With the dust settled on the Class of 2025 and the transfer portal, @lou v takes a look at how Northwestern basketball's roster could fit together in the next campaign.
With the roster set, it's time to take a look at the 2025-26 Wildcats
- Thread starter mshelton33
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With the dust settled on the Class of 2025 and the transfer portal, @lou v takes a look at how Northwestern basketball's roster could fit together in the next campaign.
Bringing in eight newcomers is a big shift. It’ll be crucial to get the core guys major minutes together early so roles can take shape. As the season progresses and chemistry builds, you should see noticeable development. This will be amplified by the fact none of these newcomers have played big ten ball. Honestly, the team we see on opening night might look completely different by the time we hit the Big Ten Tournament. Should be a lot of fun watching this team grow together throughout the year. I’m excited.
Green/Reid is going to have to be pretty awesome to start in front of KJ when the non-con dust settles.
Agreed. Reid is a sound ball handler, and his lead guard skills will be needed, but I like KJ more as the primary ball handler. He has better size, and has shown an ability to create off the dribble against B1G players. Reid is smaller, and I wonder how quickly he will adjust to bigger, stronger defenders. Reid has also shown an ability to work off the ball, coming off screens to catch and shoot. He can be a weapon in that role.
Figuring that Green tales on Berry's role as the big 3 pt threat, People keep on thinking Singleton would be immediately taking over the 3 position but he is a Frosh. I can see this as being a very fun team to watch with substitutions in waves giving the opponents no time to catch their breath. Even 4/5 spot interchangable
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Potentially a pressure team that presses a lot and substitutes a lot to have fresh bodies on floor
I suspect that regardless of outcomes, we are in for a season of complaints and criticisms against Collins' substitutions, rotations, failures to give new players enough minutes to develop, and failures to give experienced players enough minutes to maximize their skills. Heck, I'll probably contribute a few times myself in the heat of the moments.
Yeah, but come on.... it's already pissing me off even though it's only May and I have no idea what it will look like yet. I just know I'm mad!!
This is promising. But, is it me or do his arms kind of look like Hulk’s post-snap in Endgame? (one is larger than the other)
NU seems to have increased depth, certainly a luxury but those players will expect minutes. The ease of transfer and possibly NIL money will make it difficult for CC to keep this roster happy
I like the idea of full court pressure because it will allow more players to be involved. Georgetown in the 80's employed this strategy very effectively, often leading to fatigue and frustration of their opponents
Maybe it will work toward The Cat's advantage. If there is one thing I would change about CCC is he doesn't go deep enough into the bench and wears his small rotation group down to a nub. I think int has something to do with somme of the late season injuries The Cats seem to suffer every year. Perhaps he will find minutes for more people to keep them happy.
I agree . Trial by fire-play hard for 3-4 minutes. You have to give these guys minutes , because they will be the heart of the team in 2-3 years
West is going to be very interesting, with his social media following. 35,000 likes just for one post of a few pictures of his arrival at NU. He's bringing some eyeballs we don't normally get. However, it's hard to envision where he ends up getting any sort of meaningful minutes on this team, so is he going to be patient with growing into a future role here?
Projecting playing time based on the minutes, here's one possible scenario over the course of the season (not factoring injuries). Note, there are 5 x 40 minutes = 200 minutes total. Also note, Collins traditionally has played a 7- or 8-man rotation as the season wears on, but sometimes by necessity due to injuries.
Martinelli 35+
Windham 30
Green 25
Page 25
Reid 20
Caravino 20
Mullins 15
Kropp 15
Brennerman 5
Clayton 5
West 0-5
Gill 0-5
Smith ?
Martinelli 35+
Windham 30
Green 25
Page 25
Reid 20
Caravino 20
Mullins 15
Kropp 15
Brennerman 5
Clayton 5
West 0-5
Gill 0-5
Smith ?
Unless we go small a lot, Brennerman plays a lot more and probably Page too. I love this team except for the big guys. We really needed one more big guy. Nationally, small probably works but in the B1G, I think we see multiple games with our Cs fouled out and we have size related struggles that follow.
What about Singleton?!? Sure to get some minutes given his toughness and physicality in the blocks and his offensive versatility…
Doh! I knew I was forgetting someone. Like the most important newcomer to NU hoops in years!
Sorry bro, not intentional, I was killing time at the airport and gave another crack at the minutes. Obviously I shouldn't have had that Bloody Mary before posting.
Here's another crack at it...Martinelli 35+
Singleton 25
Windham 25
Page 25
Green 20
Reid 20
Caravino 15
Mullins 15
Kropp 10
Brennerman 5
Clayton 5
West 0-5
Gill 0-5
Smith ?
This shows what a deep group we have.
I think Kropp will play more, perhaps more than any other frosh, as backup to Page at least. Unknown how much Bennerman will play - will depend on how he develops in practice.
Between Mullins, Ciaravino, Singleton and Green, will be a nice competition for the wing play time opposite Martinelli and the brief spelling of Martinelli.
Wyndham, Reid likely the guards, though one of either West and Gill may surprise and Green could be the non-point guard.
I think Kropp will play more, perhaps more than any other frosh, as backup to Page at least. Unknown how much Bennerman will play - will depend on how he develops in practice.
Between Mullins, Ciaravino, Singleton and Green, will be a nice competition for the wing play time opposite Martinelli and the brief spelling of Martinelli.
Wyndham, Reid likely the guards, though one of either West and Gill may surprise and Green could be the non-point guard.
Dude, did hdhntr hijack your account? Read the whole thread.
I think Mullins could be a decent 3 and D guy off the bench. Not a great ball handler, but he can slash and finish at times. I thought his outside shot was improving as last season went on. Hopefully that continues, and he can be a threat from the outside, along with being one of our top defenders.
I share your excitement on the depth. So many guys who could emerge, and we could be a menace defensively. With Kropp - as with all of the new guys - I would think his playing time will be closely tied to his ability to learn and execute our defensive approach. (Not claiming any particular knowledge on that front.)
I'm trying to manage my expectations on true freshmen making an impact - there's just so much to take in: the physicality of the B1G, bigger (and hostile) fans on the road, executing the schemes on both sides of the ball. The KJ Windhams (who delivered a kenpom MVP against Iowa) are more the exceptions to the rule. Gelo got more run than I expect for most frosh - 16 min or more in 7 B1G games - but his impact was what I expected: flashes of a promising toolset, but mainly inconsistent. And that's good! I will note that, I'll hold a higher freshman year performance standard for Singleton - and that's based the perception that he will be getting more minutes, and he already has decent frosh physicality, and experience of being a top option in a strong HS program (I believe that competed in the same circles as KJ Windham did).
As transfers, I'm expecting more Reid, Page and Green as they've played D1 ball. For perspective - here's Jalen Leach:
(I would've compared Tier A+B to year to year, but Fairfield only had 2 opponents of that caliber in 2024)
Most of his numbers declined in making the jump in to power conference play, but that's to be expected given the tougher competition and trying to fit into a new team that already had stalwarts like Barnhizer and Martinelli. All things considered, Jalen made a great transition from mid-major play - note that his 3FG% and Assist Rate improved!
While Page, Reid and Green will have different stats based on their role/skill sets, I'm expecting that the coaching staff was able to identify that they could also make that kind of transition to be a productive conference player. While Page appeared to be more of a second/third choice (again, that's "appeared" to me as an outsider as I was tracking other names and visitors who came earlier), his DR% and Blk% show he can execute that part of the defensive anchor role that Nicholson executed, with perhaps a bit more offensive upside (4/9 from 3FG, and higher FT% accuracy).
As transfers, I'm expecting more Reid, Page and Green as they've played D1 ball. For perspective - here's Jalen Leach:
| Year | Games | ORtg | %Shots | eFG% | ARate | FT% (actual) | 2FG% (actual) | 3FG% (Actual) |
| 2024 | 31 games | 121.2 | 23.6 | 55.3 | 18.1 | 89.5 (111/124) | 55.9 (133/238) | 36.2 (46/127) |
| 2025 | 12 games v B1G oppo | 119.4 | 22.1 | 54.6 | 27.5 | 83.8 (31/37) | 52.0 (39/75) | 38.9 (21/54) |
| 2025 | 14 games v Tier A+B opponents | 115.7 | 21.8 | 51.8 | 24.6 | 82.9 (34/49) | 47.5 (38/80) | 38.3 (23/60) |
(I would've compared Tier A+B to year to year, but Fairfield only had 2 opponents of that caliber in 2024)
Most of his numbers declined in making the jump in to power conference play, but that's to be expected given the tougher competition and trying to fit into a new team that already had stalwarts like Barnhizer and Martinelli. All things considered, Jalen made a great transition from mid-major play - note that his 3FG% and Assist Rate improved!
While Page, Reid and Green will have different stats based on their role/skill sets, I'm expecting that the coaching staff was able to identify that they could also make that kind of transition to be a productive conference player. While Page appeared to be more of a second/third choice (again, that's "appeared" to me as an outsider as I was tracking other names and visitors who came earlier), his DR% and Blk% show he can execute that part of the defensive anchor role that Nicholson executed, with perhaps a bit more offensive upside (4/9 from 3FG, and higher FT% accuracy).
