Maryland (13-4, 3-3) at Northwestern (10-6, 1-4)
When: Jan. 16, 2025 | 8 PM CT (9 PM ET) | Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: BTN | Jeff Levering (pxp) & Stephen Bardo (analyst)
Radio: One Maryland App | WJZ-FM 105.7 FM (Baltimore) | The TEAM 980 AM (DC) | SiriusXM channel 388
Betting: Maryland -1 | O/U: 141.5 (DraftKings)
After securing consecutive home wins to get back to .500 in conference play, Maryland will head to Northwestern on Thursday night hoping to secure their first road win of the season.
Maryland leads the all-time series, 12-6, though Northwestern won both matchups by a combined ten points last season.
Picked to finish 15th in the preseason conference standings, four of Northwestern's six losses this season have been by five points or less, while the four-point overtime win vs. Illinois marks their lone win in conference play to-date. But all ten of the Wildcats’ wins this season have come at home, and against a Maryland team struggling to find consistency away from College Park, all eyes will be on whether the Terps can break through in Evanston.
Northwestern is led by star Nick Martinelli, who enters Thursday averaging the second-most points (19.9) in the Big Ten with Brooks Barnhizer (18) just behind. The duo are one of two sets of teammates across averaging at least 18 points per game, while Fairfield transfer Jalen Leach is the third averaging double figures with 13.7 points per game. Ty Berry, who suffered a season-ending injury last season, is back for his fifth season with the program where he's started in all 16 games. Matthew Nicholson rounds out the expected starting five, averaging just over five points and nearly five rebounds per game.
But the Wildcats have also struggled mightily on the offensive end this season, shooting under 40% from the field in each of the last two games and under 30% from three in the last three games, while Maryland will look to extend its defensive dominance on the road. Northwestern leads the conference in fewest turnovers per game (9.8), though have committed at least 12 turnovers in four of their five conference games.
As for Maryland, Thursday marks the latest opportunity at a chance for validation with head coach Kevin Willard looking to guide his team to a road win in conference play. Maryland saw its early season momentum slip away after falling winless in their West Coast swing to open the season, but consecutive wins at home – including the first ranked win of the season – helped get back on track as Ja’Kobi Gillespie then Derik Queen and Rodney Rice spearheaded scoring efforts inside the Xfinity Center.
All five starters enter Thursday averaging double figures with Selton Miguel the lone starter shooting under 40% from the field this season, while Julian Reese enters Thursday ten points away from tying Jim O'Brien for 34th on the all-time scoring list.
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