Northwestern Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks and Predictions January 29th 2025

Injury-Plagued Rutgers and Northwestern Face Off in Big Ten Battle

As the Big Ten season enters its crucial stretch, both Rutgers and Northwestern find themselves in the lower third of the conference standings. When they meet on Wednesday night in Evanston, Illinois, both teams will be looking to shake off recent struggles and build momentum for the final five weeks of the regular season.

Both Teams Searching for Stability

Rutgers (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten) and Northwestern (12-8, 3-6) have identical conference records, making this matchup significant for both teams as they aim to climb the standings. Each squad is coming off a competitive but ultimately unsuccessful effort against a ranked opponent—Rutgers falling to then-No. 8 Michigan State, while Northwestern came up short against then-No. 17 Illinois.

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Despite their struggles, Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell remains optimistic about his team’s trajectory.

“We’re close,” Pikiell said, referring not only to the league standings but also to his team’s ability to turn things around.

Injury Woes and Key Players

Both teams are dealing with significant injury concerns that could impact their offensive production.

For Rutgers, freshman guard Dylan Harper is a major question mark. Harper, who sprained his ankle during a January 20 loss to Penn State, made a surprising return against Michigan State, contributing six points in 13 minutes off the bench. Pikiell admitted he hadn’t expected Harper to play, making his availability for Wednesday uncertain.

“I was proud of him for giving it a try,” Pikiell said. “He’s been gritty and tough for us. … Just going to take a little bit more time.”

While Harper works his way back, Rutgers will rely on Jordan Derkack, who delivered a season-high 26 points against Michigan State, to keep the offense afloat.

For Northwestern, their offensive identity centers around Nick Martinelli and Brooks Barnhizer. Martinelli, who averages 19.75 points per game, is just a fraction behind Rutgers’ Ace Bailey (19.83) for the conference scoring lead. However, both Martinelli and Barnhizer struggled in Northwestern’s loss to Illinois, combining for just 20 points on 8-for-26 shooting.

Barnhizer’s performance was particularly impacted by a hard fall he took after a dunk against Indiana last week. He managed just three points against Illinois and will be looking to bounce back in a key game for the Wildcats.

A Tale of Two Second Halves

While both teams lost their most recent games, the manner in which they fell highlighted different strengths and weaknesses.

Rutgers stayed competitive against Michigan State, fueled by Derkack’s strong offensive showing and a resilient effort despite Harper’s limited availability.

Meanwhile, Northwestern found itself in a deep hole early against Illinois, trailing by 22 points at halftime. However, the Wildcats showed fight in the second half, cutting into the deficit before ultimately falling short by nine points. Head coach Chris Collins praised his team’s relentless attitude despite the loss.

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“I was proud of our fight,” Collins said. “We’re going to keep playing until the final buzzer. That’s who we are.”

What’s at Stake?

With both teams tied in the Big Ten standings, this game presents an opportunity for one of them to take a step forward. Rutgers is capping a tough road-heavy stretch, playing three of its last four games away from home. Meanwhile, Northwestern will aim to capitalize on home-court advantage to get back on track.

Will Rutgers get another big performance from Derkack and continue to battle despite injuries? Or will Northwestern’s scoring duo of Martinelli and Barnhizer find their rhythm and lead the Wildcats to a much-needed victory?

Both teams are looking for answers, and Wednesday night’s contest could go a long way in determining which squad is better positioned for a late-season push.