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

• Key returning players: Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit, John Blackwell
• Key losses: AJ Storr, Tyler Wahl, Chucky Hepburn
• Incoming notable transfers: Xavier Amos, Camren Hunter, John Tonje
• Incoming top 150 recruits: Daniel Freitag, Jack Robison

The Badgers enter the season with low expectations from the media and fans, largely due to the losses of AJ Storr and Tyler Wahl. However, head coach Greg Gard has a vision for his 2024-25 squad. He kept his starting big man, Steven Crowl, and key contributors, Max Klesmit and John Blackwell. Gard also landed two recruits, Daniel Freitag and Jack Robison, who might be immediate contributors due to Wisconsin’s thin depth. Transfers Camren Hunter, John Tonje, and Xavier Amos will all be given opportunities to play in Gard’s rotation. Expect Max Klesmit to take a big step and be the focal point this season next to Crowl. He is an elite shooter and will prosper for Gards’ Badgers. With Gard, Wisconsin should be an annual competitor in the Big Ten conference.

• Key returning players: N/A
• Key losses: Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, Kobe Johnson, DJ Rodman, Joshua Morgan, Bronny James
• Incoming notable transfers: Desmond Claude, Terrance Williams, Wesley Yates, Chibuzo Agbo, Saint Thomas, Kevin Patton, Josh Cohen, Rashaun Agee, Matt Knowling, Clark Slajchert
• Incoming top 150 recruits: Isaiah Elohim, Jalen Shelley

USC basketball was nothing short of a disaster in the 2023-24 season. Even with loads of talent, the Trojans still finished three games below .500. New head coach Eric Musselman endured one of the biggest roster turnovers you’ll ever see in college basketball, just returning one player from the previous season. Musselman started pulling in players who were the stars of their previous programs, including eight transfers who averaged more than eleven points per game last season. Musselman is seemingly throwing stuff against the wall, hoping something sticks, and however, it might stick after they defeated Gonzaga in an preseason scrimmage. The team has a plethora of talent, time will tell if they will mesh together in the Big Ten.