Northwestern Basketball: Wildcats 2019-20 season review

Northwestern Basketball finished the season at 8-23 with a rough showing in Big Ten play, going 3-17 in the conference and finishing 13th. Here is the Wildcats’ season in review.

There were never high expectations for this Northwestern Basketball team and the program remains in rebuilding mode after gradually losing the roster that brought the Wildcats into the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Last season, Northwestern finished last place in the Big Ten with just four conference wins, and the media predicted an identical fate for Coach Chris Collins and his team in this year’s preseason poll. It didn’t help matters that the Wildcats lost their top three scorers from last season, players who altogether combined for just under 40 points per game.

NU began the season as the youngest team in the conference, with an average of just 0.8 years experience per player. This lack of experience was definitely evident this season as Chris Collins’ squad finished the season with an abysmal 8-23 overall record while finishing at 3-17 in the Big Ten. Per KenPom, they had the eleventh-hardest schedule in the nation and the seventh-hardest just based on the opponent’s defensive metrics.

Even in a disappointing season such as this one, there were still some bright spots for the young Wildcats team. Sophomore forward Miller Kopp showed signs of promise this season, as did freshman guard Boo Buie. The roster will add two three-star recruits next season while only losing two to graduation. Consistency and growth will be key for the Wildcats as they hope to continue the rebuild of their program.

Here’s a review of the highlights, lowlights, and key players from this season as well as the Northwestern Basketball’s outlook for the 2020-2021 campaign.