Big Ten Men's Basketball: 2024-25 Season Review

The 2024-25 Big Ten men's basketball season was a rollercoaster of emotions, with some teams exceeding expectations and others falling short. Here’s a comprehensive review of each team’s performance, complete with grades and key takeaways.

A Grades

Illinois Fighting Illini

• Grade: A Brad Underwood masterfully rebuilt the Illini after losing their top eight scorers from the previous season. Kasparas Jakucionis emerged as a star, leading Illinois to 11 wins over top-50 KenPom opponents and a second-round NCAA tournament appearance.

Maryland Terrapins

• Grade: A Kevin Willard’s squad had one of the best seasons in program history, finishing tied for second in the Big Ten and making their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2016. Derik Queen was a standout, averaging 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds.

Michigan Wolverines

• Grade: A Dusty May revitalized Michigan in his first season, leading the Wolverines to a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a Sweet 16 appearance. The duo of Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin made Michigan a tough matchup for any team.

Michigan State Spartans

• Grade: A Tom Izzo’s Spartans dominated the Big Ten, winning the regular-season title by three games and making an Elite Eight run. Freshman Jase Richardson was a revelation, averaging 12.1 points and shooting 41% from beyond the arc.

Wisconsin Badgers

• Grade: A Greg Gard’s Badgers defied preseason expectations, finishing tied for third in the Big Ten and winning 27 games. John Tonje was a breakout star, earning AP second-team All-America honors with 19.6 points per game.

B Grades

Northwestern Wildcats

• Grade: B Despite injuries to key players, Northwestern finished .500 overall, a significant achievement for a program with a long history of struggles. Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach were bright spots when healthy.

Oregon Ducks

• Grade: B Dana Altman extended his streak of 20-win seasons, leading Oregon to a seventh-place finish in the Big Ten and a second-round NCAA tournament appearance. Nate Bittle led the team with 14.2 points per game.

Purdue Boilermakers

• Grade: B Despite losing Wooden Award winner Zach Edey, Purdue still reached the Sweet 16. Braden Smith stepped up as the new leader, winning Big Ten Player of the Year honors.

C Grades

Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Grade: C Ben Johnson slightly exceeded preseason expectations, but Minnesota still finished 7-13 in the Big Ten. Dawson Garcia was a standout, averaging 19.2 points per game.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

• Grade: C Nebraska’s season was marred by a late collapse, losing 12 of their last 17 games after a strong start. Fred Hoiberg’s squad missed the NCAA tournament.

D Grades

Indiana Hoosiers

• Grade: D Mike Woodson’s tenure ended in disappointment, as Indiana failed to make the NCAA tournament despite high preseason expectations.

Iowa Hawkeyes

• Grade: D Fran McCaffery was fired after a disastrous season that saw Iowa finish last in defensive efficiency in the Big Ten.

Ohio State Buckeyes

• Grade: D Jake Diebler’s first season as head coach fell short of expectations, as Ohio State finished 10th in the Big Ten and missed the NCAA tournament.

F Grades

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• Grade: F Despite having two of the top recruits in program history, Rutgers finished 11th in the Big Ten with a 15-17 overall record.

Washington Huskies

• Grade: F Washington finished last in the Big Ten, losing five games by 20 or more points despite the arrival of Great Osobor and Danny Sprinkle.

Conclusion

The 2024-25 Big Ten men's basketball season was filled with highs and lows. Teams like Illinois, Maryland, and Michigan State exceeded expectations, while others like Rutgers and Washington struggled. As we look ahead to the 2025-26 season, the Big Ten remains one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball.