Northwestern Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers Prediction For the Big Ten Tournament 3rd Round
Updated 09 Jul, 2026
The Big Ten Tournament continues Thursday night with Northwestern taking on Purdue at the United Center in Chicago. Purdue enters the postseason with a strong 23-8 overall record and a 13-7 mark in conference play, while Northwestern arrives with momentum after winning multiple games earlier in the tournament to keep its season alive. These teams saw each other recently during the regular season, with Purdue escaping with a 70-66 victory. Here, Northwestern will look for revenge, while Purdue looks for a win in another Northwestern vs Purdue game.
Pick: Northwestern +10.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Purdue enters the conference tournament after finishing the regular season with 23 wins. The Boilermakers have been competitive throughout Big Ten play, with several of their wins and losses coming by narrow margins. Their balanced roster and experienced backcourt make them a difficult opponent in a tournament setting.
Northwestern arrives after a busy stretch in nearby Chicago. The Wildcats have already picked up wins earlier in the tournament, including a 76-66 victory against Penn State and a 74-61 win against Indiana. Playing on consecutive days can create fatigue, but it also gives Northwestern valuable rhythm heading into this meeting with Purdue.
The previous matchup between these teams occurred on March 4, when Purdue rallied for a 70-66 victory. Northwestern controlled much of that contest before Purdue used its rebounding edge and late scoring run to escape with the win. That game showed that Northwestern can keep things close if its offense is clicking.
Purdue Boilermakers
Northwestern Wildcats
Stat | Northwestern | Purdue |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 73.3 | 82.3 |
Points allowed per game | 71.7 | 70.7 |
Team Field Goal % | 46% | 50% |
Rebounds Per Game | 30.8 | 35.5 |
Assists Per Game | 17.2 | 19.7 |
Score Projection: Northwestern 73 – Purdue 80 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Northwestern 29%, Purdue 71% ATS PRO
Northwestern deserves credit for extending its season with multiple wins in the conference tournament, and Martinelli gives the Wildcats a scorer capable of keeping them competitive. However, Purdue holds clear advantages in depth, rebounding, and offensive efficiency. The Boilermakers should win this game, but I'll take the points with Northwestern here, as they should keep things just competitive enough to cover despite their season coming to an end.
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