Wednesday, January 29
Evanston, Ill.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Rutgers
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Set to Host Rutgers on Wednesday Night
1/28/2025 5:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men's basketball begins its first three-game Big Ten homestand since 2023 with a matchup against Rutgers on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The contest will air on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 372 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
The Wildcats' (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) offense features two of the Big Ten's top ten scorers in junior Nick Martinelli (19.8 points per game, T-1st) and senior Brooks Barnhizer (17.6, 8th). The two are one of two sets of power conference teammates in the country each averaging 17+ points per game.
Martinelli ranks 18th nationally in scoring, while shooting 49.5% from the floor (13th in B1G). He ranks fourth in the country in scoring by high-major forwards, trailing Eric Dixon (24.6, Villanova), Maxime Raynaud (20.5, Stanford), and Cooper Flagg (19.9, Duke). He is shooting a team-best 41.4% from three this season, which ranks third in the Big Ten among forwards trailing Zach Hicks (Penn State, 42.1%) and Luke Goode (Indiana, 41.5%). Martinelli is one of seven high-major players in the country this season averaging 19+ points and 5+ rebounds (5.4) per game. The Glenview, Ill. native has registered ten games of 20+ points this season, the most in a season by a Northwestern forward since John Shurna posted 18 such games in 2011-12.
Barnhizer is stuffing the stat sheet with 17.6 points (8th in B1G), 8.8 rebounds (4th), 4.1 assists (T-11th), 2.4 steals (T-1st) and 1.1 blocks (T-11th) per game this season. He has posted a double-double in eight of his last twelve games and is tied for the most double-doubles in the Big Ten this season with nine. The Lafayette, Ind. native is one double-double from equaling his total of 10 double-doubles last season. He leads the country posting five 20+ point, 10+ rebound and 5+ assist games this year. Only four other players have posted single-season numbers of at least 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block per game since 1947-48: Matt Rafferty (Furman, 2018-19), Penny Hardaway (Memphis State, 1992-93), Ron Harper (Miami (OH), 1985-86), and Larry Bird (Indiana State, 1976-77).
Graduate student Jalen Leach is third on the team averaging 13.9 points per game. He has scored 15+ points in four of his last five games for the first time as a Wildcat. He has recorded at least four assists in a career-best five consecutive games. In Big Ten play, Leach is dishing out a team-best four assists per game.
Dating back to last season, Northwestern has gone 25-3 over its last 28 home games, its best 28-game home stretch in program history. Northwestern has started its home slate 11-1 over 12 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
As a team, the Wildcats are averaging 10.1 turnovers lost per game, which is the fewest in the Big Ten, and ranks 22nd fewest nationally. Northwestern only turned the ball over six times in its last game, its fewest since Dec. 6 when the Wildcats hosted Illinois and turned the ball over just four times.
Northwestern's defense is allowing an average of 68.9 points per game, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. According to KenPom, Northwestern's defense ranks 30th nationally in adjusted efficiency and 41st in turnover percentage.
The Wildcats rank third in the Big Ten averaging 8.2 steals per game. Alongside Barnhizer's 2.4 steals per game, graduate student Ty Berry's 1.6 steals per game ranks 10th in the Big Ten.
Last time out, Northwestern scored 53 second half points, including 21 points over a four-minute stretch, but fell to No. 17 Illinois, 83-74, in Champaign on Sunday (Jan. 26).
The Wildcats connected on 10-of-25 (44.6%) of their 3-point attempts, converting 10+ threes in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Leach and Martinelli led Northwestern in scoring with 17 points apiece.
Martinelli tied his career-high with three treys and has scored 17+ points in a career-best five consecutive games. Graduate student Ty Berry tallied 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Berry has scored 10+ points in a season-best four consecutive games. He recorded his 10th game of the season and 50th game of his career with 10+ points.
The Wildcats held the Fighting Illini to 29-of-65 shooting (44.6%) from the field. Northwestern has held its opponent to under 45% shooting from the field in four consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Feb. 25-March 9, 2022.
Northwestern scored 53 second half points after scoring 54 in the second half the previous game against Indiana. The Wildcats previously had not scored 52+ second half points in a Big Ten game since at least 2000.
Northwestern leads the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten) 12-8, with the teams splitting the last four games. The last time the Wildcats took on Rutgers was a tight 63-60 loss on the road on Feb. 15, 2024. Boo Buie surpassed the 2,000-point mark by scoring 27 points with six threes. Barnhizer had a double-double posting 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Rutgers enters Welsh-Ryan Arena on a two-game losing skid, having lost at Penn State and at Madison Square Garden to Big Ten leader Michigan State. Ace Bailey (19.8 points per game) and Dylan Harper (18.6) are the lone other power conference duo averaging 17+ points per game. Both rank in the top five in scoring in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats host their second consecutive contest inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. CT against No. 17 Wisconsin. The game will air on FS1 and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
The Wildcats' (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) offense features two of the Big Ten's top ten scorers in junior Nick Martinelli (19.8 points per game, T-1st) and senior Brooks Barnhizer (17.6, 8th). The two are one of two sets of power conference teammates in the country each averaging 17+ points per game.
Martinelli ranks 18th nationally in scoring, while shooting 49.5% from the floor (13th in B1G). He ranks fourth in the country in scoring by high-major forwards, trailing Eric Dixon (24.6, Villanova), Maxime Raynaud (20.5, Stanford), and Cooper Flagg (19.9, Duke). He is shooting a team-best 41.4% from three this season, which ranks third in the Big Ten among forwards trailing Zach Hicks (Penn State, 42.1%) and Luke Goode (Indiana, 41.5%). Martinelli is one of seven high-major players in the country this season averaging 19+ points and 5+ rebounds (5.4) per game. The Glenview, Ill. native has registered ten games of 20+ points this season, the most in a season by a Northwestern forward since John Shurna posted 18 such games in 2011-12.
Barnhizer is stuffing the stat sheet with 17.6 points (8th in B1G), 8.8 rebounds (4th), 4.1 assists (T-11th), 2.4 steals (T-1st) and 1.1 blocks (T-11th) per game this season. He has posted a double-double in eight of his last twelve games and is tied for the most double-doubles in the Big Ten this season with nine. The Lafayette, Ind. native is one double-double from equaling his total of 10 double-doubles last season. He leads the country posting five 20+ point, 10+ rebound and 5+ assist games this year. Only four other players have posted single-season numbers of at least 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block per game since 1947-48: Matt Rafferty (Furman, 2018-19), Penny Hardaway (Memphis State, 1992-93), Ron Harper (Miami (OH), 1985-86), and Larry Bird (Indiana State, 1976-77).
Graduate student Jalen Leach is third on the team averaging 13.9 points per game. He has scored 15+ points in four of his last five games for the first time as a Wildcat. He has recorded at least four assists in a career-best five consecutive games. In Big Ten play, Leach is dishing out a team-best four assists per game.
Dating back to last season, Northwestern has gone 25-3 over its last 28 home games, its best 28-game home stretch in program history. Northwestern has started its home slate 11-1 over 12 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
As a team, the Wildcats are averaging 10.1 turnovers lost per game, which is the fewest in the Big Ten, and ranks 22nd fewest nationally. Northwestern only turned the ball over six times in its last game, its fewest since Dec. 6 when the Wildcats hosted Illinois and turned the ball over just four times.
Northwestern's defense is allowing an average of 68.9 points per game, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. According to KenPom, Northwestern's defense ranks 30th nationally in adjusted efficiency and 41st in turnover percentage.
The Wildcats rank third in the Big Ten averaging 8.2 steals per game. Alongside Barnhizer's 2.4 steals per game, graduate student Ty Berry's 1.6 steals per game ranks 10th in the Big Ten.
Last time out, Northwestern scored 53 second half points, including 21 points over a four-minute stretch, but fell to No. 17 Illinois, 83-74, in Champaign on Sunday (Jan. 26).
The Wildcats connected on 10-of-25 (44.6%) of their 3-point attempts, converting 10+ threes in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Leach and Martinelli led Northwestern in scoring with 17 points apiece.
Martinelli tied his career-high with three treys and has scored 17+ points in a career-best five consecutive games. Graduate student Ty Berry tallied 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Berry has scored 10+ points in a season-best four consecutive games. He recorded his 10th game of the season and 50th game of his career with 10+ points.
The Wildcats held the Fighting Illini to 29-of-65 shooting (44.6%) from the field. Northwestern has held its opponent to under 45% shooting from the field in four consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since Feb. 25-March 9, 2022.
Northwestern scored 53 second half points after scoring 54 in the second half the previous game against Indiana. The Wildcats previously had not scored 52+ second half points in a Big Ten game since at least 2000.
Northwestern leads the all-time series against the Scarlet Knights (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten) 12-8, with the teams splitting the last four games. The last time the Wildcats took on Rutgers was a tight 63-60 loss on the road on Feb. 15, 2024. Boo Buie surpassed the 2,000-point mark by scoring 27 points with six threes. Barnhizer had a double-double posting 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Rutgers enters Welsh-Ryan Arena on a two-game losing skid, having lost at Penn State and at Madison Square Garden to Big Ten leader Michigan State. Ace Bailey (19.8 points per game) and Dylan Harper (18.6) are the lone other power conference duo averaging 17+ points per game. Both rank in the top five in scoring in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats host their second consecutive contest inside Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. CT against No. 17 Wisconsin. The game will air on FS1 and ESPN 1000 WMVP.
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