For the first time in four seasons, Northwestern’s starting lineup and roster will likely leave out senior guard Boo Buie.

The first-team All-Big Ten player silenced rumors about what’s to come by tweeting Sunday night his decision to enter the 2023 NBA Draft. He will also maintain his one remaining year of college eligibility.

“I could not be more grateful for everything and everyone Northwestern University has given me,” Buie said in the tweet. “This season and what we have accomplished as a team is something I will forever be extremely proud of.”

I didn’t need anyone to believe in me, I believed in myself💫 @NBA pic.twitter.com/RUo70o8Nc9

— BOO BUIE (@booboo_buie) April 3, 2023

Buie will go down in program history with one of its most decorated resumes –– especially after this past season.

Averaging 17.3 points and 4.5 assists per game, Agent 0’s leading-scorer performance was a major reason behind the Wildcats’ historical run. Buie’s 588 points this season measured the third-most in a single season in school history –– and that’s on top of securing the program’s first first-team All Big Ten honor since John Shurna in 2012. His 31 games scoring double figures tied Shurna’s single-season NU record from 2010-11, and his 154 assists for the season tied for fourth in school history.

Although the numbers are flashy, Buie’s production and impact over the past four seasons can’t be measured solely by figures. The senior guard started more than 80% of his career games. More importantly, his decision to enter the draft may have a domino effect on his teammates.

Following a bittersweet conclusion to the season, the question of the hour was whether starters Buie, redshirt senior guard Chase Audige and senior forward Robbie Beran would use their one remaining year of eligibility to return to Evanston. With the head of the snake possibly gone, Audige and Beran may depart too, since the chances of returning to the Big Dance have lessened.

Former forward Pete Nance, the Cats’ 2021-22 leading scorer, took a similar course of action to Buie, entering his name in the NBA Draft while maintaining his remaining year of eligibility. As a result, the big man took his name out of last year’s draft to enter the transfer portal, eventually committing to North Carolina.

With Julian Roper II’s announcement to enter the transfer portal March 27, NU may lose its second player from coach Chris Collins’ rotation, and even worse, two guards at that.

The coming weeks will be interesting to see what moves could impact next year’s Cats program.

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Related Stories:
— Men’s Basketball: Chris Collins tabbed Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year winner
— Men’s Basketball: Sophomore guard Julian Roper II to enter transfer portal
— Men’s Basketball: Price: What next season entails for Boo Buie, Chase Audige, Robbie Beran and the program