been hurt by him so far. Good player, but hasn't been a killer."
Top five players in the league?
"I think (Frank) Kaminsky, Dawson, Petteway. I'm not as high on Dekker as you are. I'd say LeVert. I think I'll go with Yogi (Ferrell) fifth. Him and Kaminsky I worry about. Because they were so up and down last year."
Most underrated player?
"I think absolutely it's (Minnesota's Andre) Hollins. He's really good at getting to the line. Does a lot of good things. Is a really good shooter. He's a flopper and draws a lot of fouls."
League better or worse this year?
"I would say worse just because we lost a lot of players. Ohio State with Craft. Michigan State lost a lot. The perennials are down. There's just a lot of experience gone. There's a pretty good influx of talent. The talent could be there but not experience."
Toughest coach/team scout:
"I think it's Indiana because they have so many sets and shuffle their guys around so much. I think they do a really good job, though, of managing and being able to keep organization and order and improvise outside of their sets when things go wrong. But I think things can go wrong because of how many sets and different guys they run."
On Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois:
"Shannon Scott is no Craft. Craft was the one thing, that defensive part, that kept them competitive. I think they could end up in the top two or three in the league, but maybe 6-7-8. With Illinois, if Tracy Abrams didnt get hurt I'd have Illinois higher. Derrick Walton's not Trey Burke, and they've gotta change the way they play. Walton's more of a Michigan State guard: up and down, run-and-gun. I could be wrong. They do a good job with their guards. "
Top six in the league?
"Wisconsin, Michigan State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio State and Michigan."
Projected Order of Finish
1. 
Wisconsin
Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker rightfully are going to get a lot of the love, but I'm telling you, watch out for Nigel Hayes. He'll wind up being more than just a role player. Expect Hayes to contribute in myriad ways and to be a big reason why Wisconsin is playing for a No. 1 seed come March. The Badgers have rarely been this elevated in October. Everybody loves Wisconsin this year in part because the team brings back almost everyone from that Final Four team. Frank The Tank is a cult icon up there, and he should continue to be a matchup nightmare. No big in hoops has as much outside and inside to his game like Kaminsky. Meanwhile, Dekker looks like a Marine now (have you seen how he redefined his body -- and grew?). Bo Ryan's club is stacked because it has valuable pieces on both sides of the ball. No team is perfect, but Wisconsin looks as well-rounded as about any other team in hoops. Expect a top-five team in offensive efficiency and a top-20 one on defense. There are three roadies outside of Big Ten play (Marquette, Milwaukee and Cal), plus the Battle 4 Atlantic, which is always loaded.
2. 
Ohio State
Ohio State fans will miss Aaron Craft ... but I think they'll warm up to Shannon Scott pretty quickly. On offense, no question Scott will be an upgrade. It's Craft's enviable on-ball defense and leadership that will be missed at PG. The Buckeyes were unusually bad with the ball last season. I'd expect a turnaround from them in this regard. Sam Thompson is one of the prettiest dunkers in the sport, and D'Angelo Russell is very much awesome-as-a-freshman material. Like: going-to-average-16-points material. The Buckeyes' best player is Russell. Amir Williams will have to become a very good player in the paint to give Ohio State some inside-out and make them truly the second best team in the conference. I sold OSU all of last year. Thad Matta doesn't do bad back-to-back seasons, though, and I'm reaching high on his group this year.
I'm fine with getting proven wrong by Tom Izzo. So if anyone thinks I'm slotting Michigan State too high, so be it. The Spartans have finished in the top three in the Big Ten in five of the past six seasons. Senior Travis Trice, once one of the best sixth men in the country, is now the starting point guard. He's not going to make any All-American teams, but he's steady and beloved by the coaching staff. The star is Branden Dawson, a muscular athlete who's determined to improve his shooting/shooting form in order to up his draft stock. He'll make a few posters this year, too. The Spartans have to deal with losing Gary Harris, Adreian Payne and Keith Appling. Important pieces there. But Denzel Valentine remains a unique player. And Matt Costello is going to have a huge jump in production. A kid called "Tum Tum" will also be involved. Gimme Sparty battling with the two teams below here for about a 12-6 league record.
4. 
Iowa
Man, I know the Hawkeyes absolutely tripped into the asphalt at the end of last season, but looking at who comes back, it's impossible for me not to keep Fran McCaffery's team in the top four of this league. This is not a popular stance. But I think Aaron White is the second-toughest matchup at forward in the conference to Kaminsky. Adam Woodbury is undervalued by everyone outside of the league. Jarrod Uthoff made big strides last year and will likely continue that ascent this season. And Peter Jok, if he can stop getting into trouble with the law, will be a fine role player. Oh, and there's problem-in-the-paint Gabriel Olaseni. Deepest front court in the conference right here. The Hawkeyes were second in the Big Ten in offensive efficiency last season. Mike Gessell is back at the point. Anything below 20 wins would be a supreme letdown.
5. 
Nebraska
Terran Petteway is the name avid college hoops fans know. But Shavon Shields is the one you need to learn. Petteway is one of the 10 best players in the league without question. But Shields, a 6-7 small forward, might average 15 points and 7 rebounds this season. He'll be as vital for NU as Petteway. I went high on the Huskers last season, predicting they'd finish eighth, whereas others saw 10th or 11th. Tim Miles wound up getting his team to FOURTH. Amazing jump. Fifth is essentially the same spot; I think the Huskers will go 11-7, which is where they wound up last season. The defense was awesome, and the offense should be more reliable from 3-point range. Non-basketballl note: Send a thought or prayer out to assistant coach Chris Harriman and his family. Their son, Avery, has endured more through seven years of life than many of us have or will through 50. Keep winning, kid. You've got an entire community behind you.
6. 
Michigan
I'm not bullish on Michigan this year in part because I don't know if Caris LeVert is going to make a massive jump. As in, he's projected as a Second Team All-American/lottery pick-type of player. That's no guarantee, you know? Can he handle that amount of responsibility? I can't help but think sophomore Derrick Walton will wind up as the team's most important player. And Zak Irvin's a solid option as a swingman, one who I think will probably average near 10 points and three boards this year. I still believe John Beilein is getting this team to the NCAAs, but it's probably going to be closer to then 8/9 game than the No. 2 seed it earned last season. Fun fact: Michigan owned a 124.1 ORtg -- tops in college hoops. They'll be a fun but inconsistent team that's not going to win games 59-55, if you know what I mean.
7. 
Minnesota
From NIT champs to NCAA bid? I think it's very possible for Richard Pitino and the Gophers in Year No. 2 of this regime. Andre Hollins will lead the way on a team that lost five games last season in overtime or by four points or fewer. DeAndre Mathieu, all of 5-9, was the team's best shooter a season ago. A smaller veteran point guard who's done wonders since transferring from Central Arizona College after getting off to an uneven start at Morehead State. He's been huge -- and reliable -- for Minny. Beware of Mo Walker in the paint, by the way, and there are three seniors playing in the frontcourt. Pitino did a good job of not coaching his team into too many mistakes. Injuries also hampered Minnesota a year ago. The Big Ten usually produces a surprise NCAA tourney team, and while the Golden Gophers wouldn't totally qualify as that, I don't think you'll find many others nationally picking this team as high as seventh.
8. 
Illinois
Not totally sold on Illinois making the NCAAs, and I know I'm in the minority with this. The Illini finished 20-15 last season, stained by a weird eight-game losing streak in the league that torpedoed their hopes. Outside of that -- not a bad team. But young. And still a group that is jelling with the influx of older transfers. I think this team, more than any other in the Big Ten, will have the craziest combo of great wins and bad losses. I'm actually a huge Rayvonte Rice guy, and if I thought Illinois had a chance at being top-five in the league, I would've considered him for First Team. But this team needs to get better on offense, and fast. They turned the ball over 17 percent of the time as well. A five-man sophomore class will almost certainly ensure Illinois the NCAAs come 2016. And perhaps in five months. But I'm not seeing it for sure. Tracy Abrams is out for the year with a ripped knee, and that is considerable. At least there will also be help in the way of Aaron Cosby (transfer from Seton Hall) and Ahmad Starks (via Oregon State). And Leron Black is supposedly going to be making contributions in the frontcourt in a few months' time. Gotta see it.
9. 
Indiana
Yogi Ferrell is a muscular young dude, but he's not going to be able to carry this team to more than 20 wins this year. Tom Crean is just in the middle of a lull, I think. If IU fans are patient, he'll undoubtedly get out of it. But I'm not sure the Hoosiers -- whose non-con schedule doesn't include one road game -- can drastically refine an offense than ranked 127th in KenPom a year ago. Noah Vonleh bounced after one year, and now Indiana finds itself overmatched in the frontcourt. Hanner Mosquera-Perea was hyped coming into his IU career, but I'm still waiting for the power forward's star to show. James Blackmon is reported to be a nice addition from outside 15 feet. Does he get the chance to show it right away? I do think Troy Williams has some breakout to his game, and I have feeling Crean will coach this team into defense-first if it kills him. I know Crean must love these challenges, and he thrives off doubters. Consider me one of them.
10. 
Maryland
Dez Wells, Evan Smotrycz ... and then let's see what happens. Hard to get a read on Maryland following the rash of transfers, including point guard Seth Allen (Romelo Trimble, step on up). That will ding some. As will Shaquille Clear's move to Texas. Mark Turgeon's already entering his fourth year with the Terps. Jeez, time freaking flies. Keep an eye on this freshman named Michal Cekovsky. He's 7 feet tall and will be necessary to Maryland's development come January. Turg is going to need a big year to ensure some more job security down the road. I can't see the Terps making the NCAAs by battling through this league this season, though. I expect they'll nab one or two nice wins from the top four teams in the league, but ultimately, what makes you think Maryland can play its way to 21 victories and a spot in the field of 68? I think they'll just be OK. Average. And that's the thing that's driving Terps fans nuts. Because Turgeon has the ability, and Maryland has the infrastructure, to blast out of the middle of the pack.
11. 
Northwestern
Pretty much everyone believes Northwestern will finally, for the first time, make the NCAAs thanks to Chris Collins. I'm not ready to say it will happen this year. I also believe the first time it happens, NU's going to be like a No. 6 seed or something. There will be no drama attached. Thinking the Wildcats still struggle in Year No. 2 under Collins in part because there's still so much to grow on the offensive end. No team was worse with the ball in the Big Ten than Northwestern last season. The Wildcats were ranked 309th in the nation in effectiveness on O. The defense? Incredible. Fourteenth overall. Tre Demps will be the team's best player, while a freshman named Vic Law should get some real burn. It's still a year of transition. That's why the non-con schedule is fairly easy. As it should be. If NU can snug up to a .500 record this year, that'd be really solid forward movement.
12. 
Penn State
I might have been Tim Frazier's biggest fan nationally. Loved everything about his game, demeanor, pride, all of it. But he's graduated, and I think Penn State has a massive hole to fill with losing the uplifting combo guard. Geno Thorpe slides in from shooting guard to point. I think D.J. Newbill will be the team's best player this season. The 6-4 2 guard will probably also log among the most minutes of any player in the Big Ten. Junior Jordan Dickerson is going to have to do more as a 7-footer to improve PSU's play in the paint. For the most part, this is a small team due to the fact its tallest players did the least amount of damage on the floor last season. Pat Chambers is in Year No. 4. They'll be patient with him. They have to. The best thing I can say about Penn State: Brandon Taylor (107.4 offensive rating last season) is probably going to become/remain the best kept secret in the league.
13. 
Purdue
Matt Painter's too good of a coach to have a program cratering like this. I don't know how Purdue makes a leap, though. A.J. Hammons, yes, getting him back was absolutely critical. The 7-1 center is a real coup for the program. But the team was still only ranked 100th in defense efficiency. On offense, the team probably will struggle due to inexperience in the backcourt. You get in this league, with these coaches, and there's only so much you can do when it comes to game-planning against guys that know how to turn off your water. It'd be a better situation if Ronnie Johnson hadn't transferred from Purdue, but them's the breaks. I'm just hoping sophomore Basil Smotherman ups his game. Any chance to include him on this site is welcomed. Basil Smotherman! It's like an "Austin Powers" character.
14. 
Rutgers
We'll get to this year in a moment. But I want to ask. Let's talk the next two decades. Twenty full years of college hoops. If I give you 1.5 NCAA Tournament trips in those 20 years for Rutgers basketball, are you taking the over? A reminder: Rutgers hasn't been to the NCAAs since 1991. I wonder how long it will take this program to climb up to the top 10 of the Big Ten, let alone the top five. For this year, Eddie Jordan continues his retooling by asking Kadeem Jack to be the troupe headman. He's an NBA prospect, and with him and Myles Mack, the rhymin' and stylin' for the Scarlet Knights should be fun. But there is not a lot of talent or experience, Big Ten-level at least, with this team. Rutgers went 12-21 in the American last season, a league whose bottom half was pretty rough. Getting to 15 wins and getting Jack drafted would be a really big year for Jordan's program.
Our Preseason All-Big Ten Team
G: D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
G: Caris LeVert, Michigan
F: Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
F: Branden Dawson, Michigan State
C: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Our Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year
Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
Normally when you've got two really, really good players on a team they can cancel each other out. But count me in for Dekker as the 1A to Kaminsky's 1B. He's fully carved out his game, improved on defense and by all accounts, his performances at elite events over the summer were absolutely stellar. Dekker's now on pace to become a lottery pick, and I think he'll lead Wisconsin in scoring as well. Can't go wrong picking a guy like that, on a potential Final Four team, to bring home the hardware.
Our Preseason Big Ten Newcomer of the Year
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Russell is evidently already OSU's best player. A 6-5 and about 180 pounds, he'll be the perfect 2 guard for the Buckeyes. Some believe he's the best shooting guard in the class of 2014. He shoots left-handed and has good passing ability as well. He can be a point guard when needed, most likely.
Our Preseason Big Ten Coach of the Year
Bo Ryan, Wisconsin
Seems the obvious pick right now. Barring something like Richard Pitino finishing fourth in the league or Nebraska taking second, Bo Ryan will almost definitely win this.
Three Numbers to Know
$1,399,814: That was last year's basketball budget for Wisconsin, according to BBState.com. Seem high? Not only was it far and away the smallest in the Big Ten, it ranked 242nd in the country. And Bo Ryan doesn't ever drop lower than fourth in the league. Warlock.
4: Michigan State fans know it well. That's the number of top 100-rated high school recruits Michigan State has. That's the lowest number for Tom Izzo in more than 10 years.
8.8: The average number of wins in the NCAA Tournament for the Big Ten in the past 10 years. That's the best of any league outside of the Big East. Despite the conference not seeing a national champion since MSU in 2000, it still is getting teams to March and seeing positive results into the second weekend every single season.
