NU building on success

EVANSTON – Northwestern found its way to the postseason a year ago – the NIT, not the NCAA – with some stirring road wins that were tempered by some gut-wrenching home losses.

Now the question as coach Bill Carmody starts his 10th season is whether the Wildcats can sustain that success by building and even improving on their achievements during a 17-14 season that included eight Big Ten victories.

Northwestern lost to Tulsa in the first round of the NIT – the first time the Wildcats made a postseason appearance under Carmody.

“We had a a decent year last year and we’re all pretty enthused about some of our wins and heartbroken with some of our losses, but I think our guys are pretty confident that they can play with just about anybody,” Carmody said.

Northwestern went on the road last year and got upset wins at Michigan State and Purdue and suffered crushing setbacks at home when it squandered double-digit leads before losing to the Boilermakers and Illinois.

Carmody’s optimism rests on the improved play of senior forward Kevin Coble, who’s averaged double figures every season, a new leadership role for guard Michael Thompson and a step-up from three sophomores – John Shurna, Luka Mirkovic and Kyle Rowley.

The Wildcats’ biggest loss was guard Craig Moore, who held two fairly impressive school records – 320 three-pointers made and 121 games played.

And Moore could keep opponents – and teammates – on edge.

“He thought he was as good as anybody he played against, and that’s important. You don’t have to be cocky, but you have to be convinced that you belong out there. He probably thought that he was better than he was, but that made him good,” Carmody said.

“That leadership that he gave us, and you know he ticked guys on the team off sometimes and he ticked me off sometimes, but he was a competitor and that’s going to have to come through with some of these guys this year.”

Thompson, a 5-foot-10 senior, is going to have to be more vocal. He averaged 9.9 points last season.