Chris Collins has turned Northwestern basketball from a forgot-about team to a contender in the Big Ten. But will it continue in 2024-25?
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Northwestern basketball.
If you told someone that Northwestern basketball would rattle off back-to-back seasons of at least 22 wins, that person may think you’re crazy. Because prior to that, the Wildcats had a total of one season with at least 22 wins since their program started in 1904.
You can also thank Boo Buie for that, who at this point is probably the greatest Northwestern basketball player in program history. But his time in Illinois is now complete, meaning Collins will have to turn to a new core of players.
Fifth-year senior Ty Berry is the likely leader of the bunch, having helped hold down the backcourt alongside Buie. He’s joined by Fairfield transfer Jalen Leach and returning forward Brooks Barnhizer, giving the Wildcats a really good group at guard and small forward.
The post-play will be led by Nick Martinelli and probably Matthew Nicholson, although the Wildcats have some backup big men at their disposal. Stony Brook transfer Keenan Fitzmorris and returning redshirt sophomore Luke Hunger give the Wildcats a deep group underneath the basket.
The biggest question mark will who comes in relief in the backcourt. Blake Smith is more of a plug-and-play type of guy who can play multiple positions, while Jordan Clayton and Justin Mullins were wildly inefficient last season.
The Cats also bring in a few newcomers, but all of them were ranked outside the top 200 by 247Sports Composite and likely wouldn’t be counted on, at least on day one.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head coach:Â Chris Collins (12th season, all at Northwestern)
2023-24 record:Â 22-12 (12-8)
2024 postseason finish:Â Lost to UConn (75-58) in second round of the NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:Â
- Boo Buie (19.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 43.4 3P%)
- Ryan Langborg (12.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 42.1 3P%)
- Blake Preston (2.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.9 APG)
Notable non-conference games:Â
- at Dayton (Nov. 9)
- vs. Butler (Nov. 28)
- vs. Mississippi State OR UNLV (Nov. 29)
- vs. Georgia Tech (Dec. 15)
Projected Rotation
PG: Jalen Leach (6-4, 200, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 16.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 35.4 3P% (Fairfield)
SG: Ty Berry (6-3, 190, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 11.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 43.3 3P%
SF: Brooks Barnhizer (6-6, 230, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 34.8 3P%
PF: Nick Martinelli (6-7 220, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 8.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 APG
C: Matthew Nicholson (7-0, 280, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 5.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 BPG, 65.7 FG%
6: Luke Hunger (6-10, 260, Rs.-So.)
2023-24 stats: 3.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.6 APG
7: Keenan Fitzmorris (7-0, 260, 6th-Yr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 10.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 BPG, 50.9 FG% (Stony Brook)
8: Blake Smith (6-6, 190, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 2.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.5 APG, 11 GP
9: Jordan Clayton (6-2, 190, So.)
2023-24 stats: 0.3 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.4 APG, 17.4 FG%
10: Justin Mullins (6-6, 200, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 0.4 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.2 APG, 30.0 3P%
11: Angelo Ciaravino (6-5, 195, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #214 ranked recruit
12: Blake Barkley (6-7, 220, Rs.-Fr.)
247Sports Composite #249 ranked recruit (2023)
13: KJ Windham (6-3, 190, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #201 ranked recruit
Northwestern Basketball team MVP: Brooks Barnhizer
Other than Buie and Langborg, the majority of Northwestern’s key players from last year are back. That list is led by Barnhizer, who was second on the Wildcats in scoring and will most likely lead them in that department this season.
Barnhizer isn’t just a scorer – he could also lead the Wildcats in rebounds per game, considering he did last season. He brings it defensively, which is what coach Collins requires, and while not a knock-down shooter like Berry, he gets it done from the perimeter.
I’m expecting Northwestern to be a little more balanced offensively, but Barnhizer will surely be the go-to guy down the stretch of close games.
Northwestern Basketball make-or-break player: Blake Smith
I’m excited to see what Blake Smith brings to the Wildcats this season. Last year, he played in 11 games, but started in a pair, showing that when Collins needs someone to fill a certain role, Smith is his guy.
The question is – will Smith be able to be a part of the Wildcats from start to finish? As a walk-on, Smith became crucial to a Wildcats team that needed players to step up due to injuries. He did his job well – especially defensively – in place of his teammates.
What will Smith’s role be this year? Can he be a surprise rotation piece, or will other players pass him by on a healthy Northwestern basketball team to start the season?
Key analytic: 3P%
It’s a simple stat, but when you shoot 39% from behind the arc as a team, it’s a stat you can’t ignore.
Of course, the departures of Buie and Langborg will hurt this year’s percentage. The two NW starters both connected on at least 42% of their treys from last season.
But Berry, Barnhizer, and Leach are all talented three-point snipers in their own rights. It might not be the same outrageous percentage of last season, but this NW team once again looks like it’ll command attention once they cross halfcourt.
Northwestern Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish: 13th in the Big Ten
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Exit