Good Morning, Illini Nation: Courtside Countdown - Northwestern

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Welcome to "Good Morning, Illini Nation," your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He'll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood's team and college basketball at large:

Northwestern

Last year's finish: 17-16, 7-13 Big Ten (12th)

Notable losses: Brooks Barnhizer; Ty Berry; Jalen Leach; Matthew Nicholson

Returning players: Nick Martinelli, Sr., F; Jordan Clayton, Jr., G; Justin Mullins, Sr., G; K.J. Windham, So., G; Blake Smith, Sr., G; Angelo Ciaravino, So., G; Gus Hurlburt, R-Jr., F

Key additions: Tyler Kropp, Fr., F; Jayden Reid, Jr., G; Max Green, So., G; Phoenix Gill, Fr., G; Arrinten Page, Jr., F

One extended thought: The way Kropp played for Argentina at the U19 World Cup in June almost made me start re-evaluating the Wildcats. (Several Big Ten players caught my eye in Switzerland). But it's tough not to think this year's Northwestern will be too similar to last year's team following Brooks Barnhizer's season-ending foot injury. Martinelli was one of the most productive players in the conference, but he just didn't have enough help. Could that be the case again?

The Wildcats are banking on the leap for Green from Holy Cross to the Big Ten not being too big, that Page -- a former four-star prospect -- is more productive than he was at USC and Cincinnati, that the returning guards fill the Barnhizer-shaped hole better the second time around and that Kropp really is as good as he's shown representing Argentina.