Northwestern (17-16, 7-13 Big Ten)

Big Ten scoring champion Nick Martinelli is back for his fourth season at Northwestern. Beyond him, there aren't many familiar faces. The Wildcats lost four starters with Brooks Barnhizer, Jalen Leach, Ty Berry and Matthew Nicholson using up their eligibility. Barnhizer, Berry and Nicholson spent their entire careers at Northwestern and helped the Wildcats make the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024 before getting hit hard by injuries last season. Even though he has just one starter back, coach Chris Collins likes his roster depth, particularly at guard and on the wing. He envisions a longer rotation after leaning heavily on his starters last year. He also expects a faster pace.

Players to watch

Martinelli (senior, F, 6-7, 20.5 ppg). Martinelli set the s

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