Big Ten Network picks Maryland to win Big Ten basketball title

The Maryland men's basketball preseason hype train has officially left the station.

After Melo Trimble, Jake Layman and Rasheed Sulaimon made national award watch lists on Tuesday, the Big Ten Network named Trimble to its preseason all-conference team and picked Maryland to win the league on Wednesday.

Trimble being on the first team isn't a surprise, but it's impressive given the quantity and quality of Big Ten guards. He plays in a league with Yogi Ferrell (who also made the team), James Blackmon Jr., Bronson Koenig and a couple of well-regarded freshmen, so it's no small achievement that Trimble's play last year is pushing him this high on preseason lists.

Maryland's pick to win the league isn't out of the ordinary, either, but the order after that is interesting. Indiana is picked No. 2, followed by Purdue. A couple of Final Four teams from last season – Michigan State and Wisconsin – follow. It's going to be a hugely competitive conference season.

The BTN also reached consensus that Maryland center Diamond Stone will be the league's highest draft pick next year.