Coming off their first 20-win season in school history, Northwestern and Coach Bill Carmody seem poised for their first trip to the NCAA tournament. That by no means is a guarantee, since the Wildcats will have to fight through what is sure to be a competitive Big Ten.
The theme of the season for many Big Ten schools will be how they go about replacing important contributors to their programs. The player from last year’s team that will be most missed is Jeremy Nash. He was the secondary ball-handler and occupied the top of the 1-3-1 zone defense that Northwestern is sure to play this season.
“He [Nash] brought a lot to the table, he may have averaged only seven or eight points a game, but he was really important to us,” Carmody said. “He played a lot for us, so I don’t know if you can really replace guys like that, but each year is different.”
The ‘Cats do have a few things in their favor: They are a veteran group led by senior guard Michael “Juice” Thompson and the Big Ten is much more open with the departures of several big name players. Nevertheless, Coach Carmody assures Northwestern that the Big Ten still has many formidable opponents.
“The teams at the top last year like Michigan State have almost everyone back, and Illinois is going to be very, very good,” Carmody said.
However, the injury to Purdue’s Robbie Hummel may bode well for the Wildcats. One less weapon for an already potent Purdue team means one less thing to occupy Coach Carmody’s mind come game time.
With several seniors on the way out for Big Ten rivals, some predict that this could be Northwestern’s chance to make the tournament before the window of opportunity closes. This year’s team returns four starters and 11 players from last year’s roster. Additionally, they had some time to gel over the summer, which Coach Carmody thinks will lend itself to a successful 2010-11 season.
“We went over to Italy at the end of August, and this year was the first that incoming freshmen were allow to come on foreign tours,” Carmody said. “We played over there and [JerShon Cobb] got a feel for things, and I really think he is going to help us.”
Cobb is considered by many to be NU’s biggest recruit in recent years. That being said, many hope he is able to contribute in a meaningful way for this Wildcat team. As the team nears the beginning of its season, other issues still remain at large.
Some have wondered whether this could be Carmody’s last season at the helm of Wildcat basketball, but Coach Carmody was not interested in discussing private business. He has turned his focus to improving on the results from last year.
“At this time of year, every NCAA team wants the same thing, they want to hear their name called on Selection Sunday,” Carmody said. “Maybe the expectations are higher because we have a lot of guys back, but we’re expecting to do well and our guys are focused.”
With a couple weeks to go before the beginning of the season, Coach Carmody is still figuring out which pieces will fit where for this team. One thing is certain though; the NIT is not a goal for the Wildcats.
“We want to get in the tournament,” Carmody said. “We’ve never been there and I think if you ask any of our team members that’s what they’d say.”