Big Ten Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2019-2020 season

14) Northwestern Wildcats

It’s going to be a rough season for Northwestern. They only have five returning scholarship players from their rotation. Their top-three leading scorers were all seniors. Vic Law and Dererk Pardon finally used up all eligibility and Ryan Taylor is gone after playing his grad year for the Wildcats.

A whole host of Wildcats are leaving the program from graduation and the transfer portal. Anthony Falzon completed his fourth year of school, but has only put together two full seasons. He received a redshirt for just playing three in his second year. Falzon then only played in 17 this past season with just four starts. He’s leaving Northwestern after averaging six points per game in 80 games as a Wildcats.

Barrett Benson is a tough blow. He’s barely averaged over two points per game in three seasons, but he averaged three boards last year and is a six-foot-ten center who was waiting to breakout. Jordan Ash is another life-long Northwestern player who just never found a time to break out. Ash played in 20 or more games in his first three seasons, but only 10 this past year.

A.J. Turner will be back for his senior year after playing in his first of two seasons with Northwestern after transferring. He’s the returning leading scorer for the Wildcats who averaged almost nine points, three assists and two boards per game. He’s a six-foot-seven small forward who made 39 three-pointers last year. Anthony Gaines is entering his junior year and he’s continuing to improve each season. His scoring went up almost three points, assists increased by one and rebounds went up two.

Northwestern had two top-100 recruits last season in Miller Kopp and Pete Nance. Kopp is a six-foot-seven forward that averaged just under five points per game. The freshman made 23 three-pointers, blocked 13 shots and came up with 13 steals. Nance is a six-foot-ten forward who averaged just under three points per game, two boards and has the ability to hit a three-pointer.

The Wildcats are getting a top-100 recruit in Robbie Beran who is a six-foot-nine power forward. If it’s not Gaines running the point, Northwestern will have to lean on three-star recruit Daniel Bluie. Jared Jones is a top-200 recruit. Jones is a six-foot-nine center who will add nice depth in the front court and on the defensive end, but the guard play and offense may be a struggle.