With practice officially starting next month, UMHoops and Inside the Hall have teamed up to bring you our annual preseason breakdown of the Big Ten’s top players. This year, the list has expanded after four programs were added to the conference.
The series is divided into seven parts, with one post each weekday through Friday, August 30. Our sixth part, looking at players 10-6 for the 2024-25 season, is available below:
Previously: 40-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-11
10. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State (6’8″, guard, junior)
Statistics 2023–24 (35 games): 15.7 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 1.2 steals per game, 42.7% FG, 33.3% 3PFG in 33.7 minutes
Why he could surpass this ranking: Thornton is a two-year Big Ten starter and a proven scoring lead guard. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.7 points and was remarkably efficient, finishing the year with a 121.5 offensive rating on 23.3 percent effort. He creates for his teammates (28.5 percent assist rate) but almost never loses the ball (9.1 percent turnover rate). He shoots nearly 50 percent of his twos (49.2 percent) and makes plenty of threes (58 of 174) while consistently getting to the free throw line, where he shoots 85 percent. There aren’t many more productive and polished offensive players in the league.
Why he could do worse in this ranking: Thornton has started every game of his career, but both of Ohio State’s seasons have been poor. The Buckeyes lost 14 of 15 games during Thornton’s first year and their coach was fired mid-season last year. Ohio State has struggled defensively during that time and Thornton’s perimeter defense leaves a lot to be desired. He needs to improve in that area and hope a fresh start will do the program good.
9. Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern (6’6″, forward, senior)
Statistics 2023–24 (34 games): 14.6 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game, 42.9% FG, 34.8% 3PFG in 36.7 minutes
Why he could surpass this ranking: Barnhizer is arguably the most versatile player in the conference. He’s an effective defender at multiple positions, can space the court and shoot threes, has underrated playmaking skills, and played nearly every minute for Northwestern last season.
Now he has a chance to take a big step forward following Boo Buie’s graduation. Barnhizer’s role will certainly grow, but it’s hard to predict exactly what that will look like. His size, passing ability and versatility could allow him to become something of a point forward for the Wildcats.
Why he could do worse in this ranking: He may not have enough support. If the supporting core of Ty Berry, Jalen Leach and Matt Nicholson doesn’t have the firepower to compete in the top half of the league, Barnhizer and Northwestern could be in trouble after back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
8. Oumar Ballo, Indiana (7-foot-1, center, redshirt senior)
Statistics 2023-24 (36 games in Arizona): 12.9 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, 1.3 blocks per game, 65.8% FG in 25.9 minutes
Why he could surpass this ranking: With Kel’el Ware’s departure for the NBA, Indiana has secured one of the best bigs available in Ballo. A first-team All-Pac 12 selection in Arizona last season, Ballo averaged a double-double and his size and physicality make him difficult for most defenders to handle on the inside.
It’s no secret that Mike Woodson likes to play through the post, which should give Ballo plenty of opportunities. Given his efficiency as a finisher – 72.1 percent at the basket – and his rebounding, Ballo will be in the conversation to become the league’s best big man due to his modest improvement in his overall numbers from last season in Arizona.
Why he could do worse in this ranking: Indiana has a lot of potential offensive weapons this season and Ballo could be more of a third or fourth option than an all-around talent. Ballo’s free throw percentage is also a major weakness in his game. Last season, he shot an awful 49.5 percent from the free throw line, which could land him on the bench in late-game situations. There’s also the possibility that Indiana has more success with small fours, which could force Ballo to the bench more often than expected.
7. Ace Bailey, Rutgers (2.08 m, forward, freshman)
Why he could surpass this ranking: Bailey is the most talented player in the Big Ten entering the season. If there is a player who could challenge Cooper Flagg for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey is the name you see most often. With his size, athleticism and ability to create his own shot from anywhere on the court, Bailey has more potential than any other player in the conference. With his size and mobility, he can defend multiple positions.
If Bailey quickly adapts to the physicality of the college game and learns to make simple plays instead of opting for spectacular plays, he will be named to the All-Big Ten first team.
Why he could do worse in this ranking: Freshmen are hard to gauge, even those that look promising long-term, these talents can’t be missed. Bailey is under a lot of pressure to perform in his only season of college basketball and could underperform if he doesn’t improve his shot selection. There’s no doubt he’ll get the green light in Rutgers’ offense, but his efficiency will suffer if he doesn’t improve his decision-making and shot selection from his high school days.
6. Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State (6’5″, guard, fifth-year senior)
Statistics 2023–24 (33 games): 14.2 points per game, 6.0 assists per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 2.7 steals per game, 38.9% FG, 32.9% 3PFG in 35.9 minutes
Why he could surpass this ranking: Baldwin is a tireless ball hunter who plays with speed and little fear. He had no trouble moving up from the Atlantic 10 to the Big Ten last season. He found a solid balance between scoring and assists, finishing second in scoring and first in assists on the Nittany Lions.
Now in his fifth season of college, Baldwin is the league’s best defender at 23 and one of the league’s most experienced guards. His scoring numbers could improve slightly with the departure of Kanye Clary, and better shooting efficiency should be a clear priority. Considering he has a three-point percentage of over 41 percent and a free throw percentage of 79.4 percent as a sophomore at VCU, a comeback season with his three-point shooting isn’t far-fetched.
Why he could do worse in this ranking: Penn State is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten on paper, and it’s not often that a player from the bottom of the league is fighting for a spot on the All-Big Ten first team. The Nittany Lions made some additions in the transfer portal, but brought back the core of last year’s group that went 9-11 in the league. Unless Baldwin’s shooting picks up, he doesn’t have the potential that some of the other point guards on this list have.
Filed under: 2024-25 Big Ten Preview