EVANSTON, Ill. — Sullivan-Ubben Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Collins has named Jordan Ash, Vic Law and Dererk Pardon team captains for the 2018-19 season.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/9czpThMvjkM
Ash and Pardon each take on the leadership role for the first time, while Law is serving as a captain for the second consecutive season.
A homegrown product from Bolingbrook, Illinois, Ash enters his senior season having appeared in 80 games during his time at Northwestern. He averaged a career-best 12.7 minutes per game in 2017-18. Ash scored a career-high 11 points and added a pair of steals in a game at No. 17 Oklahoma last season.
“To be a captain after the journey I’ve taken through my first three years means the world to me,” said Ash. “We have an opportunity to surprise a lot of people this season, and to take on the role of a leader on this team is a responsibility I am ready to fill.”
Law enters his second season as a team captain as the team’s most experienced player. The redshirt senior has played in 95 games with 85 of those being starts. He is a mainstay on the floor for Coach Collins, averaging 29.3 minutes per game during his NU career. Law has averaged 12.0-or-more points in each of the last two seasons and is just eight points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career. The South Holland, Illinois, native was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team in 2016-17.
“I am honored to be the captain of such a special group,” said Law. “I will make sure to continue to lead with pride and all of the support of my teammates.”
Pardon was the lone Northwestern player to start in all 32 games last season. After setting the school single-season record with a .619 field goal percentage, Pardon was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media. The Cleveland, Ohio, native led the team with 7.1 rebounds per game and 56 blocked shots.
“Being a captain means that the guys on the team look to you to lead, fight and set the example of what a northwestern player should be,” said Pardon. “I am honored to take on this role and excited to get the season started.”
Northwestern will open the new Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday, Nov. 2, when it hosts McKendree in an exhibition contest. The Wildcats will then begin the 2018-19 campaign on Thursday, Nov. 8, when New Orleans visits Welsh-Ryan Arena.
