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Big Ten basketball: Preseason power rankings heading into 2021-2022 season

By Mike Phillips

Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard speaks to the media during Big Ten Media Day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard speaks to the media during Big Ten Media Day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big Ten basketball power rankings
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson speaks to the media during Big Ten media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The feel-good story of the Big Ten last season was in East Piscataway where Steve Pikiell helped Rutgers return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. The Scarlet Knights won their first-round matchup before a bitter collapse against Houston in the Round of 32 but that experience could prove very valuable for the returning players.

Geo Baker opted to utilize his bonus year of eligibility to return to Rutgers, joining Ron Harper Jr as the anchors of the Scarlet Knights. A talented collection of role players will need to take strides to help this team get back into the Top 25 on a consistent basis but the foundation of a tournament team is here.

7. Indiana Hoosiers

The story of the offseason for Indiana was the change at coach with Hoosiers’ alum and long-time NBA assistant Mike Woodson taking over for Archie Miller. Woodson seemed like an unconventional choice at the time but he has done a good job building a staff of experienced assistants to help him get used to coaching at the collegiate level.

The biggest coup that Woodson scored was securing the return of forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, a walking double-double machine who can be a star for Indiana to build around. There are a wide range of outcomes for the Hoosiers so we’ll start them off here in the middle of the pack.