Northwestern (22-11)
#39 in KenPom
56th in D1 experience
80th in minutes continuity (52.9%)
33rd in Offensive efficiency
- 7th in turnover prevention
- 7th w/ a 39.3 3P%; median in 3PA/FGA (36.7%)
- However, less threes w/ Ty Berry out for year (2.4 3PM; 43.3 3P%)
- Shot just 32% last season
- 17th in A/FGM ratio (60%)
- 74th w/ a 74.8 FT%; but just 267th in FT rate
- 282nd in offensive rebounding rate
- 328th in offensive tempo (18.9 seconds/possession)
55th in Defensive efficiency
- 59th in FT rate
- 129th defensive rebounding rate
- 180th in opp. 2P% (50.5%)
- 186th in 3PA/FGA (37.2%); 272nd in opp. 3P% (35.2%)
- 309th in defensive tempo (18.1 seconds/possession)
- 314th in FT rare prevention
- 338th in A/FGM prevention (58.3%)
BIG TEN CONFERENCE STATS PER-GAME
KEY INJURIES
Ty Berry 6’3 185 senior (Knee; out since Feb 7th)
Matt Nicholson 7’0 280 senior (Foot)
- 5.3p, 4.3r, 1.4b, 22.3 mpg
- 2-3 record since injury on March 2nd
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP:
Boo Buie 6’2 180, fifth-year returnee
Ryan Langborg 6’4 195 grad transfer from Princeton
Nick Martinelli 6’7 200 sophomore
- Joined starting lineup following Berry’s injury
Brooks Barnhizer 6’6 215 junior
Luke Hunger 6’10 255 sophomore
- Joined starting lineup following Nicholson’s injury
FREQUENTLY USED BENCH PIECES - 24.6% minutes (301st in nation)
Blake Smith 6’6 175 sophomore walk-on
Blake Preston 6’9 240 grad transfer from Liberty
I’ve gotta give Northwestern head coach Chris Collins credit: the Wildcats have been a Big Ten doormat for nearly a century, but, despite the lofty academic prerequisites for recruits, Collins has recently led the Wildcats through its best stretch, earning two-straight NCAA tournament bids after reaching its first berth ever in 2017.
Throughout his eleven season tenure, Northwestern has been consistent in their style on both ends. On offense, the signature is slow-paced, mistake-limiting ball movement where all five guys are expected to pass well. On defense, Collins likes to grind down defenses and force isolation shot attempts of poor quality. Overall, Northwestern is a slow-paced team that, like what we saw against Florida Atlantic, is much more comfortable keeping the score in the 60s.
Northwestern’s success on the floor revolves around Big Ten First Team selection Boo Buie. The fifth-year returnee has always had an alpha-dynamism to his game and in his final season he made massive leaps in his three-point shooting (44.1% this season vs 32.6% across his first four seasons) to go along with his ability to create off the dribble. Whenever Northwestern needs a big shot, he’s the guy.
Big Ten Third Team and All-Defensive team selection Brooks Barnhizer is Northwestern’s best all-around performer. The 6’6 215 junior can do a little bit of everything on offense, but his bread and butter is penetrating inside and pulling up from mid-range. With length and strength, Barnhizer can defend the 1-through-4 with ease and is an excellent defensive rebounder and willing harasser on defense who possesses the team’s highest turnover rates.
Princeton grad transfer Ryan Langborg reminds me a lot of Cam Spencer on offense in the way he is constantly moving without the ball and his incredibly pretty three-point stroke. Langborg has been a one-year fill-in after Chase Audige graduated, who was one of the best perimeter defenders in the country, but Langborg’s D pales in comparison.
Speaking of defense, while Barnhizer is exceptional, the interior defense has taken a hit since starting center Matthew Nicholson got injured. The seven-footer was a physical defender and the team’s best rim protector. In his place, sophomore Luke Hunger and Liberty grad transfer Blake Preston have shared the center rotation with Hunger as the starter. Like Nicholson, don’t expect much on offense, but neither have the defensive capabilities and size of Nicholson, but both are very good rebounders. Expect a lot of scrap on each guy while Hunger isn’t afraid to let it rip from three.
Once Ty Berry was out for the year, sophomore Nick Martinelli joined the starting lineup. At 6’7, he brings more size to the startling lineup, but considering that only 19% of his shot attempts are from three, his lack of spacing provides less space for Buie and Barnhizer to create inside. An efficient, low-usage forward whose best attribute is offensive rebounding has allowed Collins to play with some small-ball rotations w/ Barnhizer at the 5, Martinelli at the 4 and walk-on sophomore Blake Smith at the 3.
Speaking of Smith, he went from a DNP to a regular bench piece in short order once Berry was on the mend. At 6’6 175, Smith is a high-energy, versatile defender and capable offensive rebounder for his size. He’s only shot the ball nine times from the field in the last eight games, so he’s as low-usage as you can get on offense.
In summary, with Northwestern’s recent injuries, they’ve hunkered down to an even slower, grittier style of play with their offensive focus orbiting around Buie, Barnhizer and Langborg. Northwestern is an unselfish, well-coached and disciplined team but does not match the talent and depth of the Huskies. Faced with injuries, Smith and Preston have stepped up, but the reality is that they play just five guys who have been in the rotation all season.
