Penn State hosts Northwestern on Thursday night as the Nittany Lions begin the 2025 slate of conference play. This will be the 61st matchup between the two programs, with PSU owning a 38-22 advantage in the all-time series.
The Wildcats won the last game 68-63 in Evanston, Illinois.
PENN STATE’S OUTLOOK
“Now it gets real,” said head coach Mike Rhoades during Monday’s media session.
He was referencing the fact that Penn State — which just finished non-conference play for the 2024-25 season on Sunday — will play strictly a conference schedule before the Big Ten Tournament begins on March 12.
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“So we’re looking forward to the games, and I want to make sure our bodies are right, our minds are right, and we got to continue to keep getting better. That’s the challenge I gave to our guys … it’s still all about getting better and being ready to compete and find ways to win games in Big Ten play.”
So far, Rhoades’ squad is 1-1 in conference play after beating Purdue and losing to Rutgers in December. Just a year ago, Penn State had an identical conference record before Jan. 1, but it didn’t carry the home-court advantage it does now.
That Purdue win — a Quad 2 victory — is part of the Nittany Lions’ undefeated home record this season and 11-0 home record dating back to last year. Thursday’s game against Northwestern will be at the friendly confines of the Bryce Jordan Center.
NORTHWESTERN (10-3, 1-1)
HEAD COACH
Chris Collins (187-177)
Collins is in his 11th year at the helm of the Wildcats, leading the school to its only three NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure. He has led Northwestern to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances after earning Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2023, a season in which the team won its most Big Ten games in program history (12).
Collins entered this season as the third-winningest coach in program history.
KEY PLAYERS/STATS
Nick Martinelli, 6-foot-7, Forward
Martinelli leads Northwestern and is second in scoring in the Big Ten with 20.2 points per game. He scored a season-high 32 points in a five-point loss to Dayton, grabbing 14 rebounds along the way. In conference action, Martinelli is posting 23.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, with 27 points coming in a win against then No. 19 Illinois.
Brooks Barnhizer, 6-foot-6, Guard
Barnhizer missed the first four games of the season, but since then has been the second most productive scorer for the Wildcats at 20.1 points per contest. He is coming off three straight games of 20 or more points and put together a stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and three steals against No. 19 Illinois. He is averaging a points and rebounds double-double in conference play.
Jalen Leach, 6-foot-4, Guard
Leach is a former All-MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) First Team member who transferred to Northwestern after last season. He is third on the team in scoring (14.1) and second in assists (2.3). He had 16 points and five assists against Illinois and is averaging 12.5 per game in conference matchups.
Defense, Defense, Defense
Northwestern ranks 20th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency, holding its opponents to under 95 points per 100 possessions. The Wildcats also force their opponents into 14.6 turnovers per game, ranking in the 82nd percentile.
METRICS
Penn State enters Thursday’s game ranked 38th in KenPom and 37th in NET. Northwestern is 46th in KenPom and 45th in NET.
GAMETIME
Penn State-Northwestern is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State’s full schedule is available here.
SPREAD
The Nittany Lions are four points favorites against the Wildcats, per DraftKings Sportsbook. The Over-Under Total is 144.5 and the MoneyLines are PSU -198 and Northwestern +164.
TV
Thursday’s game can be streamed on Peacock.
