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The Northwestern Wildcats men’s basketball team secured a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, marking only the second time in the school’s history.
In Illinois, sports bettors can place bets on the Wildcats at licensed sportsbooks, but they are required to do so in person. Online sportsbooks in Illinois are prohibited from accepting bets on in-state colleges, including the Wildcats. However, visitors to one of Illinois’ 11 retail sportsbooks can place wagers on the Wildcats, either for or against them.
Given that Northwestern has only made it to March Madness once prior to this season, let’s reminisce and revisit how that particular season unfolded.
Northwestern’s memorable first NCAA Tournament win
The 2017 NCAA Tournament featured a matchup between #8 Northwestern and #9 Vanderbilt Commodores. The game was a thrilling back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The Commodores took a one-point lead, 66-65, with 17.8 seconds left on the clock after hitting a layup. However, Vanderbilt guard Matthew Fisher-Davis made a costly mistake by fouling Northwestern forward Bryant McIntosh right after the inbound.
Fisher-Davis informed the media that he observed Vanderbilt head coach Bryce Drew gesturing towards McIntosh as he advanced the ball up the court. Fisher-Davis was perplexed, believing that the Commodores were behind by one point and interpreting his coach’s signal as instructing him to foul McIntosh in order to halt the clock.
McIntosh made both free throws, giving the Wildcats a 67-66 lead. The Commodores attempted a three-pointer to win the game but missed, crushing their March Madness hopes.
The Wildcats made another free throw right before the game ended, ensuring a 68-66 win.
McIntosh was the standout player for Northwestern in the game, scoring a game-high 25 points and hitting crucial free throws to secure the victory. In addition to his scoring, McIntosh contributed with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Wildcats experienced heartbreak in round two as they fell to the #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs by a score of 79-73.
Can the 2025 Northwestern Wildcats make a run?
The Wildcats squad this year is poised for a deep March run. Northwestern navigated a challenging Big Ten schedule, with the conference sending a total of eight teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Northwestern had a regular season record of 21-11, with notable victories over Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, and Iowa.
The Wildcats had a 7-6 record against quad 1 schools and a 4-5 record against quad 2 teams. Despite their outcomes against top teams, competing against a challenging schedule is excellent preparation for the unpredictability of March Madness.
Guard Boo Buie leads the Cats with averages of 17.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. The team also boasts a strong rim protector in 7-footer Matthew Nicholson, who averages 1.3 blocks per game.
Head coach Chris Collins, who has been with the school since 2013, is overseeing it all. The Wildcat team under his leadership has achieved a .667 win percentage, which is tied for the highest during his tenure in Evanston.
