Predicting women’s basketball’s floor and ceiling
How will NU's first season under Carla Berube look?
Carla Berube, Northwestern's new women's basketball head coach, brings a strong record of success from her time at Princeton. With a .835 winning percentage and five Ivy League titles, Berube is expected to bring her winning ways to the Wildcats. Northwestern's program has been underwhelming in recent years, with an 8-21 record last season and 17th-place finish in the Big Ten.
The team's ceiling could involve drastic improvement and a potential NCAA Tournament run, centered around star guard Casey Harter. Harter's two-way playmaking and defense could make her a critical player for the team.
The team's potential floor could involve a difficult transition year, with the possibility of Northwestern finishing at the bottom of the conference. Berube will be challenged with integrating transfers, some with limited experience, and expecting quick growth from guards Xamiya Walton and junior guards Kat Righeimer and Claire Keswick.
Rookie guards like Lily Carmody (Boston College) and Lexi Blue (Kentucky) could also be vital pieces. However, the success of these players may be uncertain, with potential struggles in adjusting to a new system and playing time. Northwestern's defensive system may be tested against bigger and more physical teams in the Big Ten.
If Berube's Princeton-style approach doesn't mesh with the conference's physical style of play, the team's success could be limited.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
