North Cook News

Northwestern Hosts Minnesota Saturday in Big Ten Tilt

 Following a Wednesday night win at Nebraska, Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena to take on Minnesota at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 28. The game will be broadcast on BTN and WGN Radio 720. Mike Hall (play-by-play) and Trent Meacham (analyst) will call the game on BTN, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) have the call on WGN Radio 720.

Last time out, the Wildcats took down Nebraska 78-63 behind a career-high 26 points from Ty Berry. Northwestern came out of the gate hot, claiming a 43-30 lead into the break behind 21 first half points from Berry on 5-for-5 shooting from three-point range. Northwestern's 43 first half points marked their most in a first half against a Big Ten opponent since scoring 46 against Minnesota on March 6, 2022. The Wildcats extended their lead all the way to 23 in the second half before Nebraska made a run to make it a 12 point game with 3:42 remaining. NU shot 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the last two minutes to close the game out. The win improved Northwestern's Big Ten record to 5-3, its best start to conference play since starting Big Ten play 6-2 in 2016-17.

Earlier this week, Chase Audige was one of just 15 players named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. Audige ranks first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally averaging 2.7 steals per game. Audige's 51 steals are the most in a single-season by a Wildcat since Jeremy Nash totaled 58 thefts in the 2009-10 season. Audige's 130 steals in a Northwestern uniform are eighth most in school history, trailing Craig Moore by 11 for seventh place. 

The Wildcats lead the country in 2-point field goal defense (41.7%), 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (38.6%), and 15th nationally and third in the Big Ten in scoring defense (60.9). The 'Cats defense currently ranks 19th nationally in defensive efficiency per KenPom.

Boo Buie is one of three Big Ten players to lead their team in points per game (15.4) and assists per game (4.2), joining Jahmir Young (Maryland) and Jalen Pickett (Penn State). Buie's 373 career assists rank fifth in program history, just six behind Shawn Watts for fourth place.

Audige and Buie are the Big Ten's only duo averaging at least 15 points per game. Two 'Cats haven't averaged 15 or more in the same season since 2011-12: forward John Shurna (20.0) and guard Drew Crawford (16.1). NU hasn't had two guards average 15 or more in the same season since at least 1992-93.

Minnesota enters Saturday's contest 7-12 overall and 1-8 in Big Ten play. The Golden Gophers have lost four straight after taking down Ohio State in Columbus. Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota in points per game (14.9) and rebounds per game (6.3). Jamison Battle pours in 12.6 points per game for Minnesota.

Saturday's matchup will the 183rd meeting all-time between the two schools. Minnesota leads the all-time series 109-73. The series is the fourth-most played in Northwestern's history. Last time the two squads faced off, Northwestern came away with a 75-62 win on Senior night on March 6, 2022. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins is 8-8 all-time against the Golden Gophers.

Following Saturday's matchup, the Wildcats will travel to face Iowa at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, January 31 with BTN and WGN Radio 720 providing live coverage. 

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