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For the first time in a long while, Indiana has been picked to be the consensus winner of the Big Ten conference according to ESPN's Big Ten 2022-23 conference preview: Could the league's national title drought finally end?.
Looking past the Big Ten, there has not been a NCAA National Champion from the conference since Michigan State won it in 2000. When discussing if this is the year that drought could see an end, ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello, and Joe Lunardi all think that Indiana has potentially the best shot at ending that streak.
"In a system that paves the way for Saint Peter's to go from a 3-6 start to the season to a miraculous Elite Eight run and sometimes eliminates top seeds in the early rounds, NCAA tournament results are often attached to good fortune more than overall talent," said Medcalf. "That said, in the one-and-done era, veteran cores have won most of the titles. Which is why I think Indiana, led by Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson probably has the best shot to end the Big Ten's drought."
"I'm in on Indiana as the league favorite, and it's the only Big Ten team I have ranked in the top 20 entering the season -- but this is also a team that snuck into the NCAA tournament as a final at-large selection, then lost by a thousand to Saint Mary's," said Borzello. "Jackson-Davis is an All-America candidate, Mike Woodson brings back three other starters and two top-25 recruits are entering the fold -- including Jalen Hood-Schfino, who has received rave reviews in the preseason. Tamar Bates could take a step forward, too. But ending the title drought? We'll be discussing it again next year.
"I'd make Indiana a slight favorite in another crowded field, but will confidently add that the league's non-title streak will still be intact this time next year," said Lunardi.
Along with Indiana being the consensus favorite to win the Big Ten, the ESPN group also has Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis as the consensus Big Ten Player of the Year.
"I think it will be (Trayce) Jackson-Davis," said Medcalf. "I think he'll build on last season's effort (18.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 59% shooting). His life got easier when Cockburn left the league."
"Jackson-Davis is the best player on the league's best team," said Lunardi "Plus there is the inevitable storyline of coach Mike Woodson leading his alma mater back to prominence in just his second season back in Bloomington. Let's call player and coach the "co-faces" of the Big Ten, and see if they can live up to the mighty expectations that are an automatic component of Indiana basketball."
Indiana comes into the season as the 13th ranked team in the AP Top 25. The Hooisers' first exhibition game is this Saturday, October 29th versus Marian University (NAIA) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
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