Where do the ‘Cats land in the expanded Big Ten?
Off the backs of consecutive nine-win seasons, Northwestern’s women’s basketball team looks to improve with a core of Big Ten veterans surrounded by significant additions in the transfer portal. Here’s how our staff thinks Joe McKeown’s squad will do.
Adam Beck
Regular season record: 13-16 (5-13 B1G)
Big Ten finish: 15th
Game you’re most looking forward to: vs. Utah (Nov. 14)
One bold prediction: Kyla Jones finishes top five in the conference in points per game
This team will be better, but the Big Ten just got a whole lot better with the four new West Coast squads. Not having Hailey Weaver is a tough loss too, but the core of Melannie Daley, Caroline Lau and Caileigh Walsh has the experience to compete in this conference. Throw in Brown transfer Kyla Jones, who’ll certainly improve Northwestern’s offense which ranked 12th in the Big Ten in points per game last season. This team has the veteran leadership to play above its projection at the bottom of the conference, but I’m not ready to say everything will magically click for Joe McKeown’s squad.
Brendan Preisman
Regular season record: 14-15 (6-12 B1G)
Big Ten finish: 14th
Game you’re most looking forward to: vs. Nebraska (March 2)
One bold prediction: Northwestern has 3 players in double figures
Even with all the offseason losses — Paige Mott, Hailey Weaver, Maggie Pina — Northwestern retains a lot of production from last season. Aside from that returning core, there are also several splashy additions with players like Kyla Jones and Xamiya Walton bringing scoring pop to Evanston. This is the third year in a row that Caileigh Walsh, Melannie Daley and Caroline Lau will be the backbone of the rotation, and the year-over-year improvement from the Wildcats’ veterans should give this team a boost. Of course, the Big Ten will be an absolute gauntlet, with six teams in the preseason top 25 and three more receiving votes. Northwestern should outperform its spot in the preseason polling, but there’s simply too much talent in the Big Ten for the ‘Cats to climb up multiple levels.
Charlie Jacobs
Regular season record: 14-15 (6-12 B1G)
Big Ten finish: 14th
Game you’re most looking forward to: @ USC (Jan. 15)
One bold prediction: Caroline Lau becomes an All-Big Ten player
This Northwestern squad should be better this season, but the Big Ten will be too. Losing Hailey Weaver is tough, but Caroline Lau, Caileigh Walsh, Melannie Daley and transfer Kyla Jones should be able to compete in this conference. Joe McKeown’s squad has veteran leadership and could keep some games close and pull out a few upset victories. This offense should be better than last year too and it’s only up from here. The ‘Cats will likely finish around .500.
Sai Trivedi
Regular Season Record: 14-15 (7-11 BIG)
Big Ten Finish: 12th
Game you’re most looking forward to: @ UCLA (Jan. 12)
One bold prediction: Caroline Lau will shoot over 40% from three
Following two rough seasons with only six Big Ten wins in 36 games, along with a major boost in competition level, Northwestern will be a team with low expectations and nowhere to go but up. That’s what I think Joe McKeown wants his squad to be, and I’m counting on them being a sleeper team that will certainly improve this year. Caroline Lau will return to lead the ‘Cats as an elite scorer and passer, Melannie Daley will continue to impress with her two-way playing and Caileigh Walsh will be looked to for her shotmaking and leadership. Not to mention, the addition of Kyla Jones will bring some new juice to the offense. There’s a lot of weapons on this team, and I’m confident they’ll be competitive and finish with an improved and respectable record in a monster conference.
Dylan Friedland
Regular Season Record: 15-14 (6-12 BIG)
Big Ten Finish: 13th
Game you’re most looking forward to: vs. Utah (Nov. 14)
One bold prediction: Claire Keswick leads the team in three point percentage
This is a team with lots of new faces. How all that new talent will mix together is still a question to be answered. However, this roster has some serious potential to improve from last season. First-years Xamiya Walton and Tayla Thomas could get a good amount of playing time, while all three transfers bring legitimate experience and versatility to a team that needs it after last season. Caroline Lau is due for a junior year jump, while this team hopes to improve its scoring from last year. If they get better from deep, Northwestern will be a lot better this season.
Natalie Wells
Regular Season Record: 14-15 (6-12 B1G)
Big Ten Finish: 14th
Game you’re most looking forward to: vs. Minnesota (Jan. 19)
One bold prediction: Caileigh Walsh averages at least 15 points per game
The ‘Cats have seen plenty of turnover this summer, and that makes it difficult to use the 2023-24 season as a fair benchmark. That said, Joe McKeown has an intriguing roster of players this year. NU lost one of its premier rebounders in Paige Mott but transfers Taylor Williams and Grace Sullivan should be able to pick up the slack. Melanie Daley and Kyla Jones have the potential to be one of the best-scoring duos in the Big Ten, while Caroline Lau is blossoming into the ultimate floor general. The ‘Cats have plenty of talented players on their own, but the chemistry question lingers. Nonetheless, they should be able to clear double-digit wins and beyond.
Yanyan Li
Regular Season Record: 13-16 (5-13 B1G)
Big Ten Finish: 15th
Game you’re most looking forward to: @ USC (Jan. 15)
One bold prediction: Mel Daley makes second-team All-Big Ten
I’m a little bit more down on the ‘Cats than most other people here — while they have gotten better roster-wise since last year, so has the rest of the Big Ten, especially with the addition of four new teams. I just don’t trust the “we can only go up” mindset when that was the exact mindset that led to just four conference wins last year. That being said, it all depends on what the addition of the new freshmen and transfers (especially Kyla Jones) will bring to the team, as well as the development of key pieces like Melanie Daley and Caroline Lau. For all that its’ worth, I could be very wrong.