Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, December 3
Madison, Wis.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Wisconsin
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Road Trip to Wisconsin Kicks Off Northwestern's Big Ten Slate
12/2/2025 3:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. — Northwestern men's basketball opens Big Ten play in Madison, Wis., by facing Wisconsin for the only time this season on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Shon Morris (analyst) on the call, and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 381 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-2) fell to Oklahoma State, 86-81, after a late comeback effort fell short at the United Center. Northwestern shot 50.0% (28-of-56) from the floor while holding the Cowboys to their season-low field goal percentage (42.9%). Senior forward Nick Martinelli tallied his first double-double of the season with season-highs of 28 points and 10 rebounds while converting 12-of-16 field goal attempts. He has posted 25+ points in two consecutive contests. Sophomore Angelo Ciaravino recorded a season-high 14 points, 11 of which came in the second half, on 6-of-9 shooting.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins is in his 13th season guiding the Wildcats. With 199 career wins in Evanston, he is one victory shy of joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins.
Northwestern has made 51.6% of its field goal attempts, ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 24th nationally. It is the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first seven games during the Chris Collins era. On the other end, the Wildcats have held opponents to shoot a combined 38.8% this season (5th in Big Ten). In addition, Northwestern is converting on 38.2% of its three-point attempts (3rd), while forcing opponents to make just 28.1% of their shots from beyond the arc (4th).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 8.9 times per game — the second-fewest in the Big Ten and the fifth-fewest nationwide — while posting a 2.08 assist/turnover ratio (4th in Big Ten). Northwestern's offense has been prolific so far this season, averaging 82.1 points per game. The Wildcats have scored 75+ points in six consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 1-21, 2015.
Martinelli received significant preseason attention ahead of his final year in Evanston. The 6-foot-7 forward was named to the Wooden Award Watch List, Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List, and was a 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten selection. Last season, Martinelli became the fourth Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game in 2024-25. His average marked the highest by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7, 1997-98). Martinelli's 676 total points broke the school's single-season scoring record, previously held by John Shurna (661, 2011-12).
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 32 of his last 33 games, and had a streak of 30 games, the longest by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 20.6 points (3rd in Big Ten) and 6.6 rebounds (14th) per game while converting 56.7% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is just one of four players nationwide to average 20+ points per game both last season and this season. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 23 times, which leads the Big Ten. He has 25 career games with 20+ points, which ranks fourth among Northwestern players dating back to 2004.
Transfer acquisitions Arrinten Page and Jayden Reid have made an instant impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.0 points (24th in Big Ten), 7.0 rebounds (11th), 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 60.6% shooting (6th). Page has reached double-figures in six of his first seven games in a Northwestern jersey, and has scored the most points in a player's first seven games (105) since Michael "Juice" Thompson in 2007-08 (106).
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 12.9 points and 6.1 assists per game (4th in Big Ten) while draining 42.9% of his 3-point attempts. Reid is one of five high-major players averaging 12+ points and 6+ assists per game on at least 40% shooting from beyond the arc. Reid has recorded 5+ assists in five of his past six games.
Wednesday's matchup marks the earliest meeting between Northwestern and the Badgers (5-2) in history. The Wildcats are 8-4 in Big Ten openers in the Collins era, claiming victories in four of the last five games. Northwestern is looking for its first win against Wisconsin since Feb. 5, 2023.
Most recently, the Badgers fell to TCU, 74-63, to close the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego. Wisconsin is averaging 87.1 points per game, aided by its ability to play fast, force turnovers, and make threes. The Badgers average 15.6 fast break points (4th in Big Ten), 8.0 steals per game (1st), and 11.0 three-pointers per game (2nd). Wisconsin boasts one of the nation's best scoring duos with guards Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, who are averaging 21.0 and 19.0 points per game, respectively.
The Wildcats play their Big Ten home opener against Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Last time out, the Wildcats (5-2) fell to Oklahoma State, 86-81, after a late comeback effort fell short at the United Center. Northwestern shot 50.0% (28-of-56) from the floor while holding the Cowboys to their season-low field goal percentage (42.9%). Senior forward Nick Martinelli tallied his first double-double of the season with season-highs of 28 points and 10 rebounds while converting 12-of-16 field goal attempts. He has posted 25+ points in two consecutive contests. Sophomore Angelo Ciaravino recorded a season-high 14 points, 11 of which came in the second half, on 6-of-9 shooting.
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins is in his 13th season guiding the Wildcats. With 199 career wins in Evanston, he is one victory shy of joining Naismith Hall of Famer Dutch Lonborg (1927-50) as the only head coaches in program history to reach 200 wins.
Northwestern has made 51.6% of its field goal attempts, ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 24th nationally. It is the highest percentage the team has shot over the season's first seven games during the Chris Collins era. On the other end, the Wildcats have held opponents to shoot a combined 38.8% this season (5th in Big Ten). In addition, Northwestern is converting on 38.2% of its three-point attempts (3rd), while forcing opponents to make just 28.1% of their shots from beyond the arc (4th).
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over a mere 8.9 times per game — the second-fewest in the Big Ten and the fifth-fewest nationwide — while posting a 2.08 assist/turnover ratio (4th in Big Ten). Northwestern's offense has been prolific so far this season, averaging 82.1 points per game. The Wildcats have scored 75+ points in six consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 1-21, 2015.
Martinelli received significant preseason attention ahead of his final year in Evanston. The 6-foot-7 forward was named to the Wooden Award Watch List, Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List, and was a 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten selection. Last season, Martinelli became the fourth Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game in 2024-25. His average marked the highest by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7, 1997-98). Martinelli's 676 total points broke the school's single-season scoring record, previously held by John Shurna (661, 2011-12).
Martinelli has scored in double-figures in 32 of his last 33 games, and had a streak of 30 games, the longest by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (1997-99, 65). So far this season, Martinelli is averaging 20.6 points (3rd in Big Ten) and 6.6 rebounds (14th) per game while converting 56.7% of his shot attempts (8th). Martinelli is just one of four players nationwide to average 20+ points per game both last season and this season. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has scored 20+ points 23 times, which leads the Big Ten. He has 25 career games with 20+ points, which ranks fourth among Northwestern players dating back to 2004.
Transfer acquisitions Arrinten Page and Jayden Reid have made an instant impact for Northwestern. Page, who comes to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, has averaged 15.0 points (24th in Big Ten), 7.0 rebounds (11th), 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 60.6% shooting (6th). Page has reached double-figures in six of his first seven games in a Northwestern jersey, and has scored the most points in a player's first seven games (105) since Michael "Juice" Thompson in 2007-08 (106).
Coming from USF, Reid has posted averages of 12.9 points and 6.1 assists per game (4th in Big Ten) while draining 42.9% of his 3-point attempts. Reid is one of five high-major players averaging 12+ points and 6+ assists per game on at least 40% shooting from beyond the arc. Reid has recorded 5+ assists in five of his past six games.
Wednesday's matchup marks the earliest meeting between Northwestern and the Badgers (5-2) in history. The Wildcats are 8-4 in Big Ten openers in the Collins era, claiming victories in four of the last five games. Northwestern is looking for its first win against Wisconsin since Feb. 5, 2023.
Most recently, the Badgers fell to TCU, 74-63, to close the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego. Wisconsin is averaging 87.1 points per game, aided by its ability to play fast, force turnovers, and make threes. The Badgers average 15.6 fast break points (4th in Big Ten), 8.0 steals per game (1st), and 11.0 three-pointers per game (2nd). Wisconsin boasts one of the nation's best scoring duos with guards Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, who are averaging 21.0 and 19.0 points per game, respectively.
The Wildcats play their Big Ten home opener against Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
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