Known for his explosive performances, Windham was one of the most improved players from the Wildcats this season
After examining Angelo Ciaravino, we’ll pivot towards another freshman: K.J. Windham. It was a slow start for the Indiana native, but his play throughout the season warrants optimism going forward.
The Good
Windham’s best performances came in waves, and his season was largely defined by his streakiness. But when Windham was on point, he was arguably the best Wildcat on the court.
Windham began the season in the starting lineup and posted double figures in his debut game against Lehigh. Once Big Ten play began, his role fluctuated game-by-game. Some days, he would play 20 minutes. Other days, he would only play five minutes. Northwestern head coach Chris Collins was willing to give the freshman opportunities off the bench, but he didn’t let the leash get too long.
Regardless of his playing time, Windham made his presence known. While his role as a distributor was consistent across games, his scoring came intermittently. He posted a career-high 20 points and went 4-of-7 from three in a loss to Oregon, and followed that up the next week with 15 points against Ohio State and another 20-point game against Iowa. In both performances, he shot over 50% from three. Naturally, as Windham’s performances improved, so did his minutes. He played over 20 minutes in eight of the nine final games for Northwestern, and was often seen in the closing lineup with a crucial role during crunchtime. He became the top player off the bench and continued to make a tangible impact each game.
For Windham, this season was about earning the trust of Collins and establishing reps as both a scorer and facilitator. It was also about improving his skills and adjusting to college-level play. He accomplished all of those things this season, making it a net success for the freshman.
The Bad
Expectations for Windham will be higher next season as he takes on a bigger role. The key to taking the next step: becoming more consistent. Even during his hot streak that included two 20-point performances, his big days were preceded by games with minimal scoring. Windham’s dominant performance against Oregon came on the heels of three straight games without a basket — his longest streak of the season. Sandwiched between his 20-point and 15-point outing was another game with zero points.
Examples like these illustrate Windham’s tendency to be overly streaky and not dependable enough for quality production every game. This is common among freshman but also a major weakness that must be addressed. His performances became more consistent throughout the year, but to be a starting-caliber player, he’ll have to make consistency the norm.
The Bottom Line
It remains to be seen how Collins uses Windham next year. Regardless, he’ll have more opportunities to showcase his skills and be a focal player for the ‘Cats going forward. With players like Jalen Leach and Ty Berry graduating, the torch has been passed to Windham. He’ll be tasked with emulating their three-point shooting prowess and offensive leadership.
Explosive performances defined Windham’s freshman season. Those should be enough to earn him a larger role next season. But worries may persist over his inconsistency, something the ‘Cats cannot afford to grapple with next season.
Windham’s stock is still very much on the rise and his ceiling remains high. If he can maintain a certain level of production each game — and continue to find explosive performances — there’s no telling the levels he is capable of reaching next season.