Big Ten Basketball 2025-26: Complete Conference Preview
Breaking down every Big Ten basketball team for 2025-26. Contenders, sleepers, and players to watch across the expanded conference.
The Big Ten Is a Monster
With 18 teams, the Big Ten is the deepest basketball conference in America. The expansion that added USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington has made the conference a gauntlet — there are no easy games, every road trip is a test, and the bottom of the league would compete for conference titles elsewhere.
Here's how the 2025-26 season shapes up across all four tiers.
Title Contenders
Purdue Boilermakers
Projected finish: 1st | 2025: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Still the team to beat. The post presence is dominant — arguably the best interior duo in the country. The backcourt has developed into a legitimate three-point threat, and the bench is deeper than it's been in years. Matt Painter's system maximizes size advantages, and no one in the Big Ten can match Purdue's frontcourt.
Strengths: Interior scoring, offensive rebounding, free throw shooting Concerns: Perimeter defense against elite guards, road games in hostile environments
Michigan State Spartans
Projected finish: 2nd | 2025: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Tom Izzo reloaded through the portal and has a top-5 recruiting class meshing with experienced upperclassmen. This might be Izzo's best defensive team in years — long, athletic, and relentless on the boards. The point guard might be the best pure floor general in college basketball, and the team plays with the toughness Izzo demands.
Strengths: Defense, transition offense, guard play, coaching Concerns: Three-point shooting consistency, depth at the 5
Illinois Fighting Illini
Projected finish: 3rd | 2025: NCAA Tournament Second Round
The combination of elite guard play and improved frontcourt depth makes Illinois the most dangerous team when firing on all cylinders. The non-conference schedule will tell us a lot early — games against ranked opponents in November and December will reveal the ceiling.
Strengths: Scoring in bunches, guard depth, home court advantage Concerns: Interior defense, consistency on the road
The Next Tier
Indiana Hoosiers
Projected finish: 4th | 2025: NCAA Tournament First Round
The Assembly Hall advantage is real — it's the toughest place to play in the Big Ten and maybe the country. The roster has tournament experience and a legitimate star in the making at the 4 spot (most improved player candidate). This could be a dark horse Final Four contender if the outside shooting comes together.
Strengths: Assembly Hall, frontcourt talent, defensive rebounding Concerns: Three-point shooting, point guard consistency
Wisconsin Badgers
Projected finish: 5th | 2025: NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
They'll defend, rebound, and make you play their pace. Wisconsin's identity hasn't changed in two decades, and it works. The swing skill is three-point shooting — when they make threes, they're nearly impossible to beat because they never give up easy baskets on the other end.
Strengths: Half-court defense, discipline, making you play their game Concerns: Pace limits ceiling, can be blown out by elite transition teams
UCLA Bruins
Projected finish: 6th | 2025: 20-12 overall
Still adjusting to Big Ten play. The talent is there, but the grind of 20 conference games is a different animal than the Pac-12 was. The coast-to-coast travel is the biggest adjustment — playing at Michigan State on Tuesday then at Ohio State on Saturday tests depth and conditioning. Year two in the Big Ten should show meaningful improvement.
Strengths: Recruiting, guard talent, brand-name draws recruits Concerns: Physicality in Big Ten post play, road record
Oregon Ducks
Projected finish: 7th | 2025: 19-13 overall
Another Pac-12 transplant finding their footing. The roster is deep with portal additions, and the coaching staff has schemed well in Big Ten play. Oregon's style — uptempo, three-heavy — can either light up the scoreboard or backfire against disciplined defenses.
Strengths: Tempo, three-point shooting, home court Concerns: Defensive lapses, turnovers in Big Ten road environments
Sleepers to Watch
These teams could surprise and make noise in the Big Ten Tournament or earn at-large NCAA bids:
| Team | Why They're Dangerous | The Concern | |------|----------------------|-------------| | Iowa | Best three-point shooting in the conference. If shots fall, they beat anyone. | Defense remains suspect — can they get stops in big moments? | | Maryland | Young but incredibly talented. Could be scary by February as freshmen mature. | Youth means inconsistency early. Big Ten road games are unforgiving for freshmen. | | Ohio State | The rebuild is ahead of schedule. Smart coaching and portal additions. | Still a year away from true contention. Building toward 2027. | | Nebraska | The new arena and Fred Hoiberg's best roster. Ready to make noise. | Consistency game-to-game remains the question. |
Players to Watch
| Player | Position | Team | Why | |--------|----------|------|-----| | PG | Guard | Michigan State | The best pure point guard in college basketball. Controls games. | | C | Center | Purdue | Dominant inside, developing a mid-range game. Double-double machine. | | G | Guard | Illinois | Electric scorer who can take over any game with a 15-point quarter. | | F | Forward | Indiana | Most improved player in the conference. Versatile and physical. | | G | Guard | Iowa | Three-point assassin. Will lead the Big Ten in made threes. |
Predicted Final Standings
| Tier | Teams | Projected Wins | |------|-------|---------------| | Elite | Purdue, Michigan State | 14-16 wins | | Contender | Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin | 12-14 wins | | Tournament | UCLA, Oregon, Iowa | 10-12 wins | | Bubble | Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska | 8-10 wins | | Middle | Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota | 6-8 wins | | Bottom | Northwestern, USC, Washington | 4-6 wins |
Conference Tournament Preview
The Big Ten Tournament at the United Center in Chicago will be the wildest event in college basketball. With 18 teams, the tournament spans six days:
- Tuesday/Wednesday: Games 1-4 (seeds 15-18 play in, then 11-14)
- Thursday: Quarterfinals
- Friday: Semifinals
- Sunday: Championship
In a conference this deep, a hot team from the 8-10 seed range could make a legitimate run. The Big Ten Tournament winner gets an automatic NCAA bid, but even without it, the conference should send 8-10 teams to March Madness.
The Big Ten is must-watch basketball from November through March. It's that deep.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Big Ten teams will make the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
- Expect 8-10 bids. The Big Ten is the deepest conference in the country with 18 teams. Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, UCLA, Oregon, and Iowa are near-locks if they perform to expectations. Maryland and Ohio State are on the bubble.
- How does the expanded Big Ten schedule work?
- With 18 teams, Big Ten basketball plays a 20-game conference schedule. Each team has home-and-away series with some opponents and plays others only once. The Big Ten Tournament seeds all 18 teams, with the bottom 4 playing in a first round on Tuesday/Wednesday.
- Who are the Big Ten Player of the Year candidates?
- The top candidates are Purdue's center, Michigan State's point guard, and Illinois' scoring guard. Watch for Indiana's forward (most improved candidate) and UCLA's guard (if the Bruins exceed expectations) as dark horses.
- How have the former Pac-12 teams adjusted to the Big Ten?
- UCLA and Oregon are both in the tournament conversation but finding the 20-game conference grind different from the Pac-12. Travel is the biggest adjustment — coast-to-coast flights multiple times per month. USC and Washington are still adapting and likely in the bottom half this year.