Game Day Essentials:
Indiana (14-5, 5-3) vs. Northwestern (11-7, 2-5)
- Tip Time: 7 p.m. Eastern, Wednesday
- Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena (7,039), Evanston, Ill.
- Television: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Robbie Hummel, Andy Katz)
- Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
- Stream: Fox Sports
- Point Spread: Northwestern is a 5.5-point favorite
- KenPom Projected Score: Northwestern 71 Indiana 67
- History: Indiana leads, 120-56.
- Last Meeting: NW 76, IU 72 on Feb. 18, 2024, in Bloomington
- Tickets (via our StubHub affiliate link)
Northwestern’s Chris Collins
Chris Collins is in his 12th season as head coach of Northwestern men’s basketball, and has an overall record of 189-181 with the team.
Collins had a four year playing career with Duke before getting into coaching. He won All-ACC honors his Freshman year, and was placed on the All-ACC second team his senior year. After college, he briefly played professionally in Finland for two years.
Collins joined the Detroit Shock in the WNBA as an assistant under Nancy Lieberman. He then joined the college ranks at Seton Hall for two years before making it back to his alma mater with Duke in 2000. Collins stayed under Mike Krzyzewski until 2013, before being hired at Northwestern.
Collins got hired by Northwestern on March 27th, 2013. Since joining, Collins has led the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Collins’ best season with the Wildcats came in the 2022-23 season, where NU went 22-12 and 12-8 in the Big Ten, securing them a second place finish in the conference. This came off a season where Northwestern went 15-16 and finished tenth. Collins won both the Jim Phelan award and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in the 2022-23 season.
Northwestern’s results and roster:
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/4/2024 | Lehigh | Evanston, Ill. | W 90-46 |
| 11/9/2024 | at Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | L 66-71 |
| 11/12/2024 | UIC | Evanston, Ill. | W 83-74 |
| 11/15/2024 | Eastern Illinois | Evanston, Ill. | W 67-58 OT |
| 11/19/2024 | Montana State | Evanston, Ill. | W 72-69 |
| 11/22/2024 | Pepperdine | Evanston, Ill. | W 68-50 |
| 11/28/2024 | vs. Butler (Arizona Tip-Off) | Tempe, Ariz. | L 69-71 |
| 11/29/2024 | vs. UNLV (Arizona Tip-Off) | Tempe, Ariz. | W 66-61 |
| 12/3/2024 | at Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | L 79-80 |
| 12/6/2024 | No. 19 Illinois | Evanston, Ill. | W 70-66 (OT) |
| 12/15/2024 | vs. Georgia Tech (MKE Tip-Off) | Milwaukee, Wis. | W 71-60 |
| 12/21/2024 | Depaul | Evanston, Ill. | W 84-64 |
| 12/29/2024 | Northeastern | Evanston, Ill. | W 85-60 |
| 1/2/2025 | at Penn State | University Park, Pa. | L 80-84 |
| 1/5/2025 | at No. 20 Purdue | West Lafayette, Ind. | L 61-79 |
| 1/12/2025 | No. 16 Michigan State | Evanston, Ill. | L 68-78 |
| 1/16/2025 | Maryland | Evanston, Ill. | W 76-74 OT |
| 1/19/2025 | at No. 20 Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. | L 76-80 |
Northwestern Game Notes (via Northwestern Athletics)
Junior Nick Martinelli leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally in scoring by averaging 20.0 points per game, while shooting 49.8% from the floor (12th in B1G). Martinelli ranks third in the country in scoring by a forward, trailing Eric Dixon (24.7, Villanova) and Maxime Raynaud (20.8, Stanford). Martinelli is one of three high-major players averaging 20+ points per game and 5+ rebounds per game. The Glenview, Ill. native has registered nine games of 10+ points this season, the most in a season by a Northwestern forward since John Shurna posted 18 such games in 2011-12. The last Wildcat to average 20+ points per game was Shurna (20.0) in 2011-12.
Senior Brooks Barnhizer is averaging 18.4 points (6th in B1G), 9.3 rebounds (3rd), 4.1 assists (10th), 2.2 steals (T-2nd) and 1.3 blocks (10th) per game this season. Earlier this season, the Lafayette, Ind. native, posted seven consecutive double-doubles, which is tied for the longest streak in the nation this season and is believed to be the longest by a Wildcat all-time. He leads the country posting five 20+ point, 10+ rebound and 5+ assist games this year.
Martinelli (20.0) and Barnhizer (18.4) are one of two sets of power conference teammates in the country each averaging 18+ points per game. Martinelli has scored 20+ points in three consecutive games, while Barnhizer has accomplished that feat in two consecutive contests. Both Martinelli and Barnhizer are averaging 18+ points and 5+ rebounds per game, something only eight other high-major players are doing.
Graduate student Jalen Leach is third on the team in scoring averaging, 13.7 points per game. He has scored in double figures in seven of his last nine games, including a career-high 19 points in Big Ten play against Michigan.
Last time out, the Wildcats (11-7, 2-5 Big Ten) fell in overtime to No. 20 Michigan, 80-76. It was the Wildcats’ ninth overtime game over the past three seasons, which is tied with Bucknell for the most in the nation. Northwestern is 6-3 in such contests.
The Wildcats held the Wolverines, who entered the tilt leading the nation in field goal percentage, to a season-low 36.1% (22-of-61) mark from the field. Northwestern forced Michigan to shoot 7-of-27 from beyond the arc, snapping the Wolverines’ streak of six consecutive games with 10+ threes.
Barnhizer posted 21 points and eight rebounds while knocking down 10-of-13 free throw attempts. He became the second Wildcat this season to convert 10+ free throws in a game, joining Leach who had 15 against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 15, 2024. It was Barnhizer’s 10th 20-point game of the season.
Martinelli also recorded his 10th 20+ point game of the season. He logged 20 points and six rebounds, converting 9-of-12 free throws, while playing all 45 minutes. Martinelli has scored 20+ points in three of Northwestern’s four games against ranked opponents this season.
Leach had 19 points and five assists on 8-of-12 shooting in his 27 minutes of action. He was ejected on a flagrant II foul call with a shade under nine and a half minutes remaining. He became the first Wildcat to have 15+ points and 5+ assists while shooting at least a 65% from the field in a game since Boo Buie against Iowa on March 2, 2024. He tallied five of Northwestern’s seven assists.
Graduate student Ty Berry notched 12 points, seven rebounds and five steals in his second game off the bench this season. He became the first Wildcat to post those numbers in a conference game since Drew Crawford on March 3, 2012, against Iowa (18 points, 5 steals, 7 boards).
Graduate student Matthew Nicholson tied his career-high of 16 rebounds in the contest. Nicholson had the fifth 16+ rebound game by a Northwestern player over the past two decades. He was also the most recent player to do so on Feb. 18, 2024, when he pulled down 16 rebounds at Indiana. His 16 rebounds are the most by a Wildcat against a ranked opponent since at least 2004-05.
As a team, the Wildcats are averaging 10.2 turnovers lost per game, which is the fewest in the Big Ten, and ranks 32nd fewest nationally.
Northwestern’s defense is allowing an average of 68.1 points per game, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. According to KenPom, Northwestern’s defense places 24th nationally in adjusted efficiency and 45th in turnover percentage.
Northwestern is looking to win its fifth consecutive game against Indiana, which would be the longest win streak by the Wildcats in series history since claiming five straight from 1913-15. Northwestern won last season’s meeting on Feb. 18, 2024, inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, 76-72. Ryan Langborg scored 26 points, while Nick Martinelli (13 points, 13 rebounds) and Matthew Nicholson (14 points, 16 rebounds) posted double-doubles.
Northwestern’s KenPom notable numbers:
(out of 364 teams)
Tempo – No. 297 (Offense No. 241 / Defense No. 304)
Offensive Efficiency – No. 94
- Northwestern has a 49.3% effective field goal percentage on the season (No. 233). They shoot 31.5% on 3-pointers (No. 271) and 50.3% on 2s (No. 198).
- The Wildcats take care of the ball very well, with a 14.9% turnover percentage (No. 29).
- Most of their point distribution comes from 2s at 54.8% of their total points (No. 42).
- They have one of the lowest 3-point attempt rates (3FGA/FGA) in the country at 32.5% (No. 323).
Defensive Efficiency – No. 24
- Northwestern has held opponents to a 49% effective field goal percentage (No. 105). Teams are shooting 32.4% on 3s (No. 130) and 49.2% from 2s (No. 124).
- The Wildcats force a good amount of turnovers at a 20.7% rate (No. 44).
- Opponents go to the free throw line a lot vs. Northwestern, with free throw attempts making up 35.6% of field goal attempts (No. 233).
- They limit second-chance opportunities. Opponents are getting offensive rebounds at a 27.8% rate (No. 87).
- Teams have one of the highest assisting rates against NU, at a 62.6 percent rate (No. 353).
OG’s Pick
Win/Loss Record: 14-3
Hey, not too bad on the results side of things.
For Northwestern, I expect a battle similar to the one IU had against Ohio State. I’m guessing a back-and-forth game that may be decided in the final minutes. The caveat to that is the health of Malik Reneau and Bryson Tucker. Woodson said in a presser that both have participated in some practice activities and have a chance to see the floor tonight.
The Wildcats do have some pretty high-volume scorers with Martinelli and Barnhizer. Both are interesting matchups that Indiana has to prepare for, especially if Leal is expected to keep his place in the starting lineup. If I had to guess, it’ll probably be Leal on Martinelli and Goode on Barnhizer, or vice-versa. As a whole, Northwestern has had some swing results in similar matchups that the Hoosiers have had, so it’s going to be tough to call a winner here.
Indiana got a huge momentum boost against the Buckeyes in their last one, but I don’t know if it continues tonight.
PICK: Northwestern 75 – Indiana 71
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