The Northwestern Wildcats have to get used to their new era. That is in this new 18-team Big Ten Conference and the fact that the Boo Buie Era is officially over. Head Coach Chris Collins prepares for his 12th season at the Helm of the Wildcats. The team has plenty of scoring and leadership production to replace in 2024-25.
Northwestern had a great 2023-24 season as they reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. Along the way, they also knocked off the Big Ten Champion and the No. 1 Team at Purdue. Buie’s production is going to be dearly missed at Northwestern. The Wildcats have lived up to their mascot name, being tough and gritty. The Cats will need that to continue in 2024-25 and beyond.
Northwestern Big Ten Basketball Preview 2024-25: Buie Era is Over
Buie is the only major contributor no longer in Evanston, as they lost a boatload of talent to graduation this offseason. Ty Berry is back after missing the second half of the season in 2023-24, and his leadership and nearly 12 points per game scoring will be beneficial.
Senior and graduation senior leadership have been the key for Coach Collins’s team for the last several years. The Wildcats certainly have that once again, with Brooks Barnheizer back for his senior season. Barnheizer was a big get to keep in Evanston, especially when he could have looked elsewhere.
His average of nearly 15 points per game is certainly the top returning scorer for Northwestern. Bringing back seven-footer Matthew Nicholson was huge as well. Though his scoring wasn’t his brightest spot, his toughness, and rebounding proved big down the stretch in 2023-24.
Others Have To Step Up
Having key leadership is a great start for the new season, but that doesn’t make up for the production left behind by Buie. He was an ultimate weapon for the Wildcats, and his 19 points per game is going to be hard to replace. Ryan Langborg was another top scorer for the team as well, but he also moved on.
That is where the team will need rising juniors, Nick Martinelli and Luke Hunger. Both saw plenty of playing time last season and late in the season, especially when Berry went down and Martinelli saw his role increase. Northwestern didn’t go without once again dabbling in the transfer portal, as they added two pieces.
Those players are Jalen Leach from Fairfield and another big body in seven-foot 250-pound center Keenan Fitzmorris. The Wildcats also added a two-man freshman class topped by KJ Windham from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Angelo Ciaravino also joins the program from Mount Carmel in Chicago.
There’s plenty of new talent to work with for Coach Collins. He’s had question marks in the past off of successful seasons, but the moves they made for the roster seem to have them still in the hunt. The team can be seen hitting the gym hard in a video posted on Northwestern Men’s Basketball’s X page.
Moving as one 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Jb8JV9FDSz
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) July 8, 2024
Schedule Has Its Tests
Northwestern saw plenty of tests in its 2023-24 schedule, and they were able to win some very important games en route to the NCAA Tournament. They will have to do so again this season if hope to stay amongst the Big Ten’s best. Three key games are featured on their non-conference slate including a match-up at Dayton. There’s also an early-season tournament in Tempe, AZ where they will face Butler and then possibly Mississippi State or UNLV.
Spending Thanksgiving in the Valley of the Sun 🌵 pic.twitter.com/BcpZWbHEXb
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) June 27, 2024
Looking forward to their Big Ten slate, they have a tough draw once again, with road trips to Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, new league teams Oregon and Washington, and a visit to Mackey Arena to face Purdue. The home slate will be very interesting especially with USC and UCLA coming to Evanston. They also get to continue their recent rivalry with Michigan State on their home floor, where they bested the Spartans last season.
A closer look at Northwestern’s Conference Schedule was shared via social media.
This League 💥 pic.twitter.com/54GCfBkKOz
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) May 1, 2024
Big Ten Is Never Easy, But Northwestern Has Grit
The Wildcats have always been overlooked when it comes to Big Ten basketball, but they have certainly put the rest of the league on notice under Coach Chris Collins. That should be no different in 2024-25. Not having Buie around sucks, but Northwestern has plenty of talent and players full of grit. That is what can help them fight their way into the top 12 of the Big Ten.
