Blocking Chargecast: Big Ten Basketball Previews of the Wisconsin Badgers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Ohio State Buckeyes

We’ve already previewed Indiana and Purdue on the new Off Tackle Empire Blocking Chargecast—now let’s take a decidedly more dichromatic approach. This episode, MC ClapYoHandz stops by to help me work through some football-related angst and preview the Wisconsin Badgers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Wisconsin Badgers

• 1:45: In a post-Ethan Happ world, is the word to describe Wisconsin “transitional”? Looking back at the 2018-19 season.
• 7:41: Speaking of Ethan Happ! Can Nate Reuvers replace him? And Khalil Iverson? And Charlie Thomas? (Or should we expect things out of Brad Davison and D’Mitrik Trice?)
• 12:04: The NCAA Wheel’O’Eligibility remains dumb and bad and what will Micah Potter being out mean for the Badgers?
• 14:36: Some early minefields, from an early trip to Sioux Falls to see St. Mary’s to the yearly matchup with Marquette and Markus Howard...
• 18:05: Previewing the Badgers’ B1G slate, including the Indiana Hoosiers’ impotence in the Kohl Center!
• 23:20: Best- and worst-case scenarios for the Badgers in 2019-20.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• 31:15: Did the transfer of captain and leader Eugene Omoruyi dent a lot of the Scarlet Knights’ enthusiasm? Or is this part of the process of building Steve Pikiell’s identity for the program?
• 37:30: The program outlook for Rutgers—where do they rank in the B1G? (Hint: It’s not last.)
• 42:10: THIS SCHEDULE. GOD. Outside a Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup with Pitt, do Niagara or NJIT do anything for you? No? Just the home matchup with Seton Hall?
• 44:35: Avoiding double-plays with Michigan State and Ohio State helps the Knights, but are there enough wins on this Big Ten schedule to give Rutgers a fighting chance?
• 49:30: Best-case scenarios, including progress from Geo Baker and Montez Mathis; worst-case scenarios, including...well, it’s Rutgers.

Ohio State Buckeyes

• 51:15: The Buckeyes still slipped into the NCAA Tournament despite losing Keita Bates-Diop and weathering a missed recruiting class. Can they do it again?
• 56:43: After Kaleb Wesson, can Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington Jr. do enough to vault the Buckeyes into the top four?
• 1:03:00: Opening at Cincinnati, going to North Carolina, matchups with Villanova and Kentucky and West Virginia...and still not the best non-conference schedule in the conference.
• 1:04:30: Could OSU @ MSU on the last day of the season decide the Big Ten?
• 1:09:40: Best-, worst-case scenarios for the Buckeyes, too.

Other Notes:

• :30: A shout-out to the Ashwaubenon Jaguars!
• 44:16: What a juice cleanse schedule looks like