Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, January 14
Evanston, Ill.
7:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
#13 Illinois
Photo by: David Dermer/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Hosts No. 13 Illinois in First of Two Meetings
1/13/2026 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern men's basketball returns home to face in-state rival No. 13 Illinois for the first of two matchups this season on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on Big Ten Network with Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Steve Smith (analyst) on the call and can be heard on WGN Radio 720 and SiriusXM Channel 372 with Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst).
Last time out, the Wildcats (8-8, 0-5 Big Ten) suffered a 77-75 overtime setback to Rutgers inside Jersey Mike's Arena on Sunday (Jan. 11). Northwestern posted 20 assists to just six turnovers, as senior forward Nick Martinelli recorded his second double-double this season with a career-high 34 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Martinelli's 34 points are the most by a Wildcat since Boo Buie scored 35 points against Illinois on Feb. 23, 2023, and he logged the first 34+ point, 12+ rebound game by a Northwestern player since Feb. 8, 1998, when Evan Eschmeyer did so against Penn State. Junior forward Arrinten Page chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks on 5-of-7 shooting.
The Wildcats currently hold the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratio, with a 2.16 mark. Northwestern's turnover-free basketball has continued, with the Wildcats turning the ball over just 8.4 times per game — the fewest nationwide — while averaging 18.4 assists per game (5th in Big Ten, 21st nationally). Compared to previous seasons, the Wildcats are playing at a faster pace and are averaging 14.3 fastbreak points per game (3rd in the Big Ten).
The team has made 47.7% of its field goal attempts (7th in the Big Ten), the highest percentage it has shot through the season's first 16 games during the Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins era. It would also be the second-best field goal percentage in a single-season in program history. The Wildcats are scoring 79.1 points per game, their most through 16 games of a season since 1989-90 (82.4) and their most in a full season since 1970-71 (81.6).
Northwestern has played seven games decided by five points or fewer this season, which leads the Big Ten and is tied for the seventh most nationally. Over the last four seasons, the 'Cats have played 42 games (20-22) decided by five points or fewer, tied for the fifth most in the country over that span.
This season, Martinelli leads the nation in scoring averaging 24.1 points per game while converting on 58.1% of his field goal attempts (5th in the Big Ten). With 6.8 rebounds per game (13th), Martinelli would join Jerry Lucas (Ohio State: 1959-60, 1960-61) and Zach Edey (Purdue: 2023-24) as the only Big Ten players to ever record 24+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 58% shooting in a season. His 24.1 points per game would be the second-highest scoring average in program history, trailing only Dale Kelley in 1969-70 (24.3).
Dating back to last season, Martinelli has 30 games of 20 or more points, which leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally. His 12 games scoring 20 or more points this season also lead the conference and rank first among high-major players. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 1,037 points over the last two seasons combined, ranking third nationally and the most by a forward. Over his last seven games, Martinelli is averaging 29.0 points per game, the highest-scoring seven-game stretch by a Wildcat since at least 1996-97.
Page is averaging 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds (20th in Big Ten), 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks (11th) per game while shooting 58.5% from the field (4th). Page has reached double figures in scoring in 11 of his last 13 games.
Junior guard Jayden Reid has posted averages of 10.9 points and 5.6 assists per game (4th in the Big Ten). His 5.6 assists per game would rank second for a season in program history, trailing only Bryant McIntosh (6.7) in 2015-16. In Northwestern's last game, he surpassed the 300-assist mark for his career.
Northwestern split the season series with the Fighting Illini (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) in each of the past three seasons. The Wildcats have won three straight home games against Illinois for the first time since 1966-68 and are aiming to win four straight such games for the first time in program history. Illinois was ranked in the AP Top 20 for two of those Northwestern victories, as the Wildcats have defeated at least one AP Top 20 team in each of the past six seasons.
The Fighting Illini come to Evanston riding a five-game winning streak, most recently defeating then-No. 19 Iowa, 75-69. Illinois has the Big Ten's third-best offense, averaging 86.0 points per game, and is outscoring opponents by 18.6 points per game — ranking second in the conference and 15th nationally. The Fighting Illini are seventh nationally in rebound margin (+11.3). They are led by a trio of Keaton Wagler (15.7 points per game), Kylan Boswell (14.7), and Andrej Stojakovic (14.5).
Northwestern remains home for a Saturday, Jan. 17 matchup with No. 8 Nebraska. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is set for 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Last time out, the Wildcats (8-8, 0-5 Big Ten) suffered a 77-75 overtime setback to Rutgers inside Jersey Mike's Arena on Sunday (Jan. 11). Northwestern posted 20 assists to just six turnovers, as senior forward Nick Martinelli recorded his second double-double this season with a career-high 34 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. Martinelli's 34 points are the most by a Wildcat since Boo Buie scored 35 points against Illinois on Feb. 23, 2023, and he logged the first 34+ point, 12+ rebound game by a Northwestern player since Feb. 8, 1998, when Evan Eschmeyer did so against Penn State. Junior forward Arrinten Page chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks on 5-of-7 shooting.
The Wildcats currently hold the nation's best assist-to-turnover ratio, with a 2.16 mark. Northwestern's turnover-free basketball has continued, with the Wildcats turning the ball over just 8.4 times per game — the fewest nationwide — while averaging 18.4 assists per game (5th in Big Ten, 21st nationally). Compared to previous seasons, the Wildcats are playing at a faster pace and are averaging 14.3 fastbreak points per game (3rd in the Big Ten).
The team has made 47.7% of its field goal attempts (7th in the Big Ten), the highest percentage it has shot through the season's first 16 games during the Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins era. It would also be the second-best field goal percentage in a single-season in program history. The Wildcats are scoring 79.1 points per game, their most through 16 games of a season since 1989-90 (82.4) and their most in a full season since 1970-71 (81.6).
Northwestern has played seven games decided by five points or fewer this season, which leads the Big Ten and is tied for the seventh most nationally. Over the last four seasons, the 'Cats have played 42 games (20-22) decided by five points or fewer, tied for the fifth most in the country over that span.
This season, Martinelli leads the nation in scoring averaging 24.1 points per game while converting on 58.1% of his field goal attempts (5th in the Big Ten). With 6.8 rebounds per game (13th), Martinelli would join Jerry Lucas (Ohio State: 1959-60, 1960-61) and Zach Edey (Purdue: 2023-24) as the only Big Ten players to ever record 24+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on at least 58% shooting in a season. His 24.1 points per game would be the second-highest scoring average in program history, trailing only Dale Kelley in 1969-70 (24.3).
Dating back to last season, Martinelli has 30 games of 20 or more points, which leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally. His 12 games scoring 20 or more points this season also lead the conference and rank first among high-major players. After scoring a program single-season record 676 points last season, Martinelli has tallied 1,037 points over the last two seasons combined, ranking third nationally and the most by a forward. Over his last seven games, Martinelli is averaging 29.0 points per game, the highest-scoring seven-game stretch by a Wildcat since at least 1996-97.
Page is averaging 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds (20th in Big Ten), 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks (11th) per game while shooting 58.5% from the field (4th). Page has reached double figures in scoring in 11 of his last 13 games.
Junior guard Jayden Reid has posted averages of 10.9 points and 5.6 assists per game (4th in the Big Ten). His 5.6 assists per game would rank second for a season in program history, trailing only Bryant McIntosh (6.7) in 2015-16. In Northwestern's last game, he surpassed the 300-assist mark for his career.
Northwestern split the season series with the Fighting Illini (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) in each of the past three seasons. The Wildcats have won three straight home games against Illinois for the first time since 1966-68 and are aiming to win four straight such games for the first time in program history. Illinois was ranked in the AP Top 20 for two of those Northwestern victories, as the Wildcats have defeated at least one AP Top 20 team in each of the past six seasons.
The Fighting Illini come to Evanston riding a five-game winning streak, most recently defeating then-No. 19 Iowa, 75-69. Illinois has the Big Ten's third-best offense, averaging 86.0 points per game, and is outscoring opponents by 18.6 points per game — ranking second in the conference and 15th nationally. The Fighting Illini are seventh nationally in rebound margin (+11.3). They are led by a trio of Keaton Wagler (15.7 points per game), Kylan Boswell (14.7), and Andrej Stojakovic (14.5).
Northwestern remains home for a Saturday, Jan. 17 matchup with No. 8 Nebraska. Tipoff from Welsh-Ryan Arena is set for 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
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