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College basketball, much like me yelling about the weather and FBI investigations, is a year-round sport now. Even over the summer, there are #crootin updates and Zion Williamson dunks to whet your appetite for actual games, so I’m assuming that you haven’t lost your disdain for Tom Izzo and Fran McCaffery since last March. If you have, fear not, for I am here to stoke the flames of hatred for the rest of the sad-sack teams in the B1G.
The national landscape of college basketball hasn’t changed much at the top. Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Gonzaga, and Nevada are your presumptive top five in... hold on. Nevada??????? Oh yes, my guys, Nevada. They are STACKED this year, returning three all-conference players including the conference player of the year and they bring in six (!!!!!!) transfers who averaged double-digit points at their previous college. They also recruited a McDonald’s All-American, their first in school history. As Kevin Nash says, don’t turn your back on the Wolf Pack.
Anyways, this isn’t a column professing my love for Nevada this year (although I could write that column). This is a column to roast the Big Ten, easily the stupidest conference in the country every year. I mean, have you seen what Richard Pitino looks like, let alone looked at his record at Minnesota? This conference is ripe for parody! Let’s get to some preseason roasting.
Illinois Fighting Illini
KenPom rank: 85th AdjEM
Biggest strength: The Illini lost a bunch of players over the offseason but gained a bunch of new players that should fit Brad Underwood’s scheme far better. Trent Frazier is a dynamic, young point guard that should only get better and Kipper Nichols, who missed a career as a lacrosse bro turned finance bro, is a prime candidate to break out this year. This guy gets it.
Illinois basketball
— Mike Arbuthnot (@mikearb12) November 3, 2018
Biggest weakness: If it weren’t for Rutgers, this would be the worst team in the conference by far. They haven’t made the NCAA tournament since Dee Brown played, I’m pretty sure, and Illinois, outside of Chicago. is the most desolate place in the galaxy outside of the dark side of the moon. Illini Twitter was REALLY excited about how the team played against something called Illinois Wesleyan last week, and I don’t think that bodes well for the super-tough schedule they are facing this year.
Illinois' Basketball Schedule So Far:
— The Champaign Room (@Champaign_Room) May 15, 2018
- Maui (11/19-22)
- Braggin' Rights (12/22)
- B1G/ACC Challenge
- Gavitt Games vs. Georgetown
- 20 B1G Games
- In-State B1G Tourney
- Final Four in Minneapolis
Indiana Hoosiers
KenPom rank: 28th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Since the season hasn’t started yet, I’m going to keep the Roast quick and incisive. Indiana’s biggest strength this year is Romeo Langford. The stud, five-star freshman from Indiana (“OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!” — every dumpy blob in Indiana who thinks Bob Knight should be president) is really quite good. He is the crown jewel of a top-10 recruiting class that has Hoosier fans very excited for this season.
Juwan and Romeo named to @NaismithTrophy Watch List!
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) November 5, 2018
Story: https://t.co/Z6tofYrJ1H pic.twitter.com/HhEhyrNneK
Biggest weakness: I wish Tom Crean was still the coach. He was so EASY to make fun of and hate. Archie Miller seems like an alright dude and he coaches his defense like Dick Bennett which appeals to my most shameful urges as a basketball fan. I mean, just look at Crean outchea not teaching his team zone offense!
dead pic.twitter.com/XudAlot0a7
— young jim morrison (@burntsmells) November 2, 2018
Iowa Hawkeyes
KenPom rank: 35th AdjEM
Biggest strength: The Hawkeyes beat Guilford College 103–46, which is just a preposterous scoreline. They also turned the ball over 18 times against that same Guilford College team, which is an equally preposterous thing as scoring 103 points! Jordan Bohannon (younger brother of Jason and Zach) had a higher three-point field-goal percentage than regular field-goal percentage. LET THE YOUNG MAN HUCK! But, uh, maybe don’t let the young man get a puppy.
My mom called last night lecturing me about how I can’t even take care of myself and getting a dog would be very idiotic. She also resorted to saying I would be disowned from my family.
— Jordan Bohannon (@JordanBo_3) October 21, 2018
I’ve never been more convinced to get a dog now.
Biggest weakness: If the Hawkeyes implode this season and Fran McCaffrey gets fired, I need the meeting with the athletic director to be live-streamed somewhere so we can see if Fran’s head actually pops off his shoulders in a bloody explosion.
Can’t believe Fred Hoiberg and Fran McCaffery are both getting fired this year and Fed Hoiberg is going to coach Iowa next year. That will be weird.
— Añdrew Stott (@Astott) October 30, 2018
Fed Hoiberg is a terrible name for the undercover coach the FBI is using to try and get indictments.
Maryland Terrapins
KenPom rank: 30th AdjEM
Biggest strength: This Maryland team managed to go an entire offseason without killing one of their players, so they’ve already got a leg up on the football program. The entire ACC hated Maryland for myriad reasons while they were a member of that conference and I’m seeing why they were happy to see the Terps leave. I hope the university falls in the Chesapeake. I hope the photographer did not ask Trace Ramsey for his “intimidating pose” here.
Maryland Basketball is BACK!
— Maryland Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) October 30, 2018
: #Terps vs. Lynn (Exh)
⏰ : 7:00pm
: BTNPlus #FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/kF8cWqcVyT
Biggest weakness: Here’s the actual best team in Maryland.
✌️banners pic.twitter.com/4zM7aBLt4r
— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) November 3, 2018
Michigan Wolverines
KenPom rank: 24th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Charles Matthews is a fun player and Die Hard villain Mo Wagner left a year early.
@MagicJohnson Magic, please fire Luke and hire Kevin McHale. McHale would help guys like Kuzma and Mo Wagner immensely, and has the pedigree and experience that Lebon would listen to him. Luke is not the right coach for this team.
— Richard (@rich4aikido) November 5, 2018
The key to unlocking the Lakers’ full potential this year is getting a coach in there who can relate to Moritz Wagner. Everyone knows this. WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN, MAGIC?!?!
Biggest weakness: These are the players on the 2018–19 basketball team that plays in Ann Arbor.
These are the players on the 2018-19 #Wolverines basketball team https://t.co/3JjJfNK592
— Freep Sports (@freepsports) November 4, 2018
Michigan State Spartans
KenPom rank: 13th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Tom Izzo is a millennial.
Someone had Tom Izzo sign their juul last night lmao
— Cameron Babas (@CBLegendMoney) October 14, 2018
Nick “Big Puddin’” Ward is back for another season of having an awesome nickname.
Biggest weakness: Is it better because it’s an event you actually participate in these days?
Izzo on teams in Champions Classic: "This event is better than a Final Four."
— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) November 5, 2018
I think MSU should raise a banner next year that says “8-Time Champions Classic (It’s Better Than The Final Four, Trust Us) Participant.” MSU is the only team to ever be unranked while participating in the Champions Classic, so maybe they should consider themselves lucky they are even asked to play in it.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
KenPom rank: 60th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Jordan Murphy and Daniel Oturu will cause problems down low for opposing teams, but the Gophers are usually good for one debilitating injury and one off-court suspension a year, so those two probably won’t have much help. This is the only good thing about Minnesota basketball:
Minnesota Timberwolves Prince Uniform - Prince Purple Rain Basketball Uniform https://t.co/7EMxVwiWbL
— Tweetgood Mac (@SnottieDrippen) November 5, 2018
Biggest weakness: Brady is out here sifting and winnowing until he finds the answer. Well done, Brady!
I am very curious to see how bad the Gophers men’s basketball team will be this year
— Brady (@brady_malberg) November 6, 2018
Nebraska Cornhuskers
KenPom rank: 38th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Throwing shade with Tim Miles!
@Channel8ABC Tim Miles on current NCAA allegations at Creighton: "That’s their business not mine, we don’t operate that way." #Huskers
— Jared Koller (@JKollerKLKN) October 29, 2018
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: a few years ago, I attended B1G Media Days as a credentialed media member (I know, right?) and Miles was the nicest, most accessible coach there and I hope he has a great career.
Biggest weakness: OK, look. I get that people in Nebraska are excited about their basketball team this year. They should be pretty good! But... I can’t allow this tweet to just exist out there without showing you.
The Nebraska basketball season preview.
— Christopher Heady (@heady_chris) November 5, 2018
Much like the Fab Five Michigan teams in the early 1990s, there’s only so much time to cash in on the talent you have.
Which is why for Nebraska, Tim Miles and his Fab Four — the time is now. https://t.co/tXaBHT6Lao
NO ONE IS CALLING WHOEVER THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN THE PICTURE THE “FAB FOUR!” I challenge one person outside the state of Nebraska to even name half of the people in that picture. I can still name the entire Fab Five off the top of my head and I bet you can name at least two of them. ::desperately tries to call timeout I don’t have::
Northwestern Wildcats
KenPom rank: 58th AdjEM
Biggest strength: The Wildcats may finish higher in the B1G than they would in their own state, according to CBS.
CBS Sports picks Bradley as the #5 Men's Basketball team in Illinois. Here's how the list of 13 goes.
— Alex Staab (@StaabAlex) November 2, 2018
1. ISU
2. Loyola
3. Illinois
4. SIU-C
5. BRADLEY
6. DePaul
7. Northwestern
8. UIC
9. NIU
10. EIU
11. WIU
12. SIUE
13. Chicago St.
I need Vic Law to have a big senior season for NU. I’ve been saying he’s good since he was a freshman and, quite frankly, he hasn’t always been. DO IT FOR ME, VIC!
Biggest weakness: It’s nice to see that away fans have a shiny, new arena to watch their team beat Northwestern.
Welcome HOME, #B1GCats
— #B1GCats (@NU_Sports) November 2, 2018
This is the NEW Welsh-Ryan Arena! pic.twitter.com/m3jgS6uQor
Ohio State Buckeyes
KenPom rank: 41st AdjEM
Biggest strength: Getting players into and then out of the program quickly.
Seven of Ohio State basketball's eight high school signees in the 2015 and 2016 classes (aka the end of the Thad Matta era) lasted two seasons or less. Pretty impressive, honestly. Probably couldn't do that if you tried.
— Ryan Ginn (@rmginn) November 5, 2018
Backup center Micah Potter just decided on Monday that he was leaving the team. He even played in their exhibition game and then was like, “Nah, I’m not feeling it.”
Biggest weakness: The Buckeyes better hope that Duane Norman isn’t some sort of seer.
Cincinnati is the greatest basketball team in the world. And what lies ahead for Ohio State is a devastating defeat that will leave it questioning their place in the world? Will they recover? Can they ever play basketball again? Can they survive?
— DuaneNorman (@MrDuaneNorman) November 6, 2018
His—what’s the opposite of judicious?—ill-advised use of question marks begs multiple questions from me. Will aOsu actually question their place in the world? Are you going to poison their Gatorade cooler so that they all die? Can I subscribe to any newsletter that you publish? Because this tweet is bonkersville and I’m here for it.
The big game is about to happen. Cincinnati will play Ohio State and everybody will be watching. All throughout America. In places like South America and China. Spain and Japan. They might even be watching in outer space!
— DuaneNorman (@MrDuaneNorman) November 6, 2018
I will watch Ohio State suffer at Cincinnati's hands. I will quietly see them succumb to the pain inflicted by Cincinnati, and I will hear their cries of submission.
— DuaneNorman (@MrDuaneNorman) November 6, 2018
Cincinnati will hold no mercy.
The world is watching. This is time for Cincinnati to shine.
My dude, Duane... let’s maybe bring it down a notch or two.
Penn State Nittany Lions
KenPom rank: 32nd AdjEM
Biggest strength: Is Penn State a basketball school now? They certainly aren’t a football school. Maybe they’re a volleyball school?
Penn State men's basketball wins at No. 13 West Virginia, 84-82.
— Josh Kurelac (@JoshKurelac) November 3, 2018
Josh Reaves had the go-ahead tip in the final seconds. pic.twitter.com/gfc88yu3n8
It was just an exhibition game... but still.
Biggest weakness: I wonder if this guy knows that Villanova is in the state of Pennsylvania?
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say Penn State is the best basketball team in the state of Pennsylvania.
— Ben (@blerms) November 3, 2018
I wish Mike Watkins and his old-man mustache the best of luck in dealing with his mental health.
Yesterday, it was announced by PSU’s athletic department that Mike Watkins will be out indefinitely from game action while he tends to resolving off-court issues. https://t.co/J9igWko5u4
— Black Shoe Diaries (@BSDtweet) November 3, 2018
Purdue Boilermakers
KenPom rank: 18th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Carsen Edwards could be a national player of the year contender. The, uh, rest of the team? Not so much.
2. Carsen Edwards (@Cboogie_3)
— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 2, 2018
✅ Could be the National Player of the Year
✅ Will have teams dedicating whole gameplans just to stop himhttps://t.co/0L9vtvq8l1 pic.twitter.com/Dg7kmvN3mT
Biggest weakness: Lol at the team running out of the tunnel on a train track. I guess you have to respect a team that knows their branding.
⏳ Under 48 hours. #Purdue / #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/Pnk7Flfb91
— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) November 5, 2018
I wonder how many times a Purdue player has looked up at the “TIME TO PLAY HARD” sign and thought, “Oh shit! I better do that now.” Sports platitudes are stupid.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
KenPom rank: 149th AdjEM
Biggest strength: You should vote today! It is important!
When me and my boy switch it up at the polls to take your guns and make golf and country music illegal pic.twitter.com/IKgG65MEy5
— BUM CHILLUPS (@edsbs) November 6, 2018
Biggest weakness: I will NOT talk about Rutgers basketball.
— nick (@nick_pants) November 6, 2018
Wisconsin Badgers
KenPom rank: 20th AdjEM
Biggest strength: Oh. My. GOD!
Ethan Happ... FOR 3!
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) November 3, 2018
❗️ pic.twitter.com/P8MAEOfePc
SEE Y’ALL IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR THE FINAL FOUR!
Biggest weakness: Well isn’t this a nice thing to s... HEY WAIT A MINUTE!
Ok, going to confess that even I’m slightly impressed. With the way the Wisconsin Badgers Basketball team showed out tonight, vs one of the conference best, I’m now pretty sure they could compete for at least a top 4 slot in the WIAC. #TurningHeads#TakingNotice
— hshoopsfan25 (@hshoops25) November 3, 2018