Flashbulb memories.

It’s the word for when a significant event happens in which everyone remembers exactly what they were doing the moment they found out. I’ve had a few of those moments in my 19-year career of sports fandom: the New York Giants’ 2011 Super Bowl win, Kris Jenkins’ shot to win Villanova the National Championship, and Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing come to mind as just a few.

I think yesterday I had it twice.

The second came at 11:21 p.m. as I sat on my bed, mindlessly scrolling on Twitter when I came across the Shams Charania tweet detailing the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade. I realized then that February 1st, 2025 would become one of those days I wouldn’t forget.

The first one came eight hours earlier. Sitting in the second row of the media room listening to Chris Collins begin to get emotional as a fellow reporter inquired about Brooks Barnhizer’s status for the next few games, I had a bad feeling in my stomach. Something felt very off with the way Collins began his response. Going all the way back to August to explain Brooks’ preliminary injury, his voice began to tremble. It didn’t take long for him to break the news that, by that point, everyone in the room could feel coming: No. 13 wouldn’t be suiting up in a Northwestern uniform again.

Despite the foot injury nagging at the senior for the majority of January, he had “begged” Coach Collins for the chance to play against Maryland.

Collins noted that he wanted to make sure Barnhizer had the chance to put everything he possibly had left into the program he had flourished in over the past four years: “When the time is right, I want you to know you’ve left everything out there.”

Against No. 17 Wisconsin, Northwestern looked like it had taken those same words to heart. The ‘Cats came out firing on all cylinders early, jumping out to an early 8-0 lead and energizing a crowd that was still upset with the ugly loss to Rutgers at home earlier in the week.

The defense was on-point for NU for much of the first half, as it held Wisconsin to just 25 points on 29% shooting and forced nine turnovers. Jalen Leach noted that in light of Barnhizer’s injury, which had been announced to the team the day prior, everyone had something more to play for.

“We just wanted to play for Brooks, to be honest,” Leach said. “We just kind of bonded together from that.”

But as the game rolled on and Wisconsin’s offense heated up, the absence of one of the best-ranked defensive players in the nation was felt immensely. Leading scorer John Tonje’s breakout was inevitable, but the 27 points he dropped — including his 16-straight to bring the Badgers back in the game — were too much for Northwestern to come back from.

In a day filled with sadness, one of the silver linings for Northwestern was the way the rest of the team stepped up. Leach’s 23 points marked his fifth-straight game in double figures, and freshmen Angelo Ciaravino and K.J. Windham both saw serious minutes as they have begun to flourish into reliable rotational players.

Even with Barnhizer out for the year, the team seemed confident after their performance Saturday afternoon. “If we play like that, we’ll win a lot of the games for the rest of this year,” Matt Nicholson said.

The toughest moments are when a team finds out what they’re really made of. Today, the Wildcats found theirs: a culture defined by love, passion and, most importantly, perseverance. It’s the same one that Coach Collins built the foundation for when he arrived in 2013 to a Northwestern program yet to make March Madness. And it’s the same one that exists 12 years later, after the ‘Cats made their third-ever tournament appearance.

At the core of Chris Collins’ success is the love he shows for his team and players, one that goes beyond just basketball. Barnhizer’s decision to end his season, Collins said, was one that he looked at “as if he was my own son.”

“There’s gonna be no quit in this team,” Collins said as he wiped tears from his face. “You guys know that.”