Underrated B1G Players
Get to know their names...
November 6, 2023
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
With several scrimmages and exhibition games taking place over the last few weeks, we finally have some actual basketball to base our opinions off. While these games don’t count towards records or tournament resumes, it’s easy to see which players have made improvements in their game. The following players (in no particular order) are guys that aren’t being talked about much but should be heading into this season:
Marcus Domask
Illinois
When Marcus Domask visited and committed to Illinois in April, a lot of fans scratched their heads as he wasn’t the big name they were used to seeing Brad Underwood haul in through the transfer portal. While he might not be the flashy name, his fit through Illinois’ 2 exhibition games looks phenomenal. The Illini were a solid team last season, however the offense never quite seemed to flow and a lot of iso-ball step back offense ensued.
Maybe we should have seen this coming considering Domask was solid his entire career at Southern Illinois averaging 15.2ppg 5.8rpg and 3.8apg on 35% 3pt shooting while making 3 All-Missouri Valley teams. Overall, he’s just a very steady player who seems to always make the right play and Illinois’ offense looks completely different in the way the ball is moving.
His ability to handle and distribute the ball is also huge for a team that has huge questions at the point guard position. Brad Underwood stated after their exhibition over preseason #1 Kansas that he put the ball in Marcus’s hands down the stretch and you can’t foul him because he’s a 90% free throw shooter. Maybe just as importantly, it looks like he will also be a huge help in another area of concern for Illinois, which is shooting. The Illini were 340th in the country in 3pt shooting last year while ranking 52nd in 3pt attempts per game. The fans who initially scratched their heads over this addition may want to delete those tweets.
Tarris Reed
Michigan
Last year Tarris Reed backed up former Wolverine and current Jayhawk Hunter Dickinson, so his playing time was somewhat limited (12.6mpg) in route to his 3.4ppg and 3.9rpg. Down the stretch of last season, it became evident that Reed has immense defensive potential. At 6’10” 260 lbs, he’s not only a deterrent in the paint – but has an uncanny ability to move his feet and lock up guards on the perimeter.
Heading into this season, we liked Tarris Reed to be an excellent defender, good rebounder, and a rim rolling big man. Reed reportedly had 16 points and 9 rebounds while physically dominating Marquette’s front court. In the team’s intrasquad scrimmage – while Reed still looks somewhat raw offensively – he did show a little more to his bag in the post. If Reed takes a huge step and becomes a threat offensively while being the defensive force he is, Michigan has a chance to have one of the better frontcourts in the country with Reed and Olivier Nkamhoua.
Roddy Gayle Jr.
Ohio State
While Bruce Thornton and Jamison Battle looked great in Ohio State’s exhibition win over Dayton, we subtly noticed Roddy Gayle Jr and his solid play as the team’s 3rd option. We’re expecting big things from Gayle after his strong end to last season (where he averaged 12ppg on 9 for 11 3 pt shooting in the B1G Tournament run, including 15 and 20 point outputs against Michigan State and Purdue).
Gayle has the size and athleticism to be a problem on the perimeter in the Big Ten. If he can shoot the 3 ball well this season, he could be a nightmare for teams to defend at all 3 levels. Last season, he shot a good percentage from beyond the arc (42.9%), but on limited volume (1.4 attempts per game). Expect that volume to go up this year and if the percentage holds, watch out. Overall, if Roddy Gayle takes a sophomore leap with Bruce Thronton, Chris Holtmann’s redemption season looks like it could be a good one.
Nolan Winter
Wisconsin
Nolan Winter is probably the most under the radar name on this list. He is a 3 Star recruit out of Lakeville, Minnesota and is relatively unheard of for most fans. They should know his name by the end of the season, as he looks like he could be a solid rotational piece for the Badgers this year. In the team’s mid-October Red and White scrimmage, Winter finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. He followed that up with a solid 9 point 9 rebound effort in the team’s exhibition victory over UW Stevens Point.
Greg Gard has confirmed that Winter will factor into this season, stating, “He’s in my top eight right now and maybe top seven.” This will provide even more front court depth to a team already boasting veterans Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl. Winter looks like he will be able to provide Gard a skilled big man (who seems to be a capable shooter) who is also willing to get on the glass. He’s still a freshman – so ups and downs are to be expected – but Winter is one of the surprising stock risers heading into the season.
Brooks Barnhizer
Northwestern
The Northwestern Wildcats lost Chase Audige to the professional ranks this offseason, which followed their most successful season in school history. This is notable because Audige was the co-defensive player of the year in the conference, and more importantly Boo Buie’s robin in the backcourt.
Heading into the season, it was obvious that someone would need to step up to fill in for some of Audige’s production. After the Wildcat’s exhibition game against McKendree, its abundantly clear that Brooks Barnhizer is that guy. He finished with an incredible stat line of 29 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, and 4 blocks. This isn’t an end-all affirmation as it was just an exhibition against McKendree, but Barnhizer showed he could do it against B10 competition last year, averaging 12ppg on 41% 3pt shooting over his last 8 games of the season. The Wildcats will need Barnhizer to have a big year to string together 2 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and it looks like he’s up to the task.
Jamichael Davis
Rutgers
Jamichael Davis will offer a change of pace for Scarlet Knight fans this year. Rutgers’ identity under Steve Pikiell has typically been hardnosed defense. And while this year’s squad will certainly continue to embody that sentiment, Davis may offer a bit of scoring plug that was missing last year.
In the team’s exhibition game against St. John’s (a team some consider to be a borderline top 25 team), Davis finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 0 turnovers. Quite the impressive stat line for a freshman playing his first unofficial game against a high major opponent. ESPN’s NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony even gave Davis his praise saying he was the best player on the floor for Rutgers.
Davis was a 3 star recruit out of Powder Springs, Georgia – so Pikiell may have found a diamond in the rough. If Davis turns into a legitimate option this season, the Scarlet Knights could have an explosive backcourt that includes Derek Simpson, and a little more offensive pop than we are accustomed to seeing in Piscataway.