Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, January 24
Evanston, Ill.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
#10 Illinois
Wildcats Host No. 10 Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena
1/23/2024 2:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men's basketball returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena to begin a two-game homestand as it takes on No. 10 Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. CT. Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) will have the call on BTN, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) will have the radio call on ESPN 1000 WMVP and SiriusXM Channel 372.
Last time out, the Wildcats (13-5, 4-3 B1G) fell 75-69 at Nebraska behind a career-high 24 points from Brooks Barnhizer. Despite trailing by as many as 11 late in the second half, the Wildcats knotted things up at 65 apiece with 3:57 remaining but never took the lead in the 75-69 setback. Barnhizer stuffed the stat sheet with seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks, becoming the only Wildcat to post those numbers in a game since at least 1996-97. Northwestern is 9-2 in his career when Barnhizer scores 16 or more points.
Northwestern is 3-0 during conference play inside Welsh-Ryan Arena this season, its best start to home conference games since the 1967-68 team went a perfect 7-0 in Evanston. The Wildcats have claimed home wins against No. 1 Purdue (92-88, OT), Michigan State (88-74) and Maryland (72-69).
The Wildcats are averaging 75.1 points per game in conference games this season, their highest mark through the first seven league games since 1989-90 (77.0).
Northwestern has been one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the ball this year, leading the Big Ten and ranking eighth in the country, averaging just 9.2 turnovers per game. NU's assist/turnover ratio of 1.77 ranks second in the Big Ten and eighth in the country. Northwestern forces an average of 14.0 turnovers per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. NU's turnover margin of +4.8 is second in the B1G and ranks ninth nationally. Last year, the Wildcats held the Big Ten's best turnover margin at +4.3, which ranked ninth nationally.
Ryan Langborg eclipsed the 1,000 career-point mark on Saturday (Jan. 20) at Nebraska. He will play in his 100th career game on Wednesday night, after playing in 81 at Princeton.
Boo Buie has recorded seven consecutive 20+ point games against AP Top 25 B1G teams, the second-longest streak since 2002-03. The preseason all-american ranks inside the Big Ten's top five in points (17.9, 5th) and assists (5.2, 3rd) per game.
Illinois leads the all-time series 146-43. Illinois defeated NU 96-66 earlier in the season in Champaign. Last season at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Chase Audige scored 21 points, and the 'Cats claimed a 73-60 win.
The No. 10 Fighting Illini are 14-4 (5-2 B1G) and have won two in a row. Illinois leads the Big Ten, limiting its opponents to just 39.4% field goal percentage.
Northwestern continues its homestand this weekend against Ohio State on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Last time out, the Wildcats (13-5, 4-3 B1G) fell 75-69 at Nebraska behind a career-high 24 points from Brooks Barnhizer. Despite trailing by as many as 11 late in the second half, the Wildcats knotted things up at 65 apiece with 3:57 remaining but never took the lead in the 75-69 setback. Barnhizer stuffed the stat sheet with seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks, becoming the only Wildcat to post those numbers in a game since at least 1996-97. Northwestern is 9-2 in his career when Barnhizer scores 16 or more points.
Northwestern is 3-0 during conference play inside Welsh-Ryan Arena this season, its best start to home conference games since the 1967-68 team went a perfect 7-0 in Evanston. The Wildcats have claimed home wins against No. 1 Purdue (92-88, OT), Michigan State (88-74) and Maryland (72-69).
The Wildcats are averaging 75.1 points per game in conference games this season, their highest mark through the first seven league games since 1989-90 (77.0).
Northwestern has been one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the ball this year, leading the Big Ten and ranking eighth in the country, averaging just 9.2 turnovers per game. NU's assist/turnover ratio of 1.77 ranks second in the Big Ten and eighth in the country. Northwestern forces an average of 14.0 turnovers per game, which ranks third in the Big Ten. NU's turnover margin of +4.8 is second in the B1G and ranks ninth nationally. Last year, the Wildcats held the Big Ten's best turnover margin at +4.3, which ranked ninth nationally.
Ryan Langborg eclipsed the 1,000 career-point mark on Saturday (Jan. 20) at Nebraska. He will play in his 100th career game on Wednesday night, after playing in 81 at Princeton.
Boo Buie has recorded seven consecutive 20+ point games against AP Top 25 B1G teams, the second-longest streak since 2002-03. The preseason all-american ranks inside the Big Ten's top five in points (17.9, 5th) and assists (5.2, 3rd) per game.
Illinois leads the all-time series 146-43. Illinois defeated NU 96-66 earlier in the season in Champaign. Last season at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Chase Audige scored 21 points, and the 'Cats claimed a 73-60 win.
The No. 10 Fighting Illini are 14-4 (5-2 B1G) and have won two in a row. Illinois leads the Big Ten, limiting its opponents to just 39.4% field goal percentage.
Northwestern continues its homestand this weekend against Ohio State on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on BTN and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
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