With the official start of practice in September, UM Hoops and Inside the Hall have partnered to bring you our annual preseason breakdown of the top players in the Big Ten for the 13th straight season.
The series is broken into seven parts, and we begin with our first installment of players 40-31 for the 2025-26 season:
40. Nick Boyd, Wisconsin (6-foot-3, guard, graduate senior)
Why he could outperform this ranking: Wisconsin’s shift to a continuity ball screen offense has been a revelation. The Badgers finished in the top-20 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency for two years running, and they’ve put a first-year transfer on the All-Big Ten first or second Team in both seasons.
Boyd isn’t John Tonje or AJ Storr, and John Blackwell will likely be the perimeter alpha in this year’s offense. Still, Boyd is an excellent No. 2. He’s 24 years old, has played in a Final Four, and finished in the 75th percentile in pick-and-roll scoring efficiency and the 96th percentile in pick-and-roll volume last season.
Wisconsin should have one of the better offensive units in the Big Ten, and Boyd could build off of his 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists averages at San Diego State last year.
39. K.J. Windham, Northwestern (6-foot-3, guard, sophomore)
Why he could outperform this ranking: The Indianapolis native finished his freshman season strong in Evanston, with six double-figure scoring games over Northwestern’s final nine games. In that stretch, Windham averaged 11.5 points off the bench and had 20-point outings against Oregon and Iowa.
With the graduations of Ty Berry and Brooks Barnhizer, the Wildcats need another scorer to complement Nick Martinelli, and Windham looks like a good bet to fill the role.
38. Kayden Mingo, Penn State (6-foot-3, guard, freshman)
Why he could outperform this ranking: Mingo is a consensus top-40 recruit and the highest-rated recruit in Penn State history.
Ace Baldwin Jr. is gone, and there’s not much of a supporting cast in State College. Mingo should get as many opportunities as any incoming freshman in the conference. That might not be great for Penn State’s final KenPom ranking, but it should prove fruitful on an individual level.
37. Kwame Evans Jr., Oregon (6-foot-9, forward, junior)
Why he could outperform this ranking: A 2023 McDonald’s All-American, talent has never been a question with Evans. Last season in Eugene, he played the role of sixth man behind Brandon Angel, but is expected to shift into the starting lineup for his junior season.
Evans is an above-average rebounder on both ends, one of the more versatile frontcourt defenders in the league, and a strong finisher at the rim. With a more defined role as a starter, he could flourish as the third option next to Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle.
36. Elliot Cadeau, Michigan (6-foot-1, guard, junior)
Why he could outperform this ranking: Cadeau makes the move from North Carolina to Michigan, where he’s in line to start at point guard for Dusty May. He’s one of the more polarizing players on this list with obvious strengths (passing and quickness) and glaring weaknesses (turnovers and 3-point shooting). Cadeau finished 13th nationally in assist rate last season and fits nicely in May’s fast-paced scheme.
The upside case for Cadeau is that he will flourish with a change of scenery in a pass-first role with Michigan’s stockpile of talented bigs and wings flanking him. The former five-star recruit has the talent to do it.
35. Mihailo Petrovic, Illinois (6-foot-3, guard, to be determined)
Why he could outperform this ranking: Petrovic arrives at Illinois from Serbia and is in line to replace Kasparas Jakučionis as Illinois’ starting point guard. Jakučionis was an 18-year-old future lottery pick when he arrived in Champaign from Europe last season, but Petrovic is a 22-year-old proven professional. He might not have the same NBA upside, but he averaged 13.5 points and 7.3 assists per game with KK Mega Basket playing against grown men in the Liga ABA this year.
It’s a tough transition to project, but Petrovic could easily surpass this ranking if he’s as advertised. Illinois finished last season ranked second in the country in pick-and-roll plays per game, and that means Petrovic will have every opportunity to showcase his talent.
34. Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State (6-foot-9, forward, senior)
Why he could outperform this ranking: There was plenty to like about Kohler’s junior season – he was arguably the Big Ten’s best rebounder and showed off a 3-point shot for the first time in his career.
If his minutes grow into the mid-20s per game or beyond after averaging just 20.8 last season, Kohler could have a chance to average a double-double in his final season in East Lansing.
33. Hannes Steinbach, Washington (6-foot-11, forward, freshman)
Why he could outperform this ranking: Steinbach averaged 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game while shooting 62 percent from the floor in Germany’s top flight of professional hoops. He didn’t play in youth showcases or play spot minutes off the bench; he was a legit rotation player for a team that finished fourth in the league. He carried that momentum into the off-season, earning All-Tournament honors while helping Germany to a 2nd-place finish at the FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 17.2 points and 14 rebounds per game.
Steinbach is one of the top international players heading to the Big Ten and is a key reason to buy into a second-year turnaround for Danny Sprinkle and Washington.
32. Coen Carr, Michigan State (6-foot-5, wing, junior)
Why he could outperform this ranking: With more opportunities last season, Carr took a significant step forward in his second season. He came off the bench in all but one game for the Spartans and averaged 8.1 points on 61.1 percent shooting to go along with 3.6 rebounds per game. He’s likely to shift into a starting role in his third season under Tom Izzo and that should only grow his production.
His ultimate ceiling is highly dependent on the development of a 3-point shot. Last season, he took just 15 triples and made five.
31. Rienk Mast, Nebraska (6-foot-10, center, graduate senior)
Why he could outperform this ranking: Mast was one of the most dependable bigs in the Big Ten in the 2023-24 season when he averaged 12.3 points to go along with 7.5 rebounds and three assists for a Cornhusker team that reached the NCAA tournament. After missing last season due to a knee injury, Mast is now fully healthy and looking to improve his numbers from a couple of seasons ago.
He’s one of the best passing bigs in the league, is a reliable 3-point shooter and a dependable shot blocker. On a Nebraska roster that has some question marks, Mast is the clear answer in the post for Fred Hoiberg.
Those who just missed the top 40: Jacob Cofie, USC; Tayton Conerway, Indiana; Alvaro Folgueiras, Iowa; Myles Rice, Maryland; Trey McKenney, Michigan; Freddie Dilione IV, Penn State; Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska; Zvonimir Ivisic, Illinois; Reed Bailey, Indiana; Brendan Hausen, Iowa; Omer Mayer, Purdue
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