Kevin Coble No More: Northwestern's Star Player Decides to Leave Team

Northwestern Fans are and will be left wondering "What Happened?" and "Why?," as the news that star basketball Kevin Coble won't return for his fourth and final season at Northwestern.

NU coach Bill Carmody told the Chicago Tribune Wednesday night that Coble had informed him about his decision to finish up his degree in December, but would not be returning to the team this fall.

Coble had missed last season due to surgery on his left foot, but had led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding in his first three seasons.

Northwestern, who made a surprise run to the NIT last season even without Coble, has six of its top seven players from last season back, and the return of Coble made many feel that they had enough to make their first NCAA tournament in school history.

While the 'Cats should still be competitive as they were last year, Coble's decision still hurts and will leave a lot of raised eyebrows.

But why would he leave a team that he is the unquestioned leader of and is on the verge of making team history?

Coble hadn't been cleared by doctors yet, but stated that he was still on rehab schedule, which makes me think that perhaps there was more to the injury than he is letting on. He's smart, he does go to Northwestern, so he knows that there is probably not much of an NBA career awaiting him, and if he ends up permanently hurting his foot, it affects him for the rest of his life.

Maybe it's not all worth it in his mind? Maybe it's something else? Maybe he'll change his mind and come back?

Whatever the reason is Northwestern fans will still be wondering what could have been?