ROUNDTABLE: What we’re thankful for (Northwestern edition)

There’s a lot to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! In the spirit of turkey, football, college basketball and family, our staffers here at Inside NU decided to share what we’re thankful for in Northwestern sports this holiday season.

What are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments down below!

Adam Beck: Kansas Robinson and Kelsey Nader

We might be smack dab in the middle of the upswing of winter sports, but spring cannot come soon enough for Northwestern softball. The terrific duo of now-juniors were the offensive engine for Northwestern last season. Robinson slashed .383/.486/.705 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs, while Nader’s .375 average, eight homers and 32 RBIs sparked the Wildcats’ offense from the two-hole. To be honest, I still can’t get over Indiana intentionally walking Robinson just to face Nader in the bottom of the sixth inning of a 3-3 ballgame back in May. If you don’t know what happened, you’ll be thankful for this.

Needless to say, I’m excited to see what the junior year jump looks like for the pair of 2024 First Team All-Big Ten honorees.

Brendan Preisman: Northwestern women’s basketball’s transfers

This one might be a little tainted by recency bias, but Taylor Williams and Grace Sullivan carried the ‘Cats to a victory over crosstown foe Loyola Chicago on Tuesday night. Through five games, Williams leads the team in points and rebounds per game, and is somehow tied for second on the squad in assists. For her part, Sullivan has started every game in her first year in Evanston and leads the team in blocks and field goal percentage. The tandem of transfers has combined to put up nearly 24 points and 14 rebounds a night, and both have dominated in the Wildcats’ wins.

And I haven’t even mentioned Kyla Jones yet, and she’s averaging almost 12 points and two steals per game. If Northwestern can keep getting production like this from its returners (especially with holdovers Caileigh Walsh and Melannie Daley working their way back from injury), then the Wildcats could be very feisty in the Big Ten.

Yanyan Li: Northwestern field hockey

Covering Northwestern winning a national championship, in any sport, has long been an item on my journalism bucket list. So to be able to witness that on Sunday was an amazing experience, especially after lacrosse’s heartbreak in the spring.

Harris Horowitz: Nick Martinelli and Brooks Barnhizer

This one’s obvious, but I’m beyond grateful for Northwestern’s twin big-guards and the bromance poised to lead the ‘Cats back to the tournament. Martinelli has been such a joy to watch in his third year in Evanston, keeping the ghost of Boo Buie alive and well with a floater bag so ridiculous that it has defied the conventions of the English language (what the heck is a flipper?). Then there’s Barnhizer, who didn’t miss a beat in his first game back after spending much of the summer in a walking boot to carry his ‘Cats to a hard-fought win over a formidable Montana State squad.

A third consecutive tournament appearance will be a tall task, but Northwestern’s mustachioed mafia have the ‘Cats right back on the bubble. Welsh-Ryan will be capital-R Rocking next Thursday to welcome the Fighting Illini, thanks in no small part to the hope instilled by the new Wildcat big two.

Charlie Jacobs: Men’s basketball class of 2025

Per 247Sports, Northwestern has the 17th best recruiting class in the country as of right now. Although this number will likely go down, this is the best recruiting class the ‘Cats have ever had. Tre Singleton coming in as a top-100 player and four star recruit is huge for the program. He’s joined by four more three star recruits who all will look to be impact players from the start. All of the thanks should go to Chris Collins and Boo Buie. Without Buie, Northwestern wouldn’t be where it is now. As for Collins, the legacy he is creating will forever be remembered for Chicago’s Big Ten team.

Gabe Shumway: Fantastic first-year fencers

Northwestern fencing placed third at the NCAA Championships back in 2021, and has been chasing that same high ever since. After a 13th-place finish last season, a group of first-years have the team’s hopes particularly high. Nisha Hild notably won a bronze medal at the November NAC, making the semifinals among 227 other competitors. Natalie Shearer has also been elite for NU, with an undefeated run at the Western Invitational, one of only two ‘Cats to do so. This is all without mentioning Daphne Chan Nok Sze, who opened the season with an 11-0 run and a Division I Women’s Foil title at the Remenyik ROC/RJCC. With Zach Moss’s squad currently ranked fifth in the nation, there’s much to be thankful for in this team’s bright future.

Sai Trivedi: Buse Hazan and Alexa Rousseau

Northwestern volleyball has struggled this season, but the team has showed resilience even against mighty opponents. That resilience is largely attributed to junior outside hitter Buse Hazan, who currently leads the team with 260 kills and 30 service aces this season. She wreaks havoc as an attacker and has dictated the offense on numerous occasions. Graduate student Alexa Rousseau leads the team in assists with a whopping 577 of them even in her enhanced offensive role outside of her setting duties. She has lived up to being the leader of Northwestern’s squad, both on and off the court. Both of these players were crucial to the ‘Cats nearly taking two sets off of No. 21 USC last week. Every match, they give NU a fighting chance.