EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern resumes Big Ten Conference play when it travels to Champaign to square off with No. 9 Illinois on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. CT. The game will air on BTN with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) on the call, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) have the radio call on ESPN 1000 WMVP and Sirius XM Channel 109/195.
Last time out, Ty Berry (20 points), Ryan Langborg (17), and Boo Buie (12) all scored in double figures as Northwestern wrapped up non-conference play with a 74-63 win over Jackson State on Friday, Dec. 29. The win moved the Wildcats to 10-2, marking Northwestern's second consecutive 10-2 start and the fourth time in the Chris Collins era that the Wildcats are 10-2 or better.
The Wildcats won their conference opener on Dec. 1, downing No. 1 Purdue in OT at home, 92-88. The win marked NU's second straight season with a Big Ten opening win over a ranked team, after downing No. 20 Michigan State, 70-63 on Dec. 4, 2022. Iowa was the last Big Ten team to accomplish the feat in 2014- 15 (at No. 20 Ohio State) and 2015-16 (No. 1 Michigan State).
Northwestern ranks second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally in scoring defense. The Wildcats are holding opponents to just 63.1 points per game. NU is 7-0 this season when holding opponents to 65 or fewer points.
The Wildcats have been one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the ball this season, leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth nationally, committing just 9.0 turnovers per game. NU's turnover margin of +5.3 per game ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally. Northwestern's assist/turnover ratio of 1.89 ranks second in the Big Ten and sixth in the nation.
Northwestern guards Ty Berry (27) and Ryan Langborg (29) are the first Wildcat duo with 27+ made 3-pointers through 12 games since Michael "Juice" Thompson (29) and John Shurna (35) in 2010-11.
Buie ranks fifth in Northwestern history with 1,756 career points, trailing Evan Eschmeyer by 49 points for fourth place. Michael "Juice" Thompson and Buie are the only two players in program history with career marks of at least 1,500 points, 500 assists, and 200 made three-pointers. Buie is averaging 17.9 points per game (seventh in Big Ten) and 4.9 assists per game (fifth in Big Ten), and is one of just two high-major players to post 17.9-plus points per game and 4.9-plus assists per game this season, joining Dug McDaniel (Michigan).
Last season, Northwestern and Illinois split the season series, with each team winning at home. Northwestern defeated Illinois 73-60 on Jan. 4, 2023, at Welsh-Ryan Arena before falling 66-62 on February 23 in Champaign despite Buie's career-high 35 points.
No. 9 Illinois enters Tuesday's contest at 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Fighting Illini are limiting their opponents to shoot just 37.5% from the field, the third-best mark in the Big Ten and 10th nationally.
Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday, Jan. 7 to take on Michigan State at 6:30 p.m. CT on BTN.
Last time out, Ty Berry (20 points), Ryan Langborg (17), and Boo Buie (12) all scored in double figures as Northwestern wrapped up non-conference play with a 74-63 win over Jackson State on Friday, Dec. 29. The win moved the Wildcats to 10-2, marking Northwestern's second consecutive 10-2 start and the fourth time in the Chris Collins era that the Wildcats are 10-2 or better.
The Wildcats won their conference opener on Dec. 1, downing No. 1 Purdue in OT at home, 92-88. The win marked NU's second straight season with a Big Ten opening win over a ranked team, after downing No. 20 Michigan State, 70-63 on Dec. 4, 2022. Iowa was the last Big Ten team to accomplish the feat in 2014- 15 (at No. 20 Ohio State) and 2015-16 (No. 1 Michigan State).
Northwestern ranks second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally in scoring defense. The Wildcats are holding opponents to just 63.1 points per game. NU is 7-0 this season when holding opponents to 65 or fewer points.
The Wildcats have been one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the ball this season, leading the Big Ten and ranking fifth nationally, committing just 9.0 turnovers per game. NU's turnover margin of +5.3 per game ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally. Northwestern's assist/turnover ratio of 1.89 ranks second in the Big Ten and sixth in the nation.
Northwestern guards Ty Berry (27) and Ryan Langborg (29) are the first Wildcat duo with 27+ made 3-pointers through 12 games since Michael "Juice" Thompson (29) and John Shurna (35) in 2010-11.
Buie ranks fifth in Northwestern history with 1,756 career points, trailing Evan Eschmeyer by 49 points for fourth place. Michael "Juice" Thompson and Buie are the only two players in program history with career marks of at least 1,500 points, 500 assists, and 200 made three-pointers. Buie is averaging 17.9 points per game (seventh in Big Ten) and 4.9 assists per game (fifth in Big Ten), and is one of just two high-major players to post 17.9-plus points per game and 4.9-plus assists per game this season, joining Dug McDaniel (Michigan).
Last season, Northwestern and Illinois split the season series, with each team winning at home. Northwestern defeated Illinois 73-60 on Jan. 4, 2023, at Welsh-Ryan Arena before falling 66-62 on February 23 in Champaign despite Buie's career-high 35 points.
No. 9 Illinois enters Tuesday's contest at 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Fighting Illini are limiting their opponents to shoot just 37.5% from the field, the third-best mark in the Big Ten and 10th nationally.
Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday, Jan. 7 to take on Michigan State at 6:30 p.m. CT on BTN.