The Northwestern Wildcats have never made an NCAA men’s basketball tournament and barring a miracle, they will be on the outside looking in again this year. Coach Chris Collins is looking to break this “tradition” in the upcoming years and has recruited some talented pieces to achieve that goal.
Editor’s note: this Vic Law feature article authored by new Sports Bank contributor Wes Evans. (@WesEvans24)
The center piece of last year’s recruiting class, Vic Law, was just named the ‘Big Ten Freshman of the Week’ on Feb. 23rd for leading the Cats to wins over Minnesota and Penn State. Law had a stellar week, averaging 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in the two contests in which he came off the bench.
Law is the second NU player to earn this honor in the 2014-15 season, as Bryant McIntosh received the award back in December.
Law is from South Holland, IL and is one of the few Chicagoland natives who decided to play his colligate ball close to home in Evanston. Law was ranked #66 in ESPN’s top 100 high school recruits and was being pursued by VCU, Georgia Tech and Harvard before committing to NU. Law was the first top 100 recruit by Coach Collins and will help shape the future of NU basketball.
Vic Law finally broke out of his slump in Big Ten play against the Nittany Lions, where he was 7 – 12 for 17 points, collecting 11 rebounds and adding 2 steals. Law played 31 minutes in the game due to Scottie Lindsay’s hip injury and flourished on both ends of the court.
“A huge part of our growth is the development of Vic Law and Scottie…. I’d like to see these guys the last dozen games of the year really take another jump,” Coach Collins said after being asked about his freshman forwards.
The 6’ 7” forward is a very athletic wing but he has a tendency to get lackadaisical with the ball in the half-court offense. Law has already demonstrated his open court talent with some terrific dunks this year. The only knock on Law’s game coming out of high school was his inconsistent jump shot, which Coach Collins and company have worked with Vic Law on throughout the season.
It has been a roller coaster ride for the young Wildcat, as Vic Law started 17 out of the first 18 games for NU but has been relegated to the bench for the majority of the 2nd half of the season. Coach Collins will have to start Law soon if he keeps putting up double-digit points. Only time will tell if NU will make their first NCAA tournament under Coach Collins, but if Law and other freshman keep developing, eventually making the dance will be inevitable.
@WesEvans24