- Matchup: Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats
- Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- Venue: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Northwestern Wildcats (13-16) are set to battle the Purdue Boilermakers (22-7) at Welsh-Ryan Arena this Wednesday.
In their previous game, the Purdue Boilermakers faced off against Ohio State, suffering a defeat with a score of 82-74. The Boilermakers committed 23 fouls while Ohio State had 17. Purdue converted on 9 of 24 from beyond the arc, while Ohio State claimed 78.1% success at the free-throw line by sinking 25 of 32 attempts. Ohio State also secured 33 rebounds (10 offensive, 23 defensive) and did not record any blocked shots. They contributed 9 assists alongside 3 steals during the match. Defensively, Purdue allowed an opponent shooting percentage of 51.1%, with Ohio State making 24 of 47 attempts. The Boilermakers tallied 27 total rebounds, of which 8 were offensive, and managed 7 out of 10 free throws for a 70.0% success rate. Purdue finished with a field goal percentage of 44.4%, connecting on 28 out of 63 attempts, including 11 of their 29 three-point shots.
A standout player for Purdue was Braden Smith, who scored 20 points on 7 of 19 shooting and played for 36 minutes, though he did not register any rebounds. He posted a field goal percentage of 36.8% and distributed 7 assists.
The Boilermakers boast a record of 22-7 this season, averaging 9.0 turnovers per game while committing 15.0 fouls nightly. Collectively, they average 35.8 rebounds per game and have recorded 568 assists so far, ranking 3rd in Division 1 for assists. Purdue is shooting 38.3% from three-point range (273 of 712) and 74.0% from the free-throw line. They score an average of 82.3 points per game, placing them 53rd nationally, and have a field goal percentage of 49.9%.
On defense, Purdue has managed to force 10.7 turnovers per game while averaging 17.2 personal fouls. They are ranked 213th in Division 1 for assists allowed, having given up 408 assists this season. Purdue’s defense allows a field goal percentage of 43.9% (730 of 1,662) and concedes 29.2 rebounds per game, along with a 33.2% success rate from three-point range. They sit 77th in opponents’ points per game allowed at 69.9.
In their last outing, the Northwestern Wildcats secured a narrow victory against Oregon, finishing 63-62. Northwestern allowed Oregon a total of 31 rebounds (12 offensive), and shot 36.8% from 3-point range (7 of 19) while converting 9 of 12 free throws (75.0%). Oregon managed to shoot 39.0%, making 23 of 59 field goals. Northwestern’s shooting success was impressive, completing 25 of 56 attempts for an overall rate of 44.6%. Their performance from deep was less convincing, with only 4 of 16 three-point shots converted (25.0%). Oregon committed 13 fouls, leading to 12 attempts for the Wildcats at the line. The Wildcats also had 20 defensive rebounds and 11 offensive rebounds for a total of 31.
Nick Martinelli made a significant contribution to the Wildcats, scoring 22 points in 39 minutes of play and providing 7 assists. He managed to make 8 of 18 performance shots for a shooting rate of 44.4% and accumulated 11 rebounds.
Northwestern holds a season record of 13-16. The Wildcats average 17.4 fouls per game and maintain a free-throw percentage of 74.5%. Their assist rate stands at 17.1 per game (31st in college basketball) and they turn the ball over on average 8.7 times. This season, they have scored a total of 2,137 points (73.7 per game) while averaging 31.6 rebounds per game. Offensively, Northwestern has hit 45.7% of their field goal attempts, ranking 158th nationally.
Defensively, the Wildcats allow a 3-point shooting percentage of 32.8% (221 of 673) and see opponents hitting 73.8% of free-throw attempts. They concede an average of 15.5 assists and 35.7 rebounds per game, ranking 316th and 264th in Division 1, respectively. The Wildcats rank 139th in the country regarding points per game allowed, with an average of 72.5. They create 11.4 turnovers per game and allow shooting at 43.4% from the field (129th in Division 1).
Who will come out on top in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Back Northwestern
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