Player of the Week:
Hannes Steinbach, (Fr., Washington)
Standing 6’11” with an advanced feel for the game who can score from anywhere, Hannes Steinbach brings a European flair to the Big Ten. He gained valuable experience last year in Germany, where his father was also a pro, and showcased his skills this summer at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Now, he has put up a double-double in all but one game so far and most recently led the Huskies with 29 points in a nailbiting loss to UCLA. He moves extremely well for his size which will allow him to operate as a true point forward on offense. It is not common to see an international freshman on this list, but Steinbach’s seamless transition into college basketball is hard to ignore. Scouts can already envision the upside with his skill set and Steinbach should only continue to improve. The German Freshman’s stock is soaring, and he has the Huskies turning heads across the college basketball scene.
Who’s Hot:
John Blackwell, (Jr., Wisconsin)
The crafty, 6’4” guard from Michigan has been tearing it up lately, propelling Wisconsin past Northwestern in a meaningful conference matchup Wednesday Night. Blackwell brings toughness, confidence, and scoring versatility to a talented Wisconsin backcourt tandem that includes Nick Boyd, the team’s leading scorer who has been in college basketball since 2020. However, Blackwell has earned the spotlight this week after putting up 30 points in a tough fight against TCU and outlasting Northwestern after dropping 26 points and 11 rebounds. Blackwell sees the floor extremely well and operates with an extremely high motor. He is constantly involved in nearly every play on both sides of the court and does not shy away from contact. Blackwell has steadily risen within the Badgers program, officially breaking out this year with a marginal jump in efficiency and averaging just under 20 points per game. The future is bright in Madison, Wisconsin
Michigan State Spartans
Tom Izzo’s squad is rolling and unlike their other Big Ten counterparts, the Spartans are battle-tested. Michigan State has dominated their competition thus far, including statement wins against 14th-ranked Arkansas, 12th-ranked Kentucky, and most recently, 16th-ranked North Carolina. Their resume is amongst the best in college basketball. This team has a plethora of ways to beat you, but they do most of their best work on the defensive end. This team is lengthy, switchable, and hungry when guarding opponents, not allowing a single opponent to reach 1 point per possession. Not to mention, Jaxon Kohler and Jeremy Fears Jr. are nearly averaging double-doubles. Fears’s older brother, Jeremiah, is also lighting it up in his rookie year with the New Orleans Pelicans, signaling that NBA-level talent runs in the family. Michigan State’s next test welcomes the always-tough Duke Blue Devils to East Lansing on Saturday.
Who’s Not:
Jackson Shelstad, (Jr., Oregon)
While Shelstad has never been the most efficient, his slow start to the season has gotten past the point of “just a fluke”. He is one of the least efficient high-volume scorers in the conference, shooting at a 36.9% clip from the field and under 30% from deep. Shelstad has been a staple for the Ducks, starting every game from his Freshman year on, but 2025’s campaign is alarming. This year he was handed the keys to the team and while the college basketball world expected a major leap, Shelstad has left them disappointed. Oregon squeaked by some questionable competition in their first few contests and now has lost their last four games. There is a lot of basketball left to play, but Shelstad and the Ducks look to be spiraling out of control.
Oregon Ducks
Currently sitting in the basement of the Big Ten, Oregon’s start to the season has been a massive failure. They started off the season escaping upsets from Hawaii by just one point and Rice by four. Now, they have lost four straight, and none of them have been close. They were originally pinned at around the 4th or 5th best team in the conference by most experts, which makes their fall from stardom that much more disappointing. It is also tough to pinpoint what is wrong with this team as each loss has revealed a different hiccup in their playstyle. Oregon had 18 turnovers versus Auburn, allowed San Diego State to shoot nearly 70% from the field, and shot an abysmal 1-15 from outside the arc against Creighton. Things can still get better for the Ducks, and they need Nate Bittle to recover quickly from an ankle issue, but this team will need to make some drastic changes to survive as conference play commences.
Top 5 Teams in the Big Ten
1. USC Trojans
USC has cruised through its schedule so far, landing at 8-0 and nationally ranked at No. 24. Their slate has not challenged them as much as others, but the chemistry between top transfers Chad Baker-Mazara, Rodney Rice, and Ezra Ausar has them rolling. Early on, this roster looked like a messy collection of individual talent, but the Trojans have found cohesion despite being relatively inexperienced and have survived a handful of close games along the way.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini
Losses to Alabama and UConn have slowed Illinois’ momentum, but anyone who watched those games understands how competitive they were against tough opposition. Kylan Boswell has emerged as the star of this team in his senior season, blending well with Illinois’ infusion of international talent. Their style of play is unorthodox and slower than most, but the overall skill level on this roster makes it hard to lose faith in the Illini.
3. Michigan State Spartans
Tom Izzo’s group is emerging as one of the most exciting teams in the nation. They have consistently handled top opponents and feature multiple reliable scorers on any given night. Jeremy Fears Jr. currently leads the nation in assists, and Jaxon Kohler has evolved into the go-to option in clutch situations. This team is fun to watch and can beat opponents in numerous ways.
4. Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue looks nearly flawless. They are extremely well-coached and fundamentally sound, making them one of the toughest teams in the country to prepare for. The pick-and-roll duo of Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith provides consistent production every night. With Purdue thriving in this structure for several years now, it begs the question: is this finally the Boilermakers’ year?
5. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan asserted its dominance and put its talent on full display at the Player’s Era Festival. Their size is overwhelming, and the ability to play Morez Johnson, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara together has posed serious problems for opponents. While many question Big Ten teams in March, Michigan feels like a different story. Conference play will add new challenges, but there is little doubt they will remain among the elite. As mentioned last week, Michigan is the real deal.