Red-hot Nick Martinelli guides Northwestern against Eastern Illinois

Nick Martinelli figured prominently into Northwestern's outlook before the season.

With running mate Brooks Barnhizer still working through a foot injury, however, Martinelli is embracing the opportunity to showcase his impact early.

When Eastern Illinois visits Northwestern on Friday in Evanston, Ill., Martinelli will enter with a 28.3 ppg average in three games on 73.8 percent shooting. He's the first Wildcat to score 25 points or more in three straight games since December 2010.

"I'd be hard-pressed to see across the country someone who's playing any better," Wildcats coach Chris Collins said. "He's just a matchup nightmare, and I'm just glad he's on my team because he keeps getting better and better."

Martinelli steered the Wildcats to an 83-74 win against Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday to open a four-game homestand, scoring 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting.

Jalen Leach added 16 points for Northwestern (2-1) and Ty Berry chipped in 13.

The Wildcats hope to get Barnhizer back soon. The preseason all-Big Ten pick completed warmups on Saturday at Dayton and again Tuesday night but did not play. Barnhizer averaged a team-best 7.5 rebounds last season while his 14.6 points ranked second.

Eastern Illinois (1-2) has sandwiched losses at Illinois and then-No. 17 Indiana around a comfortable home victory against Division III Earlham College.

The Panthers led the host Hoosiers 37-36 at halftime on Sunday but managed just 18 points after the break in a 90-55 defeat.

"It's just another stepping stone," Nakyel Shelton, who led Eastern Illinois with 17 points, told the student newspaper. "Watch film, grow from it, see what we need to improve on and just making adjustments for the next good school and good program."

Northwestern, another Big Ten foe coming off consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, fits the bill.

To Kooper Jacobi, who had eight points and six boards at Indiana, the Panthers must improve on sustaining their pace and push.

"I think we were showing our ability to make shots and to be able to play with a team that's ranked," Jacobi said, "and I think putting that together in the second half is our next step."

--Field Level Media