With the official begin of observe subsequent month, UMHoops and Contained in the Corridor have partnered to carry you our annual preseason breakdown of the highest gamers within the Massive Ten. This yr, the checklist has been expanded after the addition of 4 packages to the convention.
The collection is damaged into seven elements, with one publish every weekday by Friday, August 30. Our sixth installment gamers 10-6 for the 2024-25 season is accessible beneath:
Beforehand: 40-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-11
10. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State (6-foot-2, guard, junior)
2023-24 stats (35 video games): 15.7 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.2 spg, 42.7% FG, 33.3% 3PFG in 33.7 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: Thornton is a two-year Massive Ten starter and a confirmed scoring lead guard. He averaged 15.7 factors as a sophomore and was remarkably environment friendly. He completed the yr with a 121.5 offensive score on 23.3 % utilization. He creates for his teammates (28.5 % help price) whereas virtually by no means turning it over (9.1 % turnover price). He shoots almost 50 % from two (49.2 %) and makes threes at quantity (58-of-174) whereas constantly attending to the charity stripe, the place he shoots 85 %. There aren’t many extra productive and polished offensive gamers within the league.
Why he may underperform this rating: Thornton has began each sport of his profession, however each Ohio State seasons have gone poorly. The Buckeyes misplaced 14 of 15 video games throughout Thornton’s freshman yr and their coach was fired mid-season final yr. Ohio State struggled defensively throughout that stretch and Thornton’s perimeter protection leaves one thing to be desired. He’ll want to enhance on that finish of the ground and hope {that a} contemporary begin does this system properly.
9. Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern (6-foot-6, ahead, senior)
2023-24 stats (34 video games): 14.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 spg, 42.9% FG, 34.8% 3PFG in 36.7 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: Barnhizer is arguably essentially the most versatile participant within the convention. He’s an impression defender at a number of positions, can area the ground and hit threes, has underrated playmaking potential and performed virtually each minute for Northwestern final season.
Now, he has a possibility to take a major step ahead after Boo Buie’s commencement. Barnhizer’s position will certainly develop, however it’s laborious to foretell exactly what that appears like. His measurement, passing and flexibility may permit him to function one thing of some extent ahead for the Wildcats.
Why he may underperform this rating: There may not be sufficient assist round him. If the supporting core of Ty Berry, Jalen Leach and Matt Nicholson lacks the firepower to compete on the prime half of the league, Barnhizer and Northwestern may wrestle after back-to-back NCAA Event appearances.
8. Oumar Ballo, Indiana (7-foot, heart, redshirt senior)
2023-24 stats (36 video games at Arizona): 12.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 65.8% FG in 25.9 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: With Kel’el Ware’s departure to the NBA, Indiana went within the portal and landed Ballo, among the best bigs obtainable. A primary-team All-Pac 12 choice final season at Arizona, Ballo averaged a double-double, and his measurement and physicality makes him powerful for many publish defenders to deal with.
It’s no secret Mike Woodson likes to play by the publish, which ought to give Ballo ample touches. Given his effectivity as a finisher – 72.1 % on the rim – and his rebounding, modest enchancment in his total numbers from final season at Arizona may have Ballo within the dialog for one of the best massive man within the league.
Why he may underperform this rating: Indiana has a whole lot of potential offensive weapons this season and Ballo could possibly be extra of a 3rd or fourth choice reasonably than a go-to man. Ballo’s free throw capturing can be a serious gap in his sport. He shot a dreadful 49.5 % from the road final season, which may put him on the bench in late-game conditions. There’s additionally an opportunity that Indiana finds extra success going small on the 4, which may push Ballo to the bench extra typically than anticipated.
7. Ace Bailey, Rutgers (6-foot-10, ahead, freshman)
Why he may outperform this rating: Bailey is essentially the most gifted participant within the Massive Ten coming into the season. If there’s a participant who may problem Cooper Flagg to be the No. 1 decide within the 2025 NBA draft, Bailey is the identify you learn most frequently. Along with his measurement, athleticism and skill to create his personal shot from wherever on the ground, Bailey has as excessive of a ceiling as any participant within the convention. Along with his measurement and his fluidity, he can guard a number of positions.
If Bailey shortly adjusts to the physicality of the school sport and learns to make the straightforward play reasonably than choosing the spectacular play, he’ll be an All-Massive Ten first-teamer.
Why he may underperform this rating: Freshmen are tough to mission, even those that seem like long-term can’t miss prospects. With an amazing quantity of stress to carry out in what might be his solely season of school hoops, Bailey may underperform if his shot choice doesn’t enhance. There’s little doubt he’ll be given the inexperienced gentle within the Rutgers offense, however his effectivity will undergo if he doesn’t tighten up his resolution making and shot choice from his highschool days.
6. Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State (6-foot-1, guard, fifth-year senior)
2023-24 stats (33 video games): 14.2 ppg, 6.0 apg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 spg, 38.9% FG, 32.9% 3PFG in 35.9 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: A relentless ball hawk who performs with tempo and little concern, Baldwin had no challenge transferring up from the Atlantic 10 to the Massive Ten final season. He struck a stable stability between scoring and facilitating, ending second on the Nittany Lions in scoring and first in assists.
Now in his fifth season of school hoops, Baldwin is one of the best on-ball defender within the convention and one of many league’s most skilled guards at 23 years outdated. His scoring numbers may enhance barely with the departure of Kanye Clary and higher effectivity together with his capturing must be a transparent precedence. Provided that he shot higher than 41 % on 3s as a sophomore at VCU and is a profession 79.4 % free throw shooter, a bounce-back season together with his 3-point capturing isn’t far-fetched.
Why he may underperform this rating: Penn State is likely one of the Massive Ten’s worst groups on paper, and it’s not typically {that a} participant from a backside dweller finally ends up competing for a first-team All-Massive Ten spot. The Nittany Lions made a couple of switch portal additions however returned the core from final season’s group that was 9/11 in league play. If Baldwin’s capturing doesn’t bounce again, he doesn’t have the ceiling as a number of of the opposite level guards on this checklist.
Filed to: 2024-25 Massive Ten preview, Oumar Ballo
