The Big Ten Conference has not, for years now, put together a preseason poll for men's basketball. League media members are asked to vote only for individual players to form an all-conference team.
So the league's collective media has gone rogue, in a sense. Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch and Brendan Quinn of The Athletic have for a couple seasons now organized an unofficial media poll.
Two beat writers covering each school are asked to submit a poll ranking the league's 14 teams, along with a player of the year, freshman of the year and a five-man all-conference team.
Not surprisingly, this year's poll has Michigan State as a near-unanimous pick to win the Big Ten with Spartans point guard Cassius Winston as a near-unanimous player of the year.
Of the 28 voters in the poll, 27 picked Michigan State first with one picking Maryland to win the league. It was a similar result in the player of the year voting, with Winston receiving 27 of 28 player of the year votes and Maryland sophomore Jalen Smith getting the other.
Head men's basketball coach Fred Hoiberg talks about the team's trip to Italy and the season opener on Sept. 23, 2019.
As for Fred Hoiberg's first team at Nebraska, the consensus was that the Huskers will finish near the back of the pack. NU was picked 13th, ahead of only Northwestern, and 26 points behind 12th-place Rutgers.
All but one writer had the Huskers ranked between 12th and 14th. The lone dissenter put the Huskers sixth, which would almost certainly result in a NCAA Tournament bid for a roster with 11 new scholarship players.
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The first team consisted of Winston, Penn State's Lamar Stevens, Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu, Maryland's Anthony Cowan and Ohio State's Kaleb Wesson. Ohio State's D.J. Carton was voted the freshman of the year.
This sports writer's poll didn't differ much from the majority of voters. I had Michigan State No. 1 with Winston as the player of the year. My first team was Winston, Stevens, Cowan, Smith and Michigan guard Zavier Simpson, who received the most votes of any player not on the five-first team.
My top three teams after Michigan State were Maryland, Ohio State and Purdue. Mark Turgeon appears to have his best Terps team since he's been with the school. Ohio State returns Wesson and has the top recruiting class in the conference. Purdue loses plenty of firepower, but has shown remarkable consistency and has one of the best coaches in the league in Matt Painter.
At the bottom, it's Rutgers, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights could prove to be much better, but lost big man Eugene Omoruyi to transfer. Minnesota will be stung by the losses of Jordan Murphy, Amir Coffey and Dupree McBrayer. The unknowns surrounding Nebraska make the Huskers difficult to peg. And Northwestern could struggle even more than last season's outfit after losing mainstays Dererk Pardon and Vic Law from a team that finished last in the league.
Chris Basnett's preseason Big Ten poll:Â 1. Michigan State, 2. Maryland, 3. Ohio State, 4. Purdue, 5. Michigan, 6. Wisconsin, 7. Illinois, 8. Penn State, 9. Iowa, 10. Indiana, 11. Rutgers, 12. Minnesota, 13. Nebraska, 14. Northwestern.
Basnett's preseason all-conference team:Â Cassius Winston, Michigan State; Lamar Stevens, Penn State; Anthony Cowan, Maryland; Jalen Smith, Maryland; Zavier Simpson, Michigan.
Basnett's preseason player of the year:Â Winston
Basnett's preseason freshman of the year:Â D.J. Carton, Ohio State
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

The Nebraska Red and White teams play on the Huskers' new court on Friday during the Huskers' Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

The Nebraska Red and White teams play on the Huskers' new court Friday during the basketball team's Opening Night event at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Jervay Green dunks in the second half of a scrimmage Friday during Husker basketball's Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Akol Arop dances to Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" as he's introduced to the crowd on Friday during NU basketball's Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Arop is a Creighton prep graduate.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Samari Curtis drives to the basket in the second half Friday during the Huskers' scrimmage at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg acknowledges the cheers of the crowd on Friday during NU basketball's Opening Night festivities at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska women's basketball coach Amy Williams talks to the crowd during Opening Night with Husker Hoops on Sept. 27 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg addresses Huskers fans with the team behind him Friday during Opening Night with Husker Hoops at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg addresses Husker fans with the team behind him on Sept. 27 during Opening Night with Husker Hoops at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska basketball players pose for the cameras before the start of their scrimmage on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Samari Curtis (15) drives to the basket against Yvan Ouedraogo (24) and Haanif Cheatham on Friday during Opening Night with Husker Hoops at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Â
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Shamiel Stevenson (4) elevates for a first-half dunk during a scrimmage at the Opening Night event on Sept. 27 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. A transfer, Stevenson will not be eligible to play until next season.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Jervay Green (23) drives to the basket against Akol Arop in the first half of a scrimmage Friday during Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Kristian Hudson (11) poses for the cameras during her introduction Friday during Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska women's basketball player Sam Haiby is introduced to the crowd Friday during Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska's Haanif Cheatham gets into the moment as he's introduced to the crowd Friday during Opening Night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NU Basketball Opening Night, 9.27

Nebraska assistant coach Doc Sadler (right) is introduced to the crowd on Friday during Opening Night for Husker Hoops festivities at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7436 or cbasnett@journalstar.com. On Twitter @HuskerExtraCB.