Big Ten basketball preseason power rankings: Where do the former Pac-12 teams fit in?

• Key returning players: Jaden Akins, Tre Holloman, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, Xavier Booker
• Key losses: Tyson Walker, Malik Hall, AJ Hoggard, Mady Sissoko
• Incoming notable transfers: Frankie Fidler
• Incoming top 150 recruits: Jase Richardson, Kur Teng

Tom Izzo enters his 30th season at the helm of Michigan State basketball with holes to fill. The Spartans lost four of their best five players from last season, Tyson Walker, Malik Hall, AJ Hoggard, and Mady Sissoko. However, their 2023 recruiting class now has the opportunity to grab key roles within Izzo’s rotation. Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, and Xavier Booker all have high expectations from Michigan State’s fanbase to help propel this team to an NCAA tournament appearance. They will almost certainly be at least on bubble watch this season, and Izzo’s coaching should be enough to get them in the dance.

• Key returning players: Jeremiah Williams, Jamichael Davis
• Key losses: Cliff Omoruyi, Aundre Hyatt, Mawot Mag, Derek Simpson, Noah Fernandes, Gavin Griffiths
• Incoming notable transfers: Tyson Acuff, Jordan Derkack
• Incoming top 150 recruits: Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Lathan Sommerville

As one of the most polarizing and highly anticipated teams to watch this season, head coach Steve Pikell prepares for the 2024-25 season with two freshmen as his star players. Pikell landed two of the top three recruits in the 2024 class, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. However, Rutgers needs to replace the void of Cliff Omoruyi, one of college basketball's best players, who transferred down south to Alabama. Rutgers also lost key rotation pieces in Aundre Hyatt, Mawot Mag, and Derek Simpson, among others. Pikell has a unique coaching philosophy, playing at a slow pace on offense and staying aggressive on defense. Bailey and Harper will be the backbone and focal points of this team, but how far can they take a weak top-to-bottom Big Ten roster?