Welsh-Ryan Arena Highlights
Tell us what you think. E-mail comments or questions to the editors at letters@northwestern.edu.
Find Us on Social Media
Here’s a look back at some of the top games on the Wildcats’ home court.
Jerry Marifke ’79 drives past Michigan State’s Mike Brkovich.
Welsh-Ryan Arena, which opened as McGaw Memorial Hall in 1952, is scheduled for a complete renovation in 2017–18. Here’s a look back at some of the top games on the Wildcats’ home court.
Men: March 5, 1956 – Northwestern 83, No. 2 Illinois 82
The biggest upset in school history, the Wildcats entered the regular-season finale with a 1-20 record but upended their rival.
Women: Jan. 22, 1976 – Northwestern 68, DePaul 45
In its first full season of varsity hoops, Northwestern defeated local rival DePaul in the program’s first game at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Men: Jan. 27, 1979 – Northwestern 83, No. 4 Michigan State 65
On paper, Northwestern had no business matching up with the eventual national champs. Good thing basketball isn’t played on paper.
Women: Jan. 14, 2016 – Northwestern 86, No. 5 Ohio State 82
Head coach Joe McKeown earned his first win over a top five opponent at Northwestern and the program’s first such win since 1996.