Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Readies for Neutral Site Contest in Milwaukee against Georgia Tech
12/14/2024 10:40:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men's basketball travels north on I-94 to Milwaukee to take on Georgia Tech for the first time since 2018 as part of the MKE Tip-Off at Fiserv Forum. The game will tip on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. CT and air on Big Ten Network with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) on the call, and ESPN 1000 WMVP with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) describing the action.
Last time out, the Wildcats (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated No. 19 Illinois 70-66 in overtime in the Big Ten home opener on Dec. 6. Northwestern trailed by as many as 10 points before rallying back to record its league-leading seventh win over a ranked Big Ten opponent over the last three seasons. Junior Nick Martinelli scored 27 points, his career-high in conference play, with 23 coming in the second half and overtime. He became the first Wildcat to score 25+ points, grab 5+ rebounds, and block 2+ shots since John Shurna on Feb. 12, 2012. The game marked his fourth 25-point performance of the season. Senior Brooks Barnhizer played all 45 minutes, logging 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He became the first Northwestern player since at least 2005-06 to record three consecutive double-doubles. Graduate student Jalen Leach scored 16 points, including his 1,000th career point on a free throw in overtime.
The Wildcats held the Fighting Illini to 66 points, tied for their fewest scored in a game all season. Illinois also only scored 27 first-half points, their lowest output of the season. Northwestern has registered consecutive wins over the Fighting Illini for the first time since wins in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, and the Wildcats has now won three straight home games against Illinois for the first time since 1966-68.
Northwestern has won its last five home games against AP Top 20 opponents, which ranks tied for fourth nationally: Iowa State (9), Kansas (8), Gonzaga (6) and UConn (5). The 'Cats have won seven of their last nine games overall when facing an opponent ranking inside the top 20.
Martinelli's 20.8 points per game ranks third in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. He could become the first Northwestern player to average 20+ points per game since John Shurna did so in the 2011-12 season. Martinelli is the only high-major player in the nation averaging 20+ points and 6+ rebounds per game while shooting at least 53% from the field.
Martinelli and Barnhizer are the only pair of teammates averaging 19+ points per game in the country. Both are averaging 19+ points and 6+ rebounds per game, something that only three other high-major players are doing. Martinelli, Barnhizer and Leach are the third trio of Northwestern players to average 14+ points per game in a single season, and the first to do so since the 1973-74 season. Only 13 Division I teams have three players averaging 14+ points per game this season.
Over the last three seasons, Northwestern has won 51 total games, which ranks third among Big Ten schools, trailing Purdue (71) and Illinois (56). NU has won 25 Big Ten Conference games over the last three seasons, trailing only Purdue (33) and Illinois (26). Northwestern and Michigan State are the only two Big Ten teams to win at least one game in each of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 NCAA Tournaments.
The Wildcats lead the all-time series against the Yellow Jackets (4-5, 0-1 ACC), 3-2, with each of the prior meetings occurring in the now defunct ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The teams last faced off on Nov. 28, 2018, with Northwestern winning 67-61 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Ryan Taylor led the 'Cats to victory with 20 points, while Vic Law added 14 points and nine rebounds and Dererk Pardon contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sunday's meeting marks the first in series history on a neutral floor.
The Yellow Jackets enter the contest on a two-game road losing skid with a loss against 76-61 setback to Oklahoma in Normal as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge, and 68-65 loss at North Carolina in the ACC opener. Georgia Tech has four double-digit scorers in Lance Terry (15.4), Baye Ndongo (13.4), Javian McCollum (12.8) and Naithan George (11.1).
Northwestern returns to Evanston to host crosstown rival DePaul on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. CT. The matchup will air on Big Ten Network and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Last time out, the Wildcats (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated No. 19 Illinois 70-66 in overtime in the Big Ten home opener on Dec. 6. Northwestern trailed by as many as 10 points before rallying back to record its league-leading seventh win over a ranked Big Ten opponent over the last three seasons. Junior Nick Martinelli scored 27 points, his career-high in conference play, with 23 coming in the second half and overtime. He became the first Wildcat to score 25+ points, grab 5+ rebounds, and block 2+ shots since John Shurna on Feb. 12, 2012. The game marked his fourth 25-point performance of the season. Senior Brooks Barnhizer played all 45 minutes, logging 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He became the first Northwestern player since at least 2005-06 to record three consecutive double-doubles. Graduate student Jalen Leach scored 16 points, including his 1,000th career point on a free throw in overtime.
The Wildcats held the Fighting Illini to 66 points, tied for their fewest scored in a game all season. Illinois also only scored 27 first-half points, their lowest output of the season. Northwestern has registered consecutive wins over the Fighting Illini for the first time since wins in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, and the Wildcats has now won three straight home games against Illinois for the first time since 1966-68.
Northwestern has won its last five home games against AP Top 20 opponents, which ranks tied for fourth nationally: Iowa State (9), Kansas (8), Gonzaga (6) and UConn (5). The 'Cats have won seven of their last nine games overall when facing an opponent ranking inside the top 20.
Martinelli's 20.8 points per game ranks third in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. He could become the first Northwestern player to average 20+ points per game since John Shurna did so in the 2011-12 season. Martinelli is the only high-major player in the nation averaging 20+ points and 6+ rebounds per game while shooting at least 53% from the field.
Martinelli and Barnhizer are the only pair of teammates averaging 19+ points per game in the country. Both are averaging 19+ points and 6+ rebounds per game, something that only three other high-major players are doing. Martinelli, Barnhizer and Leach are the third trio of Northwestern players to average 14+ points per game in a single season, and the first to do so since the 1973-74 season. Only 13 Division I teams have three players averaging 14+ points per game this season.
Over the last three seasons, Northwestern has won 51 total games, which ranks third among Big Ten schools, trailing Purdue (71) and Illinois (56). NU has won 25 Big Ten Conference games over the last three seasons, trailing only Purdue (33) and Illinois (26). Northwestern and Michigan State are the only two Big Ten teams to win at least one game in each of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 NCAA Tournaments.
The Wildcats lead the all-time series against the Yellow Jackets (4-5, 0-1 ACC), 3-2, with each of the prior meetings occurring in the now defunct ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The teams last faced off on Nov. 28, 2018, with Northwestern winning 67-61 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Ryan Taylor led the 'Cats to victory with 20 points, while Vic Law added 14 points and nine rebounds and Dererk Pardon contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sunday's meeting marks the first in series history on a neutral floor.
The Yellow Jackets enter the contest on a two-game road losing skid with a loss against 76-61 setback to Oklahoma in Normal as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge, and 68-65 loss at North Carolina in the ACC opener. Georgia Tech has four double-digit scorers in Lance Terry (15.4), Baye Ndongo (13.4), Javian McCollum (12.8) and Naithan George (11.1).
Northwestern returns to Evanston to host crosstown rival DePaul on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. CT. The matchup will air on Big Ten Network and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
Players Mentioned
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