Eschmeyer bounces back for Wildcats

Coming out of tiny New Knoxville High School in New Knoxville, Ohio, Evan Eschmeyer looked to be on the fast track to success.

As a high school senior, the 6-foot-11 Northwestern center averaged 30.2 points and 14.5 rebounds per game and was ranked as one of the top 50 high school prospects in the country.

Eschmeyer's success brought some of the best college basketball programs in the nation to his doorstep, but he wasn't sure the big-time schools were right for him. Eschmeyer didn't want to waste away on the end of some bench for four years.

In the end, he chose Northwestern -- annually one of the worst teams in the Big Ten.

"I think the thing is, he wanted to play, and the key word is play," said New Knoxville boy's basketball coach Brian Stetler. "He knew at Northwestern he'd get to play, and he felt things might get turned around."

A turnaround for the Wildcats, though, was much easier said than done. The team had logged 25 consecutive losing seasons in Big Ten play prior to Eschmeyer's arrival.

As an incoming freshman, Eschmeyer was optimistic that he could help change the Wildcats' fortunes. But before the season, his fast track took a turn for the worse.

Eschmeyer, with what was originally diagnosed as tendinitis in his right foot, was bumped from the track and into the pits.

A month later, the freshman could hardly walk, and the foot was evaluated again. Eschmeyer didn't have tendinitis, but a stress fracture instead. He spent the next five weeks on crutches, with a cast on his foot.

When the cast was removed, the pain wasn't. It was glaringly obvious the injury was more serious than anticipated. A screw was inserted in his foot, and Eschmeyer was forced to use crutches for another five months.

Without Eschmeyer in the lineup, the Wildcats struggled for the 26th consecutive season against Big Ten opponents. Northwestern finished 10th in the conference with a 5-13 record.

"It was a new challenge," Eschmeyer said of his injury-plagued season. "I had never really been through an injury. In the end it may have actually helped. It gave me a chance to evaluate the college level of play."

Without Eschmeyer, Northwestern's level of play was substantially lower than most of its opponents. Those surrounding the team were optimistic the injured center would crack the lineup the following year.

But Eschmeyer's foot didn't completely heal, and he had to sit out a second season.

"I think he handled it about as well as a young student athlete could have," Stetler said. "He was disappointed but kept focus. The second year he could've really gotten discouraged, but he didn't.

Northwestern didn't turn it around, either. The Wildcats won just once in the Big Ten and finished 11th with a 1-17 record.

Last season Eschmeyer finally emerged from the pits. Team doctors, though, were incredibly cautious and released the reigns very slowly.

"I knew it would be slow," Eschmeyer said. "I was only supposed to practice an hour a day. Once the season began, though, I knew that wasn't enough. I knew I wouldn't be the player I wanted to be if I didn't practice."

With the limited practice time, Eschmeyer struggled. But once he shook off the rust of two inactive seasons, the center finished the campaign with a respectable 11.1 points per game in Big Ten play. He also averaged 7.2 rebounds per conference game.

"Evan came along much faster than we thought he would," Northwestern coach Ricky Byrdsong said. "We've been very encouraged about his progress."

Despite Eschmeyer's progress, the Wildcats again finished last in the Big Ten, this time with a 2-16 record. The streak moved to 28 consecutive losing seasons in conference action.

This season, Eschmeyer, healthy at last, has truly started to shine. Averaging 11 points and seven rebounds per game, the center is the team's biggest offensive threat.

Against Michigan State on Saturday, Eschmeyer had a career game with 26 points in 30 minutes of play. It was not enough. The Spartans won, 75-62, and moved Northwestern to 0-5 in the conference, 5-11 overall.

"Until we win, I'm not satisfied with anything I do," Eschmeyer said. "It is nice, though, to feel in control of my offensive game."

Following this season, the Wildcats' streak of futility will likely stand at 29 consecutive years. Eschmeyer is guaranteed at least one more season at Northwestern and he said he probably will petition the NCAA for a rare sixth year of eligibility to get the job done.

Sixth year or not, all indications are that Eschmeyer is once again on track.

But it remains to be seen whether he will have the time to bring his team along for the ride.