Northwestern men’s basketball’s 2024-25 season was quite different from just one year ago. From unprecedented injuries to heartwarming broken records, the team had a fair share of ups and downs. As head coach Chris Collins prepares to bring in a fresh set of players who can fit into the resting team, here is our review of some Wildcat moments this year and what to expect for next fall.
How do you think Coach Collins performed this year?
Obviously, a lot of things that happened to the team this season were out of his control, from fourth-year guard Brooks Barnhizer’s foot injury to graduate guard Jalen Leach’s ACL injury, but he made the most out of what he had. From transfers who proved to be valuable additions but didn’t fully reach the spotlight, to impressive freshman performances, one could never count Northwestern out of tournament contention. Considering the Big Ten’s expansion exponentially increased the level of competition, it was impressive to see the team finish above a .500 record. With Collins signing a multi-year contract extension through 2030 in early April, he is surely not done in Evanston.
What did you make of third-year forward Nick Martinelli stepping up as a leader?
No words to describe it. It was an absolutely impeccable season. It all started with his career-high 32 points in their defeat against Dayton and ended with him becoming Northwestern’s single-season leading scorer with 676 points scored throughout the season, doubling the 300 points he scored just a season ago. He stepped up as the team’s unifying hero when things didn’t seem as clear for the Wildcats. If you ask me what could have been the cherry on top? A well-deserved spot on the All-Big Ten First Team. Although he has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft while still maintaining his college eligibility at Northwestern, most Wildcat fans hope to see him run it back one more year at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
What was your reaction to Barnhizer’s early farewell?
It was tough news to process. He was on his way to having an amazing season, scoring nearly 300 points in the 17 games he only started and played in. He was the key player Coach Collins knew he could count on after Boo Buie’s departure at the end of last season. It was a strong college basketball career while it lasted – I just wish his farewell would have been different.
Who was your favorite player other than Martinelli or Barnhizer?
I have to give credit to first-year guard K.J. Windham. Talk about some breathtaking three pointers. He scored 20 points twice throughout the season, going 4-7 in three pointers for each game. As the freshman who played the most minutes and scored the most points on the team, I am excited to see his growth for the upcoming season.
What were your thoughts on not reaching a third consecutive NCAA Tournament?
Something told me it was bound to happen. It had already been difficult for the Wildcats to reach the Big Ten Tournament, so they would have needed a miracle to reach the NCAA Tournament. To reiterate, the team had potential and grit, but some things were out of its hands, so having a third consecutive winning season was a bigger accomplishment in and of itself.
What was your favorite uniform?
I must to go with last year’s pick: the Gothic kit. That uniform is a superpower alone.
What was your most favorite game from the season?
Although I was not on campus to attend it, I always love a good win against the ranked Fighting Illini. A sold-out Welsh-Ryan Arena. A game that went into overtime. In the recap I wrote on last season’s win in January 2024, I called it “overtime magic,” and that is exactly what goes on between these two. I never get tired of it!
What expectations do you have for next year?
The team will clearly continue to transition. Graduate guard Ty Berry, graduate center Matthew Nicholson, graduate center Keenan Fitzmorris, Barnhizer and Leach have sealed their time as Wildcats, and redshirt first-year Blake Barkley and redshirt second-year Luke Hunger have entered the transfer portal. Freshman recruits will be interesting to observe, while transfer player additions such as rising third-year guard Jayden Reid from USF and rising second-year guard Max Green from Holy Cross will surely uplift the competitive spirit Northwestern is hoping to regain. My biggest hope is to see the team end higher in the Big Ten standings, which will only make their NCAA Tournament aspirations greater.
