The Big Ten lost a number of big names this summer. Caris LeVert and Denzel Valentine were NBA first round picks, A.J. Hammons and Diamond Stone went in the second round and Yogi Ferrell and Jarrod Uthoff were picked up in August, among others.
That leaves a talent void in the conference, with Northwestern looking to break into the top eight. Unfortunately, the team’s roster isn’t quite strong enough to compete with the Big Ten’s elite. With Tre Demps and Alex Olah gone, the Wildcats are bereft of a much-needed scoring punch in both the paint and on the perimeter.