EVANSTON -- Armon Gates is frank on this Friday afternoon, with Northwestern riding a two-game win streak. The assistant coach smiles and bounces around Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats are in a good spot, with convincing wins at Minnesota and at home against Wisconsin, with a matchup against Penn State looming the next evening.
Gates calls over point guard Bryant McIntosh, his protégé of sorts, and asks him how long they spoke on the phone Thursday night. "Thirty, 40 minutes," the sophomore responds.
"It's communication," Gates says. "It's all about communication."
The most junior member of Northwestern's coaching staff is also the most energetic.