Northwestern University Athletics
First-Year West Shows Veteran Presence in Big Ten Second Round Win
3/12/2026 2:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHICAGO — Ever since first-year guard Jake West stepped onto campus over the summer, he's kept his head down and gone to work.
Soon enough, it became clear that West would make a significant impact for Northwestern early on in his collegiate career. Senior forward Nick Martinelli had the opportunity to witness West's abilities firsthand.
"I knew this kid was going to be a good player," Martinelli said. "When I came back in the summer, I just remember he got me on an island and cooked me pretty bad. I told him that's when I was like, 'Oh, this kid is real.'"
On the biggest stage of his young career thus far, West proved instrumental to the No. 15-seed Wildcats' 74-61 triumph over No. 10-seed Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament Second Round. West tied his career-high with 18 points, converting 7-of-14 field goal attempts and 2-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. In 36 minutes of action, he added three rebounds and four assists, while posting a game-high +12 plus-minus.
West's 18 points tied the program record for most points by a first-year in a Big Ten Tournament game, as he equaled TJ Parker's performance on March 13, 2003, against Minnesota.
West, who has thrived as an offensive initiator and shooter, noted that the key to his recent play has been his confidence level.
"I feel like I'm playing with a lot of confidence," West said. "Kudos to Coach Collins for believing in me. … I work very hard, like Nick said. A lot of our guys are always in the gym, so why not be confident?"
West has started his last 16 consecutive games for Northwestern and has played 30+ minutes in eight of his last 10 contests. But the Philadelphia native didn't feature in the Wildcats' lineup this prominently when conference season kicked off.
Until mid-January, West came off the bench and played only in spurts.
"I remember against Ohio State, I played a minute or two," West said. "I think that was the first or second Big Ten game. To see my growth come to this, it's definitely great. I believe in myself. I'm very confident, and I'm just happy the work is showing."
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins and the coaching staff made the decision to grant West his first career start against then-No. 13 Illinois.
Collins has repeatedly expressed the team's youth and how it will better serve them in the future. Wednesday night's contest proved the 13th-year coach correct.
"For this [Jake] to come of age as a freshman in this venue against a team the quality of Indiana, just so proud of him," Collins said.
The Wildcats have won five of their last six contests with West in the lineup, with the first-year logging averages of 11.3 points and 3.7 assists per game over that stretch.
West's effort helped the Wildcats move on to face No. 7-seed Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament Third Round. The teams squared off on March 4, with Northwestern falling 70-66. West didn't play in that game due to an ankle injury, but he said he is looking forward to playing the Boilermakers, the No. 18-ranked team nationally.
As West continues to blossom, he looks toward the blueprint for his development that was laid out from the moment he arrived in Evanston. Looking toward the great point guards of the Collins era, West seeks to replicate the success of those who preceded him.
"When I came here, they put the plan out there for me," West said. "They showed Boo [Buie and Bryant [McIntosh]. They weren't the highest-ranked recruits, but they came here, worked hard, Coach gave them confidence, and I'm kind of just following the route they gave me."
Soon enough, it became clear that West would make a significant impact for Northwestern early on in his collegiate career. Senior forward Nick Martinelli had the opportunity to witness West's abilities firsthand.
"I knew this kid was going to be a good player," Martinelli said. "When I came back in the summer, I just remember he got me on an island and cooked me pretty bad. I told him that's when I was like, 'Oh, this kid is real.'"
On the biggest stage of his young career thus far, West proved instrumental to the No. 15-seed Wildcats' 74-61 triumph over No. 10-seed Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament Second Round. West tied his career-high with 18 points, converting 7-of-14 field goal attempts and 2-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. In 36 minutes of action, he added three rebounds and four assists, while posting a game-high +12 plus-minus.
"I'm just super pumped up, I feel like we've been playing our best basketball toward the end of the season."
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 12, 2026
??? @JakeWest_3 pic.twitter.com/JAB81pbSHx
West's 18 points tied the program record for most points by a first-year in a Big Ten Tournament game, as he equaled TJ Parker's performance on March 13, 2003, against Minnesota.
West, who has thrived as an offensive initiator and shooter, noted that the key to his recent play has been his confidence level.
"I feel like I'm playing with a lot of confidence," West said. "Kudos to Coach Collins for believing in me. … I work very hard, like Nick said. A lot of our guys are always in the gym, so why not be confident?"
West has started his last 16 consecutive games for Northwestern and has played 30+ minutes in eight of his last 10 contests. But the Philadelphia native didn't feature in the Wildcats' lineup this prominently when conference season kicked off.
Until mid-January, West came off the bench and played only in spurts.
"I remember against Ohio State, I played a minute or two," West said. "I think that was the first or second Big Ten game. To see my growth come to this, it's definitely great. I believe in myself. I'm very confident, and I'm just happy the work is showing."
Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins and the coaching staff made the decision to grant West his first career start against then-No. 13 Illinois.
Collins has repeatedly expressed the team's youth and how it will better serve them in the future. Wednesday night's contest proved the 13th-year coach correct.
Jake West. A star in the making ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 12, 2026
?? 18 pts
?? 4 asts
?? 3 rebs
?? 1 stl pic.twitter.com/9cx05j06j3
"For this [Jake] to come of age as a freshman in this venue against a team the quality of Indiana, just so proud of him," Collins said.
The Wildcats have won five of their last six contests with West in the lineup, with the first-year logging averages of 11.3 points and 3.7 assists per game over that stretch.
West's effort helped the Wildcats move on to face No. 7-seed Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament Third Round. The teams squared off on March 4, with Northwestern falling 70-66. West didn't play in that game due to an ankle injury, but he said he is looking forward to playing the Boilermakers, the No. 18-ranked team nationally.
As West continues to blossom, he looks toward the blueprint for his development that was laid out from the moment he arrived in Evanston. Looking toward the great point guards of the Collins era, West seeks to replicate the success of those who preceded him.
"When I came here, they put the plan out there for me," West said. "They showed Boo [Buie and Bryant [McIntosh]. They weren't the highest-ranked recruits, but they came here, worked hard, Coach gave them confidence, and I'm kind of just following the route they gave me."
Players Mentioned
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