The Big Ten Tournament continues on Wednesday evening with a meeting between Northwestern and Indiana in Chicago. Northwestern arrives with a 14-18 record and enters the contest after a 76-66 victory over Penn State in the opening round of the tournament. Indiana, sitting at 18-13 overall, received a higher seed and now faces a Wildcats group that already proved it can compete with the Hoosiers this season. Northwestern has home-court advantage in this tournament, more or less. I break down how much that will matter in my Northwestern vs Indiana preview.
Our Northwestern vs Indiana Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Northwestern Wildcats vs Indiana Hoosiers
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 11, 6:30 PM ET
- Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Key Storylines
Indiana enters the Big Ten Tournament looking to build a late-season run after an inconsistent stretch that saw the Hoosiers go 1-4 in their last five games. Their offense has been capable of putting up points quickly, but defensive lapses have cost them during conference play. The Hoosiers average 78.7 points per game and rely heavily on leading scorer Lamar Wilkerson to drive the offense.
Northwestern arrives with a bit of confidence after its opening-round victory. The Wildcats showed strong ball movement in that game, recording 21 assists while controlling the tempo. Northwestern also holds the psychological edge of having defeated Indiana earlier this season. However, the Wildcats have struggled to string together wins in Big Ten play and finished the regular season with a losing conference record.
Key Players
Indiana Hoosiers
- Lamar Wilkerson leads Indiana with 21.0 points per game while shooting efficiently from the field and nearly 90% from the free-throw line. His scoring ability and experience make him the focal point of the Hoosiers offense.
- Tucker DeVries contributes around 13.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and has been productive recently, shooting over 40% during the last several games. His perimeter shooting helps stretch defenses.
- Conor Enright directs the offense with 4.7 assists per game. His ball handling and decision-making help Indiana maintain offensive flow in half-court sets.
Northwestern Wildcats
- Nick Martinelli is the centerpiece of Northwestern’s offense, averaging 22.8 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field. He also adds more than 6 rebounds per game and carried the Wildcats in their previous meeting with Indiana.
- Jayden Reid provides balance as the team’s primary playmaker, averaging 9.9 points and 4.9 assists per game. His ability to distribute and control tempo is critical for Northwestern.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Northwestern | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 73.3 | 78.7 |
| Points allowed per game | 72.0 | 72.1 |
| Team Field Goal % | 46% | 47% |
| Rebounds per game | 30.8 | 32.5 |
| Assists per game | 17.2 | 16.8 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Past meeting this season: Northwestern defeated Indiana 72-68 on February 25.
- Northwestern is 13-16-2 against the spread this season.
- Indiana enters this game with a 14-17 record against the spread.
Northwestern vs Indiana Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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