Great article in The Athletic. Here is the punch line:
The ceiling
Let’s stipulate that we have no idea what the structure of the NCAA Tournament will be. But whatever the equivalent of “hosting the first- and second-round games” is in 2021, that’s where Northwestern should set the low bar. The Wildcats likely were bound for a top-four seed and games in Evanston in the spring, and while the personnel losses are not insignificant, the returning pieces and the incoming talent should allow for a repeat. Getting to the Sweet 16, then, is entirely plausible. After that? The gap between the elite of the elite in women’s college basketball and everyone else may preclude a dream run. But Northwestern has the chops and motivation to finish what it started, and then some.
The floor
As promising as the roster is, the margins are thin. Northwestern feels like a team just one or two poorly timed injuries or absences away from scuffling to find its way, and it might be asking too much of Pulliam and Burton to do all the heavy lifting. Remove some presumed solutions and replace them with more questions and Northwestern will be figuring out roles and rhythm in real time, which is never an easy task. Barring complete and total personnel upheaval, this is still an NCAA Tournament team. Depending on matchups and availabilities, however, an ill-timed off night might make for a short stay.
The ceiling
Let’s stipulate that we have no idea what the structure of the NCAA Tournament will be. But whatever the equivalent of “hosting the first- and second-round games” is in 2021, that’s where Northwestern should set the low bar. The Wildcats likely were bound for a top-four seed and games in Evanston in the spring, and while the personnel losses are not insignificant, the returning pieces and the incoming talent should allow for a repeat. Getting to the Sweet 16, then, is entirely plausible. After that? The gap between the elite of the elite in women’s college basketball and everyone else may preclude a dream run. But Northwestern has the chops and motivation to finish what it started, and then some.
The floor
As promising as the roster is, the margins are thin. Northwestern feels like a team just one or two poorly timed injuries or absences away from scuffling to find its way, and it might be asking too much of Pulliam and Burton to do all the heavy lifting. Remove some presumed solutions and replace them with more questions and Northwestern will be figuring out roles and rhythm in real time, which is never an easy task. Barring complete and total personnel upheaval, this is still an NCAA Tournament team. Depending on matchups and availabilities, however, an ill-timed off night might make for a short stay.
