With talented recruiting, Nick Martinelli's return and a brand-new roster outlook, Northwestern should be more promising than its last campaign. However, the Wildcats received a harsh reality check recently, dropping four of their last five games and falling into a three-game losing streak.

Northwestern (5-4, 0-1 B1G) opened its home conference slate Saturday with an 86-82 loss to Ohio State (7-1, 1-0 B1G) at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the latest defeat in a spiral that has exposed glaring defensive deficiencies. The Wildcats, who ranked 37th in adjusted defensive efficiency last season per KenPom, have plummeted to 91st this year, a stunning regression that has turned NCAA Tournament aspirations into an urgent need for solutions.

Does this mean Northwestern lacks potential? Not really. The Wildcats have shown they belong in Big Dance conversations. Battling Oklahoma State and Ohio State, Northwestern demonstrated offensive firepower, holding advantages in the first half of both games. But the second-half collapses tell the story: Northwestern can't wear down opponents' attacks or protect leads, watching helplessly as advantages evaporate and defeats pile up.

The defensive metrics on KenPom paint a troubling picture. The Wildcats' defensive turnover rate sits at just 16.5%, 231st nationally, meaning they rarely force mistakes that could generate transition offense. They also rank 308th nationally in opponent offensive rebounding percentage at 35.9%, allowing opponents to extend possessions and generate second-chance points that compound their defensive struggles.

The warning signs appeared before Saturday's loss. In Wednesday's 85-73 defeat to Wisconsin, the Badgers drained 11 three-pointers and built a 20-point first-half lead while Northwestern remained silent. Perhaps Wisconsin simply catching fire from beyond the arc was a fluke, but the defensive lapses that allowed open looks and uncontested possessions shouldn't be ignored.

Moreover, the interior defense has been particularly alarming. Against Ohio State on Saturday, Northwestern was outscored 62-38 in the paint. The Buckeyes exploited the Wildcats' one-on-one defense, which consistently drew Arrinten Page away from the restricted area, then attacked the open space inside through cut-in. Mismatch creations also allowed Ohio State to score downhill at will. Though the Wildcats actually improved on the offensive glass, their 13-9 slight advantage on the offensive board couldn't cover the gaping interior defensive breakdowns.

"If you look at where the defense was at the start of last year and the end of last year, it's completely different," Martinelli said after the Ohio State loss. "We need to be completely locked in on defense."

Head coach Chris Collins, who stressed defensive woes earlier in the season, reiterated on Saturday that the team shouldn’t be “giving up 85, 86 points.”

"We know exactly what we have to figure out. We're really struggling on the defensive end of the floor," Collins said. "We're just having a hard time right now. We need a reset."

Martinelli, who burned himself out with a game-high 32 points against Ohio State but still couldn't get Northwestern out of the mud, spoke emotionally about the defensive accountability. He urged teammates to buy into Collins' defensive schemes and take personal responsibility for the breakdowns.

"I've been on teams that played unbelievable defense; it's not on Coach Collins at all. It's on me and the rest of the guys," Martinelli said. "I just think it's tragic, the amount of talent we have, and it hurts. We have to fix it, listen and do the things we're told."

The talent is undeniable. Martinelli is averaging over 20 points per game. Page has emerged as a legitimate second scoring option. Jayden Reid provides orchestration and scoring punch. Angelo Ciaravino is experiencing his breakout season. The pieces exist for Northwestern to compete in the Big Ten and aspire for the NCAA Tournament.

But talent without defensive discipline has led to the three-game skid. Although Northwestern has faced quality opponents during the stretch, that's not an excuse for continued slumping. Every Big Ten opponent will test Northwestern's defensive resolve, and the Wildcats’ current look suggests more losses ahead unless something gets fixed dramatically.

Time to buckle up, Wildcats. With a dream of returning to the Big Dance and a conference schedule that shows no mercy, it's urgent to clean up the defensive mess. The offense has set the foundation for more wins; it only matters if the squad can make more stops.

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