Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings for 2025-26 season after NBA draft decisions

USA Today

2 days ago

AI-assisted summary
Several key Big Ten basketball players, including Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg and Wisconsin's John Blackwell, withdrew from the NBA draft and will return to school.
Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser will remain in the NBA draft, dealing a blow to the Nittany Lions.
With rosters finalized, USA TODAY projects Purdue as the top Big Ten team for the 2025-26 season, followed by Michigan and UCLA.
Wisconsin is projected to finish fourth in the Big Ten due to Blackwell's return and the addition of San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd.
The college basketball offseason reached a significant milestone this week, as the NBA draft early-entry candidates were forced to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to college.
That date saw several of the Big Ten's projected top players return to school, including Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, Wisconsin guard John Blackwell and Oregon center Nate Bittle. Lendeborg headlines that group after joining Michigan this offseason as the top-ranked player in the transfer portal. He, Blackwell and Bittle all project as 2026 draft prospects, assuming they continue their respective trajectories through the 2025-26 season.
Meanwhile, one notable player to remain in the draft is Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser. The former Northern Illinois transfer led the Big Ten in blocks (2.3) last season and would've been a frontrunner for 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year had he returned. His departure is a major blow to a Penn State program that is reeling, now entering year three under Mike Rhoades.
With rosters now finalized after a busy transfer window and those NBA draft decisions, here are our latest Big Ten power rankings for the 2025-26 season.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
2024-25 Record: 16-15 (6-14 Big Ten)
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Notable Departures: Ace Baldwin Jr. (graduation), Puff Johnson (portal), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (draft)
Notable Additions: Josh Reed (Cincinnati), Kayden Mingo (high school), Mason Blackwood (high school)
Konan Niederhauser's departure is crushing for Penn State's chances this season. Not only will his 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game be challenging to replicate, but his sheer presence on the court affected opposing game plans. Talents like that are hard to come by, especially at center. An NCAA Tournament berth would be a major surprise for the Nittany Lions this season.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2024-25 Record: 15-17 (8-12 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Ace Bailey (draft), Dylan Harper (draft), Lathan Sommerville (portal), Jeremiah Williams (portal)
Notable Additions: Baye Fall (Kansas State), Darren Buchanan (George Washington), Lino Mark (high school), Chris Nwuli (high school), Harun Zrno (international)
Rutgers went 15-17 with two top-three NBA draft prospects in the lineup. With those two now gone, how can we expect the team to suddenly improve dramatically?
16. Washington Huskies
2024-25 Record: 13-18 (4-16 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Great Osobor (graduation), Tyler Harris (portal), Wilhelm Breidenbach (portal), Mekhi Mason (portal)
Notable Additions: Wesley Yates III (USC), Bryson Tucker (Indiana), Jacob Ognacevic (Lipscomb), Lathan Sommerville (Rutgers), Quimari Peterson (East Tennessee State)
Washington is the last team in this ranking's bottom tier. The Huskies struggled in their first year in the Big Ten, even with top transfer Great Osobor leading the way. Sprinkle has won wherever he's been, so expect some improvement in 2025-26. It still may not be enough to reach the conference tournament.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2024-25 Record: 15-17 (7-13 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Dawson Garcia (graduation), Lu'Cye Patterson (graduation), Mike Mitchell Jr. (graduation), Femi Odukale (portal), Parker Fox (graduation)
Notable Additions: Bobby Durkin (Davidson), Langston Reynolds (Northern Colorado), B.J. Omot (Cal), Jalen Crooker-Johnson (Colorado State), Chansey Willis Jr. (Western Michigan)
Minnesota has newfound hope with Niko Medved at the helm. While the former Colorado State coach has an impressive track record of success, Minnesota has proven as a challenging place to win, especially with Wisconsin dominating recruiting in the state. Medved would do well to get the Gophers to the conference tournament in his first year.
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers
2024-25 Record: 21-14 (7-13 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Brice Williams (graduation), Juwan Gary (graduation), Andrew Morgan (graduation), Rollie Worster (graduation)
Notable Additions: Pryce Sandford (Iowa), Kendall Blue (St. Thomas), Jamarques Lawrence (Rhode Island)
Nebraska was flying high midway through the 2024-25 season. It had just reached its first NCAA Tournament in 10 years and was positioned for another postseason run. Then, the team lost its last five games and six of its last seven. While it went on to win the College Basketball Crown (postseason tournament), Nebraska's end-of-year stretch clouds its 2025-26 expectations. The major question is who carries the scoring load with Brice Williams (20.4 points per game) and Juwan Gary (14.6 points per game) both gone.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
13. Northwestern Wildcats
2024-25 Record: 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Brooks Barnhizer (graduation), Ty Berry (graduation), Matthew Nicholson (graduation), Jalen Leach (graduation)
Notable Additions: Jayden Reed (USF), Max Green (Holy Cross)
Collins returns All-Big Ten forward Nick Martinelli to lead his 2025-26 team. The Wildcats battled significant injuries last season and were much better than their final record shows. While the team's ceiling is far from a conference contender, it has a stable floor around 20 wins per season.
12. Indiana Hoosiers
2024-25 Record: 19-13 (10-10 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Malik Reneau (portal), Oumar Ballo (draft), Mackenzie Mgbako (portal), Myles Rice (portal), Luke Goode (graduation), Trey Galloway (graduation), Bryson Tucker (portal), Anthony Leal (graduation)
Notable Additions: Tucker DeVries (West Virginia), Reed Bailey (Davidson), Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston), Conor Enright (DePaul), Tayton Conerway (Troy), Nick Dorn (Elon)
Indiana is a major wild card in 2025. Darian DeVries reshaped the roster after taking over as head coach. His additions were headlined by his son, Tucker, one of the portal's top-20 players. While many significant questions exist, DeVries' coaching pedigree suggests an NCAA Tournament berth as a possibility.
11. Iowa Hawkeyes
2024-25 Record: 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Everyone
Notable Additions: Bennett Stirtz (Drake), Brendan Hausen (Kansas State), Tavion Banks (Drake), Alvaro Folgueiras (Robert Morris), Cam Manyawu (Drake), Isaia Howard (Drake)
Iowa could be one of the Big Ten's most exciting teams in 2025. New head coach Ben McCollum takes over the program, bringing with him a five-star transfer prospect and All-Conference-caliber player in Bennett Stirtz. The Hawkeyes may be a few years away from fully rounding into form, but Stirtz's presence should ensure the team is competitive from Day 1.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
10. Maryland Terrapins
2024-25 Record: 27-9 (14-6 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Deriq Queen (draft), Julian Reese (portal), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (portal), Rodney Rice (portal), Selton Miguel (graduation), DeShawn Harris-Smith (portal),
Notable Additions: Myles Rice (Indiana), Pharrel Payne (Texas A&M), Darius Adams (high school), Solomon Washington (Texas A&M), Isaiah Watts (Washington State), Elijah Saunders (Virginia), David Coit (Kansas)
Buzz Williams takes over Maryland with a clean sheet, as nearly the team's entire rotation left for the NBA or the portal after the 2024-25 season. Rice (10.1 points per game at Indiana last season) and Payne (10.4 ppg at Texas A&M) will be key to the Terrapins' early performance.
9. USC Trojans
2024-25 Record: 17-18 (7-13 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Desmond Claude (portal), Wesley Yates (portal), Chibuzo Agbo (graduation), Saint Thomas (portal), Rashaun Agee (portal), Josh Cohen (graduation)
Notable Additions: Rodney Rice (Maryland), Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn), Alijah Arenas (high school), Ezra Ausar (Utah), Jacob Cofie (Virginia), Jerry Easter (high school), Gabe Dynes (Yale), Amarion Dickerson (Robert Morris)
USC disappointed last season in year one under Eric Musselman. While expectations should drop following that campaign, the team excelled in the portal this offseason, headlined by Rice and Baker-Mazara. The Trojans have an intriguing combination of experience and young talent. They project as a classic high-ceiling, low-floor team.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
8. Oregon Ducks
2024-25 Record: 25-10 (12-8 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Brandon Angel (graduation), T.J. Bamba (graduation), Keeshawn Barthelemy (graduation), Jadrian Tracey (portal)
Notable Additions: T.K. Simpkins (Elon), Miles Goodman (Penn State), Devon Pryor (Texas)
Dana Altman deserves the benefit of the doubt, as the Ducks haven't won fewer than 20 games during any year of his tenure (since 2010-11). The 2024-25 team was so-so by Altman's standards, though it still won 25 games and finished near the Big Ten's top group. Center Nate Bittle withdrawing from the draft is major news for the team's 2025-26 chances. He'll enter the year as arguably the Big Ten's best center and its preseason favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
2024-25 Record: 17-15 (9-11 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Micah Parrish (graduation), Meechie Johnson (portal), Evan Mahaffey (portal), Aaron Bradshaw (portal), Sean Stewart (portal)
Notable Additions: Gabe Cupps (Indiana), Brandon Noel (Wright State), Christoph Tilly (Santa Clara), A'mare Bynum (high school)
Ohio State received a major boost as veteran guard Bruce Thornton withdrew from the NBA draft this week. After averaging 17.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024-25, he'll enter 2025-26 with hopes of a first-team All-Conference breakthrough. The Buckeyes were better last season than their 17-15 record indicates. A positive regression in close games should at least make them an NCAA Tournament team.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
2024-25 Record: 22-13 (12-8 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Kasparas Jakucionis (draft), Will Riley (draft), Morez Johnson (portal), Carey Booth (portal)
Notable Additions: Andrej Stojakovic (Cal), Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas), Brandon Lee (high school), Keaton Wagler (high school), David Mirkovic (international), Mihailo Petrovic (international)
Brad Underwood reloaded the roster yet again this offseason. The Illini lost leading contributors Jakucionis, Riley and Johnson, all of whom were freshmen last season. Stojakovic (17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds per game at Cal last season) was a major transfer recruiting win. He should claim the team's No. 1 role on an offense that seems to excel regardless of the personnel.
5. Michigan State Spartans
2024-25 Record: 30-7 (17-3 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Jaden Akins (graduation), Frankie Fidler (graduation), Szymon Zapala (graduation), Tre Holloman (portal), Jase Richardson (draft), Xavier Booker (portal)
Notable Additions: Kaleb Glenn (FAU), Jordan Scott (high school), Cam Ward (high school), Trey Fort (Samford)
Michigan State surprised many with its Big Ten title run last season. The team then lost many of its primary contributors from that team, headlined by star freshman Jase Richardson. Since Tom Izzo is still on the sideline, expect the Spartans to again compete for a title.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
4. Wisconsin Badgers
2024-25 Record: 27-10 (13-7 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: John Tonje (graduation), Max Klesmit (graduation), Steven Crowl (graduation), Kamari McGee (graduation), Carter Gilmore (graduation), Xavier Amos (portal)
Notable Additions: Andrew Rohde (Virginia), Austin Rapp (Portland), Nick Boyd (San Diego State), Braeden Carrington (Tulsa), Zach Kinziger (high school)
Wisconsin is a major winner from the early-entry deadline, as star guard John Blackwell returned to the program. The team could have one of the better starting units in the conference, headlined by Blackwell, Nolan Winter and San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd. There remains a question off the bench after the transfer departure of forward Xavier Amos.
For more, here is our latest projection of Wisconsin's roster and rotation.
3. UCLA Bruins
2024-25 Record: 23-11 (13-7 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Sebastian Mack (portal), Kobe Johnson (graduation), Aday Mara (transfer), Dylan Andrews (portal), William Kyle (portal), Lazar Stefanovic (graduation)
Notable Additions: Donovan Dent (New Mexico), Xavier Booker (Michigan State), Jamar Brown (Kansas City)
UCLA landed one of the transfer portal's top players in Dent. While the team saw several top players depart, including center Aday Mara, it projects as a Big Ten contender this season. All it has to do is overcome significant travel disadvantages, which coach Mike Cronin likes to mention.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
2. Michigan Wolverines
2024-25 Record: 27-10 (14-6 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Vlad Goldin (graduation), Danny Wolf (draft), Tre Donaldson (portal), Will Tschetter (graduation), Nimari Burnett (graduation), Sam Walters (portal), Rubin Jones (graduation)
Notable Additions: Aday Mara (UCLA), Morez Johnson (Illinois), Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)
Michigan officially added top-ranked transfer Yaxel Lendeborg to its roster this week, as the former UAB forward withdrew from the draft. Dusty May surprised everyone with a breakthrough 27-win season in 2024-25. That total could improve even further with another year of continuity and a terrific transfer class on the court.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
1. Purdue Boilermakers
2024-25 Record: 24-12 (13-7 Big Ten)
Notable Departures: Caleb Furst (graduation), Cam Heide (portal), Myles Colvin (portal)
Notable Additions: Oscar Cluff (South Dakota State)
This ranking is pretty simple. Purdue has the two best players in the Big Ten entering 2025-26 in forward Trey Kaufman-Renn and guard Braden Smith. The team has also been the conference's best over the last decade. 2025-26 looks like another top-end Matt Painter team, assuming center Oscar Cluff is the impact addition many believe him to be.
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