Here’s where media think UW men will finish in Big Ten | Notebook

ROSEMONT, Ill.

Heading into the 2024-25 season, Washington was picked 15 th in the Big Ten mens basketball preseason poll conducted by The Columbus Dispatch and The Indianapolis Star.

Thats higher than I thought, UW coach Danny Sprinkle said with a laugh.

Well take that.

Its good because it sets a benchmark for us and lets us know thats how good this league is.

Now, it doesnt mean that we have to finish 15 th .

Last season, Sprinkle led a Utah State team that was picked ninth in the 11-team Mountain West preseason poll to a 28-7 record and a conference title.

Thats something that well use as motivation, but at the same time you still got to go and prove it, Sprinkle said.

You have to have that chip on your shoulder every time you go into the weight room and every time you go into the gym for extra shots.

Our guys should be thinking about that No.

15.

Two-time defending league champion Purdue, which received 20 first-place votes from the 33-member media panel and 572 points, is the preseason favorites followed by second-place Indiana, which garnered seven first-place votes and 549 points.

The Boilermakers lost two-time national college player Zach Edey, but bring back three starters, including preseason MVP Braden Smith and brought in a top-20 recruiting class to a team that finished 34-5 in the national championship game last season.

"We didn't have anybody leave to go into the portal," Purdue coach Matt Painter said.

"That was big for us because we didn't have to deal with recruiting all spring and into the summer and not knowing who we are.

Now, we're able to develop and know the guys on our team.

UCLA (510) and Illinois (458) each nabbed two first-place votes and was picked third and fourth, respectively.

Michigan State (448) was slotted fifth and received a first-place vote.

Positive feelings on NCAA tournament expansion Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said theres positive feelings toward (NCAA tournament) expansion and pushed back on speculation of making fundamental changes to the Big Dance.

We're committed to the NCAA tournament the way it is, he said.

I know there's been talk about ...

expansion in terms of adding teams.

Petitti didnt offer any specifics on possible changes.

I just need to hear more about how that would work depending on how many teams they had, what the seeding looks like, what the first two days look like, he said.

It's just not as simple as saying add more teams.

Old faces, new places UCLA coach Mike Cronin drew laughs from a gaggle of reporters when he said: You know, I used to hear the Pac-12 wasnt a basketball league.

OK, were in the Big Ten now and I see a lot of Pac-12 guys on Big Ten teams.

So, maybe we did have some basketball talent in the Pac-12.

To his point, Indiana replenished its roster with Pac-12 transfers Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Myles Rice (Washington State) and Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford).

Before departing, Oregon raided former Pac-12 rivals and plucked TJ Bamba (Washington State) and Brandon Angel (Stanford) while former Arizona guard Kylan Boswell landed at Illinois.

Izzo isnt slowing down Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is the Godfather of Big Ten basketball and the 69-year-old icon, who turns 70 on Jan.

30, made it clear that hes not stepping away anytime soon.

Enough was enough five years ago, if you want the truth, he said smiling.

I had my hip replaced this year and I feel better now than I did five years ago.

I dont think its age and hopefully not illness that will get me out of it.

But as weve seen with guys like Mike (Krzyzewski), Jay Wright, Roy (Williams) and Nick Saban my good friend, you see guys getting out for other reasons.

Right now, Im still interested in the fight.

Im still interested in what we can do.

Izzo, who enters his 29 th season with a 707-295 record, also wants to be the coach who breaks the Big Tens 24-year national championship drought.

Since he led the Spartans to a title in 2000, 13 Big Ten teams have made the Final Four and come up short.

The day I quit working because I think that happens I hope everybody in this room rips me and tells me to get out, Izzo said.

But if I dont quit working, I think theres still a lot of good I can give to the game and to the players.

I still got some wins left in me.

I really havent thought about it.

When I do think about it, its when rules get to the point where is it worth it? Notes French swingman Dominique Diomande, who verbally committed to the Huskies in July, will not be enrolling at UW.

Since his announcement via social media, it was unclear how Washington would be able to sign him considering it had already given away its 13 scholarships.

Diomande, who is considered a 2026 NBA draft prospect, is expected to play professionally in Europe.

Climate Pledge Arena and the Washington Huskies will host first and second-round games of the 2025 and 2028 NCAA mens basketball tournament.

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said he underwent a medical procedure last Friday to replace his pacemaker.

Painter said former Boilermakers coaching legend Gene Keady is doing great after suffering a minor stroke last month.

The 88-year-old Keady, who is Purdues all-time winningest coach, is expected to make a full recovery..

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