2021-22 Men's Basketball Roster
Nicholson, Matthew
Jersey Number 34
Matthew Nicholson
- Height:
- 7-0
- Weight:
- 255
- Position:
- C
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Clarkston, Mich.
- High School:
- Clarkston
Bio
2024-25: Finished his career as Northwestern’s all-time leader in field percentage, shooting 61.6-percent from the field over his five years at Northwestern … His 126 career blocks rank sixth all-time in program history … Over his five years at NU, posted 39 games with 2+ blocks, the most since Alex Olah (2012-16) … Appeared in and started all 33 games, averaging 5.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in 24.4 minutes per game … Shot 58.6% from the field … His 45 blocks ranked seventh in the Big Ten … Had four games with 10+ points … Swatted a game-high three shots while tallying six points against UIC (11/12) … Notched a game-high 12 rebounds and team-high marks of four assists and two blocks in an overtime win over Eastern Illinois (11/15) … Tied his career-high and recorded his season-high with four blocks against Montana State (11/19) … His four blocks were the most by a Wildcat all season … Scored a season-high 14 points, converting 8-of-9 free throw attempts, and secured five rebounds versus Butler (11/28) … Had eight points, four rebounds, a season-high five assists, two steals, and two blocks against UNLV (11/29) … Became the first Wildcat to tally at least these numbers in a game since Dec. 10, 2022 when Brooks Barnhizer did so against Detroit Mercy … Tallied nine rebounds in an overtime win over No. 19 Illinois (12/6) … Logged 14 points and tied his career-high with three steals against DePaul (12/21) … Had seven points and six rebounds in the nonconference finale against Northeastern (12/29) … Registered six points, seven rebounds, and two blocks at Penn State (1/2) … Recorded seven points and four rebounds (1/12) … Posted five points and seven rebounds in an overtime win over Maryland … Tied his career-high with 16 rebounds at Michigan (1/19) … His 16 rebounds were the most by a Wildcat during the entire season … Became the first Northwestern player since Dererk Pardon (2015–2019) to register multiple career games with 15+ rebounds … Had his third career three-steal performance in a win over Indiana (1/22) … Had eight points and five rebounds versus Rutgers (1/29) … Dropped 10 points, six rebounds against No. 17 Wisconsin (2/1) … Registered nine points, six rebounds, and two blocks in a win over USC (2/4) … Posted eight points and two steals at Washington (2/8) … Recorded four points, five rebounds, and four assists at Oregon (2/11) … Pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass, against Nebraska (2/16) … In a blowout win over Ohio State, had 10 points and two blocks (2/20) … Registered at least one block in 10 consecutive contests from 1/19–2/20, becoming the first Wildcat to have at least one block in ten straight contests since Dererk Pardon did so from Nov. 25, 2016–Feb. 1, 2017 … In the regular season finale, had five points, five rebounds, and three assists at No. 13 Maryland (3/8) … Helped Northwestern defeat Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament first round with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks (3/12) … His three blocks were the most by a Northwestern player in a Big Ten Tournament game since Julian Roper had three against Iowa on March 10, 2022.
2023-24: Appeared in 29 games and started in 24, averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in 22.3 minutes per game … Shot 65.7-percent from the field, the first time a Wildcat has shot over 65-percent from the field (minimum 100 field goal attempts) in program history … Ranked ninth in the Big Ten in blocks per game … His 1.4 blocks per game marked the most blocks per game by a Northwestern player since Dererk Pardon in the 2017-18 season when he averaged 1.8 … Notched 40 blocks on the season, tied for the tenth-highest single season mark in school history … Recorded five points, six rebounds, a team-high four assists, three steals, and four blocks against Binghamton in the season opener (11/6) … Marked the most blocks by a Northwestern player in the first game of the season since November 11, 2016, when Gavin Skelly also recorded four … Was the first 3+ steal and 4+ block game by a Wildcat since Chase Audige on December 11, 2022, against Prairie View A&M … Had four points, two assists, one steal, and two blocks against Western Michigan (11/14) … Notched four points, three assists, and tied a career-high with four blocks against Rhode Island (11/18) … Registered career-highs of 15 points and six assists while pulling down six rebounds on 6-of-7 field goal shooting (against Northern Illinois (11/27) … Recorded five points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks against Detroit Mercy (12/10) … Scored nine points against Chicago State (12/13) … Had four points and six rebounds against Jackson State in the final non-conference game of the season (12/29) … Notched five points, five rebounds, and three assists against Wisconsin (1/13) … Registered 10 points and seven rebounds versus Maryland (1/17) … Went 4-of-4 from the field en route to nine points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks against Nebraska (1/20) … Played a career-high 34 minutes in a return to the starting lineup during a win over No. 10 Illinois, notching 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, and a game-high four blocks while going 6-of-7 from the field (1/24) … Had four blocks alongside four points against Minnesota (2/3) … Pulled down eight rebounds against Nebraska (2/7) … Helped beat Penn State with 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal (2/11) … Registered four points and three blocks against Rutgers (2/15) … Notched the first double-double of his career with 14 points and 16 rebounds, seven of which were on the offensive glass, alongside two blocks in a win over Indiana (2/18), where he and Nick Martinelli became the first duo of Wildcats to have a double-double in the same game since January 10, 2018, when Bryant McIntosh and Dererk Pardon did so against Minnesota … Recorded the most rebounds in a game by a Wildcat since November 12, 2018, when Dererk Pardon pulled down 18 against American.
2022-23: Appeared in all 34 games, starting the final 25 contests of the season … Set career-highs averaging 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game … Led the team in blocks (40), which is tied for 10th in a single-season in program history … Ranked eighth in the Big Ten in blocks and 10th in blocks per game (1.2) … Shot a team-high 61.4% from the field … Ranked fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (minimum 140 field goal attempts) … Only player in the Big Ten to shoot over 61% from the field (minimum 140 field goal attempts) and dish out 40+ assists … Since 1992-93, is the fifth player in program history to record 40+ blocks and 40+ assists in a single-season … Registered nine or more points nine times … Notched nine points and four rebounds in the season-opener against Chicago State (11/7) … Recorded eight points, seven boards and two blocks against Northern Illinois (11/11) … Poured in nine points and recorded nine rebounds, along with two blocks and an assist, in a win at Georgetown (11/15) … Posted a career-high three assists, with five boards and two points against Purdue Fort Wayne (11/18) … Tallied nine points and 10 rebounds in a win over Prairie View A&M (12/11) … Notched nine points, eight rebounds and three assists in a rout of DePaul (12/17) … Contributed 11 rebounds, five points, three assists and two blocks against Brown (12/29) … Snagged a career-high 13 rebounds along and recorded two blocks in a victory over Illinois (1/1) … Posted eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in a career-high 32 minutes of play in a win at Indiana (1/8) … Poured in 13 points and posted five rebounds against Michigan (1/15) … Connected on a career-high five free throws in a seven-point, six-rebound performance in a victory against Wisconsin (1/23) … Added eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in a win over Nebraska (1/28) … Contributed six points, four rebounds and three assists in Northwestern’s upset victory over No. 1 Purdue (2/12) … Notched nine points and three rebounds in a win over Iowa (2/19) … Poured in 10 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting and five rebounds against Maryland (2/26) … Blocked a career-high four shots alongside 10 points, six rebounds and two assists in a road win over Rutgers in the regular season finale (3/5) … Converted all seven of his field goal attempts en route to a career-high 17 points and nine rebounds in the NCAA Tournament against UCLA (3/18) … Became the 11th player in NCAA Tournament history to not miss from the field (minimum seven attempts) and grab nine or more boards.
2021-22: Played in 15 games, averaging 1.8 points, 0.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game … Scored his first points of the season while collecting a rebound against High Point (11/12) ... Tied a career-high with four points and grabbed a career-high three rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson (11/18) ... Scored a career-high six points against Illinois Springfield (12/20) ... Contributed five points and six rebounds in a career-high 13 minutes to help upset No. 10 Michigan St. (1/15) ... Scored four points against Purdue (1/23).
2020-21: Made his collegiate debut against Arkansas Pine-Bluff and contributed two points, two rebounds in five minutes of action (12/2) ... Scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in a win over Quincy (12/15) ... Recorded his first-career block midway through the first half at Purdue (2/6).
High School: Rated as the No. 6 prospect in the state of Michigan according to 247sports.com...Graduated Clarkston High School as the career-record holder for rebounds (544) and blocks (222)...Earned First Team All-State honors following his senior season...Averaged 16.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 6.8 blocks per game, set single-season school records in rebounds (298) and blocks (151)...Averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds as a junior…Brought in a school-record 27 rebounds in a game against Flint Carman-Ainsworth…Played behind future Big Ten players Thomas Kithier and Taylor Currie during his sophomore season…Helped lead Clarkston to a No. 2 spot in the final Michigan high school basketball rankings in 2020 after finishing with a 22-1 record, including 18-straight wins heading into the postseason...No. 39 ranked center in the country, according to Rivals.com.
2023-24: Appeared in 29 games and started in 24, averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in 22.3 minutes per game … Shot 65.7-percent from the field, the first time a Wildcat has shot over 65-percent from the field (minimum 100 field goal attempts) in program history … Ranked ninth in the Big Ten in blocks per game … His 1.4 blocks per game marked the most blocks per game by a Northwestern player since Dererk Pardon in the 2017-18 season when he averaged 1.8 … Notched 40 blocks on the season, tied for the tenth-highest single season mark in school history … Recorded five points, six rebounds, a team-high four assists, three steals, and four blocks against Binghamton in the season opener (11/6) … Marked the most blocks by a Northwestern player in the first game of the season since November 11, 2016, when Gavin Skelly also recorded four … Was the first 3+ steal and 4+ block game by a Wildcat since Chase Audige on December 11, 2022, against Prairie View A&M … Had four points, two assists, one steal, and two blocks against Western Michigan (11/14) … Notched four points, three assists, and tied a career-high with four blocks against Rhode Island (11/18) … Registered career-highs of 15 points and six assists while pulling down six rebounds on 6-of-7 field goal shooting (against Northern Illinois (11/27) … Recorded five points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks against Detroit Mercy (12/10) … Scored nine points against Chicago State (12/13) … Had four points and six rebounds against Jackson State in the final non-conference game of the season (12/29) … Notched five points, five rebounds, and three assists against Wisconsin (1/13) … Registered 10 points and seven rebounds versus Maryland (1/17) … Went 4-of-4 from the field en route to nine points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks against Nebraska (1/20) … Played a career-high 34 minutes in a return to the starting lineup during a win over No. 10 Illinois, notching 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, and a game-high four blocks while going 6-of-7 from the field (1/24) … Had four blocks alongside four points against Minnesota (2/3) … Pulled down eight rebounds against Nebraska (2/7) … Helped beat Penn State with 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal (2/11) … Registered four points and three blocks against Rutgers (2/15) … Notched the first double-double of his career with 14 points and 16 rebounds, seven of which were on the offensive glass, alongside two blocks in a win over Indiana (2/18), where he and Nick Martinelli became the first duo of Wildcats to have a double-double in the same game since January 10, 2018, when Bryant McIntosh and Dererk Pardon did so against Minnesota … Recorded the most rebounds in a game by a Wildcat since November 12, 2018, when Dererk Pardon pulled down 18 against American.
2022-23: Appeared in all 34 games, starting the final 25 contests of the season … Set career-highs averaging 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game … Led the team in blocks (40), which is tied for 10th in a single-season in program history … Ranked eighth in the Big Ten in blocks and 10th in blocks per game (1.2) … Shot a team-high 61.4% from the field … Ranked fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (minimum 140 field goal attempts) … Only player in the Big Ten to shoot over 61% from the field (minimum 140 field goal attempts) and dish out 40+ assists … Since 1992-93, is the fifth player in program history to record 40+ blocks and 40+ assists in a single-season … Registered nine or more points nine times … Notched nine points and four rebounds in the season-opener against Chicago State (11/7) … Recorded eight points, seven boards and two blocks against Northern Illinois (11/11) … Poured in nine points and recorded nine rebounds, along with two blocks and an assist, in a win at Georgetown (11/15) … Posted a career-high three assists, with five boards and two points against Purdue Fort Wayne (11/18) … Tallied nine points and 10 rebounds in a win over Prairie View A&M (12/11) … Notched nine points, eight rebounds and three assists in a rout of DePaul (12/17) … Contributed 11 rebounds, five points, three assists and two blocks against Brown (12/29) … Snagged a career-high 13 rebounds along and recorded two blocks in a victory over Illinois (1/1) … Posted eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in a career-high 32 minutes of play in a win at Indiana (1/8) … Poured in 13 points and posted five rebounds against Michigan (1/15) … Connected on a career-high five free throws in a seven-point, six-rebound performance in a victory against Wisconsin (1/23) … Added eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in a win over Nebraska (1/28) … Contributed six points, four rebounds and three assists in Northwestern’s upset victory over No. 1 Purdue (2/12) … Notched nine points and three rebounds in a win over Iowa (2/19) … Poured in 10 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting and five rebounds against Maryland (2/26) … Blocked a career-high four shots alongside 10 points, six rebounds and two assists in a road win over Rutgers in the regular season finale (3/5) … Converted all seven of his field goal attempts en route to a career-high 17 points and nine rebounds in the NCAA Tournament against UCLA (3/18) … Became the 11th player in NCAA Tournament history to not miss from the field (minimum seven attempts) and grab nine or more boards.
2021-22: Played in 15 games, averaging 1.8 points, 0.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game … Scored his first points of the season while collecting a rebound against High Point (11/12) ... Tied a career-high with four points and grabbed a career-high three rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson (11/18) ... Scored a career-high six points against Illinois Springfield (12/20) ... Contributed five points and six rebounds in a career-high 13 minutes to help upset No. 10 Michigan St. (1/15) ... Scored four points against Purdue (1/23).
2020-21: Made his collegiate debut against Arkansas Pine-Bluff and contributed two points, two rebounds in five minutes of action (12/2) ... Scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in a win over Quincy (12/15) ... Recorded his first-career block midway through the first half at Purdue (2/6).
High School: Rated as the No. 6 prospect in the state of Michigan according to 247sports.com...Graduated Clarkston High School as the career-record holder for rebounds (544) and blocks (222)...Earned First Team All-State honors following his senior season...Averaged 16.9 points, 13.7 rebounds and 6.8 blocks per game, set single-season school records in rebounds (298) and blocks (151)...Averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds as a junior…Brought in a school-record 27 rebounds in a game against Flint Carman-Ainsworth…Played behind future Big Ten players Thomas Kithier and Taylor Currie during his sophomore season…Helped lead Clarkston to a No. 2 spot in the final Michigan high school basketball rankings in 2020 after finishing with a 22-1 record, including 18-straight wins heading into the postseason...No. 39 ranked center in the country, according to Rivals.com.
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