Beating Minnesota

[7th Cir. Cat]

Beating Minnesota in the Big 10 Tournament (regardless of what happens against Iowa next round) would end the season on a positive note for me. Obviously, not the season any of us wanted. But closing out with wins against Nebraska, Penn State and Minnesota would show some progress and maybe even provide a little momentum for the off-season.

Minnesota is a program that we can/need to beat for recruits (e.g. Ty Berry). Also, I hear that Pitino is on the hot seat and the Gophers are looking at Colorado State's coach (from Minnesota and went to Minnesota). Maybe lil Ricky is feeling the pressure and they come out tight? It's hard to beat a team three times in one year.

New season starts on Wednesday. Go Cats!

 

[GatoLouco]

Would be nice. Because the narrative of "breaking through" is a little premature. Nebraska? Meaningless. PSU? Great win, but it's just that, one win. We had a great win against Providence so early in the year that we thought we were going to steal more than one game in conference play against teams outside the state of Nebraska.

It was great to see our guys putting up 80 points. We would have lost one game if we scored 80 in all conference games. That game was against MN, at home.

While Minnesota is not a great defensive team, and that, in theory, is good for offensively challenged NU, they seem to have the tendency to score a lot against weak teams. They scored 100+ against Nebraska this weekend.

I'll be there to watch it. With bells on.

 

[NJCat]

They scored 100+ against Nebraska this weekend.

To be fair, Nebraska had suspended two players for the game, one of which was that guard Mills (?) who is pretty good.

 

[GatoLouco]

To be fair, Nebraska had suspended two players for the game, one of which was that guard Mills (?) who is pretty good.

That's true. But we also did not have any ability to stop them in either game we played against them. And we should have done better:
-They are also a very young team
-Their starters play a ridiculous amount of minutes
-In their last 8 games, they won two, against us and Nebraska

Hoping the third time is different!

PS - According to my brother in law the seat is very warm for little Pitino

 

[NJCat]

That's true. But we also did not have any ability to stop them in either game we played against them. And we should have done better:
-They are also a very young team
-Their starters play a ridiculous amount of minutes
-In their last 8 games, they won two, against us and Nebraska

Hoping the third time is different!

The problem is, they have 2 guys NU can't defend: Oturu and Carr. From what I saw in the first 2 games I don't like NU's chances in the BTT game.

 

[GatoLouco]

The problem is, they have 2 guys NU can't defend: Oturu and Carr. From what I saw in the first 2 games I don't like NU's chances in the BTT game.

They also have Kalscheur. Who is a Kopp like player. Not that hard to stop, but requires keeping a guy on him giving little to no help. Or he'll go off for 20+. Which yesterday he did

 

[Figrating]

>

Because the narrative of "breaking through" is a little premature.

<

The break-through that happened is that the team now knows they can win if they play at peak performance level. They are a different team than they were before the PSU W because now they have some confidence.

 

[GatoLouco]

> <

The break-through that happened is that the team now knows they can win if they play at peak performance level. They are a different team than they were before the PSU W because now they have some confidence.

The same confidence they might have had after beating Providence? Or annihilating Boston College on the road?

We get on such highs when we win a game. Heck, when we are competitive. We get on such lows when we blow it. Premature. We have a showing on Wednesday remotely similar to what we did against Minny at home and this board will have people, again, preaching doomsday scenarios.

 

[eastbaycat99]

The problem is, they have 2 guys NU can't defend: Oturu and Carr. From what I saw in the first 2 games I don't like NU's chances in the BTT game.

This is a pretty realistic assessment. The one glimmer of hope I see is the recent improved play and confidence of Nance. The Cats have been hammered by teams with a strong inside presence, of which Minnesota is a prime example with Oturu. When the team with the inside presence has a competent guard, like Carr, their chances have been negligible.

If Nance can help Young and Jones on Oturu more consistently than he did earlier in the season, it would allow the Cats’ guards and swingmen better close out Carr. Beyond those two, the Gophers are not very strong.
In addition to Nance, the other key player in this game is Turner. He has the length and quickness to help limit Carr and make him rush his looks.

In short, while I don’t like the Cats’ chances, I think they are better than they would have seemed a few weeks ago after they were blown out by the Gophers. ESPN has the chance of a win at about 1/6. I think it is closer to 1/5 or 1/4, but we will see soon enough.

 

[Username Not Available]

I don’t know the actual stats, but it seems to me that Collins has also gotten better in the last few games at resting his starters so they have a bit more gas in the last five minutes.

I might put Malnati on the floor a few times to give our guards more breathing time and energy. He did a decent job on D last game and showed high energy.

I really think we might have won a few games earlier this year with better rest and rotations allowing Kopp and Spencer something left in the tank at the end of those games where our leads just bled out.

 

[NJCat]

I might put Malnati on the floor a few times to give our guards more breathing time and energy. He did a decent job on D last game and showed high energy.

I think Greer had his best game as a Cat against PSU. Actually showed some offensive chops. Deserves more PT.

 

[NURoseBowl]

Beating Minnesota in the Big 10 Tournament (regardless of what happens against Iowa next round) would end the season on a positive note for me. Obviously, not the season any of us wanted. But closing out with wins against Nebraska, Penn State and Minnesota would show some progress and maybe even provide a little momentum for the off-season.

Minnesota is a program that we can/need to beat for recruits (e.g. Ty Berry). Also, I hear that Pitino is on the hot seat and the Gophers are looking at Colorado State's coach (from Minnesota and went to Minnesota). Maybe lil Ricky is feeling the pressure and they come out tight? It's hard to beat a team three times in one year.

New season starts on Wednesday. Go Cats!

Well said, sir.

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

> <

The break-through that happened is that the team now knows they can win if they play at peak performance level. They are a different team than they were before the PSU W because now they have some confidence.

I was at the game when the women's team won the Big 10. I stayed and watched them cut down the nets and celebrate. The men's mini resurgence started at the same time. I wonder if seeing their counterparts win the entire conference gave them a boost? I know the games are different, but seeing first hand that it really is possible to achieve greatness and win at NU has to be a thing right? I'm sure they all talk and know each other.

Rising tide lifts all boats!

 

[Username Not Available]

I think Greer had his best game as a Cat against PSU. Actually showed some offensive chops. Deserves more PT.

I agree Greer played well and I liked how after his man beat him for an easy layup, Greer went right down court and beat the guy for a layup of his own. That was solid.

 

[DaCat]

I agree Greer played well and I liked how after his man beat him for an easy layup, Greer went right down court and beat the guy for a layup of his own. That was solid.

Maybe practicing against badass Spencer every day might rub off on him, kind of like Young getting schooled by Pardon last year. Anyways, was happy for Greer as he played well against Minny.

 

[jensberg]

The problem is, they have 2 guys NU can't defend: Oturu and Carr. From what I saw in the first 2 games I don't like NU's chances in the BTT game.

Agreed this is not a good matchup for us as they've destroyed us both games so far. We would have done better against Indiana

 

[Figrating]

The same confidence they might have had after beating Providence? Or annihilating Boston College on the road?

A lot different, IMO, because the team has been pushed all over the floor in the conference since then. So this W is much bigger and so is the confidence resulting from it.

Could be that the old NU reappears, and NU falls behind 10 points early against Minny and that's the way the game/season ends, but I'd be very surprised to see that happen.

NU is new-improved. They have finally proved to themselves that they're good enough to win in the conference. Took them all season to find this level of play, but they found it.

Practice for NU this week will be reliving every moment of the PSU game. Shots will somehow start to drop. The team is getting better right now.

Yeah. That's what I wanna believe.

I am anxious to see this game. If an NU fan is not anxious to see this game, (your words best here)!

 

[go cats go_rivals310290]

A lot different, IMO, because the team has been pushed all over the floor in the conference since then. So this W is much bigger and so is the confidence resulting from it.

There is certainly something to be said for momentum. NU winning 2 of 3 feels like a really big deal when we had only 1 other win since December 15, 2019!

One might be tempted to suggest that Minnesota doesn't have much to play for. Despite being ranked #29 in the country by kenpom, I believe that they would have to win 3 games in the BTT in order to fishing with .500 record or better and qualify for an invitation to the NIT. However, the fact that Minnesota destroyed Nebraska 107-75 (!!!) in their final game of the regular season scares me.

Go 'Cats!

 

[CappyNU]

There is certainly something to be said for momentum. NU winning 2 of 3 feels like a really big deal when we had only 1 other win since December 15, 2019!

One might be tempted to suggest that Minnesota doesn't have much to play for. Despite being ranked #29 in the country by kenpom, I believe that they would have to win 3 games in the BTT in order to fishing with .500 record or better and qualify for an invitation to the NIT. However, the fact that Minnesota destroyed Nebraska 107-75 (!!!) in their final game of the regular season scares me.

Go 'Cats!

It's a huge uphill battle for us to win based on matchup, but I wouldn't take much away from the Gophs last game, Nebraska had their two best guards suspended for the game. I think the best we can hope for is they are demoralized after losing their previous 3 games by a total of 10 points and having to play at 5pm in a sleepy quarter-full arena.

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

I can’t explain it, but I feel strangely optimistic for this game. Gophers will be disappointed at not making the tourney with a coach who may be on his last legs.

Our season was a bummer, but we have some guys who will presumably be excited to be playing in their first Big 10 Tourney and have to be feeling good about themselves.

This is Spencer’s first and last BTT, I’m expecting good things from him and we pull the upset.

 

[go cats go_rivals310290]

I can’t explain it, but I feel strangely optimistic for this game.

A month ago (on Feb 10), I posted the following:

I am going to make a prediction right now... NU will wind up as the #13 seed in the BTT...and then burst the bubble of the #12 seed with a first-round upset. (11 B1G Teams will make the NCAA Tournament.) We won't feel very good about this season, but we will feel pretty good about our team going into next season.

See link below for proof:
https://northwestern.forums.rivals.com/threads/unload.49233/#post-706780

 

[7th Cir. Cat]

A month ago (on Feb 10), I posted the following:

I am going to make a prediction right now... NU will wind up as the #13 seed in the BTT...and then burst the bubble of the #12 seed with a first-round upset. (11 B1G Teams will make the NCAA Tournament.) We won't feel very good about this season, but we will feel pretty good about our team going into next season.

See link below for proof:
https://northwestern.forums.rivals.com/threads/unload.49233/#post-706780

Well done! I just went back and liked your post so that I too can claim credit for being psychic.

 

[go cats go_rivals310290]

Well done! I just went back and liked your post so that I too can claim credit for being psychic.

Don't congratulate me just yet... We still have to beat Minnesota! (And Minnesota's bubble has already burst.)