Northwestern continues winning streak vs Indiana basketball, possibly ending Hoosiers seasonZach Osterman, Indianapolis StarThu, March 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM UTC·3 min readCHICAGO — No. 10 seed Indiana basketball bowed meekly out of the Big Ten Tournament at its first hurdle Wednesday, losing 74-61 to No. 15 Northwestern, winners of seven straight against IU.
Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the Hoosiers' loss means.
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Tucker Devries (12) grabs a rebound against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Darian Devries directs his team against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Reed Bailey (1) battles for the ball with Northwestern Wildcats forward Tre Singleton (8) at the tip-off of Big Ten Conference Tournament Second Round game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images1 / 3Indiana basketball vs. Northwestern photos in Big Ten Tournament
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Tucker Devries (12) grabs a rebound against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images1 / 3Indiana basketball vs. Northwestern photos in Big Ten Tournament
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Tucker Devries (12) grabs a rebound against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images2 / 3Indiana basketball vs. Northwestern photos in Big Ten Tournament
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Darian Devries directs his team against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images3 / 3Indiana basketball vs. Northwestern photos in Big Ten Tournament
Mar 11, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Reed Bailey (1) battles for the ball with Northwestern Wildcats forward Tre Singleton (8) at the tip-off of Big Ten Conference Tournament Second Round game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesWhat I liked in IU basketball's loss vs Northwestern in 2026 Big Ten Tournament
Strong start offensively. Indiana (18-14) scored 37 first-half points on 1.28 per possession, hitting five 3s and handing out eight assists in the first half. A pivot to two bigs from the start solved the rebounding issues from these teams' first meeting, and gave IU more to throw at Nick Martinelli. At one point, the Hoosiers led by 10 in the first half.
What I disliked in IU basketball's loss vs Northwestern in 2026 Big Ten Tournament
Another difficult close. This one to the first half, which saw Northwestern (15-18) claw that 10-point lead down to just one at the interval. Freshman Jake West scored 14 first-half points, and Martinelli added another nine, as Northwestern once again weathered Indiana's early blows and returned the favor late. Despite that offensive performance, IU lead just 37-36 at the break, their defense again too porous.
Offensive stall-out. After halftime, that fluid, dangerous offense disappeared in a mess of prolonged possessions and poor defense. The Hoosiers fell behind by eight, then 11, then 13, scoring just 12 points in the first 11 minutes after halftime. Northwestern disrupted the fluid ball and body movement that had hallmarked IU's first 20 minutes, and took control in front of a less-than-engaged United Center crowd.
Dangerous defense. Again, Indiana struggled to defend the lane. Again, the Hoosiers struggled to defend anything else as a result. They finished minus-10 in paint points. Even as they pressed to speed Northwestern up, they slipped further and further from contention. Nothing served to do anything other than make the situation slowly, progressively worse.
One more bad night against Martinelli. Northwestern's ace, the Big Ten's scoring champion, finished with 28 points. Those early mismatches eventually faded, and so did any sense of slowing Martinelli down. He was once again excellent, and once again among the chief authors of IU's demise.
A limp end. Presented in cleanest terms the opportunity to play its way into the NCAA Tournament field this week, Indiana instead slumped quietly away from it. The Hoosiers could not even muster a win against a five-win Big Ten team, perhaps because that is what this program has become. Its fanbase, now redirected fully toward football, does not much care. Its roster, which will again require substantial retooling in the offseason, lacks direction and design. There is not much more left to say about this season's disappointing Hoosiers. The questions now are larger, and more difficult to answer.
What IU basketball's loss vs Northwestern in 2026 Big Ten Tournament means
The Hoosiers' bubble burst in the same building where once they promised so much more. That November rout of Marquette turned out to be the foolest of fool's gold, and this team too limited to deliver on expectations.
IU can wait for Selection Sunday if it wishes. It's deeply unlikely good news will find the Hoosiers then. The only thing likely waiting for coach Darian DeVries the other side of this weekend is an offseason of uncomfortable questions, and a restless, disengaging fanbase now far more interested in what happens in fall than in winter.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis is becoming a devilishly difficult circle to square.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana vs Northwestern basketball score today, Big Ten Tournament game stats
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