Of all the games left on Northwestern's schedule, tonight's is perhaps the least likely to result in a win.

Any time you're a double-digit underdog at home, you know an absolute wagon must be coming to town. Tonight, No. 2 Michigan is that wagon, and Northwestern is hoping to shock the world and play spoiler.

It's going to take a lot for that to happen. The 'Cats currently sit at 10-14, 2-11 during Big Ten play. Meanwhile, the Wolverines have had one of their best seasons in recent memory, sitting at 22-1 and 12-1 in conference.

Northwestern is up against a high-octane offensive attack, one that features four players averaging double-figures and averages a Big Ten-best 91 points per game. If the 'Cats aren't careful -- and if we see some similar defense to the Illinois game -- Michigan could easily hang a 100 on the board tonight at the Welsh.

Yaxel Lendebord is a monster for the road team, averaging 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his senior season. Michigan also has Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara and Trey McKenney, all scoring threats Northwestern is going to have to deal with tonight.

The 'Cats are coming off a tough loss on the road to the Iowa Hawkeyes in a game they kept close until the final buzzer. Nick Martinelli -- the conference's leading scorer -- was off a little bit for the Wildcats again in that game. He still scored 21 points, but his efficiency numbers have been down.

It's crucial for Northwestern to get him back to his best form, and it starts with the players around him. The 'Cats simply haven't had any consistency shooting the ball from distance, and the offensive load has entirely fallen on an often double-teamed Martinelli.

Against Iowa, freshman point guard Jake West exploded for 18 points and canned four triples. He's been playing better and better as of late, and his emergence should ultimately help take some of the pressure off of Northwestern's captain.

But the 'Cats still want to see West produce consistently, and tonight will be a fantastic test against one of the best teams in the nation. If he's contributing early, then it might be safe to say that the Jake West era is officially upon us.

Here's everything you need to know about tonight's matchup:

Northwestern Wildcats (10-14, 2-11 B1G) vs. No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (22-1, 12-1 B1G)

Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena | Evanston, Illinois

Tipoff: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. CT

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WGN Radio 720

Line: Michigan -15.5

Northwestern OUT:

Michigan OUT: