Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, January 3
Evanston, Ill.
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Minnesota
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Big Ten Action Returns as Northwestern Hosts Minnesota Saturday
1/2/2026 4:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball resumes Big Ten play and opens the new year by facing Minnesota for the first of two matchups this season on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 4 p.m. CT inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Shon Morris (analyst) on the call, and can be heard on ESPN 1000 WMVP and SiriusXM Channel 380 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Bolstered by 49 second-half points, the Wildcats (8-5, 0-2 Big Ten) closed non-conference play with an 80-60 victory over Howard on Tuesday (Dec. 30) evening. Senior forward Nick Martinelli led the way by tying his career high with 32 points while adding six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. He became the 10th Big Ten player since 2004 to record that stat line. First-year forward Tre Singleton became the first Big Ten freshman this season to record 17 points (career-high), eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Senior guard Justin Mullins added 12 points, draining a career-high-tying four three-pointers. The Wildcats improved to 35-9 (.791) in non-conference play over the past four seasons, which is tied for the third-best winning percentage in the Big Ten.
Northwestern has played six games decided by five points or fewer this season, tied for the fifth most in the nation. Over the last four seasons, the 'Cats have played 41 games (20-21) decided by five points or fewer, also tied for the fifth most in the country over that span.
The team has made 48.9% of its field goal attempts (7th in the Big Ten, 55th nationally), the highest percentage it has shot through the season's first 13 games during the Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 80.5 points per game, their most through 13 games of a season since 1989-90 (83.4), and have scored 80 or more points in four of their last five games.
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over just 9.2 times per game — the fewest in the Big Ten and the fifth-fewest nationwide — while posting a 2.03 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st in the Big Ten, 3rd nationally). Northwestern is averaging 18.6 assists per game (6th in the Big Ten, 28th nationally). The Wildcats have dished out 17 or more assists in each of their last five games, their first time doing so since November 2021. Compared to previous seasons, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and is averaging 14.7 fastbreak points per game (3rd in the Big Ten).
This season, Martinelli leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally, averaging 22.8 points per game while converting on 58.3% of his field goal attempts (10th). With 6.6 rebounds per game (20th in the Big Ten), Martinelli would join Zach Edey (2022-23, 2023-24) as the only Big Ten players to record 22-plus points and six-plus rebounds per game on at least 58% shooting in a season over the past 30 years. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has 27 games of 20 or more points, which leads the Big Ten. His nine games scoring 20 or more points this season also lead the conference. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 949 points dating back to last season, ranking third nationally and the most by a forward. Over his last seven games, Martinelli is averaging 26.0 points per game, the highest-scoring seven-game stretch by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer scored 184 points (26.3 ppg) from Dec. 6, 1997 - Jan. 7, 1998.
Junior forward Arrinten Page, who came to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, is averaging 14.7 points (24th in the Big Ten), 6.8 rebounds (16th), 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks (12th) per game while shooting 58.6% from the field (7th). Page has reached double figures in eight of his last nine games.
After transferring from USF, junior guard Jayden Reid has posted averages of 11.0 points and 5.3 assists per game (5th in the Big Ten). Reid is currently one of eight players in program history to average five or more assists per game in a season, and his 5.3 assists would be tied for third in single-season program history.
Northwestern and the Golden Gophers (8-5, 1-1 Big Ten) are facing off in what is tied for the earliest meeting between the two teams. Saturday's contest will be the 190th game in series history, with the Wildcats claiming three straight wins and five of the last six. Northwestern is aiming to win four straight games against Minnesota for the first time since a six-game win streak from 2003-07. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Gophers twice last season, including a 72-64 win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Minnesota is led by Cade Tyson, the Big Ten's second-leading scorer behind Martinelli (21.9 ppg). The Golden Gophers have the Big Ten's second-best defense and the nation's 24th-best defense, allowing just 64.8 points per game. They rank third in the league in steals per game (7.6). Offensively, Minnesota shares the ball more than any team in the country, leading the nation with a 74.7 assist percentage.
Northwestern hits the road on Thursday, Jan. 8, to take on No. 9 Michigan State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Bolstered by 49 second-half points, the Wildcats (8-5, 0-2 Big Ten) closed non-conference play with an 80-60 victory over Howard on Tuesday (Dec. 30) evening. Senior forward Nick Martinelli led the way by tying his career high with 32 points while adding six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. He became the 10th Big Ten player since 2004 to record that stat line. First-year forward Tre Singleton became the first Big Ten freshman this season to record 17 points (career-high), eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Senior guard Justin Mullins added 12 points, draining a career-high-tying four three-pointers. The Wildcats improved to 35-9 (.791) in non-conference play over the past four seasons, which is tied for the third-best winning percentage in the Big Ten.
Northwestern has played six games decided by five points or fewer this season, tied for the fifth most in the nation. Over the last four seasons, the 'Cats have played 41 games (20-21) decided by five points or fewer, also tied for the fifth most in the country over that span.
The team has made 48.9% of its field goal attempts (7th in the Big Ten, 55th nationally), the highest percentage it has shot through the season's first 13 games during the Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins era. The Wildcats are scoring 80.5 points per game, their most through 13 games of a season since 1989-90 (83.4), and have scored 80 or more points in four of their last five games.
The Wildcats have continued their steady, turnover-free basketball, turning the ball over just 9.2 times per game — the fewest in the Big Ten and the fifth-fewest nationwide — while posting a 2.03 assist-to-turnover ratio (1st in the Big Ten, 3rd nationally). Northwestern is averaging 18.6 assists per game (6th in the Big Ten, 28th nationally). The Wildcats have dished out 17 or more assists in each of their last five games, their first time doing so since November 2021. Compared to previous seasons, Northwestern is playing at a faster pace and is averaging 14.7 fastbreak points per game (3rd in the Big Ten).
This season, Martinelli leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally, averaging 22.8 points per game while converting on 58.3% of his field goal attempts (10th). With 6.6 rebounds per game (20th in the Big Ten), Martinelli would join Zach Edey (2022-23, 2023-24) as the only Big Ten players to record 22-plus points and six-plus rebounds per game on at least 58% shooting in a season over the past 30 years. Dating back to last season, Martinelli has 27 games of 20 or more points, which leads the Big Ten. His nine games scoring 20 or more points this season also lead the conference. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 949 points dating back to last season, ranking third nationally and the most by a forward. Over his last seven games, Martinelli is averaging 26.0 points per game, the highest-scoring seven-game stretch by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer scored 184 points (26.3 ppg) from Dec. 6, 1997 - Jan. 7, 1998.
Junior forward Arrinten Page, who came to Northwestern after stops at USC and Cincinnati, is averaging 14.7 points (24th in the Big Ten), 6.8 rebounds (16th), 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks (12th) per game while shooting 58.6% from the field (7th). Page has reached double figures in eight of his last nine games.
After transferring from USF, junior guard Jayden Reid has posted averages of 11.0 points and 5.3 assists per game (5th in the Big Ten). Reid is currently one of eight players in program history to average five or more assists per game in a season, and his 5.3 assists would be tied for third in single-season program history.
Northwestern and the Golden Gophers (8-5, 1-1 Big Ten) are facing off in what is tied for the earliest meeting between the two teams. Saturday's contest will be the 190th game in series history, with the Wildcats claiming three straight wins and five of the last six. Northwestern is aiming to win four straight games against Minnesota for the first time since a six-game win streak from 2003-07. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Gophers twice last season, including a 72-64 win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Minnesota is led by Cade Tyson, the Big Ten's second-leading scorer behind Martinelli (21.9 ppg). The Golden Gophers have the Big Ten's second-best defense and the nation's 24th-best defense, allowing just 64.8 points per game. They rank third in the league in steals per game (7.6). Offensively, Minnesota shares the ball more than any team in the country, leading the nation with a 74.7 assist percentage.
Northwestern hits the road on Thursday, Jan. 8, to take on No. 9 Michigan State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
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