Wildcats Open NCAA Tournament Against Florida Atlantic

Friday, March 22

Brooklyn, N.Y.

11:15 a.m. CT

Northwestern

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Open NCAA Tournament Against Florida Atlantic

3/21/2024 8:08:00 AM | Men's Basketball

BROOKLYN – Playing in the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history, No. 9-seed Northwestern meets No. 8-seed Florida Atlantic in a First Round matchup at 11:15 a.m. CT at Barclays Center on Friday, March 22. Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline) will have the call on CBS, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) have the radio call on WGN Radio 720.

Northwestern is making its third all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, all coming under the leadership of Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins. Northwestern is 2-2 all-time in the event and 2-0 in the First Round, recording wins over Vanderbilt (68-66) in 2017 and Boise State (75-67) in 2023.

The Wildcats finished tied for third in the Big Ten standings, tying the program record for most conference wins in a season (12, 2022-23). NU recorded a top-three finish in the Big Ten in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1958-59 (t-2nd) and 1959-60 (t-3rd). Northwestern tied its program record, winning 21 regular season games (2016-17, 2022-23) this season, and for the first time in program history, won 21 regular season games in back-to-back campaigns.

First Team All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention All-American Boo Buie leads the Wildcats, averaging 19.2 points and 5.1 assists per game, and is the only high-major player in the country averaging 18-plus points and five-plus assists this season. Buie leads the nation with eight games of 20-plus points and seven-plus assists. The next closest high-major player has recorded four games.

The Albany, N.Y. native leads all Wildcats from beyond the arc, converting on 85 made three-pointers after making 64 all of last season. He improved his three-point percentage from 31.6% (64-for-201) in 2022-23 to 44.3% (85-for-192) from deep in 2023-24, which leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally.

Brooks Barnhizer earned Third Team All-Big Ten and All-Defensive Team recognition, joining Chase Audige (2022-23) as the only players in program history to be named to the All-Defensive Team and All-Big Ten in the same season.

Barnhizer ranks tied for third among Northwestern players since 1996-97 with nine double-doubles this season, including seven against Big Ten opponents. Barnhizer is averaging 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. Barnhizer is one of two high-major players nationally averaging 14.0-plus points, 7.0-plus rebounds, 2.5-plus assists, and 1.8-plus steals per game (Devin Carter, Providence).

Northwestern is 1-0 all-time against FAU, defeating the Owls 69-59 on November 21, 2005 in Evanston. Vedran Vukusic scored 27 points, while Tim Doyle added 13 points and six assists.

Florida Atlantic is also participating in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history and second consecutive season, reaching the Final Four in 2023. The Owls (25-8, 14-4 AAC) are led offensively by Johnell Davis, who averages 18.2 points and 3.0 assists per game.

The winner of Friday's game will square off in the Second Round with the winner of No. 1-seed UConn vs. No. 16-seed Stetson on Sunday, March 23, at Barclays Center.