On Monday night at 9 p.m., Pitt (4-3) will take on the Northwestern Wildcats (5-1) in Evanston, Illinois, looking to increase its winning streak to four games.
Let’s learn more about the Wildcats ahead of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
LEADING SCORERS
Northwestern has four players averaging more than ten points per game early on this season. Senior guards Boo Buie (13.3 points per game) and Chase Audige (12.2), along with junior guard Ty Berry (11.0) and 6-foot-9 senior forward Robbie Beran (10.5).
DEFENSIVE STRENGTH
The Wildcats pride themselves on the defensive end of the floor, giving up just 51.7 points per game. NW has held its opponents to a 32% mark from the field (No. 2 in the country), as well as a 26% mark from three-point range.
According to Kenpom.com, the Wildcats rank at No. 8 in the nation in defensive efficiency. The Wildcats have allowed more than 60 points just once this season through six games.
MORE COMPARISONS
Northwestern’s rotation runs a bit deeper, as the Wildcats have eight players averaging more than 18 minutes per game while Pitt has just six.
Northwestern
- 65.2 points per game
- 22.3 FG per game
- 39% FG
- 32% 3FG
- 40.3 RPG
- 14 APG
- 12.5 TO/G
Pitt
- 71.3 points per game
- 24.9 FG per game
- 43% FG
- 30% 3FG
- 40 RPG
- 13.4 APG
- 14.7 TO/G
LAST TIME PITT PLAYED NW
Back in 2020, Pitt took down Northwestern for the fourth-straight time as Justin Champagnie posted his first 20-point, 20-rebound game of his stellar sophomore campaign. In that game, Pitt held Buie to a 2-for-9 shooting night, although he did make his way up to 14 points. Forward Ryan Young (now at Duke) led the Wildcats with 13 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Audige scored 12 points, and Beran scored seven and collected four fouls.
John Hugley and William Jeffress (now injured) are the only current Panthers who played in that game, as Hugley posted three points and Jeffress added seven.
RECENT LOSS TO AUBURN
Northwestern is coming off a trip to Cancun in which it made it all the way to the championship game of the event.
There, the Wildcats fell to Auburn in a low-scoring, 43-42 affair. Northwestern struggled mightily to find the bottom of the net, hitting just 2 of its 24 three-point attempts on the day. The Wildcat defense held strong once again, as Auburn shot just 26% from the floor and 24% from three in the win.
HEIGHT MATCHUPS
Let’s compare starting fives.
Northwestern
Boo Buie – 6’2
Chase Audige – 6’4
Ty Berry – 6’3
Tydus Verhoeven – 6’9
Robbie Beran – 6’9
The Wildcats also look to 7-footer Matthew Nicholson inside for 18.2 minutes per game. 6’6 wing Brooks Barnhizer has also played a solid role so far.
PittÂ
Nelly Cummings – 6’0
Jamarius Burton – 6’4
Greg Elliott – 6’3
Blake Hinson – 6’7
John Hugley – 6’9
GAME TIME
The game will tip off at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.
