Northwestern Faces Reality Check After Thanksgiving Classic Loss
The Northwestern Wildcats men’s basketball team experienced a significant reality check on Thanksgiving night, falling 86-81 to the undefeated Oklahoma State Cowboys at the United Center in Chicago. This loss, which brings Northwestern’s season record to 5-2, highlighted persistent defensive and rebounding vulnerabilities that first emerged during their recent Greenbrier Tip-Off tournament.
Thanksgiving Classic: A Close Battle
The highly anticipated first-ever matchup between Northwestern and Oklahoma State on Thursday, November 27, 2025, saw the Wildcats battle fiercely but ultimately succumb to the Cowboys’ high-octane offense. Oklahoma State, now boasting a 7-0 record—their best start since the 2019-20 season—was led by Jaylen Curry with 18 points, Anthony Roy who scored all of his 16 points in the final eight minutes, and Vyctorius Miller with 17 points. Parsa Fallah contributed a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Christian Coleman added 10 points.
For Northwestern, senior forward Nick Martinelli delivered a masterclass performance, achieving a season-high 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Sophomore guard Angelo Ciaravino added 14 points, with 11 coming in the second half, and Arrinten Page chipped in 11 points. Despite a late rally that saw the Wildcats cut the deficit to a single point in the final minute, Oklahoma State secured the win with crucial free throws.
Recurring Issues: Rebounding and Three-Point Shooting
The game against Oklahoma State underscored two critical areas of concern for the Wildcats: defensive rebounding and inconsistent three-point shooting. Northwestern conceded 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 20 second-chance points for the Cowboys. This mirrors struggles seen at the Greenbrier Tip-Off (November 21-24), where opponents like South Carolina and Virginia averaged an alarming 45.9% offensive rebound rate against the Wildcats. Against Virginia, Northwestern allowed 21 offensive rebounds and 18 second-chance points, and against South Carolina, 13 offensive rebounds and 17 second-chance points, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com.
Furthermore, Northwestern’s typically strong three-point shooting went cold. Entering the game with a Big Ten-leading 41.9% from beyond the arc (12th nationally), the Wildcats managed a dismal 3-of-19 (15.8%) against Oklahoma State. Key shooters like freshman Tre Singleton (0-for-5) and sophomore Max Green (0-for-2) struggled, while Oklahoma State capitalized on their own late-game three-point surge, with Anthony Roy hitting three crucial treys during a decisive 18-6 run.
Wildcats’ Strengths and Standout Performers
Despite the loss, individual brilliance and overall team efficiency in other areas remain reasons for optimism. Nick Martinelli continues to be a cornerstone, building on a season where he led the Big Ten in scoring (20.5 ppg) and broke the school’s single-season scoring record. He is a preseason All-Big Ten selection and is on the Wooden Award, Naismith Player of the Year, and Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year watch lists.
Transfer acquisitions Arrinten Page and Jayden Reid have also made immediate impacts. Page, a forward, averages 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on an impressive 62.7% shooting. Reid, a dynamic guard, averages 13.5 points and 6.2 assists per game (4th in the Big Ten), showcasing his ability to elevate the Wildcats’ offense.
Collectively, Northwestern maintains strong offensive metrics, shooting 51.9% from the field (3rd Big Ten, 18th nationally) and committing a mere 8.7 turnovers per game (2nd Big Ten, 9th nationally), coupled with a 2.4 assist/turnover ratio (1st Big Ten, 4th nationally). Head Coach Chris Collins is also on the cusp of a significant milestone, needing just one more victory to reach 200 career wins at Evanston.
Looking Ahead to Big Ten Play
The Thanksgiving Classic served as Northwestern’s final non-conference test before diving into the rigorous Big Ten schedule. The Wildcats will open conference play on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, against Wisconsin in Madison. Addressing the defensive rebounding and ensuring consistent perimeter shooting will be paramount for Coach Collins’ squad as they navigate the demanding “20-round bout” that is Big Ten play. The early season challenges have provided valuable lessons, and how the team adapts will define their conference campaign.
