Imagine this: In the crisp air of October, when leaves turn golden and football fields echo with cheers, college basketball preseason polls ignite the same kind of excitement as carving pumpkins or sipping that first spiced cider. But here's where it gets intriguing—my ballot for the SB Nation Big Ten Basketball poll might just challenge some long-held assumptions and spark a few heated debates among fans. Stick around as I break down my reasoning, and you might find yourself questioning your own favorites by the end.
In the vibrant realm of college hoops, these preseason polls are an October tradition, much like the proliferation of Spirit Halloween stores popping up everywhere. Connor Lemons from Land Grant Holy Land, the dedicated SB Nation site for Ohio State, orchestrated this year's poll, drawing in contributors from 14 SB Nation college sites, plus one from 247Sports and another from FanSided. Interestingly, UCLA and Oregon were the only teams left without a representative this time around.
Feel free to dive into the full poll results via this link: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/ohio-state-mens-basketball/103953/purdue-favorites-ohio-state-picked-to-finish-eighth-in-sb-nation-preseason-media-poll. Before the games kick off, I thought it'd be fun to share the thought process behind my selections. For those not on X (formerly Twitter), here's my ballot laid out in plain text:
PREDICTED STANDINGS:
1ST: Purdue
2ND: Michigan
3RD: Michigan State
4TH: Illinois
5TH: Iowa
6TH: UCLA
7TH: Wisconsin
8TH: Oregon
9TH: Maryland
10TH: Ohio State
11TH: USC
12TH: Indiana
13TH: Nebraska
14TH: Washington
15TH: Minnesota
16TH: Northwestern
17TH: Rutgers
18TH: Penn State
BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Braden Smith (Purdue)
BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Trey McKenney (Michigan)
BIG TEN TRANSFER OF THE YEAR: Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
SLEEPER BIG TEN TEAM: Iowa
ALL BIG TEN 1ST-TEAM: Braden Smith, Trey Kaufmann-Renn, Yaxel Lendeborg, Bennett Stirtz, Coen Carr
ALL BIG TEN 2ND-TEAM: LJ Cason, Bruce Thornton, Donovan Dent, Nick Martinelli, Jackson Shelstad
Now, let's unpack my logic step by step—think of this as a friendly chat over coffee, where I'll explain not just my choices, but why they matter in the grand scheme of Big Ten basketball.
Starting with the Standings
Purdue stands out to me as the undeniable frontrunner in the conference this season. Coach Matt Painter is simply phenomenal at what he does, and the Boilermakers are bringing back key players like Braden Smith, Trey Kaufmann-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer. Unless some unlucky injuries strike, it's tough to envision a squad with this kind of core not landing in the top three spots. For beginners, think of these returning stars as the backbone of the team—experienced players who know the system and can guide the younger ones.
That said, Michigan isn't lagging far behind at all. Their defense has seen a major upgrade thanks to smart transfers, and they're retaining crucial role players such as Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett, and Will Tschetter. Plus, I'm betting on L.J. Cason to have a breakout sophomore year, much like Kobe Bufkin did before him—more on that thrilling potential later. To fill out my top five, I'm bullish on Michigan State's depth (they've got layers of talent that can wear opponents down), Illinois's mix of veterans and new transfers (think fresh energy meeting proven skill), and Iowa's exciting new coach paired with a standout transfer who could redefine their offense.
And this is the part most people miss: The Big Ten is incredibly competitive this year, with so much parity that literally any team in the top 14 could upset any other on a good night. It's not just about star power; matchups, coaching adjustments, and even home-court advantage can flip the script. This depth makes predicting the standings feel like a thrilling gamble—do you agree that unpredictability is what makes the conference so addictive?
Big Ten Player of the Year
This might be my most straightforward choice, but hear me out—Braden Smith is arguably the finest point guard in the entire sport right now. For context, a point guard is like the quarterback of the court, directing plays and setting the tempo. His performance against Michigan last year (check out this recap: https://www.maizenbrew.com/2025/2/11/24363318/michigan-basketball-takeaways-purdue-dusty-may-tre-donaldson-roddy-gayle-danny-wolf-braden-smith) was unforgettable: 24 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and a staggering 146 offensive rating—that's a stat measuring how efficiently a player scores, and 146 is elite, way above average. I've been covering Michigan hoops for five years, and seeing him control the game live was awe-inspiring. Barring any mishaps, I see him claiming this award easily. But here's where it gets controversial: Is Smith truly untouchable, or could someone like Yaxel Lendeborg steal the spotlight with his explosive scoring?
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
With so many talented newcomers flooding the Big Ten, the competition is fierce, but Trey McKenney's potential highs are impossible to overlook. He was a scoring machine in high school, and shedding 18 pounds over the summer (as detailed here: https://www.maizenbrew.com/93658/michigan-basketball-freshman-trey-mckenney-lost-18-pounds-dusty-may-matt-aldred-hannah-champine) should help him adapt to the lightning-fast pace of college action. During a brief open practice session—mind you, it was only about 30 minutes of real 5-on-5 gameplay (read more: https://www.maizenbrew.com/michigan-mens-basketball/93661/michigan-basketball-media-day-2025-yaxel-lendeborg-nimari-burnett-will-tschetter-aday-mara-morez-johnson-dusty-may)—McKenney stood out as one of Michigan's top creators of scoring opportunities. I envision him earning more minutes as the season progresses, potentially becoming the Wolverines' second or third offensive option. For newcomers to basketball analysis, this 'creator' role means he's great at getting teammates open shots or drawing defenders to create space.
Big Ten Transfer of the Year
Okay, scratch what I said earlier—this might actually be my most predictable selection yet. Yaxel Lendeborg is a defensive powerhouse (explore his scouting report: https://www.maizenbrew.com/2025/4/6/24402366/michigan-basketball-transfer-portal-yaxel-lendeborg-scouting-report-nba-draft-dusty-may-danny-wolf), capable of handling point guard duties with ease (see this piece: https://www.maizenbrew.com/michigan-mens-basketball/94712/michigan-basketball-yaxel-lendeborg-will-tschetter-morez-johnson-aday-mara), and he has all the makings of a future NBA talent (basketball insiders agree: https://www.maizenbrew.com/2025/5/27/24438025/yaxel-lendeborg-michigan-basketball-nba-draft-dusty-may-nil-danny-wolf-vlad-goldin). I anticipate him leading Michigan in scoring on a roster brimming with pieces to contend for the Big Ten crown. To clarify for fans new to transfers, these are players switching schools mid-career, often bringing instant impact—think of Lendeborg as a polished import elevating the team's game.
Sleeper Big Ten Team
I've long admired Ben McCollum; back when I was a student journalist covering Grand Valley State for the Grand Valley Lanthorn, he was dominating the Division II scene, and it left a lasting impression. An Athletic profile by C.J. Moore (subscription required: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2798730/2021/09/01/meet-ben-mccollum-the-division-ii-coach-winning-titles-and-turning-heads-across-college-basketball/) captures his unique vision of the game perfectly. Pair that with his acquisition of Bennett Stirtz—a stellar guard who ranks in the top 500 in nearly every KenPom metric (a site that evaluates player efficiency; check him out: https://kenpom.com/player.php?p=56549)—and Iowa emerges as a dark horse ready to surprise. This reminds me of Curt Cignetti's rise; don't be shocked if McCollum achieves what Fran McCaffery couldn't and guides Iowa to the Sweet Sixteen this very season. But here's the controversial angle: Are we underestimating coaches like McCollum, or is the Big Ten too stacked for 'sleeper' teams to truly breakout?
All-Big Ten 1st-Team
I've already delved into Smith, Lendeborg, and Stirtz, and Trey Kaufmann-Renn is a shoo-in for a second straight nod; he and Smith form the deadliest pick-and-roll combo in the league (for beginners, a pick-and-roll is a play where one player screens for another, often leading to easy baskets, and they've mastered it). TKR has shown steady growth year after year. My wildcard here is Coen Carr—an athletic marvel who'd win Dunker of the Year if the Big Ten had such an award. If he refines his jump shot, he could become a lottery-level prospect for the Spartans, potentially skyrocketing to NBA stardom.
All-Big Ten 2nd-Team
Let's shine the spotlight on L.J. Cason, who gained valuable lessons from missing out on Team USA this summer (read about it: https://www.maizenbrew.com/michigan-mens-basketball/94301/michigan-basketball-morez-johnson-dusty-may-lj-cason-team-usa). He flashed scoring potential last season, and Michigan plans to lean on him more as a point guard in 2025-26. I foresee a Bufkin-esque sophomore surge, as he adapts fully to the college game's speed. I also included Donovan Dent from UCLA, a reliable scorer; Bruce Thornton, another solid offensive contributor; Nick Martinelli, the epitome of consistency who tested NBA waters; and Jackson Shelstad, an underappreciated point guard with serious scoring chops. And this is the part most people miss: These second-team picks often reveal hidden gems who could rise up—do you think Cason's leap is inevitable, or am I overlooking someone else?
Where do you disagree with my ballot? Is my faith in Iowa as a sleeper misguided, or do you think Smith's Player of the Year is a no-brainer? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's debate if transfers like Lendeborg are overrated or if the Big Ten's depth makes all predictions futile. What controversial takes do you have?
