Illinois is the pick to win the Big Ten this season, snagging 18 first-place votes in The Columbus Dispatch’s annual media poll, and that’s a huge deal given what went down last year. They just reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005, and now they’re seen as the team to beat in a conference that literally just had a national champion. Talk about stepping up!
Michigan’s Crown Already Feels Heavy
Seriously, after winning the national title last season, you’d think Michigan would be riding high, right? Not so fast. The media poll has them slotted at third in the Big Ten, and the experts are already labeling them “overrated.” That’s a pretty wild take for the reigning champs, but when you dig into it, you see why everyone’s pumping the brakes. Last year, Michigan totally delivered on their talent, especially with that monster frontcourt that created matchup nightmares all season. They were one of the most dominant national title teams this century. So what gives?
It’s a combo punch that’s already got the Wolverines reeling. First, they lost head coach Dusty May late in the offseason to the Dallas Mavericks. Losing your leader right after winning it all is a gut punch. But the real dagger came when Brandon McCoy Jr., a five-star freshman who was looking like a lottery pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, tore his ACL during their European Tour in Lithuania. That’s just brutal. You lose your coach AND a potential franchise-altering talent before the season even starts? Yeah, their roster is still good, but it’s clear why people think Michigan’s gonna take a big step back this year. I mean, teams like USC and UCLA are right there behind them in the poll, and it wouldn’t shock anyone to see them finish above Michigan in the final standings.
Illinois and Sparty Are Ready to Own the Big Ten
While Michigan tries to figure things out, Illinois is full steam ahead. They’re expected to open as a consensus preseason top 10 team, bringing back most of their core from last season’s Final Four run. Forward David Mirković is already being talked about as a preseason All-American. That’s the kind of firepower you need to lead the conference. Michigan State isn’t far behind, either. They locked up nine first-place votes in the poll and are also expected to be a consensus preseason top 10 team. Their returning All-American guard Jeremy Fears Jr. is a huge reason for that.
Last season, only Purdue and Michigan even got first-place votes, and they ended up battling it out in the Big Ten title game. Purdue won that one, but Michigan obviously went on to win six straight and claim the national title. This year, three teams got votes, with Illinois, Michigan State, and Michigan all getting love. But with the reigning champs already facing major headwinds, it feels like this could be the year for someone else to step up.
The 2026-27 college basketball season tips off in less than a month on November 1. You know what’s at stake: Big Ten bragging rights. Can Illinois live up to the hype? Will Michigan State make a run at the top spot? And how far will the champs actually fall without their coach and their future lottery pick? It’s going to be a wild season, and I can’t wait to see how this all shakes out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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