Three Keys for Northwestern to Get Off to a Good Start vs. Mercyhurst

Ryan Cole

Nov 2, 2025, 19:27

Ryan Cole

Nov 2, 2025, 19:27

Updated at: Nov 2, 2025, 19:27

What does Northwestern need to do for fans to feel good after its first game tomorrow night?

Northwestern tips off its 2025-26 basketball season tomorrow at Welsh-Ryan Arena against Mercyhurst. The 'Cats will debut a new team with lots of new players, both transfers and highly-touted freshmen.

Nick Martinelli is still around, and he'll lead this team, but it's a lot of new faces. It might take some time for them to gel, but the offense was humming in the final exhibition game of the offseason, a 100-point performance in a win over Illinois State.

It feels wrong to write a "three keys to beat Mercyhurst" story because, well, they better win this game. But not every win is equal. Here are three keys for Northwestern to have fans feeling good about the season outlook after the first game:

Arrinten Page plays good defense

This is going to be a storyline all season. The 'Cats are going to get some offense out of the five spot this year, likely more than they ever did during the Matt Nicholson era. Page is capable of scoring in a lot of different ways -- he can shoot from distance, he can drive the paint, he has real post moves.

But what made "Big Matt" so great for the Wildcats was how seamlessly he fit into the defensive system. The 7-footer was a rock in the paint for this team, and they were noticeable worse whenever he was out of the lineup.

Northwestern needs Page to be capable of playing that spot on the defensive end. If he struggles, it might be difficult to keep Big Ten teams at bay. It all starts tomorrow night.

Jayden Reid facilitates

Reid is a real point guard. That will be nice to watch after Jalen Leach was injured last season and K.J. Windham was forced to play out of position. However, Reid is barely 5-foot-10, and that's a number I just can't ignore.

I'm expecting him to struggle driving the ball, maybe not against Mercyhurst, but certainly in conference play. That's ok. He can still be valuable to this team if he does what he did in the final exhibition game when he posted 11 assists.

If Reid is a high-level facilitator, then he'll be just fine as the starting one guard. There are plenty of other players on this roster who can do the scoring.

Nick Martinelli gets off to a strong start

Let's not beat around the bush. Martinelli is still the most important player for the 'Cats. He'll likely lead the team in scoring. We know he'll be the emotional leader in the locker room.

The flipper specialist loves Northwestern. It's his senior season, and his final opportunity to go back to the NCAA Tournament. After a fantastic junior campaign, this season is his chance to cement his legacy in Evanston.

Tomorrow night isn't crucial for Martinelli by any means. He could score zero points, and the Wildcats could still probably win the game. But for fans to feel good about the opener, it would help if the team's best player came to play.

Three Keys for Northwestern to Get Off to a Good Start vs. Mercyhurst