It’s time for Northwestern to rethink its center rotation

The position’s inconsistency and lack of a reliable backup has posed challenges.

After a tough blowout loss to Purdue, the Wildcats face a pivotal moment in their season. A timely week off has given NU an opportunity to reassess and address its weaknesses. While there’s no reason to panic just yet — playing on the road is difficult and Mackey Arena is among the most unforgiving environments in college basketball — the team’s 1-3 start in the Big Ten underscores the need for adjustments.

As the ‘Cats return to Welsh-Ryan Arena for crucial matchups against Michigan State and Maryland, one issue looms large: the center position. Matthew Nicholson has had solid games but continues to grapple with inconsistency. Compounding the problem is the lack of a reliable backup, leaving the ‘Cats searching for answers when Nicholson struggles. This home stand offers more than a chance to regroup — it’s an opportunity to reevaluate the rotation and solidify the team’s interior presence. Addressing this critical gap could be the difference between salvaging the season and falling further behind in the Big Ten.

The center position proved to be a significant weakness in Northwestern’s loss to Purdue. Nicholson played just 13 minutes, finishing with zero points, one rebound and one assist. Backup Luke Hunger stepped in, contributing two points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes, but struggled to make a meaningful impact. Late in the game, Chris Collins turned to Keenan Fitzmorris, who logged two blocks, a steal and an assist in nine minutes.

For the season, Nicholson has averaged five points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Hunger, after a promising 15-point debut against Lehigh, has struggled to find consistency, averaging 3.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Hunger is also shooting a dismal 1-of-15 from three-point range, yet despite his struggles, continues to take a three-pointer nearly every game. Fitzmorris, largely absent from the rotation, has appeared in just four games, averaging one point and 0.8 blocks in five minutes of action per contest.

Nicholson has delivered some standout performances this season, highlighted by 14 points against both DePaul and Butler. However, his offensive impact has been inconsistent, with six games where he’s scored three or fewer points. Much of this stems from his reliance on teammates setting him up with lob passes, as the fifth-year big man has yet to develop a reliable post game during his time in Evanston.

Despite his scoring limitations, Nicholson contributes in ways that often go unnoticed. He’s an excellent passer for a center, creating opportunities even if they don’t directly result in assists. His ability to free up space for Northwestern’s shooters with well-set screens and his strong defensive presence makes him an extremely valuable piece. While he lacks quick lateral movement, Nicholson excels at trapping in the post and neutralizing opposing centers. I still think Nicholson should play the lion’s share of minutes at the center position — around 25 each night.

When it comes to the backup center role though, it may be time for Collins to make a change. While Hunger’s development is crucial with Nicholson leaving next year, the focus should remain on maximizing the current season, and Hunger has struggled to deliver. Over his last six games, Hunger has scored no more than two points in each contest and hasn’t connected on a three-pointer since the season opener. His recent performances haven’t matched expectations, on offense as well as defense, where he lacks Nicholson’s physical presence and is often a liability. If Northwestern wants to shore up its interior play, Collins should consider looking at alternative options in the rotation.

Fitzmorris could be an option for Collins to explore. The seventh-year senior spent four seasons at Stanford, where he had multiple season-ending injuries and played limited minutes, before transferring to Stony Brook and averaging 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds over the past two years. Northwestern fans may have anticipated Fitzmorris stepping into a Blake Preston or Tydus Verhoeven-type role as a backup center, contributing about 10 minutes per game. However, that hasn’t quite materialized. When on the court, the Kansas native brings a lot of energy — whether it’s calling out ball screens or demanding the ball in the post. He also has a solid three-point shot, connecting on 33% of his attempts last season, and complements it with decent post moves. One area of concern, though, is his foot speed, particularly on the defensive end. Despite that, I think Fitzmorris should be given a shot at the backup center role.

Additionally, Collins could consider using a small ball lineup with Martinelli at the five. Martinelli plays a lot bigger than his size, and while he might not be able to back down opposing centers, he has a major quickness advantage. Northwestern has experimented with small ball in the past and having all five players on the floor be legitimate offensive threats could enhance both scoring opportunities and defensive flexibility.

With the team having a week off to regroup, it seems like an ideal time for Collins to reassess the center rotation and make some adjustments. By giving Fitzmorris a more prominent role or exploring small ball with Martinelli, Northwestern could inject more energy and versatility into its lineup. This shift could offer new dynamics on both ends of the floor, potentially improving the team’s performance moving forward.