The story behind the incredible turnaround of Northwestern Hoops, and what to expect in the future.2/11/2023 It has been six years since the unlikely run to the NCAA Tournament made by the Northwestern Wildcats. A time of pride and excitement in Evanston, Illinois, as the Wildcats stormed past the Commodores of Vanderbilt before losing in a David vs. Goliath matchup against Gonzaga. Since then, however, has been nothing but disappointment for Chris Collins and Northwestern, going 60-90 (26-71 in Big Ten play) from 2017-2022. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Northwestern basketball games were an opportunity to watch competitive Big Ten Basketball, and a fun way to spend weekends with friends and family. For most of my childhood, the Wildcats were known for being a bottom-feeder in the Big Ten, being the only team from the conference to never make the NCAA Tournament, otherwise known as March Madness. As I got older, however, there was a visible shift in the culture and performance of Northwestern. There was a growing feeling that it was only a matter of time before Northwestern was dancing their way to March. That culture seemed to diminish after their tournament appearance. That was, until this season. The 'Cats are 17-7 and 8-5 in Big Ten play, 2 wins shy of their Big Ten win total from the 2016-17 season. Chris Collins' squad has embraced the road warrior mentality, winning 6 of 8 away from Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Purple and White have also accumulated 6 Quad 1 wins this season, good for 12th in the entire country. Despite all of this, Joe Lunardi has the 'Cats projected at a 9 seed in this upcoming tournament, far from a lock for the overachieving squad. However, with just a few more wins in a gauntlet of a schedule, Northwestern fans should be getting their dancing shoes on. With a month to go until Selection Sunday, let's break down this year's Northwestern squad, how they got here, and how their improbability of success has proven to be a massive strength of the team. Picture Credits: instagram/@numensbball The Backcourt: While the offensive production of Northwestern's guard play hasn't been the team's strength, its improvement is well worth noting. Boo Buie, senior and offensive sparkplug has matured as a playmaker as well as a defender. While his shooting numbers have seen a slight dip over the years, Buie is the 14th best free throw shooter in Division I, hitting just under 90% of his shots from the charity stripe. When talking about the eye test, Buie has developed a patience and understanding for the game far stronger than that of his past three seasons, and it has proved crucial for the team. Chase Audige is the other main piece to the Wildcats' backcourt and has had the typical Northwestern rise to glory story. Audige is sure to be a consideration for First Team All Defense by season's end and will go down as one of the best to do it for the Purple and White. Since transferring from William & Mary after the 2018-19 season, Audige has increased his free throw percentage by almost 20% and is averaging just over an extra steal per game. Oh, and he's also averaging 15 points per game while nailing 35% of his shots from behind the arc. The true makeup of this team, however, is their bench play. The efforts of Brooks Barnhizer and Ty Berry have been fantastic and season-altering. Barnhizer is coming off a 19-point game (career high) accompanying his 70% field goal percentage for the game. Berry and Barnhizer are the glue that hold this team together. The Frontcourt: The large presence of Matthew Nicholson and Robbie Beran have been a problem for Big Ten opponents this season. Matthew Nicholson has proven to be a true lumberjack for Chris Collins and his teammates. The 7-foot 255-pound Center from Michigan is averaging over 6 rebounds a game, putting up double digit rebound performances in 3 games this year. Since struggling mightily on the offensive end against Ohio State on New Year's Day, the big man has truly hit his stride as a force in the paint. Sharpshooting Forward Robbie Beran has developed a game style more similar to the big men of today's game. Beran is hitting 35% from 3-point range and almost 85% from the free-throw line. The strong contrast between Nicholson and Beran's game has been fun for 'Cats fans to watch, and tough for opponents to defend. This in-the-paint presence has led to Northwestern forcing over 14 turnovers a game, and almost 5 steals a game (7th in the country). Photo Credits: instagram/@numensbball Coaching: The resilience, tenacity, and insightful efforts of Chris Collins and his coaching staff cannot be ignored. Chris Collins grew up in a basketball family. Being the son of basketball great and TV analyst Doug Collins, Chris grew up around the game of basketball, playing at Duke for four seasons. When his playing days concluded, he was an assistant at Seton Hall and Duke, while also coaching on the 2008 "Redeem Team" during the Summer Olympics. Collins finally took over the Wildcats in 2013. It has been a pleasure for basketball fans everywhere to watch the techniques and energy Collins brings with him to every game, regardless of team performance. In an era where NIL money, program success, and location are huge factors to college recruits making their decisions, Collins doesn't bring a whole lot to the table, which makes his on-the-court product this year all the more impressive. However, who I would argue to be the most important factor in Northwestern's success this season is a coach, but not Chris Collins. Chris Lowery has been coaching basketball for nearly three decades, and he has put together quite the resume. During his eight seasons at Souther Illinois University, Lowery led the team to the NCAA Tournament three times, reaching the Sweet 16 once. Upon his departure, he joined the Kansas State Wildcats as an assistant coach beside legendary Bruce Weber, where they made the Tournament twice. Lowery's defensive mindset has brought an old-school mentality to a very, very new-school game. Chris Collins saw and believed in the work Lowery has done, and brought him on as an assistant this season, where he has made a remarkable impact. This season, the Wildcats have:
The Wildcats are playing with a chip on their shoulder, and it has led to them being on the verge of their second ever NCAA Tournament berth. The Wildcats play the AP #1 ranked Purdue Boilermakers in Evanston, giving the 'Cats the opportunity to defeat an AP #1 ranked team and make a legitimate argument for the team to be ranked in next week's Top 25. Photo Credits: instagram/@numensbball
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