2025-26 Men’s Basketball preview

The Wildcats had a busy offseason, and with a new basketball season comes an updated roster, expert predictions and more purple pride on campus. North by Northwestern is here to analyze just how in shape men’s basketball is before its first tip-off of the season.

All eyes on Nick Martinelli

Fourth-year forward Nick Martinelli had initially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, but then decided to spend his last eligibility year in Evanston. This was a clear sign of relief for fans and followers of Northwestern basketball.

Martinelli turned out to be Northwestern’s unsung hero last season. After an early exit from former guard Brooks Barnhizer, Martinelli was next in line to take the reins of the team. Starting every single game, from the regular season in November to the team’s second-round Big Ten Tournament run in March, Martinelli led in four team categories by the end: points made (676), points per game (20.5), field goals made (251) and free throws made (142). Becoming Northwestern’s single-season leading scorer was just one of the many things Martinelli executed on the court.

To start the 2025-26 season off strong, Martinelli was chosen for the Preseason All-Big Ten Team, a first for the Glenview, Ill., native and a second consecutive mention for a Northwestern player – last year Barnhizer was named part of the team. It’s a testament to how promising this year is for Martinelli and how much he can produce for the team in the paint, on the three point line and courtside.

An A-list incoming class

Northwestern’s roster is ready for the 2025-26 season, after signing promising stars across the country. Now it’s only a matter of seeing who Coach Chris Collins will place his trust in, and who will need more time to develop before seeing minutes.

In terms of first-years, here are two to watch out for:

Tyler Kropp: The forward hailing from Powell, Ohio, has already been working overtime prior to his first game at Welsh-Ryan Arena. In high school, he was ranked the No. 2 player in Ohio and No. 30 power forward in his class. With 1,095 career points, he ranks second in Olentangy Liberty High School history and holds the school’s career rebound record with 55. In short, the kid is a promise.

The best part about Kropp, you ask? His international influence. He is a national callup for Team Argentina. This summer, at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland, he averaged 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. This was only in seven games. Argentina might have lost in the round of 16, but Kropp has surely got the Wildcats excited.

Tre Singleton: He has to be Northwestern’s biggest acquisition yet. The forward from Jeffersonville, Ind., comes to Northwestern as the program’s highest ranked recruit in the modern recruiting era. At the time of his signing, Singleton was ranked No. 80 nationally, No. 4 in Indiana and the No. 16 power forward in the country.

His senior year in high school, he averaged 18.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, leading Jefferson High School to its first state title since 1993. Aside from scoring, Singleton will be crucial in defensive play, praised for his ability to play through contact and adapt in positions.

Regarding transfers, this year’s group shows outstanding, quality performance that makes them apt for the team.

Max Green: The second-year guard from La Grange, Ky., was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year with Holy Cross this past season, showing his grit and competitive play. On top of that, he was Patriot League Rookie of the Week nine times, tying the conference record for the first time since the 2009-10 season. In that singular year, he averaged 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 34.2 minutes per game. During his senior year at Oldham County High School, he led the state with 32.1 points per game.

With three years of eligibility left, Green provides a versatile profile to a Northwestern team needing players to create chances and compete at their highest level.

Arrinten Page: The third-year forward from Atlanta, Ga., played a year at the University of Southern California and a year at Cincinnati, respectively, before signing with the Wildcats this past spring. At Cincinnati, he shot 49.4%from the field and averaged 2.3 rebounds per game. Page will be Northwestern’s second tallest player on this year’s roster, at 6-feet-11-inches – a bit shy from first-year 7-foot forward Cade Bennerman. His height advantage will be crucial for tough shots and quick passes on the frontcourt.

What’s new in the Big Ten?

It’s never too early to start looking out for the rivals. In fact, it’s never too early to predict just how high, or low, Northwestern can end up in the Big Ten standings.

Going into the second season with 18 teams in the Big Ten, playing intensity isn’t expected to diminish. Recently, the AP released its AP Top 25 preseason men’s college basketball rankings, and six Big Ten teams secured a spot: Purdue (No. 1), Michigan (No. 7), UCLA (No. 12), Illinois (No. 17), Michigan State (No. 22) and Wisconsin (No. 24). Votes were also given to Oregon, Ohio State, USC, Washington, Iowa and Indiana.

No Wildcats in sight.

Still, Northwestern should begin to gauge just how tense games can get against these opponents, home or away. Michigan and Wisconsin will be starting the season as 2025 Big Ten Tournament finalists, with Michigan taking home its fourth Big Ten Tournament title in March. Michigan State ended the 2024-25 season having only lost three games, going 8-2 in its last 10 games of the season, and standing as the only Big Ten team left in the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8 round. And for the first time in three seasons, Purdue didn’t finish first in the Big Ten standings last season, but many believe in a Boiler comeback, as projected in the AP poll.

The Wildcats will continue to rebuild this season and we will see just how robust the team can get. Their first test will be an away exhibition game against Iowa State on Oct. 26.