The Big Ten finally ended its men's basketball national title drought thanks to Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines. May left for the NBA, so the throne is vacant. Can in-state rival Michigan State take the crown?
We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover Big Ten schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards ahead of Big Ten media days, which run Oct. 8 in Rosemont, Illinois.
It was a two-horse for the top spot between Michigan State and Illinois, with the Spartans edging it out by one point (280-279).
Jeremy Fears Jr. was selected as preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and was the only unanimous All-Big Ten pick. Here's a look at how our writers think the 2026-27 season will shake out in the Big Ten:
Big Ten basketball preseason poll, predicted order of finish
- Michigan State
- Illinois
- Michigan
- UCLA
- Nebraska
- Purdue
- USC
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Oregon
- Washington
- Northwestern
- Rutgers
- Penn State
2026-27 preseason All-Big Ten basketball team
FIRST TEAM
* denotes unanimous selection
- Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State*
- Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
- David Mirkovic, Illinois
- Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
- Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
SECOND TEAM
- Trey McKenney, Michigan
- Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
- John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
- Pharrel Payne, Maryland
- Rodney Rice, USC
Also receiving votes (listed by vote count): Coen Carr, Michigan State; Markus Burton, Indiana; Aiden Sherrell, Indiana; Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois; Nikola Kusturica, UCLA; Trent Perry, UCLA; KJ Lewis, USC; Tariq Francis, Rutgers; Stefan Vaaks, Illinois; Alijah Arenas, USC; Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue; Braden Frager, Nebraska; C.J. Cox, Purdue; Cade Tyson, Minnesota; Omer Mayer, Purdue; Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA; Jaylen Petty, UCLA; Anthony Thompson, Ohio State; JP Estrella, Michigan; Jacob Cofie, USC.
Big Ten basketball preseason Player of the Year
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Fears averaged 15.2 points and a league-leading 9.4 assists per game last season on way to a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He landed on numerous All-America teams last year and enters the 2026-27 season on shortlists for national player of the year.
Also receiving votes: David Mirkovic, Illinois; Trey McKenney, Michigan.
Big Ten basketball preseason Newcomer of the Year (non-freshman)
Stefan Vaaks, Illinois
Brad Underwood sure does love him some European. This 6-7 Estonian transfer from Providence averaged 15.8 points per game last season and led the Big East with 91 made 3s (at a 35% clip). The Illini lost their top 3-point shooters from last season (Keaton Wagler and Ben Humrichous), so Vaaks fills a key void.
Also receiving votes: Markus Burton, Indiana; KJ Lewis, USC; Aiden Sherrell, Indiana; Jaylen Petty, UCLA; Moustapha Thiam, Michigan.
Big Ten basketball preseason Freshman of the Year
Anthony Thompson, Ohio State
A top-10 national recruit, Thompson is the highest-ranked Buckeyes recruit since Jared Sullinger in 2010 and the program's first McDonald's All American since D'Angelo Russell in 2014. The 6-9 Ohio native has a 7-3 wingspan averaged 24.9 points and 7.9 rebounds and has range that extends to the 3-point arc.
Also receiving votes: Nikola Kusturica, UCLA; Christian Collins, USC; Quentin Coleman, Illinois; Bab Oladotun, Maryland.
Poll participants: Nathan Baird (IndyStar), John Steppe (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Tyler Tachman (Des Moines Register), Connor Earegood (Detroit News), Adam Jardy (Columbus Dispatch), Zach Osterman (IndyStar), Jordan Mendoza (USA TODAY), Sam King (Lafayette Journal & Courier), Jerry Carino (Asbury Park Press), Chris Solari (Detroit Free Press), Graham Couch (Lansing State Journal), Michael Niziolek (Bloomington Herald-Times), Tony Garcia (Detroit Free Press), Chad Leistikow (Des Moines Register), John Leuzzi (USA TODAY Network), Craig Meyer (USA TODAY Network).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan State or Illinois? Big Ten basketball preseason poll reveals razor-thin favorite
