Northwestern's latest Class of 2024 commitment comes from Dennis Rahouski from Eden Prairie, Minn. New NU OC Zach Lujan recruited Rahouski hard to South Dakota State, but Yale's academics won out. Once Lujan added academics, and Big Ten football, to his recruiting arsenal, he came back and offered Rahouski again, this time with success.

So I decided to take a stab at figuring out our current scholarship/roster count.

When I add our 17 current commits to those I believe to still be on the roster (and returning for 2024), I land on 86 (which is one over the limit).

This number however includes a few players who’s status might be in question:

Cameron
Coleman
Gray
Hilinski
Welcing

I’ve also allocated scholarships to:

Olson
Renner
Halkyard

We could easily be looking at another 4-5 spots for Spring transfers if my numbers are close to correct.

Just spittballing hereD1 has a limit of 85 scholarships they can extend plus NIL money. Can a university offer NIL money to a potential athlete. Then the athlete pay for his tuition from those proceeds. Then declare themselves as a walk-on and not count towards the scholarship limit?

Total annihilation of the Buckeyes. I expected much more from them.
The game ball goes to Boo Buie... Buie fouled out with 3:31 to go with NU holding a 81-48 lead.
I kept the next 2 minute segment in the stats because Clayton was in for Buie.
We lost that segment 8-2, so Martinelli, Hunger, Barnhizer and Langborg also got dinged there.
When Collins put in Gus and Mullins with 1:14 to play, it was garbage time. The garbage man showed up awfully late!
Missed a golden opportunity to try Preston at the 5 with Hunger at the 4.... but at least Clayton got a few extra minutes and Collins was trying Hunger with various combinations.
We still need a plan for any scenario in which Buie, Martinelli, Langborg, Barnhizer or Berry can't play.

Ryan Langborg had a nice game - one of his better efforts. In fact the 5 "non-centers" all played well.
There was no single lineup that punished the Buckeyes. Almost all of them worked.
The starters (Nicholson/Barnhizer/Berry/Langborg/Buie) outscored OSU 13-7 in over 7 minutes.
The golden lineup (Nicholson/Martinelli/Barnhizer/Berry/Buie) got a brief opportunity in the 2nd half and won 5-0 in 1:49.
We went on an 18-1 run in the 2nd half, using 5 different lineups over 6.5 minutes.

When Barnhizer was on the bench, we outscored OSU 13-1.
However, when Buie was on the bench, we were outscored 16-11, due to the last 3:31.

Any way you look at it, it was a total shellacking. And even KenPom noticed!

The Class of 2024 was the first class since 2008 where Northwestern did not sign a player with an offer from Illinois. If the Wildcats can sign Caden O'Rourke, they'll cut the streak in the bud. No doubt the NU legacy with Devin O'Rourke and the growing LWE pipeline helped, but still good to get back in the mix against the Illini who have done a very good job of ramping up their in-state operation under Bielema.

I've been a fan since 1989, so I didn't see McKinney, but I am comfortable saying it:

Boo Buie is the greatest NU basketball player ever.

They have not been good on the road, like most Big Ten teams.

But they do have Zed Key, the best name in college basketball.

Cats got 32 votes, yay.

Ilini fall from 10 to 14.

What caught my eye is Dayton, #16 last week, lost at 7-0 conference rival Richmond and dropped to #21. Bummer for us and them.

since last playing Purdue? I feel like the team is better now than when they last played Purdue.
Barney's hand is better.
All three of the centers have shone improvement.
Langborg has found his shot.
Berry is still a little hot and cold but by all accounts his D is improving.

I know most teams improve over the course of a season but I'm curious what others think as we head to Purdue.

Northwestern has their second commitment in their Class of 2025 with DE Caden O'Rourke from Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East.

With all the PWO activity, it got me wondering if there is a different underlying recruiting strategy in place. At what point, if any, is a PWO preferable to a fresh out of HS scholarship player? If NU more than ever sees itself as a development program that needs to keep players who complete their degrees and not transfer, why not bring on PWOs instead of two stars and some three stars. Probably no difference in terms of ultimate ceiling plus maybe it's smart to get a player in to see how their first year goes before committing to a four year scholarship. That way the academic side pays the bill if the kid stays four years and the football side can be more strategic giving out scholarships. If the sky rains four stars or transfers the program will have scholarships available. If the kid is a bust after a year or so, he stays in school but doesn't take up a scholarship.

Northwestern has their second commitment in their Class of 2025 with DE Caden O'Rourke from Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East.

Here's our quickie story, more to come this evening from WildcatReport.

I really love and enjoy watching his game as a role player and am looking forward to his future. Barnheiser and Martinelli could be a nasty big wing duo next year if Martinelli continues to develop at the same pace.

…in addition to Caden O’Rourke. It’s a 2024. We are trying to identify him. Stay tuned.

Here's our quick story on Northwestern's first commitment of the Class of 2025, more to come from WildcatReport.

Boo, Lang and Preston will be gone. Berry and MN could also depart. In that case, we likely run out one of the newer guys from 23 or 24, BB, Mart and Hunger - no real PG.

I’m not convinced Clayton will be ready, if he ever becomes the starting PG. So I would think QB would be top portal focus with another big if MN follows Preston out.

But if Berry and MN stay, then simply a veteran QB is all we need next year.

I will be curious to see who gets the PT among Straus, Mullins, Barkley and frosh. They all appear to be wild cards and I have to think at least two will be hits of varying degrees.

@lou v breaks down why Northwestern's lack of incoming transfers at this stage of the portal isn't a cause for concern.

I’ve never seen us throttle a decent Big Ten team like what we just did to OSU. That was a wicked defensive performance, especially in the second half to get up to the 35 point lead. OSU was toast.

The second big test in the B1G.

Zach Giuliano out of Newport Beach. Very good player with multiple P4 offers. Impressive to get him to campus. Would be a real coupe for Creighton to land him.

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Hey @lunker35 - you play Roy Hobbs? I’m playing my first competitive game in over 30 years tomorrow. Thanks to @WaveJumper , I got that bionic shoulder a few years back and this is the last sport reunion on my bucket list. Hit the cage today - first time w wood bat and learned on third hit why not to use wood bat in the cage.

Anyone else see a little Doyle in Langborg? Starts w the hair and the old man moves around the basketball. Doesn’t have quite the Barney Rubble stumble.