Big Matt’s season was a whirlwind to say the least.
Stats
From Sports-Reference:
Nicholson was a fairly consistent presence in the ‘Cats lineup, holding the starting center role for the majority of the season. In comparison with his stats from his junior season, there were some improvements and some setbacks, but nothing that stands out as terribly good or bad for the 7-foot senior from Clarkston, Michigan.
The improvements in Nicholson’s game are especially obvious in his shooting and the transition game. Despite increased minutes from last season, Nicholson’s field goal percentage rose from 61.4% to 65.7%, even though he shot the ball 38 fewer times. Of course this is due to Nicholson playing five fewer games due to injury, but it is still an improvement for him nonetheless. His free throw percentage increased as well, eclipsing 50% for the first time in his career. Nicholson also saw improvements in his averages in blocks, assists, and turnovers, with the latter decreasing from 0.9 to 0.6 per game.
Yet Nicholson also backtracked in certain areas, especially on the boards. His rebounding average dropped from 5.4 to 4.3, a fairly significant decrease. Nicholson would be expected to be the best rebounder on the team given his size and stature, but was easily topped by Brooks Barnhizer, who snagged 7.5 boards per game. Nicholson tied for second on the team in rebounding average with Nick Martinelli, indicating a needed improvement for the big man ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Shot Distribution
From Hoop-Math:
If there’s any player on Northwestern’s roster that is a one-dimensional shooter, it is certainly Nicholson. He took 93.1% of his shots at the rim, by far the highest on the team. He was fairly successful by the hoop, making 67.4% of his attempts from point-blank range.
The other 6.9% of Nicholson’s shots are mid-range jumpers, a shot he wasn’t nearly as successful at making. Of the seven shots he took from this area, he made three of them, a clip of 42.9%. Nicholson, to no one’s surprise, did not attempt any three pointers, a shot he still has not taken in his collegiate career.
The Good
Nicholson had some great games this season that showcased the best he has to offer to this ‘Cats team. His performance at Assembly Hall against Indiana was nothing short of spectacular, with Big Matt’s impact being felt across the board. He finished with 14 points – a season high – and a whopping 16 rebounds, playing 31 of a possible 40 minutes. These contributions were huge in one of NU’s bigger road wins of the season against a team that was very hard to beat on its home court.
Contributions also came in games against Illinois and Penn State at Welsh-Ryan Arena, the former being a remarkable home victory for the ‘Cats. Against the Fighting Illini, Nicholson scored 12 points with 8 rebounds, finishing with a season-high 34 minutes in the overtime victory. In the Penn State game, he finished with 11 points on a shorthanded squad in its first game without Ty Berry, and was one of the deciding factors in giving NU the victory.
These moments were positive steps in the right direction for Nicholson as a two-way player that can make an impact on offense and also show up defensively when the ‘Cats needed him most. It will certainly be a goal of Nicholson’s to make even further strides in this department heading into next season.
The Bad
Obviously Nicholson’s injury near the end of the season remains troublesome heading into the offseason, but it can’t be considered a bad mark on his season as a whole. What can be considered a failure on his part comes from Nicholson’s aforementioned issues with rebounding on both offense and defense.
This struggle to rebound prolifically for a player of his size cost Northwestern in certain games, especially when Nicholson couldn’t hold onto the ball even when it was in his grasp. This happened against Wisconsin when the two teams played in Madison, as Nicholson’s missed rebounds at the end of the game allowed the Badgers to go on an 8-0 run to seal a 71-63 victory.
In Northwestern’s small-ball lineup, Nicholson needed to step up as the big man and control the boards, but it often seemed that other players had to take on increased rebounding responsibilities when Nicholson couldn’t deliver on the glass as many hoped he would.
The Bottom Line
Last week, we learned that Nicholson and teammate Ty Berry will each exercise their fifth year of eligibility and return to Northwestern for one more season. Their returns are a huge boon for the ‘Cats, as they will learn to play without Boo Buie in the lineup for the first time in quite a while. Nicholson, like Berry, provides a sense of stability for NU in a time of massive change, and fans can hope that his performance next season will provide immediate strength and a bridge to the future for a team looking to continue its recent success.
Big Matt has surely secured himself a position in the starting five next season, with Luke Hunger remaining behind him on the depth chart at center. It was a good campaign, but nothing special specifically stood out as either great or terrible. Hopefully for Wildcats fans, a good 2023-24 season will translate into a great 2024-25 as Nicholson prepares for his final year in Evanston.