- Matchup: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Northwestern Wildcats
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Venue: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
- Broadcast: BTN
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The Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-0) are set to visit Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday to face off against the Northwestern Wildcats (8-9).
In their previous game, the Nebraska Cornhuskers claimed a decisive victory over Oregon, finishing 90-55. They posted a remarkable field goal percentage of 53.3%, sinking 32 of 60 shots, and made 17 out of 36 attempts from beyond the arc (47.2%). The team also showcased their free-throw prowess, converting 9 out of 11 attempts for an efficiency of 81.8%. On the boards, Nebraska secured 29 rebounds, with 6 coming from the offensive end. They also recorded 20 assists, forced 15 turnovers, and stole the ball 11 times. Defensively, Nebraska held Oregon to a shooting percentage of 41.7%, with the Ducks completing 20 of 48 field goals. Oregon managed 11 assists and had 3 steals during the match, securing 27 rebounds total (5 offensive and 22 defensive) while not blocking any shots. Oregon struggled at the free-throw line, making only 9 of their 17 attempts for a conversion rate of 52.9%, and hit 6 of 23 from three-point range. Both teams ended the game with 14 personal fouls each.
Pryce Sandfort emerged as a standout performer, scoring 28 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Over 31 minutes on the floor, he also grabbed 4 rebounds and contributed 2 assists.
Nebraska heads into this matchup with an impressive 17-0 record for the season. The team averages just 9.3 turnovers per game while committing 13.8 fouls. Collectively, they secure 37.1 rebounds per game and lead Division 1 with 311 total assists this season. The Cornhuskers have hit 35.2% of their three-point attempts (186 of 529) and boast a free-throw percentage of 75.3%. Offensively, they score an average of 81.7 points per game (93rd in college basketball), shooting at a rate of 47.2% from the field.
Defensively, Nebraska forces opponents to average 13.4 turnovers per game and draws 16.9 fouls. They allow just 30.5% shooting from three-point range and rank 23rd nationally, conceding only 65.8 points per game. The Cornhuskers’ field goal percentage allowed sits at 38.6% (393 of 1,019), and they concede an average of 34.9 rebounds per game, ranking 172nd in assists allowed with 226 on the season.
In their last outing, the Northwestern Wildcats were unable to secure a victory, falling 79-68 to Illinois. The Wildcats collected a total of 26 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards. They committed only 7 turnovers while registering 5 steals. With Illinois committing 11 fouls, Northwestern capitalized on the free-throw line, converting 15 of 17 attempts for a success rate of 88.2%. From beyond the arc, the Wildcats made 9 out of 25 attempts (36.0%) and finished the game shooting 39.3% from the field, hitting 22 of 56 shots. On defense, Northwestern allowed Illinois to shoot 47.6% (30 of 63) and 36.7% from three-point range (11 of 30), while Illinois went a perfect 8 for 8 from the charity stripe. Overall, Northwestern conceded a total of 32 rebounds to Illinois (13 offensive).
Nick Martinelli played a crucial role for the Wildcats, scoring 34 points in his 44 minutes on the court, while also registering 1 assist and 12 rebounds, making 11 of 22 shots for a shooting percentage of 50.0%.
Northwestern’s current record stands at 8-9 this season. On average, they commit 18.2 fouls per game and have a free-throw conversion rate of 73.7%. The Wildcats dish out 18.0 assists per game, ranking 27th in the nation, with an average of 8.4 turnovers per game. They have scored 1,334 points this season (78.5 points per game) and average 33.4 rebounds per game. Offensively, Northwestern ranks 87th nationally with a shooting percentage of 47.3% from the field.
Defensively, Northwestern ranks 128th in points allowed, with an average of 71.6 per game. They force 11.6 turnovers per game, while opponents are shooting 42.0% against them (102nd in Division 1). Their defense allows 29.7% shooting from three-point range (118 of 397), and opponents score 74.1% on free throw attempts. Overall, they give up an average of 15.0 assists and 35.4 rebounds per game, ranking 284th and 237th respectively on the defensive end.
Which team will come out on top in this NCAA matchup?
Recommended Pick: Go with Nebraska
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