The Spartans and Wolverines were part of a jumbled pack of men’s basketball teams that finished between 12-8 and 9-11 last season.

This upcoming season, the teams are projected to head in different directions in the league standings, according to predictions from conference media.

Michigan State was picked to finish second and received four of 28 first-place votes while Michigan was pegged to place 11th in the unofficial Big Ten preseason media poll, which was released Monday.

Led by arguably the top perimeter group in the league — Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins — the Spartans return the bulk of a roster that reached the Sweet 16, posted a 21-13 record and finished fourth in the Big Ten with an 11-8 mark. On top of that, longtime coach Tom Izzo brings back Mady Sissoko and Malik Hall, who both have starting experience, and brings in a talented freshman class led by Xavier Booker.

The Wolverines, on the other hand, must replace their top three scorers from last year’s squad — Hunter Dickinson (transfer), Kobe Bufkin (NBA) and Jett Howard (NBA) — that finished 18-16, missed the NCAA Tournament and lost in the second round of the NIT. Fifth-year coach Juwan Howard brought in three grad transfers to help replace that lost production in Nimari Burnett, Tray Jackson and Olivier Nkamhoua and is counting on Dug McDaniel and Tarris Reed Jr. to make big jumps their sophomore seasons.

Purdue received 24 first-place votes and is the clear league favorite after winning the regular-season title by three games and the conference tournament last season. After Michigan State, the top five is rounded out by Maryland, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Purdue star Zach Edey received all but one vote for player of the year and was the lone unanimous selection for the preseason All-Big Ten first team. He was joined on the first team by Maryland’s Jahmir Young, Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr., Northwestern’s Boo Buie and Walker, who received a vote for player of the year.

The poll includes voting from 28 media members throughout the conference — two beat writers for each team — and is conducted by The Columbus Dispatch and The Athletic since the Big Ten does not release an official one of its own.

Big Ten predicted finish

(first-place votes in parentheses)

1. Purdue (24), 388 points

2. Michigan State (4), 368 points

3. Maryland, 304 points

4. Illinois, 301 points

5. Wisconsin, 276 points

6. Indiana, 244 points

7. Ohio State, 228 points

8. Northwestern, 195 points

9. Iowa, 164 points

10. Rutgers, 147 points

11. Michigan, 131 points

12. Nebraska, 90 points

13. Penn State, 71 points

14. Minnesota, 33 points

Player of the year

Zach Edey, Purdue (27)

Tyson Walker, Michigan State (1)

Freshman of the year

Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana (19)

DeShawn Harris-Smith, Maryland (5)

Xavier Booker, Michigan State (2)

Myles Colvin, Purdue (1)

Scotty Middleton, Ohio State (1)

Transfer of the year

Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State (14)

Olivier Nkamhoua, Michigan (6)

Jamison Battle, Ohio State (4)

Kel’el Ware, Indiana (2)

AJ Storr, Wisconsin (2)

First Team All-Big Ten

Zach Edey, Purdue (56, unanimous)

Jahmir Young, Maryland (55)

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois (55)

Tyson Walker, Michigan State (46)

Boo Buie, Northwestern (45)

Second Team All-Big Ten

Clifford Omoruyi, Rutgers (36)

A.J. Hoggard, Michigan State (26)

Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State (11)

Keisei Tominaga, Nebraska (11)

Coleman Hawkins, Illinois (8)

Also receiving votes: Bruce Thornton, Ohio State (7); Julian Reese, Maryland (6); Steven Crowl, Wisconsin (5); Dawson Garcia, Minnesota (5); Braden Smith, Purdue (5); Chucky Hepburn, Wisconsin (4); Xavier Johnson, Indiana (4); Zed Key, Ohio State (4); Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana (4); Payton Sandfort, Iowa (4); Jaden Akins, Michigan State (3); Connor Essegian, Wisconsin (3); Olivier Nkamhoua, Michigan (3); Tony Perkins, Iowa (3); Jamison Battle, Ohio State (2); Fletcher Loyer, Purdue (2); AJ Storr, Wisconsin (2); Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin (2); Malik Hall, Michigan State (1); Ben Krikke, Iowa (1); Donta Scott, Maryland (1); Kel’el Ware, Indiana (1)