Northwestern leading scorer Nick Martinelli embraces the Wildcats’ transition to playing a more up-tempo style.
“It’s pretty awesome just seeing the guys flowing,” Martinelli said. “When we get a rebound, it’s bang, bang, three.”
Pressuring opponents defensively helps create those sequences, of course, and the Wildcats will try to keep the formula churning when they host Cleveland State on Monday in Evanston, Ill.
Northwestern (2-0) limited visiting Boston University to 32.8% shooting during a smooth victory Friday. Wildcats coach Chris Collins lauded the effort but knows players aspire to greater stinginess.
“We try to set a goal,” he said. “Can we keep teams under 30 (percent)? That takes commitment. It’s an every-possession thing.”
Martinelli, who topped the Big Ten in scoring a season ago, has started this campaign steadily, averaging 18.5 points on 55% shooting.
Arrinten Page and Jayden Reid each have provided complementary scoring and Collins is eyeing increased contributions from Angelo Ciaravino, a sophomore who earned a starting spot against Boston University.
“He’s playing with more force and the pace of the game helps him push the ball,” Collins said.
Visiting the Windy City for the second time in a week, Cleveland State (1-1) hopes to fare better than it did during the first go-around.
The Vikings led in the final minute of their Nov. 3 season opener at Loyola Chicago before falling 91-88 on a Ramblers’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Division III Capital University similarly challenged the Vikings on Thursday, but Cleveland State prevailed 71-70 as first-year head coach Rob Summers — an assistant for four programs over eight seasons after leading Division II Urbana — earned his first victory with the program.
“It’s been a long journey to this milestone,” Summers wrote on X, “and I’m deeply grateful to all who helped me and rooted for me along the way.”
Dayan Nessah is averaging 18 points per game for Cleveland State. Josiah Harris grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds against Capital.
–Field Level Media
