Make no mistake, Northwestern's victory last night on the road vs. USC is a feel-good story. The 'Cats, after a seven-game losing stretch in the conference, finally got one.
It was awesome to see Chris Collins celebrate with his team in the locker room again. It was even better to see an emotional Nick Martinelli get pumped up on the floor when the clock struck zero.
It was absolutely a good-vibes win for Northwestern, and the hope is that it will energize this team a little bit and result in future wins -- even if postseason hopes are dashed.
But this win should mean even more than that to fans.
Despite scoring 22 points and having the spotlight on him all night, Martinelli wasn't the only star of the show. Instead, the 'Cats got real production from a whole host of young players they've been hoping would start to feel more comfortable at this level.
Max Green, Tyler Kropp and Jake West -- all starters against the Trojans -- played massive roles in securing the victory, and that's a big step. That's why this is more than just a feel-good win; it's also a developmental win that could signal good things to come in the future, not just the rest of this season.
Green, a sophomore transfer who's struggled often this season, scored nine points and was entrusted by Collins with 31 minutes of game action. West scored 11 and had five assists in 34 minutes, and Kropp came close to a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.
All were impressive showings, but Kropp's was perhaps the most shocking. The 6-foot-9 freshman was dropped into an impossible situation this season, and he's struggled mightily as a result, averaging 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds.
Kropp, with no experience at this level, has been forced to play real minutes out of position at the five this season. With no backup at center to Arrinten Page, he's had to fill that role.
Recently, Page has also struggled -- mostly on the defensive side of the ball and on the boards. Kropp has seen even more playing time as a result, and he appeared to turn a corner last night.
West started the previous couple of games, and he really seems to be getting comfortable out there. He's arguably Northwestern's best defensive point guard, simply because he has size Jayden Reid doesn't possess. And offensively, West is showing off some ability as a slasher to complement his three-point shooting.
Collins is jacking up his minutes as a result, and it's working. Reid is a streaky player, and starting him on the bench gives West a chance to lull the defense a little before unleashing Reid's frenetic style -- for better or worse -- on the game.
So, yes, fans should feel good about this win. The players and coaches should feel amazing about this win. But not solely because it was a win.
The 'Cats didn't scrap their way to a W on the back of a Martinelli 40-piece. They got production from all their horses, and the young talent started to make a true impact. That's a huge deal for the rest of this season and into 2026-27, especially if they keep at it against UCLA on Saturday.