On Monday, when Northwestern announced a $110-million renovation on Welsh-Ryan Arena to be completed by the fall of 2018, it signaled a commitment to Chris Collins and the basketball program. Our very own Ben Goren wrote that Northwestern's "administration is more invested in basketball now than it has been ever before."
What this renovation also leaves us with is doubt for the 2017-2018 season, ironically the season that many have pegged to be Northwestern's best chance at an NCAA Tournament appearance. With construction beginning after the 2016-17 basketball season, the renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena will not be ready until the start of the 2018 school year.