Ohio State Buckeyes vs Northwestern Wildcats Picks and Predictions February 20th 2025

Seeking Win to Boost NCAA Chances, Ohio State Welcomes Northwestern

Looking ahead. That’s all Ohio State can do as the Buckeyes seek to rebound from a loss to rival Michigan when they host Northwestern on Thursday.

Buckeyes’ NCAA Tournament Hopes

The Ohio State Buckeyes (15-11, 7-8 Big Ten) hoped a victory over then-No. 20 Michigan on Sunday would fortify their bid to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons.

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However, the 86-83 setback puts the Buckeyes in a vulnerable position, making the upcoming matchup against the struggling and injury-plagued Northwestern Wildcats (13-13, 4-11) even more critical.

“This time of the year, every game is important and every game is meaningful,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “Some can hurt you more than others, some can help you more than others, but the most important thing is to give the next game your full attention and focus — because you need it.”

Northwestern’s Struggles and Urgency

Northwestern, playing without starting guards Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach due to season-ending injuries, has lost three straight games.

The most recent loss was particularly painful, as the Wildcats blew a 20-point lead with 19 minutes left in a 68-64 defeat to Nebraska on Sunday. The loss likely ended their hopes of making a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. More pressing, however, is their fight for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament, where only 15 of the 18 teams qualify.

“Sometimes, you have to go through it,” Wildcats coach Chris Collins said. “I’ve had to go through it twice here. We’re kind of back there now. Sometimes, there can be a lot of heartache. You’ve got to get to the other side.”

Key Players to Watch

Despite Northwestern’s recent struggles, Nick Martinelli and Ty Berry shined against Nebraska, each scoring 23 points. However, their increased production has drawn more defensive attention from opponents.

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“If you play us, you’re going to stay on Nick, and you’re going to stay on Ty,” Collins said.

Ohio State will look for a bounce-back performance from Micah Parrish, who had totaled 51 points in the two games prior to Michigan but was limited to just nine points on 2-of-11 shooting in the loss.

“It wasn’t his night,” Diebler said of Parrish. “But I told him when it’s not, we still need you to be an elite defender, which you can be.”

What’s at Stake?

Both teams enter this contest needing a win—Ohio State to bolster its NCAA Tournament chances and Northwestern to keep its Big Ten Tournament hopes alive. Expect a hard-fought battle as the season nears its decisive stretch.