Big Ten Basketball: Ranking the team offenses for 2022-23 season

12. Northwestern Wildcats

2021-22: 69.6 points per game

Northwestern Basketball averaged just under 70 points per Big Ten game last season, an average that was good for tenth best in the conference. This season, however, Head Coach Chris Collins will be without his leading scorer Pete Nance (14.6 ppg). Despite losing the 6’10 center, the Wildcats should not look all that much different on the offensive end, as their four other starters return.

At just under16 per game, the Wildcats were ranked No. 26 in the nation in assists, led by point guard Boo Buie, a trend that will continue this season. A common sight this season will be the Wildcats’ single post offense morphing into a 5-out when Robbie Beran upscreens in order to allow Buie to penetrate into the key. Since Buie is no stranger to being in the painted area, if help does come, Chase Audige will be cutting baseline for the easy two.

Without Nance on the floor, all it means is that Coach Collins will have to come up with more creative ways to get the ball in Buie’s hands in a dangerous part of the floor. As mentioned, Beran can set the upscreens that Ryan Young did last season, as well as the handoffs up top that Nance would provide.

Between the shot-creating ability of Buie and Audige plus the ability they both have to take defenders off the dribble, despite falling in the Big Ten rankings, the Wildcats’ offense will stay consistent.