North Cook News

Northwestern Takes Unbeaten Road Record to Michigan

Northwestern (12-4, 3-2 B1G) looks to remain perfect in road games this season as it travels to Ann Arbor at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 15 to take on Michigan (9-7, 3-2 B1G). Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Action will be televised live on BTN with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) on the call, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) will call the radio broadcast on AM 720 WGN.
 
Northwestern's 12-4 record is its best start over the season's first 16 games since 2016-17, when the Wildcats also opened, 12-4. NU, which has won eight of its last 10 games, will face Michigan twice this season (Feb. 2 at Welsh-Ryan Arena). The Wildcats will look to win its first three conference road games of the year for the first time since 1931-32.
 
Despite clawing their way back from a 10-point second half deficit, the Wildcats came up short against Rutgers at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday night, dropping the contest 65-62. The 'Cats took their first lead with 4:30 remaining in the game and led in the final minute, but were buried by a Cam Spencer 3-pointer with 20 seconds on the clock. Ty Berry and Boo Buie led Northwestern with 13 points each, with Buie adding seven assists. Julian Roper II and Robbie Beran each scored all eight of their points in the second half. Chase Audige contributed 12 points and added two steals and a game-high three blocks.
 
Berry has taken a step forward for the 'Cats in his junior season, and is on pace for career-highs of 10.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Berry has scored 10+ points in five-straight games, the longest stretch of his career. The Kansan is one of six Big Ten guards averaging 10+ points and 5+ rebounds per game this season.
 
Audige leads Northwestern averaging 15.8 points per game, eighth highest in the Big Ten, and 2.8 steals per game, best in the conference. Audige is one of six Division I players and the only player in the Big Ten averaging 15+ points and 2.5+ steals per game this season. The senior guard has tallied double-digit points in 14 of Northwestern's 16 games this year.
 
On Monday morning, the latest AP Poll revealed that the 'Cats were receiving votes for the first time since January 11, 2021. The last time the Wildcats were ranked in the Top 25 was the sixth week of the 2020-21 season, when the December 28, 2020 poll had NU ranked No. 19.
 
The Wildcats have opened the season 3-0 on the road recording wins at Georgetown (75-63), No. 20 Michigan State (70-63) and No. 15 Indiana (84-83). The back-to-back road wins over ranked opponents is a first in program history. It's Northwestern's best road start since opening 2015-16 with four consecutive road wins at Virginia Tech, DePaul, Nebraska and Minnesota.
 
Michigan has dropped its last two games, both on the road, against Iowa (93-84, OT) and Michigan State (59-53). Junior center Hunter Dickinson leads the team posting 18.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He is joined by Jett Howard (15.5) and Kobe Bufkin (12.2), who also average double figures. The Wolverines turn the ball over just 9.4 times per game, the third lowest mark nationally.
 
Northwestern is 59-117 all-time against Michigan. The Wolverines have won the last five meetings overall and the last 10 in Ann Arbor. Last season, Northwestern outscored the Wolverines in the second half, but Michigan escaped with a 72-70 victory in the Crisler Center. Under head coach Chris Collins, the 'Cats are 3-10 against Michigan.
 
The Wildcats continue their road schedule on Wednesday Jan. 18, as they travel to Iowa at 8 p.m. CT on BTN and AM 720 WGN. 

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