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Sports Friday, March 13, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. Chris Collins motioned for the crowd at the United Center to get on its feet as Nick Martinelli jogged off the court and straight into a hug with his coach with 51.8 seconds to play Thursday night. Northwestern’s 6-foot-7 forward bowed his head to Collins’ shoulder and remained in the embrace for a long time, even as play on the court resumed for the final seconds of Purdue’s 81-68 win over the Wildcats. Then Martinelli went down the bench hugging every coach and teammate along the way. Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli is emotional as he leaves the court and embraces coach Chris Collins late in the second half against Purdue during the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, March,
12, 2026, at the United Center. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune) The moment marked the end of four seasons at Northwestern for Martinelli, the last two the best scoring seasons ever for a Wildcat. Martinelli, a Glenview native, scored
a program-record 759 points this season, topping his own record, and finished with 1,787 for his career. “It’s just all love, everything he’s provided for me,” Martinelli said of Collins. “I can’t thank him enough. It’s been
such a great ride. I know it’s really going to hit me randomly one of these next couple days just how much I’m going to miss it, but I’m so appreciative of him.” Illinois and other top seeds will hit the United Center floor today for their opening games. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History | | | | Matas Buzelis swears Luka Dončić started it. In a game of overblown offense, the second-year Chicago Bulls forward found himself caught in a war of words with the leading scorer in the NBA. | | | | | Mark DeRosa led a charmed life as a player and MLB Network morning show host. But after a gaffe and a loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, the U.S. manager is getting pummeled by critics. | | | | | If Keaton Wagler is ice, then David Mirković — Illinois’ other breakout freshman — is fire. | | | | | The Chicago Bears had to adjust on the fly after center Drew Dalman’s retirement last week, and they quickly pivoted to veteran Garrett Bradbury. | | | | | It’s the busiest week on the NFL’s offseason calendar. Here’s the latest Chicago Bears news in free agency. | | | | | For pitcher Edward Cabrera, whom the Chicago Cubs acquired in a January trade, part of joining a new organization is learning to work with new catchers. | | | |
