I'll be the first to admit that I did not see this coming.
But the team, CCC, and his staff defied preseason expectations and soared when the calendar hit Feb. giving us one of the best seasons in our history.
Beyond the return to the NCAA tournament and another R64 win leading wire-to-wire, we got fireworks in the Big Ten finishing 2nd in the conference and beating then #1 Purdue for the first win over an AP #1 in school history. That sequence of wins from Wisconsin to Iowa in Feb. was the best stretch in the modern history of the program. Even this loss in the round of 32 was an awesome experience with the way the team kept fighting back in the 2nd half as Chase and Nicholson had incredible games and Boo hit some pretty big shots.
And finally, this team made "new" WRA feel like home.
The crowds we generated in February were some of the most raucous Northwestern home atmospheres across any event, probably since the 90s football teams for the Big 2 sports. A real home atmosphere that the team fed off of: it brought all the excitement back and showed that it can be "big time" here in a way we've never seen before; I'll always remember this team for that stretch of home games.
CCC earned a well deserved extension and plenty of time to rebuild if needed. Proud of the whole program for the way these guys delivered this season.
But the team, CCC, and his staff defied preseason expectations and soared when the calendar hit Feb. giving us one of the best seasons in our history.
Beyond the return to the NCAA tournament and another R64 win leading wire-to-wire, we got fireworks in the Big Ten finishing 2nd in the conference and beating then #1 Purdue for the first win over an AP #1 in school history. That sequence of wins from Wisconsin to Iowa in Feb. was the best stretch in the modern history of the program. Even this loss in the round of 32 was an awesome experience with the way the team kept fighting back in the 2nd half as Chase and Nicholson had incredible games and Boo hit some pretty big shots.
And finally, this team made "new" WRA feel like home.
The crowds we generated in February were some of the most raucous Northwestern home atmospheres across any event, probably since the 90s football teams for the Big 2 sports. A real home atmosphere that the team fed off of: it brought all the excitement back and showed that it can be "big time" here in a way we've never seen before; I'll always remember this team for that stretch of home games.
CCC earned a well deserved extension and plenty of time to rebuild if needed. Proud of the whole program for the way these guys delivered this season.
