Friends, college basketball season is officially upon us.
We are nine days away from seeing the Ohio State men’s basketball team return to the floor to face the Ohio University Bobcats – AKA The Fighting
Jeff Boals’. When the final buzzer rings on that exhibition game, we’ll only have one more week before they count, with the mighty Jaguars of IU Indy (the 11th -worst team in the country according to KenPom) invading the Schottenstein Center on Monday, Nov. 3.
From there we’re off and running – seven games in November, five in December, nine in January, seven in February, and hopefully several more in March, including the best sporting event in the world, the NCAA Tournament.
Last week, Connor and Justin acknowledged the coincidental timing of Columbus-native Trey Burke’s jersey retirement overlapping with Ohio State’s game against the Wolverines on Jan. 23. That conversation helped to springboard a very related question – are there any Ohio State players that deserve to have their jerseys in the rafters of the Schottenstein Center, aside from the five that are already there?
In addition to Havlicek, Lucas, Turner, Jackson, and Bradds, Connor suggested that perhaps Michael Redd should be up there. Justin named another local legend that may someday see his name up there – Jared Sullinger.
As we inch closer to real basketball being played, Connor and Justin spoke with ‘Boilers in the Stands’ host Joe Jackson this week to preview the Big Ten conference, and specifically the Buckeyes and Boilermakers. Within that conversation was a brief debate about who would win the conference, because the three did not come to a consensus. Justin and Joe went with Purdue, while Connor picked Michigan. This week, the guys are explaining their picks to win the 18-team Big Ten conference.
This week’s question: How will win the Big Ten this season?
Connor: Michigan
Sorry folks, we don’t have Ohio State making the jump from 10th to first place this year.
Although Purdue returning two likely All-Americans deservedly puts them at the top of most pre-season lists, I really like (and frankly, am jealous) of what Dusty May was able to add to the Michigan basketball program this spring and summer.
Former UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg was, to me, the best available transfer player in the portal this spring. He does everything well and has five years of experience at the college level (although the first three years were at a community college). Lendeborg passed up on being a potential first-round NBA draftee this summer to play at Michigan, and they are going to reap the benefits of that decision this year.
Lendeborg is 6-foot-9 and can step in and play any position on the floor at any given time. He averaged 15.8 points and 11 rebounds per game at UAB over the last two years and shot nearly 36% from three-point range last season. He fits in with any combination of players Dusty May could put on the floor.
Along with Lendeborg, Michigan added a certified Buckeye killer in former Illinois forward Morez Johnson. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound center considered Ohio State this summer after scoring 14 points and puling down 15 rebounds against the Buckeyes last year, but ultimately landed with their biggest rival.
He and Aday Mara – a 7-foot-3 transfer from UCLA – will give May two great options to pair with Lendeborg at any time. May should once again be able to utilize the two-big lineup, with Lendeborg’s ability to move, shoot, and pass operating in a similar (but not the exact) same way as Danny Wolf did last year.
Michigan’s defense should have some serious teeth, too, because of the size on the roster. May will always have at least two perimeter defender/shot blockers on the floor between the trio of Lendeborg, Johnson, and Mara.
Similar to what Illinois did to Ohio State last year, the Wolverines will do their best to run shooters off the line, funneling them towards the basket and either dare them to test a big man down low or force them to settle for a low-percentage mid-range once they get there. In essence, Michigan has the right personnel to cut off high-percentage looks below the basket, as well as open threes on the perimeter.
May’s team may struggle a bit to shoot it, but Nimari Burnett and Will Tschetter have both proven to be consistent outside shooters. The hope for Michigan fans is that freshman Trey McKenney – another player on this roster who considered Ohio State – quickly shows that he, too, can shoot it at the college level.
Justin: Purdue
I think Purdue will win the Big Ten and might win the whole thing. They are the best chance a Big Ten team has had to win a national title in the preseason recently.
Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year Braden Smith is back to run the offense. Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer are both back and Renn will also be one of the best players in the conference with Smith. CJ Cox should take a huge leap in his sophomore season.
This will be one of the best offensive teams in the country and they brought in a couple transfers to help shore up the defense. South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff and a now healthy Daniel Jacobsen will help the team’s interior defense and rebounding.
Purdue is also No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll for the first time in school history. The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to begin the 2025-26 season. Purdue started a season ranked as high as No. 2 once before, in 1987-88 under Gene Keady.
The NCAA took a look at the last 40 preseason No. 1’s and how they fared, and this is what they found:
- 18 reached the Final Four (roughly 45%)
- Six won the national championship (15%)
- Eight lost in the national championship (20%)
- 23 reached at least the Elite Eight (57.5%)
- 29 made it to the Sweet 16 (72.5%)
- Two lost in the first round
- One didn’t get a tournament bid
So, Purdue has almost a 50/50 shot to make the Final Four. That’s the best team in the conference.
