Shooting Woes Highlight Maryland-Northwestern Matchup

Two Big Ten teams with the worst field goal and 3-point percentages in the conference face off on Wednesday.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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When Maryland and Northwestern meet on the basketball court on Wednesday, fans can expect a low-scoring affair as both teams have struggled mightily with their shooting this season. The Terrapins have the worst field goal percentage in the Big Ten at 40.8%, while the Wildcats possess the conference's worst 3-point accuracy at 31.1%. Despite the offensive woes, the game could still be close as Northwestern has lost eight games against power-conference opponents by seven points or fewer.

Why it matters

The shooting struggles of these two Big Ten teams highlight the importance of consistent offensive production in college basketball. While defense and other factors play a role, a team's ability to convert shots can often determine the outcome of close games. This matchup provides an interesting case study on how poor shooting can impact the competitiveness and entertainment value of a game.

The details

Maryland is led by David Coit and Andre Mills, who have shown the ability to score in bunches when their shots are falling. However, in their most recent loss to Rutgers, the duo combined for just 21 points on 8-of-33 shooting. Northwestern, meanwhile, is paced by the Big Ten's leading scorer Nick Martinelli, who is shooting 43.0% from 3-point range. But the Wildcats have made just 26.5% of their 3-pointers during their current five-game losing streak.

  • The game will take place on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Maryland has won two of its last three games, while Northwestern has lost eight games against power-conference opponents by seven points or fewer this season.

The players

David Coit

A key scorer for the Maryland Terrapins, who has shown the ability to get hot and carry the team's offense.

Andre Mills

Another important offensive weapon for Maryland, who has had some strong shooting performances this season.

Nick Martinelli

The leading scorer in the Big Ten, playing for the Northwestern Wildcats and serving as their top long-distance threat.

Chris Collins

The head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats, who has acknowledged his team's struggles with shooting consistency.

Buzz Williams

The head coach of the Maryland Terrapins, who has expressed frustration with his team's poor free throw shooting in recent games.

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What they’re saying

“We're just not a very good shooting team. When we get them in rotation, we don't have very confident shooters right now, which makes it hard.”

— Chris Collins, Head Coach, Northwestern Wildcats

“What I would say is 46 percent is poor, or a different adjective would probably be more accurate. But only shooting 13 free throws relative to our team, when the opponent shoots double that, that's hard math for us to overcome.”

— Buzz Williams, Head Coach, Maryland Terrapins

What’s next

The game between Maryland and Northwestern on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 will provide an opportunity for both teams to try to improve their shooting woes and potentially earn a much-needed conference win.

The takeaway

This matchup between two struggling Big Ten teams highlights the importance of consistent offensive production in college basketball. While defense and other factors play a role, a team's ability to convert shots can often determine the outcome of close games. The shooting struggles of Maryland and Northwestern provide an interesting case study on how poor shooting can impact the competitiveness and entertainment value of a game.