Northwestern’s men’s basketball team concluded the 2025‑26 campaign with a 15‑19 record, marking the second consecutive year the Wildcats failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
The season was defined by upheaval, as the program lost several key contributors, including Nick Martinelli, Arrinten Page and Jayden Reid, who each moved on via the transfer portal.
In response, the Wildcats added a trio of newcomers — Jack Karasinski, LA Pratt and Colin Smith — who are expected to shoulder greater responsibility and inject fresh talent into the lineup.
A new era beckons
Coach Chris Collins, who has built a reputation for extracting maximum effort from his squads, remains confident that the new roster can compete, even if the team is projected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten.
Despite the challenging outlook, the Wildcats benefit from a relatively low‑pressure environment within the conference and could still surprise opponents if the transfers gel quickly.