Long-time Coach Arthur ‘Dutch’ Lonborg at one point had the Wildcats as the talk of the Windy City.  That was a long time ago obviously but somehow this man has kept his job.  There is a wind of change coming and this Kansas alumnus (he played for Phog Allen) will be stepping down after this year.  After last year’s 1-17 conference finish the administration was ready to move on but he wanted one more year and with his influence (he will be taking over the role of selection committee head for the Big Dance starting next year) the powers that be decided to let him coach one more year.  That is with the caveat that he mentor his replacement who has already been hired.  Yep, Coach Bill Carmody will be officially Lonborg’s assistant after being hired away from Princeton (makes sense) but has already started recruiting for the future.  This is a nice move for the Wildcats as this future Hall of Famer can take a victory lap.  Of course it might have helped if they could have put together a decent schedule to send him off with especially a game against his alma mater in Lawrenceville?  They played last year so I guess that will have to do Pig.  DePaul is also not on the schedule as the Blue Demons have joined the new power conference aptly named Conference USA and do not have enough open games.  This is sad because these are the big two schools in the Chicago area and have had some great games in the past (the Wildcats actually upset the Blue Demons in their only postseason trip, a win in the NIT at the Rosemont, which is also their only postseason win ever) but DePaul is no longer an Independent so their scheduling flexibility (bendy) is not what it used to be.  This is something the Wildcats know all too well playing in the Big Ten with 18 conference games a year.  There were rumors with Penn State coming aboard that would increase to 20 but the smart men in the room (probably from Northwestern) came to their senses and they are staying at 18 with a bend-around schedule.  The Wildcats will still have a game against the most popular team in the region (and perhaps the country) as they travel south around the bend to play Notre Dame and continue their longstanding rivalry.  This might be the last game for this series and the proudly independent Fighting Irish will be joining the Big East (how does that make sense when there are 11 Big Ten teams-hasn’t anyone ever heard of symmetry or geography?) next season at least in basketball.  Lonborg’s time might be done as there is not much chance of him returning this program to their days of contention (glory days) especially since the best player in program history also moved on up after last season. 

Senior Joe Reiff has been a mainstay in Evanston for it seems like forever but the dominant inside player will be trying to show his game transfers to the big time as he joins the pro ranks.  Reiff led the Big 10 in scoring twice and was also a two time All-American so he will be sorely missed but the Wildcats will survive and it gives a chance for some other players to step up and take leadership roles.  The most likely to take his place is his sidekick in crime down low for the last two years in senior Joe Ruklick.   Ruklick is a 6’9 220 pound senior from Princeton (another Ivy connection) Illinois (damn) who has manned the post since he got here.  Ruklick has been a fine second fiddle being the primary low post defender against other team’s centers and is a dominant board guy.  He can score too and is quicker than you might think though all of those games of banging against much bigger guys has paid a toll on this cat.  But he still keeps a sense of humor.  After Wilt Chamberlain scored 52 against the Wildcats last season Ruklick bragged that he held the Big Dipper to 50 as he fouled out with over 9 minutes to go on an attempt to block a Chamberlain dunk (not a good idea whoever you are).  Chamberlain came out after actually making the two free throws so officially Ruklick was right he was only on the court for 50 of his 52 points.  Of course nobody brought up that the reason he was attempting to block the shot was because of an errant pass by Ruklick on an inbounds play that Chamberlain stole so big Joe could have been counted for an assist for his final two points of the game as well.  Joe might not be at the level of a Chamberlain or some of the dominant big men in this league but he can play and I would not underestimate him even with his self-deprecating humor.  Of course he might be better suited hanging out in the power forward room then the center room but that is the case for most of the players who have come through Evanston.  Good, solid players either playing out of position (usually one up) or matched up against guys that are on entirely different level athletically.  Skill and effort only go so far in athletics no matter how smart you are! 

Junior guard Billy McKinney is the only other player besides Ruklick assured of a starting spot in this unique season of transition for the Wildcats.  A gifted long range shooter, McKinney also is a great passer for the Wildcats but his best asset is his incredible speed.  This kid is not only quick but he is constantly going so much that his nickname is ‘the Crazed Hummingbird.’  Seriously, he is this mighty mite (6’0 160) is non-stop action.  But man does he make it work and he almost assuredly will be the team leader.  He is after all the point guard and the ball is in his hands about 80% of the time.  McKinney may be the only player on this team who could play for another team in the Big Ten.  He was second on the team in scoring and was first in assists by a long shot and in steals by even more. 

  After those two this season will be an open competition for playing time in Evanston.  Or as some might want to call it a ‘shit show!’  The likelihood that these co-coaches don’t see at least 18 or 19 kids on the court throughout the season is about as high as the John Hancock building in downtown Chicago. Senior forward Don Adams might be the best player on the entire team but he not assured of starting.  He is assured of playing but has become accustomed to coming off the bench.  And he is good at it.  So why change it? He has also showed a penchant for hitting open jump shots from the corner and is great on the boards.  Agent 86 er Adams is a solid player who would be a decent bench player on any team but here he got stuck in the playing up one position.  He is not suited for power forward but has had to play there far too often.  His natural and most effective position is the three or small forward which fits perfectly for his 6’6 210 pound frame.  As does his game.  He is by far the best defensive player on the team as he combines, strength with quickness, effort and most of all know-how to lockdown defenders.  Adams was a huge get for the Wildcats as he was recruited out of Georgia and became the first non-Midwestern (almost first non-Illinois) player in the program’s history.  He might be the most respected player on the team but when the game is over his stat lines sometimes do not look overly impressive.  Sort of like his appearance with a receding hairline that makes him look much older than what he is though he is a year older than most of his classmates he seems way more mature than anyone on the court.  Perhaps that is why he comes off the bench and nobody in Evanston really understands how good he is!  They will at the next level!  Or will they?

The key to whether or not Ruklick and Adams are able to play their natural positions is potential freshman Evan Eschmeyer.  Eschmeyer has the size and skill set to be able to hang down low with the big centers of this league.  Problem is he has already sat out one season due to an injury to his foot and some are saying he might sit out another year.  That would be too bad as this team needs someone who is actually a real center playing that position and at 6’11 255 Eschmeyer is the real deal.  Apparently this kid from New Knoxville Ohio has a nice touch around the basket and the fans cannot wait to see him play.  The Wildcats are notorious for being snake bit by injuries (and usually just at the wrong time) so this Eeyor of a fan base imaginatively dubbed the Wildside does not have too high of an expectations.  But just once can somebody give this team a real big man! 

For now the competition for the other post opposite Ruklick comes down to three seniors.  Ray Ragelis, the favorite, Hal Grant and Mike Weaver all bring something to the table but all have the same issue.  They are as undersized as Tyrion Lannister at an NBA tryout.  Ragelis is a 6’4 gamer who can score in the paint but has huge problems guarding people.  Grant is the biggest at a monstrous 6’6 and this lefty has a smooth mid-range jump shot but has been overshadowed since he got here.  He needs a real shot this year.  Weaver is only 6’5 but is a physical beast inside and will knock you out if you mess with him.  None of these guys are the answer and help is coming but Lonborg is loyal and these guys will play. Some! For Now!

Perhaps the best options for the Wildcats might come from the football team.  Seniors Otto graham and Max Morris are a heck of a combo on the football field.  Graham, of course, is the quarterback and Morris his speedy, athletic receiver.  They also have switched over and caught a few games for the hoop squad.  To tell you much in shambles this program this duo has been two of the better players.  Rumors are that Grange has got a shot of going pretty high in the draft next spring so will be choosing the gridiron over the black top and will probably not risk getting hurt this winter.  Too bad as he did bring a winning attitude to the team and they could use all of that they can get.  Morris has said he will play but like Grange has a bright future but this 6’2 stud actually believes he can play both sports at the next level.  For now he is the favorite to start at the three position as Lonborg loves his gusto.  The primary guy he is competing against is Senior Frank Ehmann.  Ehmann has showed some scoring ability and this team can use all of the scoring they can get as they averaged under 65 points a game last year which as you would expect was dead last in the Big 10 even behind the turtlish Wisconsin Badgers.    

Senior Willie Jones is a combo guard who brings an extreme amount of athleticism to the Wildcats.  This 6’3 185 from Chi-town can handle the ball and run the court and can also score some.  He will play somewhere whether it is backing up Mckinney or challenging for the starting role at the two guard is yet to be seen.  The incumbent at the two is senior Jim Burns.  Burns bounced between the two and three last year and showed he can put the ball in the hoop.  Burns is 6’3 195 from Mcleansboro Illinois and can hit long-range jumpers or go inside.  He is not overly athletic and nobody will mistake him for Rick Mount either but he can play and is the best they have offensively on the wings.  At least for now. Two other seniors, Nick Mantis and Jake Fendley are in the mix for some wing minutes as well.  Mantis is a 6’3 190 pounder from East Chicago Indiana (yep the Hoosier state has one too) and is a true warrior.  Mantis can do it all on the court and is way better than he is given credit.  If he does not get a real shot at starting then the Wildcats deserve to be in the basement.  He is that good but for some reason has been stuck behind Burns since he got here.  Fendley is solid as well and also hails from Chicago, the one with Rush Street.  He is a 6’2 185 pounder who has played well when he gets on the court.  One other senior is also in the backcourt mix until some of Carmody’s recruits start playing.  Dale Kelley is only 5’11 175and is trying to transition to point guard.  He is crazy quick and has been a big time scorer in the past but is better suited for the one.  Of course he might not get much time behind McKinney but this small town kid (Galesburg Illinois) has not got on the court as much as he would have liked since he moved up from JV.   Junior Mark Sibley played well in limited minutes at the two last year and is solid on both ends of the court.  The ‘Rockman’ is 6’2 175 from Rockford Illinois was a stud last year on the JV squad and could push for more minutes but like most Wildcats is more cerebral than athletic. 

As you can see most of the returning players competing for jobs are seniors.  The recruiting two years ago was atrocious outside of McKinney (who to be honest was a lucky find as he was not on anybody’s radar) and last year’s class, though better, did not get into many varsity games.  The trio of James ‘Smoke’ Stack, Art Aaron and Andre Goode blended well together and should push for playing time if Carmody doesn’t jump some of his guys ahead in the line.  Stack is a solid inside guy who goes 6’7 220 from Burbank (Illinois not where Johnny hosts) and in reality is a junior.  He, like Eschmeyer, missed his entire freshman year after breaking his arm in practice but was the leading scorer on JV last year and is tough as nails.  Aaron is a 6’7 wing who can flat light it up and is cool as the other side of the pillow (thanks Stuart).  Goode is a 6’10 225 Rock from Rockford who has incredible upside.  None of these guys fit their positions perfectly as is Wildcats norm but has the potential to be the best frontline in Northwestern history if they can keep them together.  There are rumblings that they are going to keep them together one more year on JV to continue to build what they started but that would be ridiculous with their talent and the lack therein in this program. 

Strangely there is one more guy on the roster who also missed an entire year with an injury (I told you this program had some issues with this).  Sophomore to be Brian Schwabe (he like Stack, got a medical redshirt) missed last year with a broken foot when he was hanging at a Grateful Dead concert.  He was with a group of west coast all-stars, Schwabe is from Mercer Island Washington and yes Bill Walton was the leader of the group, when he apparently got fell on by a co-ed who he was holding on his shoulders.  The kid can play but his luck better get better and let’s hope none of his Wildcat Karma rubs off on Bill.  That would be a tragedy to basketball. 

The Northwestern Wildcats were probably the worst big conference team in the country.   They do not have the horses to play with anyone realistically and have lost the best player in their history to graduation.  Long-time coach Dutch Lonborg is also leaving after one more year and the administration is bringing in some new blood at coach who can actually recruit outside of Illinois.  Who knows how that will work out but anything has got to be better than finishing 10th every year in the Big 10!  Unless of course you finish 11th!  Then again, it is kind of cool to turn it up all the way to 11 now and then!