Wednesday, March 12
Indianapolis, Ind.
2:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Minnesota
Northwestern Opens 2025 Big Ten Tournament against Minnesota
3/11/2025 3:15:00β―PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. β No. 13-seed Northwestern men's basketball will play its Big Ten Tournament First Round game against No. 12-seed Minnesota inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on Peacock with Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Robbie Hummel (analyst) and Nicole Auerbach (sideline) on the call and WGN Radio 720 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
The Wildcats (16-15, 7-13 Big Ten) and Golden Gophers (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) are meeting for the ninth time in the Big Ten Tournament and the third time in the last six tournaments, all in the 12-seed vs. 13-seed game. Northwestern is looking for its first Big Ten Tournament win since 2022 and its first Big Ten Tournament win over Minnesota since 2011.
Last time the teams faced off two weeks ago (Feb. 25), the 'Cats defeated the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, 75-63. Junior Nick Martinelli scored a Big Ten career-high 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting during Northwestern's wire-to-wire victory. It was the most points scored in a Big Ten game by a Northwestern forward since John Shurna had 29 against Indiana on Feb. 5, 2012. As a team, the Wildcats recorded 21 assists, their second most in a game this season
Martinelli, named Second Team All-Big Ten earlier today, was the Big Ten's regular season leading scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game, which ranks 13th nationally. He leads all high-major players playing 37.5 minutes per game, the most by a high-major player since Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse, 2021-22) played 38.0 minutes per game. Martinelli's 20.2 points per game are the most by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer averaged 21.7 in the 1997-98 season. He was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List earlier and was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week selection this season.
Martinelli ranks second in the country in scoring by high-major forwards, trailing only the nation's scoring leader Eric Dixon (23.6, Villanova). Martinelli leads the Big Ten with 28 games of 15+ points and has scored 15+ points in 16 straight contests, the longest by a Northwestern player since at least 1996. It also stands as the longest active streak of 15+ point games by a high-major player nationally. The Glenview, Ill. native has scored in double figures in 24 straight games, the longest streak by a Wildcat since 2000.
The 6-foot-7 forward has scored 626 points this season, which is third most in a single-season in school history, and his 232 field goals are the most in a single-season in school history. Martinelli needs 21 points to move into second place on the single-season scoring list, which would push him past Boo Buie (2023-24) in the process. Martinelli is 22 points away from reaching 1,000 career points and is looking to become the 43rd player in school history to reach the milestone.
Over his last seven games, graduate student Ty Berry is averaging 15.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting from the field and 42.6% shooting from beyond the arc. The Newton, Kan. product has scored 10+ points in 12 of his last 15 games and has made 2+ threes in 14 of his last 15 games. Berry has knocked down 2+ threes in 21 games this season, tied for second most in the Big Ten.
Graduate student Matthew Nicholson ranks eighth in the Big Ten this season, blocking 1.3 shots per game. The Clarkston, Mich. native is the first player in school history to record three seasons of 40 or more blocks. Nicholson holds the program's best career field-goal percentage at 62.1%.
First-year K.J. Windham is averaging 11.4 points and 3.3 assists over his last six games, converting 40.0% of his shots from beyond the arc. Windham has scored 15+ points in three of his last seven contests and 10+ points in three of his last five.
Over the last four seasons from 2021-25, Northwestern has won 38 Big Ten games, equaling the stretch from 1930-34 (38) as the most of a four-season period in school history.
The Wildcats are forcing an average of 13.5 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the conference. The 'Cats rank fifth in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 7.1 per game. NU has averaged over 7+ steals per game in each of the last three seasons (first time since 2006-09)
Northwestern is looking to win three straight games against the Golden Gophers for the first time since 2015-16. The 'Cats have won four of the last five matchups.
Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota and ranks fifth in the Big Ten averaging 19.1 points per game. He also averages 7.5 rebounds per game, eighth in the conference. The Golden Gophers' 4.6 blocks per game rank second in the conference and 33rd nationally.
The winner of Wednesday's contest will face No. 5-seed Wisconsin on Thursday, March 13 at approximately 1:30 p.m. CT on BTN.
The Wildcats (16-15, 7-13 Big Ten) and Golden Gophers (15-16, 7-13 Big Ten) are meeting for the ninth time in the Big Ten Tournament and the third time in the last six tournaments, all in the 12-seed vs. 13-seed game. Northwestern is looking for its first Big Ten Tournament win since 2022 and its first Big Ten Tournament win over Minnesota since 2011.
Last time the teams faced off two weeks ago (Feb. 25), the 'Cats defeated the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, 75-63. Junior Nick Martinelli scored a Big Ten career-high 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting during Northwestern's wire-to-wire victory. It was the most points scored in a Big Ten game by a Northwestern forward since John Shurna had 29 against Indiana on Feb. 5, 2012. As a team, the Wildcats recorded 21 assists, their second most in a game this season
Martinelli, named Second Team All-Big Ten earlier today, was the Big Ten's regular season leading scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game, which ranks 13th nationally. He leads all high-major players playing 37.5 minutes per game, the most by a high-major player since Buddy Boeheim (Syracuse, 2021-22) played 38.0 minutes per game. Martinelli's 20.2 points per game are the most by a Northwestern player since Evan Eschmeyer averaged 21.7 in the 1997-98 season. He was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List earlier and was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week selection this season.
Martinelli ranks second in the country in scoring by high-major forwards, trailing only the nation's scoring leader Eric Dixon (23.6, Villanova). Martinelli leads the Big Ten with 28 games of 15+ points and has scored 15+ points in 16 straight contests, the longest by a Northwestern player since at least 1996. It also stands as the longest active streak of 15+ point games by a high-major player nationally. The Glenview, Ill. native has scored in double figures in 24 straight games, the longest streak by a Wildcat since 2000.
The 6-foot-7 forward has scored 626 points this season, which is third most in a single-season in school history, and his 232 field goals are the most in a single-season in school history. Martinelli needs 21 points to move into second place on the single-season scoring list, which would push him past Boo Buie (2023-24) in the process. Martinelli is 22 points away from reaching 1,000 career points and is looking to become the 43rd player in school history to reach the milestone.
Over his last seven games, graduate student Ty Berry is averaging 15.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting from the field and 42.6% shooting from beyond the arc. The Newton, Kan. product has scored 10+ points in 12 of his last 15 games and has made 2+ threes in 14 of his last 15 games. Berry has knocked down 2+ threes in 21 games this season, tied for second most in the Big Ten.
Graduate student Matthew Nicholson ranks eighth in the Big Ten this season, blocking 1.3 shots per game. The Clarkston, Mich. native is the first player in school history to record three seasons of 40 or more blocks. Nicholson holds the program's best career field-goal percentage at 62.1%.
First-year K.J. Windham is averaging 11.4 points and 3.3 assists over his last six games, converting 40.0% of his shots from beyond the arc. Windham has scored 15+ points in three of his last seven contests and 10+ points in three of his last five.
Over the last four seasons from 2021-25, Northwestern has won 38 Big Ten games, equaling the stretch from 1930-34 (38) as the most of a four-season period in school history.
The Wildcats are forcing an average of 13.5 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the conference. The 'Cats rank fifth in the Big Ten in steals, averaging 7.1 per game. NU has averaged over 7+ steals per game in each of the last three seasons (first time since 2006-09)
Northwestern is looking to win three straight games against the Golden Gophers for the first time since 2015-16. The 'Cats have won four of the last five matchups.
Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota and ranks fifth in the Big Ten averaging 19.1 points per game. He also averages 7.5 rebounds per game, eighth in the conference. The Golden Gophers' 4.6 blocks per game rank second in the conference and 33rd nationally.
The winner of Wednesday's contest will face No. 5-seed Wisconsin on Thursday, March 13 at approximately 1:30 p.m. CT on BTN.
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