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Big Ten: 5 Transfers Making An Immediate Impact In 2016-17

By Casey Pazzalia

Nov 25, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Gophers guard Akeem Springs (0) dribbles in the first half against the Southern Illinois Salukis guard Leo Vincent (5) at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Gophers guard Akeem Springs (0) dribbles in the first half against the Southern Illinois Salukis guard Leo Vincent (5) at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 17, 2016; Rosemont, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Nigel Johnson (0) dribbles the ball against the DePaul Blue Demons during the first half at Allstate Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Rosemont, IL, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Nigel Johnson (0) dribbles the ball against the DePaul Blue Demons during the first half at Allstate Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

There have been a lot of incoming transfers to the Big Ten in 2016-17. We will highlight which players have made an instant impact for their team.

Adding an incoming transfer in college basketball can transform a team’s season and a player’s career. Current NBA players Seth Curry, Wesley Johnson, and T.J. McConnell all transferred from their first college teams to play under brighter lights at bigger schools.

Players are always coming and going in college basketball; it becomes a numbers game. According to an article by BT Powerhouse, more than 20 Big Ten players had already decided to move on to new teams after last season.

Due to the top-tier talent in the Big Ten, most of the outgoing transfers went to smaller stages in hopes of making a name for themselves. While the number of outgoing transfers is high, the Big Ten’s prestige always draws in its fair share of incoming transfers.

Of the incoming transfers who were eligible to play right away, there are a select few making an immediate impact. Some are graduate students looking for a winning program in their last year of eligibility.

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Others had reached the highest success with their previous teams, only to grow increasingly unhappy with their roles. Whatever the reasons were, transfers are as common as cheerleaders and pep bands.

Here are some players who just missed the cut:

Terrence Samuel, Penn State (from UConn): National champion at UConn in 2013-14, averaging 4.6 points this season with Penn State.

Reggie Lynch, Minnesota (from Illinois State): Averaging 8.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 11 starts for Minnesota.

L.G. Gill, Maryland (from Duquesne): Former double-digit scorer at Duquesne, has appeared in every Maryland game in 2016-17.

Mike Thorne, Illinois (from Charlotte): Rare sixth-year senior, granted medical hardship redshirt. Averaging 6.3 points in 15.4 minutes per game.

Now with conference play less than two weeks away, we will outline which players have had the biggest influence on their new teams.