2024–25 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team

The 2024–25 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team represented Northwestern University in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by 12th-year head coach Chris Collins. The Wildcats played their home games at Welsh–Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois as members of the Big Ten Conference. Following the team's loss in the Big Ten Tournament, they stated that they would decline any postseason invitations.^[1]

2024–25 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	17–16 (7–13 Big Ten)
Head coach	Chris Collins (12th season)
Assistant coaches	Chris Lowery Bryant McIntosh Shane Southwell
Home arena	Welsh–Ryan Arena
Seasons ← 2023–24 2025–26 →

2024–25 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 7 Michigan State	17	–	3		.850			30	–	7		.811
No. 9 Maryland	14	–	6		.700			27	–	9		.750
No. 10 Michigan †	14	–	6		.700			27	–	10		.730
UCLA	13	–	7		.650			23	–	11		.676
No. 16 Wisconsin	13	–	7		.650			27	–	10		.730
No. 14 Purdue	13	–	7		.650			24	–	12		.667
Illinois	12	–	8		.600			22	–	13		.629
Oregon	12	–	8		.600			25	–	10		.714
Indiana	10	–	10		.500			19	–	13		.594
Ohio State	9	–	11		.450			17	–	15		.531
Rutgers	8	–	12		.400			15	–	17		.469
Minnesota	7	–	13		.350			15	–	17		.469
Northwestern	7	–	13		.350			17	–	16		.515
USC	7	–	13		.350			17	–	18		.486
Iowa	7	–	13		.350			17	–	16		.515
Nebraska	7	–	13		.350			21	–	14		.600
Penn State	6	–	14		.300			16	–	15		.516
Washington	4	–	16		.200			13	–	18		.419
† 2025 Big Ten tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2023–24 season 21–10, 12–8 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for third place. As the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, they lost in the quarterfinals by No. 5 seed Wisconsin. The Wildcats received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, their third-ever appearance, as the No. 9 seed in the East Region. The Wildcats defeated Florida Atlantic in the first round before falling to 2 time National Champion UConn in the second round, closing their season with an overall record of 22–12.

Offseason

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Reason for departure
Boo Buie	0	G	6'2"	180	GS Senior	Albany, NY	Graduated/undrafted in 2024 NBA draft
Ryan Langborg	5	G	6'4"	195	GS Senior	San Diego, CA	Graduated
Parker Strauss	10	G	6'3"	180	Freshman	Costa Mesa, CA	Transferred to UC Riverside
Blake Preston	32	F	6'9"	240	GS Senior	Charlotte, NC	Graduated

Incoming transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous college
Jalen Leach	1	G	6'4"	200	GS Senior	Nyack, NY	Fairfield
Keenan Fitzmorris	5	C	7'0"	250	GS Senior	Overland Park, KS	Stony Brook

Recruiting classes

2024 recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
K.J. Windham #27 PG	Indianapolis, IN	Ben Davis High School	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Aug 5, 2023
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
Angelo Ciaravino SF	Chicago, IL	Mount Carmel High School	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Aug 9, 2023
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (NR)
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2024 Northwestern Commits". Rivals. "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.

2025 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2025)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Phoenix Gill SG	Chicago, IL	Saint Ignatius College Prep	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Jun 10, 2024
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Jake West PG	Malvern, PA	William Penn Charter School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Oct 15, 2024
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (81)
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2025 Northwestern Commits". Rivals. "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals.

Roster

2024–25 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 1 Jalen Leach 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS Fairfield Nyack, New York F 2 Nick Martinelli 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Glenbrook South High School Glenview, Illinois G 3 Ty Berry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) GS Sunrise Christian Academy Newton, Kansas F 4 Blake Barkley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Fr Putnam Science Academy Morgantown, West Virginia C 5 Keenan Fitzmorris 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) GS Stony Brook Overland Park, Kansas G 11 Jordan Clayton 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Bradford Christian Academy Medford, Massachusetts G 13 Brooks Barnhizer 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Jefferson High School Lafayette, Indiana G 20 Justin Mullins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Denver Oak Park, Illinois G 24 K.J. Windham 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, Indiana F 33 Luke Hunger 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) RS So Northfield Mount Hermon School Montreal, Quebec C 34 Matthew Nicholson 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 280 lb (127 kg) GS Clarkston High School Clarkston, Michigan G 43 Blake Smith (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Germantown Academy Blue Bell, Pennsylvania G 44 Angelo Ciaravino 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Mount Carmel High School Chicago, Illinois F 54 Gus Hurlburt (W) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS So Enderlin High School Enderlin, North Dakota	Head coach Chris Collins (Duke) Assistant coach(es) Chris Lowery (Southern Illinois) Bryant McIntosh (Northwestern) Shane Southwell (Kansas State) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
October 30, 2024* 7:00 p.m., B1G+		Lewis	W 89–62		25 – Martinelli	6 – Martinelli	5 – Tied	Welsh–Ryan Arena  Evanston, IL
Regular season
November 4, 2024* 7:00 p.m., Peacock		Lehigh	W 90–46	1–0	26 –  Martinelli	10 –  Martinelli	6 –  Tied	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,521) Evanston, IL
November 9, 2024* 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		at Dayton	L 66–71	1–1	32 – Martinelli	14 – Martinelli	3 – Tied	UD Arena (13,407) Dayton, OH
November 12, 2024* 6:00 p.m., BTN		UIC	W 83–74	2–1	27 – Martinelli	7 – Mullins	5 – Windham	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,492) Evanston, IL
November 15, 2024* 7:00 p.m., Peacock		Eastern Illinois	W 67–58 OT	3–1	27 – Leach	12 – Nicholson	4 – Nicholson	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,969) Evanston, IL
November 19, 2024* 8:00 p.m., BTN		Montana State	W 72–69	4–1	22 – Martinelli	10 – Barnhizer	4 – Barnhizer	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,034) Evanston, IL
November 22, 2024* 7:00 p.m., B1G+		Pepperdine Arizona Tip-Off campus site game	W 68–50	5–1	21 – Leach	7 – Tied	4 – Barnhizer	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,853) Evanston, IL
November 28, 2024* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN		vs. Butler Arizona Tip-Off Cactus Division semifinals	L 69–71	5–2	24 – Barnhizer	8 – Martinelli	2 – Tied	Mullett Arena  Tempe, AZ
November 29, 2024* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN		vs. UNLV Arizona Tip-Off Cactus Division 3rd place game	W 66–61	6–2	23 – Barnhizer	9 – Barnhizer	6 – Barnhizer	Mullett Arena  Tempe, AZ
December 3, 2024 6:00 p.m., Peacock		at Iowa	L 79–80	6–3 (0–1)	21 – Barnhizer	10 – Barnhizer	4 – Martinelli	Carver–Hawkeye Arena (7,698) Iowa City, IA
December 6, 2024 8:00 p.m., BTN		No. 19 Illinois Rivalry	W 70–66 OT	7–3 (1–1)	27 – Martinelli	9 – Tied	5 – Leach	Welsh–Ryan Arena (7,039) Evanston, IL
December 15, 2024* 2:30 p.m., BTN		vs. Georgia Tech Milwaukee Tip-Off	W 71–60	8–3	20 – Barnhizer	10 – Barnhizer	5 – Hunger	Fiserv Forum  Milwaukee, WI
December 21, 2024* 3:00 p.m., BTN		DePaul	W 84–64	9–3	23 – Martinelli	12 – Barnhizer	6 – Barnhizer	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,752) Evanston, IL
December 29, 2024* 12:30 p.m., Peacock		Northeastern	W 85–60	10–3	23 – Berry	10 – Barnhizer	7 – Barnhizer	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,944) Evanston, IL
January 2, 2025 7:00 p.m., Peacock		at Penn State	L 80–84	10–4 (1–2)	20 – Barnhizer	10 – Barnhizer	8 – Barnhizer	Bryce Jordan Center (5,579) State College, PA
January 5, 2025 1:00 p.m., BTN		at No. 20 Purdue	L 61–79	10–5 (1–3)	19 – Ciaravino	8 – Barnhizer	5 – Barnhizer	Mackey Arena (14,876) West Lafayette, IN
January 12, 2025 11:00 a.m., FOX		No. 16 Michigan State	L 68–78	10–6 (1–4)	27 – Martinelli	8 – Barnhizer	4 – Leach	Welsh–Ryan Arena (7,039) Evanston, IL
January 16, 2025 8:00 p.m., BTN		Maryland	W 76–74 OT	11–6 (2–4)	22 – Martinelli	10 – Barnhizer	6 – Leach	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,871) Evanston, IL
January 19, 2025 1:00 p.m., BTN		at No. 20 Michigan	L 76–80 OT	11–7 (2–5)	21 – Barnhizer	16 – Nicholson	5 – Leach	Crisler Center (12,707) Ann Arbor, MI
January 22, 2025 6:00 p.m., BTN		Indiana	W 79–70	12–7 (3–5)	23 – Berry	8 – Barnhizer	7 – Leach	Welsh–Ryan Arena (7,039) Evanston, IL
January 26, 2025 2:00 p.m., BTN		at No. 17 Illinois Rivalry	L 74–83	12–8 (3–6)	17 – Tied	6 – Berry	4 – Leach	State Farm Arena (15,544) Champaign, IL
January 29, 2025 8:00 p.m., BTN		Rutgers	L 72–79	12–9 (3–7)	23 – Leach	10 – Martinelli	6 – Barnhizer	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,884) Evanston, IL
February 1, 2025 1:00 p.m., FS1		No. 17 Wisconsin	L 69–75	12–10 (3–8)	23 – Leach	7 – Tied	7 – Leach	Welsh–Ryan Arena (7,039) Evanston, IL
February 4, 2025 8:00 p.m., BTN		USC	W 77–75	13–10 (4–8)	27 – Martinelli	13 – Marinelli	6 – Leach	Welsh–Ryan Arena (5,440) Evanston, IL
February 8, 2025 9:30 p.m., BTN		at Washington	L 71–76	13–11 (4–9)	23 – Martinelli	10 – Martinelli	5 – Clayton	Alaska Airlines Arena (8,064) Seattle, WA
February 11, 2025 10:00 p.m., BTN		at Oregon	L 75–81	13–12 (4–10)	23 – Berry	6 – Martinelli	4 – Tied	Matthew Knight Arena (6,039) Eugene, OR
February 16, 2025 2:00 p.m., BTN		Nebraska	L 64–68	13–13 (4–11)	23 – Tied	12 – Nicholson	3 – Windham	Welsh–Ryan Arena (7,039) Evanston, IL
February 20, 2025 5:30 p.m., FS1		at Ohio State	W 70–49	14–13 (5–11)	18 – Martinelli	6 – Tied	2 – Tied	Value City Arena (12,684) Columbus, OH
February 25, 2025 6:00 p.m., Peacock		at Minnesota	W 75–63	15–13 (6–11)	29 – Martinelli	7 – Berry	7 – Windham	Williams Arena (8,890) Minneapolis, MN
February 28, 2025 8:00 p.m., FS1		Iowa	W 68–57	16–13 (7–11)	20 – Windham	9 – Martinelli	4 – Berry	Welsh–Ryan Arena (6,249) Evanston, IL
March 3, 2025 8:00 p.m., FS1		UCLA	L 69–73	16–14 (7–12)	22 – Berry	7 – Berry	7 – Clayton	Welsh–Ryan Arena (6,099) Evanston, IL
March 8, 2025 2:00 p.m., Peacock		at No. 13 Maryland	L 61–74	16–15 (7–13)	19 – Reese	11 – Reese	4 – Rice	Xfinity Center (17,950) College Park, MD
Big Ten tournament
March 12, 2025 2:30 p.m., Peacock	(13)	vs. (12) Minnesota First round	W 72-64	17–15	28 – Martinelli	7 – Martinelli	4 – Clayton	Gainbridge Fieldhouse  Indianapolis, IN
March 13, 2025 1:30 p.m., BTN	(13)	vs. (5) No. 18 Wisconsin Second Round	L 63–70	17–16	22 – Martinelli	7 – Tied	5 – Windham	Gainbridge Fieldhouse (13,216) Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.

Source^[2]