http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2262899-big-ten-basketball-preview-and-predictions-for-2014-15-season?utm_campaign=tsipad&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com
A couple things that stood out to me.
Best backcourt: Minnesota Golden Gophers
You can make the argument for a handful of teams in this category, including Wisconsin and Ohio State, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers pull the backcourt upset here. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports may agree with that notion.
Both Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu earned honorable mentions on last season’s All-Big Ten teams and return to anchor a Golden Gophers squad that has NCAA tournament aspirations.
Mathieu is the distributor at point guard who will look to set Hollins up to score all season, but Mathieu is more than capable of scoring on his own. He can drill it from downtown and is quick enough to get to the rim with an explosive first step and will make defenses pay for directing too much attention toward Hollins.
Hollins can score from anywhere on the floor and will compete for All-Big Ten status as a senior leader.
If Minnesota is going to make the NCAA tournament, it will be because of these guards.
All Conference Teams
First Team
Guard: Andre Hollins, Minnesota
Guard: D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Forward: Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
Forward: Branden Dawson, Michigan State
Center: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Season Predictions
1. Wisconsin Badgers
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Michigan State Spartans
4. Iowa Hawkeyes
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
6. Minnesota Golden Gophers
7. Michigan Wolverines
8. Maryland Terrapins
9. Illinois Fighting Illini
10. Indiana Hoosiers
11. Purdue Boilermakers
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
13. Northwestern Wildcats
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
A couple things that stood out to me.
Best backcourt: Minnesota Golden Gophers
You can make the argument for a handful of teams in this category, including Wisconsin and Ohio State, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers pull the backcourt upset here. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports may agree with that notion.
Both Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu earned honorable mentions on last season’s All-Big Ten teams and return to anchor a Golden Gophers squad that has NCAA tournament aspirations.
Mathieu is the distributor at point guard who will look to set Hollins up to score all season, but Mathieu is more than capable of scoring on his own. He can drill it from downtown and is quick enough to get to the rim with an explosive first step and will make defenses pay for directing too much attention toward Hollins.
Hollins can score from anywhere on the floor and will compete for All-Big Ten status as a senior leader.
If Minnesota is going to make the NCAA tournament, it will be because of these guards.
All Conference Teams
First Team
Guard: Andre Hollins, Minnesota
Guard: D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
Forward: Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
Forward: Branden Dawson, Michigan State
Center: Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Season Predictions
1. Wisconsin Badgers
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Michigan State Spartans
4. Iowa Hawkeyes
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
6. Minnesota Golden Gophers
7. Michigan Wolverines
8. Maryland Terrapins
9. Illinois Fighting Illini
10. Indiana Hoosiers
11. Purdue Boilermakers
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
13. Northwestern Wildcats
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights