Big Ten Roster Reshuffle: The Current State of Every Team’s Lineup, Part 2

OHIO STATE

Departures: Aaron Bradshaw, 7-foot-1 sophomore forward (transfer to Memphis); Kalen Etzler, 6-foot-8 junior forward (graduated); Ques Glover, 6-foot senior guard (out of eligibility); Meechie Johnson Jr., 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer to South Carolina); Evan Mahaffey, 6-foot-6 junior forward (transfer to Akron); Austin Parks, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer to Toledo); Micah Parrish, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Sean Stewart, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transfer to Oregon).

Returnees: Taison Chatman, 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore guard; John Mobley, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard; Braylen Nash, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Ivan Njegovan, 7-foot-1 sophomore center; Devin Royal, 6-foot-6 junior forward; Bruce Thornton, 6-foot-2 senior guard; Colin White, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward.

Incoming: Gabe Cupps, 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore guard (transfer from Indiana); Brandon Noel, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Wright State); Joshua Ojianwuna, 6-foot-10 senior center (transfer from Baylor); Christoph Tilly, 7-foot senior center (transfer from Santa Clara); A’mare Bynum, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Dorian Jones, 6-foot-4 freshman guard.

Last year, coach Jake Diebler brought in Aaron Bradshaw from Kentucky and Sean Stewart from Duke. They were blue-chip recruits from blue-blood programs, but they weren’t nearly as versatile or productive as expected and opponents enjoyed themselves against the Buckeyes’ frontcourt. This time around, Diebler has identified two big men who can pass, dribble and shoot in Noel (19.0 points, 7.7 rebounds) and Tilly (12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds). They should fit much better with fourth-year starter Thornton (17.7 points, 4.6 assists), Royal (13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds) and Mobley (13.0 points, 77 threes). This, of course, assumes Thornton pulls his name out of the NBA Draft, as expected.

OREGON

Departures: Brandon Angel, 6-foot-9 senior forward (out of eligibility); TJ Bamba, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Keeshawn Barthelemy, 6-foot-1 senior guard (out of eligibility); Nate Bittle, 7-foot senior center (declared for NBA draft, but has one year of eligibility); Mookie Cook, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard (transfer to San Francisco); Supreme Cook, 6-foot-9 senior center (out of eligibility); Ra’Heim Moss, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Jadrian Tracey, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer to VCU).

Returnees: Kwame Evans, 6-foot-9 junior forward; Oleksandr Kobzystyi, 6-foot-7 senior forward; Desdrick Lindsay, 6-foot-6 redshirt junior forward; Jamari Phillips, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Jackson Shelstad, 6-foot junior guard.

Incoming: Devon Pryor, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer from Texas); TK Simpkins, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Elon); Sean Stewart, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Ohio State); JJ Frakes, 6-foot-5 freshman guard.

Seniors accounted for nearly 75 percent of the Ducks’ minutes this past season, so Dana Altman needed to shop the portal hard to put together an experienced squad. He found a highly touted Big Ten transfer in Stewart, while Simpkins and Pryor shore up the perimeter. Third-team all-league guard Shelstad and Evans are a strong returning duo, and the Ducks would be worth considering for the preseason Top 25 if Bittle (another third-team all-conference pick) decides to return for his last year. Keep an eye on Evans, who was listed at this time last year as a potential first-round pick. He started playing much better in the final six weeks of the season.

PENN STATE

Departures: Ace Baldwin Jr., 6-foot-1 senior guard (out of eligibility); Jahvin Carter, 6-foot-3 freshman guard (transfer to Middle Tennessee State); D’Marco Dunn, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Miles Goodman, 6-foot-11 freshman forward (in portal); Zach Hicks, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Puff Johnson, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Nick Kern Jr., 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Yanic Konan Niederhauser, 7-foot junior center (declared for NBA Draft, but can return to school); Kachi Nzeh, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (in portal); Hudson Ward, 6-foot-7 freshman forward (transfer to Western Michigan);

Returnees: Freddie Dilione V, 6-foot-5 redshirt junior guard; Eli Rice, 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore forward; Dominick Stewart, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard.

Incoming: Josh Reed, 6-foot-7 senior guard (transfer from Cincinnati); Mason Blackwood, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Reggie Grodin, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Justin Houser, 6-foot-11 freshmen center; Ivan Juric, 7-foot freshman forward; Kayden Mingo, 6-foot-2 freshman guard.

While most Big Ten teams have been pounding the portal, Penn State’s Mike Rhoades has heavily mined the prep ranks. The Nittany Lions have lured what they say is the best freshman class in school history — and it’s led by consensus top-40 recruit Kayden Mingo, a point guard regarded as the highest-rated recruit in Nittany Lions history. Can such a young group be competitive in the Big Ten? It would help if senior center Yanic Konan Niederhauser returns, but he played so well at the G League Combine that he earned an invite to the NBA Draft Combine.

PURDUE

Departures: Will Berg, 7-foot-2 redshirt sophomore center (transfer to Wichita State); Myles Colvin, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transfer to Wake Forest); Caleb Furst, 6-foot-10 senior forward (out of eligibility); Cam Heide, 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore forward (transfer to Texas); Brian Waddell, 6-foot-7 redshirt junior guard (transfer to Bellarmine).

Returnees: Jack Benter, 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman guard; Raleigh Burgess, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward; C.J. Cox, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Aaron Fine, 6-foot-2 redshirt freshman guard; Gicarri Harris, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Daniel Jacobsen, 7-foot-4 redshirt freshman center; Trey Kaufman-Renn, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Sam King, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Fletcher Loyer, 6-foot-5 senior guard; Braden Smith, 6-foot senior guard.

Incoming: Oscar Cluff, 6-foot-11 senior center (transfer from South Dakota State); Liam Murphy, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from North Florida); Omer Mayer, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Antione West Jr., 6-foot-3 freshman guard.

Matt Painter’s crew is not “hoping to be competitive” or “looking forward to seeing where they stack up.” The Boilers are going for the whole darn thing — as in playing for the NCAA title on April 6, 2025, in Indianapolis. With Big Ten Player of the Year Smith … and All-Big Ten forward Kaufman-Renn … and fourth-year starter Loyer … and crucial transfers Cluff and Murphy … and a healthy Jacobsen … and two more key returnees in Cox and Harris, Purdue has everything covered and then some. Cluff (17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds) addresses the rebounding issues – he was No. 2 in the nation in rebounds per game – and Murphy (104-of-246 three-point attempts, 42.2 percent) means at least three great shooters will be on the floor at all times.

RUTGERS

Departures: Tyson Acuff, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Ace Bailey, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (NBA Draft); Jordan Derkack, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer to Dayton); Dylan Harper, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (NBA Draft); P.J. Hayes, 6-foot-6 senior forward (out of eligibility); Zach Martini, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Lathan Sommerville, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (transfer to Washington); Jeremiah Williams, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer to Georgetown).

Returnees: Jamichael Davis, 6-foot-2 junior guard; Bryce Dortch, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward; Dylan Grant, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward; Emmanuel Ogbole, 6-foot-10 senior center.

Incoming: Darren Buchanan, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer from George Washington); Baye Fall, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer from Kansas State); Tariq Francis, 6-foot junior guard (transfer from NJIT); Denis Badalau, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Lino Mark, 6-foot-2 freshman guard; Chris Nwuli, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Kaden Powers, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Gevonte Ware, 6-foot-9 freshman center; Harun Zrno, 6-foot-7 freshman forward.

The short and bittersweet Harper and Bailey era ended without an NCAA Tournament appearance, but their season at Rutgers encouraged other recruits to consider the Scarlet Knights. So maybe there’ll be a delayed payoff thanks to this massive incoming class? Mark is a consensus top-125 recruit from the Los Angeles area. Zrno, a 21-year-old pro from Bosnia, was committed to Indiana, but that changed when Mike Woodson’s reign ended. Badalau is a normal-aged freshman, but he has played pro ball in Italy. Buchanan averaged 13.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in two seasons at GW. Fall played in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game, but he has just 71 minutes of experience after sitting on the bench at Arkansas and Kansas State.

UCLA

Departures: Dylan Andrews, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to Boise State); Dominick Harris, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer to Loyola Chicago); Kobe Johnson, 6-foot-6 senior forward (out of eligibility); William Kyle III, 6-foot-9 junior center (transfer to Syracuse); Sebastian Mack, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transfer to Missouri); Aday Mara, 7-foot-3 sophomore center (transfer to Michigan); Lazar Stefanovic, 6-foot-7 senior guard (out of eligibility); Devin Williams, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer to FAU).

Returnees: Tyler Bilodeau, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Skyy Clark, 6-foot-3 senior guard; Trent Perry, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Eric Dailey Jr., 6-foot-8 junior forward; Eric Freeny, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard; Brandon Williams, 6-foot-7 redshirt sophomore forward.

Incoming: Xavier Booker, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transfer from Michigan State); Jamar Brown, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from UMKC); Donovan Dent, 6-foot-2 senior guard (transfer from New Mexico); Steven Jamerson, 6-foot-10 senior forward/center (transfer from San Diego); Anthony Peoples Jr., 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from North Carolina Central).

The Bruins certainly had a solid season (23 wins, a No. 7 NCAA Tournament seed, 20^th in the final Ken Pom), but it always felt like there wasn’t enough oomph to be a real contender for the biggest stuff. That should not be a problem next season as three fine returning starters (Bilodeau, Dailey, Clark) are joined by Mountain West Player of the Year Dent (20.4 points, 6.2 assists). Brown (17.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 40.2 percent on threes) and Jamerson (10.0 points, 7.8 rebounds) are vets who will have defined roles. And if Mick Cronin can unlock Booker, that takes things to a whole ’nother level.

USC

Departures: Chibuzo Agbo, 6-foot-7 senior guard (out of eligibility); Rashaun Agee, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility); Desmond Claude, 6-foot-6 junior guard (in portal); Isaiah Elohim, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transfer to FAU); Harrison Hornery, 6-foot-10 senior forward (out of eligibility); Matt Knowling, 6-foot-6 senior forward (out of eligibility); Kevin Patton Jr., 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer to New Mexico); Bryce Pope, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Jalen Shelley, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transfer to Loyola Marymount); Clark Slajchert, 6-foot-1 senior guard (out of eligibility); Saint Thomas, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Wesley Yates III, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard (transfer to Washington).

Returnee: Terrance Williams II, 6-foot-7 senior forward.

Incoming: Ezra Ausar, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Utah); Chad Baker-Mazara, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Auburn); Jaden Brownell, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Samford); Jacob Cofie, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer from Virginia); Amarion Dickerson, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard (transfer from Robert Morris); Gabe Dynes, 7-foot-3 junior center (transfer from Youngstown State); Jordan Marsh, 5-foot-10 junior guard (transfer from UNC Asheville); Rodney Rice, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from Maryland);  Alijah Arenas, 6-foot-6 freshman guard; Jerry Easter, 6-foot-3 freshman guard.

Eric Musselman had just one returning scholarship player last year and he built a whole squad, so why not do it again? This time around, he had more time to evaluate and a better idea of what it takes to win in the Big Ten. The wings will be loaded.  Baker-Mazara had 18 points and 4 steals, and hit 4 three-pointers in a national semifinal loss to Florida. Rice averaged 13.8 points and buried 80 threes for the “Crab Five.” Arenas, who’s healing from last month’s one-car crash, is a consensus top-10 recruit. Easter is a top-40 recruit. So who helps at the point? It could be Marsh (18.8 points, 3.7 assists, 2.0 steals), the Big South’s Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Appalachian State.

WASHINGTON

Departures:  Wilhelm Breidenbach, 6-foot-10 senior forward (transfer to Grand Canyon); Jase Butler, 6-foot-4 freshman guard (transfer to Colorado State); Chris Conway, 6-foot-9 senior forward (medical retirement); DJ Davis, 6-foot-1 senior guard (out of eligibility); Dominique Diomande, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transfer to BYU); Tyler Harris, 6-foot-8 sophomore guard (transfer to Vanderbilt); KC Ibekwe, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer to Pacific); Tyree Ihenacho, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Christian King, 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward (transfer to Montana State); Luis Kortright, 6-foot-3 senior guard (out of eligibility); Mekhi Mason, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer to Wake Forest); Great Osobor, 6-foot-8 senior forward (out of eligibility).

Returnees: Vazoumana “Zoom” Diallo, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard; Franck Kepnang, 6-foot-11 senior center.

Incoming: Christian Nitu, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward (transfer from Florida State); Jacob Ognacevic, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Lipscomb); Quimari Peterson, 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from East Tennessee State); Lathan Sommerville, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer from Rutgers); Mady Traore, 6-foot-11 junior center (transfer from Frank Phillips College); Bryson Tucker, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transfer from Indiana); Wesley Yates III, 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore guard (transfer from USC); JJ Mandaquit, 6-foot-1 freshman guard; Courtland Muldrew, 6-foot-3 freshman guard; Jasir Rencher, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Hannes Steinbach, 6-foot-9 freshman forward.

Though McDonald’s All-American four man Niko Bundalo decommitted last month, it’s clear second-year coach Danny Sprinkle has no interest in finishing last in the Big Ten again. The Huskies have loaded up on high-profile talent — particularly in the backcourt. Yates led all Big Ten freshmen in scoring in league games for USC (17.0 points); he originally signed with Washington out of high school, redshirted as a true freshman, then transferred to USC. Tucker was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American. Peterson (19.5 points, 42.2 percent from three) was the Southern Conference’s Player of the Year. Ognacevic, a stretch big, averaged 20 points per game and shot 40 percent from three. Mandaquit, a physical point guard, will get the keys to the offense; he’s a native of Honolulu who played with No. 1 incoming freshman AJ Dybsanta at Utah Prep.

WISCONSIN

Departures: Xavier Amos, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transfer to Loyola Chicago); Steven Crowl, 7-foot senior center (out of eligibility); Daniel Freitag, 6-foot-2 freshman guard (transfer to Buffalo); Carter Gilmore, 6-foot-7 senior forward (out of eligibility); Chris Hodges, 6-foot-9 redshirt junior forward (transfer to Montana State); Camren Hunter, 6-foot-2 junior guard (transfer to Central Arkansas); Markus Ilver, 6-foot-9 senior forward (out of eligibility); Max Klesmit, 6-foot-4 senior guard (out of eligibility); Kamari McGee, 6-foot senior guard (out of eligibility); John Tonge, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility).

Returnees: John Blackwell, 6-foot-4 junior guard; Riccardo Greppi, 6-foot-10 sophomore center; Jack Janicki, 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore guard; Jack Robison, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward; Nolan Winter, 7-foot junior forward.

Incoming: Nick Boyd, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from San Diego State); Braeden Carrington, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Tulsa); Austin Rapp, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward (transfer from Portland); Andrew Rohde, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from Virginia); Aleksas Bielauskas, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Will Garlock, 7-foot freshman center; Hayden Jones, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Zach Kinziger, 6-foot-3 freshman guard. 

The Badgers lost all nine of their seniors and juniors from a team that lost to BYU in the NCAA Tournament second round, so Greg Gard had some urgency to find skilled veterans to fit in with returning starters Blackwell (15.8 points) and Winter (9.4 points). That’s exactly what he has done with Wisconsin native Rohde (9.3 points, 4.3 assists, 41.2 percent from three), Boyd (13.9 points, 3.9 assists, 178 career threes) and Carrington, a former Big Ten player at Minnesota. Rapp (13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 83 threes), the West Coast Conference’s Freshman of the Year, looks as if he’ll work perfectly alongside Winter in the frontcourt. As you can see from the stats, the Badgers again will play five shooters together.

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