North Cook News

Red-Hot Northwestern Hosts Hawkeyes

Northwestern puts its four-game winning streak on the line at 5:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, February 19 when it hosts Iowa at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Sunday's contest can be seen on BTN and heard on ESPN 1000 WMVP. Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) will handle the television broadcast, while Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Billy McKinney (analyst) will handle the radio broadcast.

Winners of seven of its last nine games, Northwestern (19-7, 10-5 B1G) sits in second place of the Big Ten Conference standings after defeating No. 14 Indiana 64-62 on Wednesday night. Boo Buie poured in 21 points, including the game-winner with two seconds remaining to give the Wildcats their fourth win over a ranked opponent this season. Chase Audige chipped in 14 points and Robbie Beran added 12 points in the win.

Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins was one of 15 coaches named to the Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The 10th-year head coach has accrued 152 wins at Northwestern, which ranks third in program history. Collins previously was one of four national finalists for the award in 2016-17 after guiding NU to a 24-12 overall record and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. He has guided the 'Cats to four wins this year over ranked competition, the most in school history.

Buie was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday for his performance in wins at Ohio State and over No. 1 Purdue last week. Across two games, Buie averaged 22.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game during the week of February 6-12. Against No. 1 Purdue, Buie posted a game-high 26 points, while adding four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a career-high three blocks.

NU's 19 wins this season are the most since the 2016-17 season that saw the 'Cats set a school record for single-season victories (24). The team's 19 wins are tied for fifth-most in a single-season in program history. The Wildcats have won 10 or more Big Ten games for only the fourth time in program history. The 2016-17 and 1932-33 teams each had 10, while the 1930-31 team, the school's only outright Big Ten championship team, won 11.

The Wildcats rank 20th nationally and third in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing just 61.9 points per game. NU's opponent field goal percentage (40.6%) is 34th nationally and third in the Big Ten. 

Indiana's 62-point output on Wednesday marked the fourth-consecutive game that Northwestern has held its opponent to below 65 points. In 26 games this season, the Wildcats have held their opponent to below 65 points in 19 games. In those 19 games, Northwestern is 18-1.

Iowa (17-9, 9-6 B1G) enters Sunday's matchup averaging 81.0 points per game, the highest mark in the Big Ten. Kris Murray leads the Hawkeyes with 21.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Filip Rebraca chips in 14.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. The Hawkeyes have four players with scoring averages in double figures.

When the two sides met on January 31 in Iowa City, Iowa led 55-54 with 10 minutes remaining before pulling away late for an 86-70 win. Iowa leads the all-time series 124-60, winning the last nine games between the two teams. Northwestern's last win over the Hawkeyes came on Jan. 15, 2017 in Evanston. 

Northwestern will hit the road for the first time in two weeks when it travels to take on in-state rival Illinois at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, February 23. The game will be broadcast on BTN and WGN Radio 720. 

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