Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Tuck Clarry | Oct 8, 2023

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 09: Coleman Hawkins #33 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after making a basket during the first half of a Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at United Center on March 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

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Big Ten Basketball Boo Buie #0 of the Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

10. Northwestern Wildcats

Another program that’s developed over the years beyond expectations, the Wildcats found themselves finishing third in the Big Ten despite losing their frontcourt star Pete Nance to the portal. That was in large part of dynamic point guard Boo Buie, who returns for one more season after a season averaging 17.3 points and 4.5 assists and earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.

The Wildcats do lose second-leading scorer Chase Audidge, but the hope is that senior Ty Berry rebounds from a frustrating offensive season that saw his perimeter shooting go from 38% to 29%. If Berry’s shooting returns to form, it offers better spacing for Buie to operate and maintain his all-conference play. Head coach Chris Collins added transfer Ryan Langborg to the backcourt, who hopefully will add more shooting and fill the two-way void from Audidge’s departure.

Buie will help Northwestern fight in every game they play this season, but the additional scoring and defensive question marks make a repeated top-three finish a distant goal. If Collins can untap something from big man Matt Nicholson in the frontcourt, the Wildcats may find themselves still battling in the upper half of the Big Ten.

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