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

• Key returning players: Julian Reese, DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jordan Geronimo, Jahari Long
• Key losses: Jahmir Young, Donta Scott, Jamie Kaiser
• Incoming notable transfers: JaKobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice, Selton Miguel, Tafarra Gapare
• Incoming top 150 recruits: Derik Queen, Malachi Palmer

After a season of underachieving in 2023-24, head coach Kevin Willard enters his third season in College Park with hopeful expectations. Losing your star player will always be a blow, and it will be tough for Maryland to replace Jahmir Young this season. However, Belmont transfer JaKobi Gillespie will be given the keys to run Willard’s team. Gillespie was one of college basketball’s most efficient players last season and is a menace on both ends of the floor. He will play alongside Maryland great Julian Reese, who reportedly added muscle to help bully other Big Ten big men in the post and on the glass. Willard also retained key role players DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jahari Long, and Jordan Geronimo to lead the team toward a bounce-back season. Expect Maryland to finish in the top half of the league.

• Key returning players: Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal, Evan Mahaffey
• Key losses: Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Zed Key, Felix Okpara
• Incoming notable transfers: Meechie Johnson, Sean Stewart, Aaron Bradshaw, Micah Parrish
• Incoming top 150 recruits: John Mobley, Colin White

Ohio State was another Big Ten team with a rocky 2023-24 season, and it included relieving head coach Chris Holtmann of his duties. Interim head coach Jake Diebler secured the role in the offseason, and fans thought it was a questionable hire. Regarding the roster, Ohio State was able to retain star guard Bruce Thornton but lost key role players in Roddy Gayle, Jamison Battle, Zed Key, and Felix Okpara. In a surprising move, the Buckeyes landed Meechie Johnson, who had previously transferred out of Columbus to South Carolina the year prior. Diebler is also taking chances on highly touted 2023 recruits in Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart. Ohio State will be an intriguing team to watch, their depth might be an issue, however, Thornton should be able to keep them in the middle of the Big Ten standings.