Northwestern Basketball: Ranking toughest non-conference games
1. Oklahoma, Away, 12/22
This could be the one game in the non-conference where Northwestern is not favored. Last season, Oklahoma suffered a rebuilding year after losing four starters, led by Buddy Hield, from their final four team. The Sooners finished with an 11-20 record last season but were much better than their record indicated according to their 65th rank in KenPom.
Oklahoma should be nationally relevant once again because they return most of their key players and have added a strong recruiting class. Four starters return from last year’s rebuilding team including sophomores Kam McGusty and Kristian Doolittle who are poised for breakout seasons. Junior wing Rashard Odomes was a double figure scorer and senior center Khadeem Lattin provides quality defense and rim protection.
Joining those four standouts in the starting lineup is freshman PG Trae Young. Young was ranked as the 23rd best recruit in the 247 composite rankings. He is an excellent shooter and should fit well with the returning starters.
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If you think this is the same Oklahoma team as last year, you are mistaken. The Sooners are a legitimate top 30 team and playing them on the road will be no easy task. This will be Northwestern’s toughest test of non-conference play.