Nick Martinelli leads Northwestern as it travels to Dayton

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th November, 24:32 2024

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Northwestern vs Connecticut

Mar 24, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA;Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) shoots the ball against Connecticut Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

With graduation taking care of Northwestern's top scorer from last season and injury sidelining a fellow floor leader, Nick Martinelli sensed an opportunity and seized it.

After sparking the Wildcats with 26 points and 10 rebounds in Monday's season-opening rout of Lehigh, Martinelli hopes to sustain that momentum during Saturday's visit to Dayton. With the status of Brooks Barnhizer (foot) uncertain, Northwestern (1-0) may lean on Martinelli even more.

Martinelli channeled a pregame talk with Barnhizer, a preseason All-Big Ten pick who tweaked his foot during preseason and was unable to play Monday.

It paid short-term dividends in a 90-46 victory in which five Wildcats scored in double figures, but Martinelli is primed to stay motivated -- ideally when he shares the floor with Barnhizer again.

"He told me, ‘I want you to play with full confidence. I'm not out there, (and) this is your opportunity to show people who you are,'" Martinelli said. "If somebody that's that good of a player says that, you're gonna have so much more confidence. I'm just grateful for him."

Dayton rolled past visiting St. Francis 87-57 on Monday to win its 20th straight season opener.

A balanced attack boosted the Flyers (1-0). Zed Key scored 14 points to pace five players in double figures while Enoch Cheeks notched a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Reserve guard Malachi Smith provided a bright spot -- and some optimism -- with 11 points and a game-high six assists as he returned from a season-ending right knee injury sustained in the 2023-24 opener.

"I'm so happy for him to be back out there, playing free, playing with confidence and playing healthy," Flyers coach Anthony Grant said.

Northwestern leads the all-time series with Dayton 3-2, but Saturday brings a long-awaited opportunity for the Flyers to take aim at the Wildcats on their home floor.

Dayton last hosted Northwestern in December 1997, a 77-69 Flyers victory. Northwestern prevailed 71-66 at Welsh-Ryan Arena last season and won by three in a neutral site game in Chicago in 2016.

--Field Level Media