Wednesday, January 31
West Lafayette, Ind.
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
#2 Purdue
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Travels to No. 2 Purdue on Wednesday Night
1/30/2024 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern, which is in third place in the Big Ten Conference standings, looks to win its third straight game over Purdue when it travels to Mackey Arena to face the No. 2 Boilermakers for a 5:30 p.m. CT tip on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (analyst), and Andy Katz (sideline) will have the call on BTN, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) will have the call on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 383.
The Wildcats (15-5) are 6-3 through nine Big Ten games for the second straight season and are looking to improve to 7-3 for the first time since 2016-17. A win would give NU its second-best start over 21 games in school history (2016-17, 7-4). Since the 2022-23 season, Northwestern's 6-4 record against ranked teams is the second-best in the country, behind only Purdue (8-1).
Last time out on Saturday evening, the Wildcats routed Ohio State 83-58 with six players in double figures, the most 'Cats with 10-plus points in a game since 2021. The win marked Northwestern's second-largest ever over the Buckeyes, behind only a 78-47 win over OSU on February 13, 1997.
Boo Buie picked up his second of the season and fourth career Big Ten Player of the Week award on Monday (Jan. 29), the third most by a Wildcat, trailing only John Shurna (5) and Drew Crawford (5). He averaged 24.0 points (1st in B1G) and 6.0 assists (2nd in B1G) per game in wins over No. 10 Illinois and Ohio State. Buie currently sits in third place in Northwestern's all-time record books with 1,911 career points. Buie enters Wednesday's game nine points away from tying Drew Crawford (1,920) for second place in school history.
The Wildcats are averaging 74.4 points per game this season. If the mark holds for the season, it would be Northwestern's second-highest scoring output in the last 50 seasons (1989-90, 78.2). NU has scored 88 or more points in three-plus Big Ten games in a season for the first time since 1975-76 when it eclipsed the 88-point mark four times.
Northwestern is 8-0 this season when holding its opponents to 65 or fewer points in a game, after going 20-2 when doing so last season. Northwestern is 126-35 in the Chris Collins era when allowing 65 points or fewer.
Purdue leads the all-time series 131-50, but the 'Cats have won two straight in the series, with both wins coming when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 1. Northwestern is looking for its third straight win over Purdue for the first time since 2003-06 when it won five straight over the Boilermakers. The Wildcats are seeking their first win at Mackey Arena since March 4, 2009, a 64-61 win over the Boilermakers behind 27 points from Drew Crawford.
No. 2 Purdue enters Wednesday's contest at 19-2 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play. Reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey is averaging 23.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Northwestern continues its road swing at Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. CT on BTN and WGN Radio 720.
The Wildcats (15-5) are 6-3 through nine Big Ten games for the second straight season and are looking to improve to 7-3 for the first time since 2016-17. A win would give NU its second-best start over 21 games in school history (2016-17, 7-4). Since the 2022-23 season, Northwestern's 6-4 record against ranked teams is the second-best in the country, behind only Purdue (8-1).
Last time out on Saturday evening, the Wildcats routed Ohio State 83-58 with six players in double figures, the most 'Cats with 10-plus points in a game since 2021. The win marked Northwestern's second-largest ever over the Buckeyes, behind only a 78-47 win over OSU on February 13, 1997.
Boo Buie picked up his second of the season and fourth career Big Ten Player of the Week award on Monday (Jan. 29), the third most by a Wildcat, trailing only John Shurna (5) and Drew Crawford (5). He averaged 24.0 points (1st in B1G) and 6.0 assists (2nd in B1G) per game in wins over No. 10 Illinois and Ohio State. Buie currently sits in third place in Northwestern's all-time record books with 1,911 career points. Buie enters Wednesday's game nine points away from tying Drew Crawford (1,920) for second place in school history.
NU ranks second in the Big Ten and 28th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (38.1%, 161-423), its highest in a season since the 2011-12 team shot 38.5% from downtown, which ranks 5th in a single-season in program history. During conference-only games, Northwestern is shooting 42.5% from long range, the best mark in the Big Ten, and the fourth highest mark nationally.
Defensively, NU's 7.7 steals per game rank third in the Big Ten. Brooks Barnhizer (2.0, 4th), Ty Berry (1.5, 10th), and Boo Buie (1.4, 12th) rank among the Big Ten's leaders. Last season, Northwestern ranked second in the Big Ten, forcing 7.9 steals per game, and set the single-season program record by recording 267 total thefts.The Wildcats are averaging 74.4 points per game this season. If the mark holds for the season, it would be Northwestern's second-highest scoring output in the last 50 seasons (1989-90, 78.2). NU has scored 88 or more points in three-plus Big Ten games in a season for the first time since 1975-76 when it eclipsed the 88-point mark four times.
Northwestern is 8-0 this season when holding its opponents to 65 or fewer points in a game, after going 20-2 when doing so last season. Northwestern is 126-35 in the Chris Collins era when allowing 65 points or fewer.
Purdue leads the all-time series 131-50, but the 'Cats have won two straight in the series, with both wins coming when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 1. Northwestern is looking for its third straight win over Purdue for the first time since 2003-06 when it won five straight over the Boilermakers. The Wildcats are seeking their first win at Mackey Arena since March 4, 2009, a 64-61 win over the Boilermakers behind 27 points from Drew Crawford.
No. 2 Purdue enters Wednesday's contest at 19-2 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play. Reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey is averaging 23.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Northwestern continues its road swing at Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. CT on BTN and WGN Radio 720.
Northwestern Men's Basketball Cooking Competition
Sunday, July 20
GRITTY AS IT GETS: Brooks Barnhizer Supercut 🎥
Thursday, June 26
Men's Basketball - Chris Collins on B1G Today
Tuesday, April 08
Men's Basketball - Wisconsin Postgame Press Conference (3/13/25)
Thursday, March 13
