Under-the-radar Big Ten basketball transfers

Jul. 15—Several high-profile transfers picked Big Ten men’s basketball teams this offseason. Bigs like Oumar Ballo and Great Osobor. Guards like Kylan Boswell and Myles Rice. Other lower-profile transfers, like Tre White at Illinois, might wind up being just as meaningful. Illini beat writer Scott Richey spotlights five:

Like all of UCLA’s international freshmen, Buyuktuncel had a difficult freshman season. But the fit with the Cornhuskers makes sense. Nebraska was in the market for a stretch big with Rienk Mast already sidelined for the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-9 Buyuktuncel could be that guy — particularly if he produces at the level he did helping lead Turkey to bronze at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Cook is not a one-for-one replacement for N’Faly Dante. The Ducks will turn to a healthy Nate Bittle for that. But the Georgetown transfer should help shore up Oregon’s frontcourt in its first season in the Big Ten. The 6-9 forward can either spell Kwame Evans Jr. (or play with him) and still produced at a solid level last season for the Hoyas despite transferring up after three years at Fairfield.

New coach Dusty May made his biggest offseason splashes (literally) by adding 7-footers Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf. Jones could wind up just as important to the Wolverines’ success. The 6-5 North Texas transfer averaged 12.1 points, 3.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds, shot 42 percent from three and earned Conference USA All-Defensive Team honors last season. Two-way impact.

Simple talent acquisition was the primary offseason directive for the Gophers given how much they lost out the door to the transfer portal and the NBA draft. The 6-2 Patterson fit that criteria after averaging 14.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season at Charlotte. The Minneapolis native should be a top-three option playing alongside Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell Jr.

Former Moline star Brock Harding is due for a bigger role as a sophomore in the Hawkeyes’ backcourt this coming season, but the door…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/under-radar-big-ten-basketball-144800710.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2024-07-15 14:48:00

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