NORTHWESTERN MEN'S BASKETBALL: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	Live Stream	Live Stats
Friday, Nov. 8	Merrimack	7 p.m.	Welsh-Ryan Arena	B TN+	S idearm
Radio: WGN Radio AM-720 Social: Twitter (@NUMensBball) \| Instagram (@numensbball) \| Facebook Notes: Northwestern \| Merrimack Digital Program

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern will begin the 2019-20 season with its home opener against Merrimack on Friday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

The matchup will be the first collegiate game for eight newcomers to the Wildcat roster, the highest number Chris Collins has had in his tenure as Northwestern's head coach.

NU will look to continue their momentum after an exhibition win over Quincy last Thursday. Newcomers Pat Spencer and Boo Buie led the 'Cats with 19 and 18 points, respectively. Anthony Gaines, Ryan Young, Jared Jones, and A.J. Turner all joined the pair in double-figures.

The 'Cats will be looking to win their 12th straight home opener. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins has never lost a season opener during his tenure. Northwestern has never before faced Merrimack, who is in its first year as a Division I school.

STORYLINES:

Locking It Down: Northwestern has hung its hat on the defensive end of the floor during the Chris Collins era. The Wildcats have ranked in the top-40 nationally for scoring defense in five of the last six seasons and have never allowed opponents to average more than 66.5 points per game in a season. During the 2018-19 campaign, NU held major conference opponents below their season scoring average on 20 occasions, including 17 times during Big Ten play. Anthony Gaines ranked 18th in the Big Ten with a defensive box plus/minus of 4.6.

Starting Strong: Northwestern has gotten off to fast starts to their seasons during Chris Collins' tenure. They have won all six home openers under Collins and the last 11 home openers overall. In 2018, the Wildcats began their season with three straight victories and an average margin of victory of 23. The 'Cats will look to continue this trend on Friday and throughout their four-game homestand to begin the season.

Team Captains: Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins has announced that the team voted senior Tino Malnati and junior Anthony Gaines as team captains. This is the first time that Malnati and Gaines have earned the honor. Both will look to lead a group that includes eight newcomers, the most Chris Collins has during his tenure.

QUOTABLES:

"We're just really trying to play our game, be aggressive and be confident in what we're doing. Really defending well and playing our game. Individually, it's just being aggressive and being confident in my shot. And being really good on defense and being locked into whatever they're doing."

- Sophomore Miller Kopp on the focus for Friday's game

"It's a good group, they listen, they have good attitudes, they work and they want to get better. I know as a coach that I have to be patient with that. It's going to be a process and a team that continues to improve as the season goes on, individually and collectively. These guys, as they get their feet wet, will get better and more comfortable and then as a team we can build confidence from that"

- Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins on the newcomers

"Any time you start the first game there's always going to be some healthy jitters involved because the guys put so much into this. So the main thing I want them to do is to throw themselves into the game. We want to continue to build upon what we've been practicing, everyone has a role. I believe that we have a lot of guys who can make a significant impact."

- Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins on his goals for home opener

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Northwestern Set to Host Merrimack in Season Opener

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Boo Buie

Anthony Gaines

Jared Jones

Miller Kopp

Tino Malnati

Pat Spencer

A.J. Turner

Ryan Young

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern Set to Host Merrimack in Season Opener

••••••

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Boo Buie

Anthony Gaines

Jared Jones

Miller Kopp

Tino Malnati

Pat Spencer

A.J. Turner

Ryan Young

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