I haven't done a deep dive on all of the Sweet 16 teams but of the ones I have watched, it seems like everybody has at least 1 really important 4th or 5th year transfer other than Duke (no offense to Ryan Young). Scheyer has taken the 5-star recruit approach. He plays one senior (Roach) and a bunch of underclassmen that were all Duke recruits. Interesting to see how they do against Houston (that has a bunch of seniors on the roster). The transfer approach has been more effective but when the COVID year goes away after next year, I assume that will give the Duke model a boost.

I wonder if the Fab 5 would have had the same success today with the transfer portal (meaning other teams would have stacked their rosters with 4th and 5th years) or if they even would have had a chance to all play as freshmen because of veterans transferring in. It's a different world for good and bad. Although always happy if Duke gets knocked out.

Here he is....

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All times CENTRAL. All games available nationally unless otherwise indicated. I will add announcers and future opponents as they are assigned.

Tuesday, March 26

NIT: 4-Georgia @ 2-Ohio State
6:00 PM, ESPN
PxP: Tom Hart
Color: Cory Alexander

Thursday, March 28

NCAA: 2-Iowa State vs. 3-Illinois
9:09 PM approx., TBS
PxP: Kevin Harlan
Color: Dan Bonner
Color: Stan Van Gundy

Friday, March 29

NCAA: 1-Purdue vs. 5-Gonzaga
6:39 PM, TBS
PxP: Andrew Catalon
Color: Steve Lappas

Saturday, March 30

NCAA: 1-Connecticut vs. 3-Illinois
5:09 PM, TBS
PxP: Kevin Harlan
Color: Dan Bonner
Color: Stan Van Gundy

Sunday, March 31

NCAA: 1-Purdue vs. 2-Tennessee
1:20 PM, CBS
PxP: Andrew Catalon
Color: Steve Lappas

That’s two for Coach Joe today as Chicago native Kyla Jones is transferring in from Brown.

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Sincere Harris is still a freshman, but he'll have visited three Big Ten programs by the end of April. I talked to the rising star at defensive end about his first trip to Evanston and his first impression of Northwestern and its coaching staff.

Thanks to all of our season ticket holders for coming out to our open practice today!

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In the handshake line after the FAU game, there appeared to be a lengthy and almost heated interaction between Battle and a couple of the FAU players. I didn’t want to speculate about it before the UConn game as it would have been a distraction.

I’m not sure what it was about - but it looked like Boo was playing hurt there (and versus UConn).

Did anyone else see this? I have video of it and don’t feel like putting it on YouTube. I can share it offline with a few board regulars.

I doubt he’ll want to stick around Evanston now that his brother is graduating so it doesn’t matter. My theory is that he saw some stuff on the court which he didn’t like… but it seemed like a pretty clean game?

At 6’4” Grace Sullivan brings some much needed height to the front court. An Antioch native, she’ll be returning home to Chicago after a stint at Bucknell. Played her high school ball at Carmel Catholic.

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Tickets running over $200.

I broke down and went to section 104. Not a baller like @CatManTrue. Price differential between 200 and 100 levels are not so big.

Another pregame at the same venue. Hoping for a decent tipoff time.

My story.

Boo is getting a bit exposed by the NBA level players on Uconn. The kid Newton is what an NBA guard looks like. Different level of size, speed and physicality.

Love Boo, no doubt one of the best in program history, but not sure he gets drafted or how he’d match up at the next level. Barnhizer’s development is going to be exciting, he could play on any team in the tournament.

Great season for cats!

Join WildcatReport's 2024 March Madness bracket pool! First place wins a free six month subscription to WildcatReport!

My story.

I hope so. NU and Cornell, for example, are peer schools, albeit the edge goes to Cornell in terms of overall name recognition and global prestige. Our schools should play each other in basketball. Don't assume NU would dominate such Ivy teams as Princeton, Brown, and Yale. Ivy schools are no longer a pushover.

Go Big Red!

I predict an “I predict”…

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Following an exhilarating season with a team that showcased the most potential I have ever witnessed in an NU basketball team, I thought it would be interesting to compare the events of this year with my initial player analysis at the beginning of the season.

1st Year in Purple

Blake Barkley
Blake, standing at a height of 6'8", appears to be a suitable candidate for the 3-4 position on NU's team for the upcoming season. However, being a freshman, it is unlikely that he will receive significant playing time, as the 4 position is already occupied by Barnhizer. If Blake does manage to earn some minutes on the court, it would be a pleasing surprise. Generally, I have low expectations for freshmen players, but am pleasantly surprised when they display talent and contribute to the team. It is worth noting that Barkley received the prestigious OVAC First Team All-Conference honors during his high school career. Notably, he maintained an impressive average of 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in the highly competitive ADIDAS 3SSB circuit. With his notable shooting skills and strong rebounding abilities, Barkley holds the potential to become an intriguing player for the team in the future. PSA head coach Tom Espinosa had high praise for Barkley, describing him as a versatile player who possesses exceptional shooting abilities and an aptitude for dominating the boards. I eagerly anticipate witnessing Barkley's contribution to the team's success, as he dons the purple jersey.

Blake decided to redshirt this season, which aligns with my expectation for freshmen players. While I always hold out hope for newcomers to see playing time, it's important to temper our expectations for them, particularly on a talented team with experienced players. It takes time for freshmen to adjust and grow before they can make a significant impact on the court.

Parker Strauss
Parker is a highly skilled guard standing at an impressive height of 6'4". He is expected to contribute effectively in the 1-2 positions for the team. We are hopeful that either Strauss or Clayton would be capable of handling the offense and allowing Buie to take a short break for about 5 minutes. However, if these freshmen players lack the necessary skills, we may need to consider one of our returning players for this role. During his time in High School, Parker showcased exceptional statistics, averaging 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He is known for his outstanding versatility as a guard, possessing a combination of height and unique abilities. According to his high school coach, Parker's most significant strength lies in his ability to create opportunities for his teammates through skilled passing. I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing his skills in action while wearing a purple jersey.

Parker decided to redshirt this season, which aligns with my expectation for freshmen players. While I always hold out hope for newcomers to see playing time, it's important to temper our expectations for them, particularly on a talented team with experienced players. It takes time for freshmen to adjust and grow before they can make a significant impact on the court.

Jordan Clayton
GP 28, MPG 7.1, Raw +/- -49

Jordan, a 6'2" guard, possesses the necessary skills to fit perfectly into the 1-2 role for the team. It is expected that Strauss or Clayton will step up and take charge of the offense, relieving Buie for a brief 5-minute break. However, if neither of them, as freshmen, demonstrate this ability, we may need to rely on one of our returning players to fill in this crucial position.
In his high school last year, Jordan showcased his talent by averaging an impressive 12 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. His outstanding performance led to his recognition as a member of the All-NEPSAC Class AA team. His coach admired his defensive prowess, considering him capable of competing at the highest level. Moreover, Jordan's coach had nothing but praise for him as an individual, emphasizing his admirable character off the court. I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing his skills in action while wearing a purple jersey.

At the start of the season, Clayton received meaningful playing time, reaching a peak of 24 minutes against Rhode Island. However, as the season advanced and Northwestern University faced tougher opponents, his minutes began to diminish. At times, he demonstrated solid fundamentals and impressive defense, only to falter with poor positioning and communication in the other possestions. Offensively, he showed hesitancy and failed to showcase his full potential. Despite this, he displayed decent ball movement and the ability to bring the ball up the court. Looking ahead, the upcoming offseason will be crucial for Clayton's development, as he will be forced to run the offense and create since Buie will no longer fill that role.

Given all the constant hype, I was wondering.

Could Iowa’s Caitlin Clark make it as a Steph Curry type player in the NBA?

If Candace Parker and Brittney Griner couldn't then I doubt Clark can. What do you all think?

UPDATE: @Sec.112 got me thinking. Even if the NBA is unrealistic, could Caitlin play on Northwestern or another men’s Big Ten Team?

Just in case you need a little more Wildcat action on your TV screen today.

Season player review, trying to be succinct:

Boo - He was already a monster. And it was legit to wonder if he had hit his ceiling or if the extra attention he would get would not allow him to go higher. He just went ahead and raised his numbers and became more clutch. He came close to perfection, can only remember 2 or 3 games where he was sub par. Goat

Langborg - I am talking about him next because I think it's easy to underestimate what a good get he was. We can all point out to the recent fact he got us to the second round. No way we go by FAU without him. But to me it was the fit. From day one it seemed he had been here for a while, that he fit the culture, the attitude. In awe of this kid.

Martinelli - He just keeps getting better. He bulked up. He stepped up when injuries demanded it. He continued to be fearless, as he's always been. I am very optimistic he will be taking 500 shots a day in the summer. The potential to be a threat from 3 is there. Add some more bulking up and he will too will be a double digit scorer. Amazing how he quieted down the voices on this board that called out his defense.

Berry - Well above average rebounder and defender for his position. It was the coming out party for the potential as a shooter we saw in him. I hope he returns, I think he will

Nicholson - Injury, lack of shape, whatever, made the beginning of his season poor. Easy to forget how poor it was, he even lost his starting job. After that, he came back, it was our old double pistols. Fouls must have decreased by like 2 a game. Looked like a different guy. And more important than numbers, he was getting tactically more and more mature.

Bench - Smith was heroic, Hunger/Preston had their moments but were very naïve overall, Mullins is very unlike what we are used to in his athleticism... others? No great sense on expanding, the bottom line is our bench players are just a gigantic question mark.

Barnhizer - Left him for last because this guy has the potential to be all B1G first team. I have voiced my man crush for him. I voiced how much I thought he was going to be our main other than Boo guy. He delivered on that and gave us more. He's not slow nor very quick, he's not bouncy nor a stiff, his physical advantage is that he's strong as a bull and knows how to use that. I am positive he will continue to get better at taking advantage of his strengths. This is his team now and if I had to guess that's what Collins was whispering in his ear when he was subbed. Never stop coaching

The portal needs, in order of priority:

1) A steady hand to replace Boo. Don't care as much about stats as I care about calm, poise, making others feel we are in good hands
2) Height and depth at 3/4. Right now we have no depth 2-4. Our bench is Smith/Mullins and players we never saw playing. Height would be nice, but we get best available.
3) Developmental and backup big. In no way this is our #2 priority. We are fine as it is. But I'd love to get a youngin here. At the end of next season Matt will be gone. And in the meantime we have depth if we can land one here. I know this depends on someone transferring. Someone probably will.

Can’t help but play the what-if game, as referenced by the UConn coach in his classy postgame comments. Without 2 key injuries, this season could have been even more special and might well still be going.

But what a year nevertheless. I’m so proud to be a fan. I’m grateful to every one of these guys, and especially Boo. His send-off was emotional.

Not sure what the future holds but I hope Collins can do what it takes (and he’s given what it takes) to keep this momentum with recruiting (high schoolers and portal) and that the Welsh Ryan environment that Boo built becomes a full tradition.

Thanks, men. Go ‘Cats!

Boo Buie ended up with 2,187 points in his 5 seasons (along with 618 assists, 417 rebounds, 143 steals, and only 313 turnovers).

Will Boo’s scoring record ever be broken? Note that most players will only have 4 seasons moving forward.

Check out our interview with Northwestern's inaugural member of its Class of 2025, Jonathan Stevens Jr.

My story.

Kolin Wilson out of Gulf Shores, AL.

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