Northwestern Basketball: Wildcats get massive boost with grad transfer Ryan Taylor
Northwestern Basketball needed to find immediate help on the perimeter for next season. Volume scorer Ryan Taylor from Evansville was the perfect player for them.
This past season was difficult for Northwestern, going from a historic NCAA Tournament appearance to an under .500 record in what was a weak Big Ten overall.
Next seasons prospects didn’t look much better, with the Wildcats losing their starting backcourt of Scottie Lindsey and Bryant McIntosh. The duo combined to produce 27.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 6.8 apg. Their potential replacements aren’t yet known, with the candidates from the active roster averaging less than a few points. And while the incoming freshmen are talented, they lack the experience to come in right away.
Good thing there’s the transfer market, with plenty of good guards available. But the competition is steep for the best of them. One of them was Ryan Taylor, a grad transfer who originally started at Ohio, before going to Evansville.
After scoring 14 ppg two years ago, he busted out in a big way, leading the Missouri Valley Conference with 21.2 ppg in 25 games played. Taylor shot 43% from three-point range and 86% from the free throw line.
Evansville finished 17-15 in a one-bid league, and with Loyola-Chicago in the same conference, Taylor’s odds of ever making it to the Big Dance were slim at best. Which likely was his purpose for leaving.
Practically every team in the midwest were vying for his services, but a decision was made.
Evansville transfer Ryan Taylor has committed to Northwestern, sources told ESPN. Huge pickup for Chris Collins.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 9, 2018
This was a mega pickup for Northwestern, filling a major void on the perimeter, as well as providing a scoring presence. That helps the returning senior forwards of Vic Law and Dererk Pardon, who were going to have to provide the main source of offense.
Next: 10 best transfers from the 2017-18 season
In my Way Too Early Big Ten Power rankings for 2018-19, I didn’t think too highly of Northwestern. But the addition of Taylor changes things a little, upping their hopes of a return to the Big Dance.