Sunday, February 21
Evanston, Ill.
6 p.m.
Northwestern
vs
#21 Wisconsin
Wildcats Welcome Badgers for Sunday Night Showdown
2/20/2021 12:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men's basketball will make history on Sunday as the program plays its program-record 12th game against a ranked opponent this season when the 'Cats welcome No. 21 Wisconsin to Welsh-Ryan Arena.
This also marks the Wildcats' third-straight matchup against a ranked opponent. In their last time out on Tuesday night, the Wildcats could not complete a valiant second-half comeback effort at #5 Illinois in a 73-66 setback. Chase Audige led the way for the Wildcats with a game-high 22 points, his third 20+ point outing of the season which also leads the team. The Wildcats outscored the fifth-ranked Illini 40-35 in the second half, including an 11-0 run late in the game to cut the deficit to as little as one with 4:44 left to play.
In Northwestern's prior meeting this season against the Badgers on Jan. 20, the 'Cats dropped a 68-52 contest at the Kohl Center. Audige led the Wildcats that game with 16 points, while Pete Nance finished just shy of a double-double with eight points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Tip-off is slated for 6 pm CT, with coverage broadcasted live on Big Ten Network and WGN 720 AM.
This also marks the Wildcats' third-straight matchup against a ranked opponent. In their last time out on Tuesday night, the Wildcats could not complete a valiant second-half comeback effort at #5 Illinois in a 73-66 setback. Chase Audige led the way for the Wildcats with a game-high 22 points, his third 20+ point outing of the season which also leads the team. The Wildcats outscored the fifth-ranked Illini 40-35 in the second half, including an 11-0 run late in the game to cut the deficit to as little as one with 4:44 left to play.
In Northwestern's prior meeting this season against the Badgers on Jan. 20, the 'Cats dropped a 68-52 contest at the Kohl Center. Audige led the Wildcats that game with 16 points, while Pete Nance finished just shy of a double-double with eight points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Tip-off is slated for 6 pm CT, with coverage broadcasted live on Big Ten Network and WGN 720 AM.
Storylines:
- Since Chris Collins took over at NU (2013-14), Northwestern and Wisconsin have had six of 13 meetings be decided by 10-or-fewer points. In each of the teams' last six meetings (and nine of the last 10), neither team has scored more than 70 points.
- Northwestern's last win over a ranked Wisconsin team came on Feb. 12, 2017, when the Wildcats took down the 7th-ranked Badgers, 66-59, at the Kohl Center during their historic 2016-17 campaign.
- Northwestern currently ranks first in the nation in strength of schedule. Dating back to the 2001-02 season, Northwestern's schedule this season (+20.69 adjusted efficiency margin) currently ranks as the most difficult schedule in KenPom history.
- Chase Audige has made a compelling case for a spot on the All-Big Ten Defensive Team this season. The redshirt sophomore leads all Big Ten players with 26 steals in conference play this season. Audige leads the team with eight games this season recording multiple steals, tied for the third-most in the conference behind only Rutgers' Jacob Young (11) and Indiana's Armaan Franklin (9).
- Pete Nance is shooting 51.0% (75-147) from the field in conference play which ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Nance is also averaging a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game
this season, which ranks 12th-best in the conference.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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