Leading up to the start of the regular season, we’re going to preview every Big Ten team. We’ll take a deep dive into each program looking at key reasons for optimism and pressing questions or concerns.
Today, we look at the Northwestern Wildcats, who missed the NCAA Tournament last year in a disappointing season. Previously: Nebraska Cornhuskers
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM
A fresh start
Northwestern’s implosion in 2017-18 was shocking, but it followed a script that should be familiar to longtime Big Ten fans. Bubble teams that finish the year with conference records around .500 and a modest efficiency margin that go on to win an NCAA Tournament game are consistently some of the most overrated teams in preseason polls.