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Okay, let's talk about the Big Ten again. So strong last year. We saw a lot of success in the NCAA tournament. Six teams in the Sweet 16 last year. Here is the preseason media survey. Wine from the Columbus Dispatch. So here are the teams. Let's start from the top, Jordan. Again, who has a chance of reaching the Final Four, the final game? Who knows? Maybe win a Big Ten championship this year. Before the UCLA game against Arizona, I would have said maybe three teams, and maybe I'm reacting to what just
happened, but I'll include UCLA and pick those first four. I would rearrange the order, however. I think Illinois is first, Michigan second, Michigan State third, and then UCLA. Of course, you could argue that UCLA could top everyone with the most impressive victory of the young college basketball season. Illinois has a player of the year candidate in Davion Mitchell along with other pieces. I mean, Stefan Vox is part of that team that comes from Providence. This group is full of talent. I look at Michigan and I think I understand why Dusty May left, but Mike Boynton knows how to coach and has the luxury of managing a lot of talent. The defense is bolstered by a pair of champions from last year and McKenney, Trey McKenney. Then I look at
his big men who transferred. Tennessee's JP Star, Cincinnati's Mustafa John. Differentiating factors that fit into the system that Dusty May left behind and that will come to Mike Boynton as coach there. This group is talented. We should talk a little more about Michigan. What will define this conference, however, are those mid-table teams. Teams like USC or Indiana will be the ones that matter. Have you seen what Jaxson Lindeborg is doing right now in the NBA? Have you seen what that guy is doing? He's no longer there for Michigan. I agree with you about Illinois. If Illinois makes it to Detroit and plays for a Final Four and a
national championship, nobody would be surprised. They have the talent, they have the positional size. I understand they lost Wagler, but bringing in a guy like Vox who can open up the field is a good idea. We saw his ability to make difficult shots. I'm with you, Illinois. I would keep Michigan State in second place. I would still keep Jack Kohler, definitely Cooper. I would continue to keep that team on the inside. Talk to me, coach. They still have Tom Izzo. They still have Jeremy Fears, a candidate for national player of the year. He achieved a triple-double on the first night. But we cannot downplay what happened the other night with UCLA. We have to consider how they beat Arizona, which led many to expect them to reach the Final Four. Some said it
was just a game. We don't want to overreact But after the game, do you know what Mick Cronin was doing? She was smiling. I had never seen it before. I had never seen Mick Cronin smile before. He was smiling. He has one of the best rookies in the entire country. He had an extraordinary game. Think about what you accomplished. Trent Perry scored 21 points. Eric Daly, the engine under the rim, 13 and eight. They controlled the game from the beginning. They were one of the worst offensive teams in the Big 10 last season. They scored 43 points in the first half of that game. So, you have three teams, so maybe you wouldn't put Michigan in that potential Final Four. above Michigan. Which I completely agree with.
And I would also add this about UCLA, which is very fun to watch: its level of depth. Seven players scored seven points or more, multiple contributions to the roster, which tells me they can win in several ways. They'll still want to work hard even if they're better offensively, but what a victory. Beyond that, I think the main thing, being a strong group at the top, is that Michigan State can win the championship. Michigan can win the championship. Illinois can win the championship. And with UCLA's early results, there are now four teams. It's a pretty good start for a conference looking to repeat as champion. We have four teams that look like this at the top. Do you want to know why Mick Cronin was
smiling too? Kusa Riza is only 17 years old. You have it for two years. 17 years old. He will be the first pick in the 2028 draft.
