Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Nick Martinelli Earns Third Career Big Ten Player of the Week Award
3/2/2026 3:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Senior forward Nick Martinelli was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his role in Northwestern's wins over Indiana and Oregon, the conference announced on Monday.
This marks Martinelli's third time receiving conference player of the week honors, as well as his first since March 3, 2025. Martinelli first earned the award on Nov. 11, 2024.
He is the first Wildcat to win the award on three separate occasions since Boo Buie did so four times (Dec. 21, 2020, Feb. 13, 2023, Dec. 4, 2023, Jan. 29, 2023).
Martinelli averaged 25 points on 51.3% shooting, eight rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals per game in the Wildcats' two victories this past week. He found another gear in the clutch, accumulating 35 points on 16-of-22 shooting, eight rebounds and four assists in NU's two second half comebacks.
At Indiana, Martinelli scored 28 points and grabbed five rebounds. He scored 21 points in the second half alone, canning 9-of-12 shots in the frame to guide Northwestern to a 72-68 win on Feb. 24. The Glenview, Ill., native hit the game-winning hook shot with 1.8 seconds remaining against Oregon on Saturday to secure a 63-62 win for the 'Cats.
Earlier Monday morning, Martinelli was named NCAA March Madness National Player of the Week.
Since 1999, seven NU players have won multiple Big Ten Player of the Week awards (Martinelli, Buie, Drew Crawford, John Shurna, Vedran Vukusic, Jitim Young and Evan Eschmeyer).
The senior will play his final regular season home game on Wednesday, March 4, when the Wildcats take on No. 15 Purdue in Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
This marks Martinelli's third time receiving conference player of the week honors, as well as his first since March 3, 2025. Martinelli first earned the award on Nov. 11, 2024.
He is the first Wildcat to win the award on three separate occasions since Boo Buie did so four times (Dec. 21, 2020, Feb. 13, 2023, Dec. 4, 2023, Jan. 29, 2023).
The Big Ten's leading scorer is the Big Ten POTW ?? pic.twitter.com/A53PS9Gui0
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) March 2, 2026
Martinelli averaged 25 points on 51.3% shooting, eight rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals per game in the Wildcats' two victories this past week. He found another gear in the clutch, accumulating 35 points on 16-of-22 shooting, eight rebounds and four assists in NU's two second half comebacks.
At Indiana, Martinelli scored 28 points and grabbed five rebounds. He scored 21 points in the second half alone, canning 9-of-12 shots in the frame to guide Northwestern to a 72-68 win on Feb. 24. The Glenview, Ill., native hit the game-winning hook shot with 1.8 seconds remaining against Oregon on Saturday to secure a 63-62 win for the 'Cats.
Earlier Monday morning, Martinelli was named NCAA March Madness National Player of the Week.
Since 1999, seven NU players have won multiple Big Ten Player of the Week awards (Martinelli, Buie, Drew Crawford, John Shurna, Vedran Vukusic, Jitim Young and Evan Eschmeyer).
The senior will play his final regular season home game on Wednesday, March 4, when the Wildcats take on No. 15 Purdue in Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network and WGN Radio 720.
Players Mentioned
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