6 B1G teams crack top 25 in ESPN’s latest men’s hoops rankings

Six Big Ten teams landed in ESPN’s latest top 25 men’s college basketball rankings, released on Tuesday — with a familiar team at the top.

Purdue made it to the Sweet 16 in its first season in several years without Zach Edey. But Matt Painter continues to develop at a high level as the Boilermakers are atop the offseason rankings, projected to field a lineup led by star guard Braden Smith.

“There’s a chance Purdue has the preseason Wooden Award favorite and two All-Americans on its roster next season,” ESPN’s Jeff Borzello said.

Michigan also made the Sweet 16 in Dusty May’s first season, a big leap from an 8-win campaign in 2023-24 under Juwan Howard. The Wolverines are in at No. 9 thanks to a stellar transfer class pulled in by May, but could see Yaxel Lendeborg (formerly at UAB) hire an agent and go all-in on the NBA Draft rather than return for another season, his first in Ann Arbor.

Also in the rankings: UCLA, who exited in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, at No. 14.

“Eric Dailey and Tyler Bilodeau form one of the better frontcourt duos in the Big Ten, with both players posing matchup problems for opponents,” Borzello said.

Here’s the list of B1G teams that landed in ESPN’s top 25:

1. Purdue

9. Michigan

14. UCLA

16. Wisconsin

17. Illinois

23. Michigan State