Northwestern Basketball: Saying goodbye to the historic seniors class

Northwestern didn’t have the season the team hoped for. But it doesn’t take away from the history this group of seniors accomplished.

The current Northwestern Senior Class will be remembered for making history in Evanston. Northwestern is already famous for numerous things. Anything from journalists, movie stars and doctors, are all things the Wildcat alumni are famous for. The Basketball program always left a lot to be desired and were the worst high major division basketball program in history.

Bryant McIntosh, Vic Law and Gavin Skelly knew all these facts when committing to Northwestern. Coach Chris Collins was still able to convince these kids to come to Northwestern. What would happen over the next four years in Evanston, Illinois was a fairy tale.

When these three players would up in Evanston. Northwestern had never made the NCAA tournament, and really had not won much in their history. These players were out to change that, and all while playing in the loaded Big Ten. Could Northwestern turn the page on what has been a tumultuous past, and an empty history book?

The first year at Northwestern went about as you would expect, numerous struggles and numerous high points. The sophomore year for these players was a great one, and all while doing it without Vic Law as he sat out with an injury. McIntosh really started to take hold of the Big Ten and show that he was going to be a star in the league.

Skelly became known for being a deadly three-point shooter. Northwestern still could not get over the hump and make the tournament in year two. Nothing that Northwestern fans had not seen before.

More from Busting Brackets

The luck and the history of Northwestern basketball would change the next year. Armed with a great supporting cast, McIntosh and a healthy Vic Law would make their move in the Big Ten. Northwestern finally won enough games to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

Northwestern was given a favorable matchup in the tournament. Northwestern was able to knock off Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament before succumbing to top seeded Gonzaga, after making a valiant comeback.

Entering the present season, the expectations at Northwestern were as high as they have ever been. So much so that Northwestern was preseason ranked, and all of their stars were coming back to Evanston for another year. Could Northwestern make it two for two? How would they handle being the hunted instead of the hunter?

This season did not play out the way Northwestern would have hoped for. They had a season mired by injuries and underperformance by their stars. It was back to the same old same old for the Wildcats. Northwestern did have its fair share of good performances this year, but for the most part it was an extremely disappointing season for this group of super star seniors. It was not the way the senior class wanted to go out.

The seniors should walk of Northwestern with their heads held high. Those three young men were able to accomplish something that none one else at Northwestern ever got to experience. They made the tournament and won a game. While the expectations at Northwestern were not met this year. Without this Senior class to lay the groundwork, those expectations should be non-existent.

Next: Bracketology a week before Selection Sunday

The Wildcats and their fans are never going to forget McIntosh, Law or Skelly. Those three men were responsible for the greatest 40 minutes in Northwestern basketball history. They have laid the groundwork for what the program strives to be. They leave Evanston as legends and the college basketball world will never forget them.

Home/Northwestern Wildcats