Northwestern Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Wildcats

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FULLERTON, CA – NOVEMBER 25: Northwestern Wildcats players huddle during a time out in the second half of the game against the Utah Utes during the Wooden Legacy Tournament at Titan Gym on November 25, 2018 in Fullerton, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Projected Starters

PG Pat Spencer (6’3, Sr.)

SG A.J. Turner (6’7, Sr., 8.7 ppg, 2.8 ast, 32.8 3pt%) — Northwestern’s leading returning scorer, Turner sat out in Europe due to injury. On a better team, he’d be a role player. In Evanston he’s a focal point.

SF Miller Kopp (6’7, So., 4.9 ppg, 37.0 fg%, 85.2 ORTG)

PF Pete Nance (6’10, So., 2.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 26.3 3pt%)

C Ryan Young (6’10, Rs Fr.) — Young averaged 8.3 points and five rebounds in three starts in Europe. He should be a capable presence in the paint and use his physicality in tandem with the skinnier Nance.

Key Reserves

F Robbie Beran (6’9, Fr.) The lanky forward supplanted Nance last year as the program’s best-ever recruit, with Collins calling him “a long, versatile forward who brings a lot to the table.” He won’t start just yet, but he’ll get minutes off the bench for a Wildcat team desperate for an infusion of offense.

G Boo Buie (6’2, Fr.) Buie, whose given name is Daniel, averaged 11 points per game in Europe and profiles as an instant-offense type role player with bigger things down the road.

G Anthony Gaines (6’4, Jr., 6.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 35.6 fg%) — Gaines had the highest offensive rating of any returner last season at 98.7, which says nothing good. He’s a defense-first wing without much of a shot, and he didn’t play in Europe due to a stress fracture.

F Jared Jones (6’10, Fr.) Jones looks to be the primary backup for Young at this point. He averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in Europe.

G Ryan Greer (6’2, So., 1.5 ppg, 8.9 mpg, 63.5 ORTG) — Greer didn’t start a single game as a freshman but started all four exhibition games last month in Turner’s stead.

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