Season Record: 7-3 (5-2 B1G)
Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (84-65, 12th year at Northwestern)
2017 S&P+ Overall Ranking: 62nd
2016 S&P+ Overall Ranking: 49th
I’m not sure anyone expected the Northwestern Wildcats to be all alone in second place in the Big Ten West at this point in the season, but here we are. The Wildcats were able to bounce back from a 2-3 start, which included a blowout loss to Duke that looks more bizarre now that the Blue Devils have lost six straight, by winning five consecutive conference games.