'Cats Return to Welsh-Ryan to Host Michigan

NORTHWESTERN MEN'S BASKETBALL: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS	TICKETS
Thursday, Feb. 2	Michigan	6 p.m. CT	Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Ill.	ESPN2	Live Stats	Tickets
Radio: WGN Radio 720 \| Twitter: @NUMensbball \| Instagram: @numensbball \| Digital Program

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern continues Big Ten play on Thursday night (Feb. 2) when it hosts Michigan at 6 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and WGN Radio 720. Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Seth Greenberg (analyst) will handle the ESPN2 broadcast, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) will call the game on WGN Radio.

Northwestern's 15-6 record is tied for the second-best record through 21 games in school history, matching the 2015-16 season's 15-6 start. NU's best record through 21 games came in 2016-17 when the Wildcats started 17-4. NU's 6-4 Big Ten record is tied with the 1967-68 team for the program's second-best start to league play in the last 77 years.

Last time out, the Wildcats fell at Iowa 86-70. Northwestern led by as many as nine, with 3:30 remaining in the first half before Iowa closed the gap to tie the game heading into halftime. Boo Buie led the Wildcats with 20 points, three assists, and three steals. Chase Audige added 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while first-year Nick Martinelli chipped in a career-high nine points, all in the first half.

The Wildcat defense has been the team's calling card this season. Northwestern ranks third in the conference and 24th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 62.2 points per game. The Wildcats also rank third in the B1G and 31st nationally in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 40.1% from the field. The 'Cats rank third in the Big Ten in blocks per game (4.52).

Buie's 20-point output in Iowa City marked his seventh game this season with at least 20 points and his 15th game in a row scoring in double-figures. NU is 5-2 this season when Buie puts up 20 or more points. Buie is one of just three players in the Big Ten to lead his team in points per game (15.9) and assists per game (4.3). Buie's 4.3 helpers per game rank fifth in the Big Ten.

The Senior from Albany, N.Y. also leads the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (90%). Buie's free-throw percentage would be tied for first with Jim Stack in single-season program history if the season ended today.

National Defensive Player of the Year Watch List honoree Chase Audige leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally averaging 2.6 steals per game. His 54 steals this season is just one behind Craig Moore, Jitim Young, and Shawn Watts who are all tied for 8th most in a single-season in program history.

Michigan leads the all-time series against Northwestern 118-59, taking the first meeting this season by a score of 85-78 in Ann Arbor. Northwestern is seeking its first win over the Wolverines since defeating UM 61-52 at Allstate Arena in 2018. A win on Thursday would mark the first win over Michigan inside Welsh-Ryan Arena since Northwestern topped the Wolverines 67-65 on March 1, 2017.

The Wolverines sit at 11-10 overall and 5-5 in Big Ten play heading into Thursday. Most recently, Michigan fell 83-61 at Penn State on Sunday. Hunter Dickinson leads the Wolverines, averaging 17.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Jett Howard adds 14.9 points per game as well.

Following the Michigan matchup, Northwestern will head to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. CT on BTN.

'Cats Return to Welsh-Ryan to Host Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Chase Audige

Boo Buie

Nick Martinelli

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics