Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Big Ten logo on the floor before the Big Ten Men's Basketball Final against the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines at the Verizon Center on March 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Wolverines won 71-56. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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Northwestern guard Chase Audige Big Ten Basketball Bkc Purdue Vs Northwestern /

team. 489. . . . Wildcats . 12

Northwestern basketball has taken a bit of downturn under head coach Chris Collins in recent seasons. While they were improved from their 2019-20 effort of 3-17 in Big Ten basketball action, they still finished 6-13,

Miller Kopp is off to Indiana leaving with four starters from last year’s squad but they’ll need to step up in a big way. Chris Audige, Boo Buie, Robbie Beran and Pete Nance are all back and Ryan Young should be more than ready to slide into the starting center role.

Audige, Nance and Buie all put up double-figures scoring averages in 2020-21 and will need to improve on those numbers for the Wildcats to be successful. Audige and Buie will also need to limit their turnovers. The duo combined for 100 turnovers this past season.

Elyjah Wlliams (Fairleigh Dickinson) should give them another veteran presence on the interior to work with. He’s a graduate transfer that put up 13.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 bpg and 1.2 spg in 2020-21.

Northwestern basketball will have their work cut out for them trying to take down some of the giants of the Big Ten basketball ranks. They’ll be competitive, but it could be another season where they’ll have to take it back to the drawing board.

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