Northwestern enters this weekend’s Big Ten championships ranked 15th in the nation, but they will not be among the favorites.

With swimming powers Michigan, Minnesota and Indiana joining the Wildcats in Bloomington, Ind., most of the NU squad agrees that first place is impossible.

“A basketball team can go into the NCAA tournament and the 20th-ranked team can beat the first-ranked team,” sophomore Kyle Bubolz said. “In swimming, it’s numbers. They have this many people, we have this few people. We aren’t going to have a chance.”

The Cats should contend to win the most events of any team. Bubolz will defend his 100-meter butterfly, junior Matt Grevers his 100 backstroke and the 50 freestyle and junior Mike Alexandrov the 100 breaststroke title. NU also captured three relay titles in 2005 for seven total victories.

“One of the things that we’ve talked about this year with the guys is doing your job and not trying to overreach what you’re trying to do,” Groseth said. “If guys try to go in there trying to win Big Tens, then they’re going to fall on their face.”

– Ben Larrison