I dug into kenpom and identified the times where Collins brought in classes of 4+ newcomers (Frosh/transfer)
| Year | Frosh | Sophs | Juniors/Seniors (in BOLD) |
| 2015 | McIntosh
Law
Lindsey
Skelly
Vassar | Taphorn
Lumpkin | Olah
Demps
Cobb
Sobolewski
Kriesberg (grad transfer) |
| 2020 | Buie
Young
Beran
J. Jones
(Audige) | Kopp
Nance
Greer | Gaines
AJ Turner
Spencer (grad transfer) |
| 2022 | Roper
Simmons
Barnhizer | Nicholson
Berry | Buie
Audige
Young
Beran
Nance
Greer
Williams (grad transfer) |
| 2026 (projected) | Bannerman
Gill
Kropp
Singleton
West | Windham
Ciaravino
Barkley
Clayton | Hunger
Martinelli
Mullins
Smith |
I hold the mental model - "get old, stay old." Granted, I'm old, so I'm still getting used to how the portal affects that adage; but what that meant to me is that you wanted to avoid the situations where you're bringing in and/or ultimately graduating huge classes. Its' one thing if you're Calipari golden era Kentucky and you're churning one-and-dones, but for a developmental program like NU that means volatility, which is rarely good.
During Collins' tenure, this has only happened three times (and will happen a 4th time next season). I set the table up in this way because I was curious not just about who was incoming, but also what they were coming into - i.e. who were the upper classmen who are charged with holding the culture and offering that key peer leadership.
Obviously 2015 was going to be a huge class given that was Collins' first one and he was building the program. Goes without saying that BMac, Vic and Scottie were the "Big 3" of that First Dance team, though Taphorn and Lumpkin would play key bench roles, so it speaks highly of Collins ability to retain them (and of course, their willingness to "buy-in").
2020 marked the second cycle for Collins - and going in, it may be perceived that Pete Nance and Miller Kopp were the most influential players via their talent, all the newcomers save Jared Jones (and transfer redshirt Chase Audige), would be called on for minutes and contributions. That was a rough year in the B1G with a 12 game losing streak that would end in a 3-17 B1G campaign. Nevertheless, these hard knocks were a downpayment on a return ticket to the tourney. However, I didn't foresee that return without Kopp, Nance and Young.
2022 had 4 newcomers, but they weren't called upon to play big roles (none of them had greater than 50 %Min) as this team was driven by its juniors and seniors. However, Roper and Simmons injected some juice off the bench, but neither would stick around to be part of the '23 breakthrough. However, Nicholson, Barnhizer, Berry remain as the standard bearers.
2026 - not to look too far ahead, but this will be fascinating new chapter for the program. Ciaravino and Windham have shown that age ain't nothin' but a number with regards to getting playing time. (Simultaneously, its perhaps an indictment of the '24 class of Strauss, Barkley, Clayton which early returns aren't as promising.) I'm projecting that Martinelli and Mullins will serve as team captains. Despite a dream start to his season, Martinelli's press conference rhetoric suggests he will stay ever grounded and keeping the chip-on-his-shoulder. Additionally, Mullins continues to be a super glue guy that earns post-game praise from Collins for his relentless motor. Hard pressed to find two better guys to set the culture for this incoming class that may have the most diverse collective skill-set in the Collins era.
northwestern.rivals.com
