That Creaking Sound You Hear Is Me Going Out On A Limb

I'm just full of new SHS traditions! Here's the latest: My first annual end-of-the-year Big Ten basketball predictions. (And yes, I know that it's logistically impossible to be the first annual anything. I'm being whimsical; relax.) Here's my predicted order of finish, just days before the conference season starts.

Michigan State: Not only will this team win the Big Ten, but they could go very deep in the NCAA tournament.

Indiana: This team is vulnerable, but it’s a very weak Big Ten this year.

Purdue: Matt Painter has these guys playing extremely well. I may be overrating them a tad at No. 3, but they will definitely finish in the top 5.

Ohio State: Greg Oden will be a little harder to replace than some people were anticipating.

Wisconsin: There’s a pretty clear dropoff after this spot.

Illinois: Yeah, I made these rankings before they lost to Tennessee State. Still, things will get better, Illini fans. Some of those freshmen are starting to play well.

Minnesota: This team is still hard to figure. They definitely beat everyone they should, but how many Big Tem teams are in that category?

Penn State: If Minnesota (and maybe even Illinois) isn’t careful, these guys could sneak up on them.

Iowa: Well, you’ll always have wrestling.

Michigan: Here’s hoping that stealing a West Virginia coach works out just as well for you in that other sport.

Northwestern: First in GPA, last in our hearts and basketball standings.