Can someone make the case for the Cats today?

[NUCat320]

I believe the best case is this: every time CCC wins a conference tournament game, NU goes to the NCAA tourney*. And, since NU will not qualify at-large, NU must run the table for this rock-solid relationship to hold.

I did not see the Iowa game, though I was excited to vent about it for a few minutes here anyway.

Does anybody have a basketball-based reasoning?

(*I’m not entirely sure this is true. But I think it his only B1G win was in 2017.)

 

[Hungry Jack]

No

 

[GatoLouco]

There is a chance we have a Freaky Friday situation going on and:
1) John Wooden's spirit took over CC's body in the second half yesterday
2) The ghost of Patrick Ewing, March 2021, took over CC's body yesterday

In both cases, we have a chance. We always do. Dumb and Dumber taught me that.

 

[Styre]

I believe the best case is this: every time CCC wins a conference tournament game, NU goes to the NCAA tourney*. And, since NU will not qualify at-large, NU must run the table for this rock-solid relationship to hold.

I did not see the Iowa game, though I was excited to vent about it for a few minutes here anyway.

Does anybody have a basketball-based reasoning?

(*I’m not entirely sure this is true. But I think it his only B1G win was in 2017.)

He won his first-ever BTT game in 2014, an upset over NCAA-bound Iowa in the 6 vs 11 game. But that's it, outside of 2017.

 

[NUCat320]

He won his first-ever BTT game in 2014, an upset over NCAA-bound Iowa in the 6 vs 11 game. But that's it, outside of 2017.

Well shoot. Only a 50% chance of NU running the table this weekend then

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I believe the best case is this: every time CCC wins a conference tournament game, NU goes to the NCAA tourney*. And, since NU will not qualify at-large, NU must run the table for this rock-solid relationship to hold.

I did not see the Iowa game, though I was excited to vent about it for a few minutes here anyway.

Does anybody have a basketball-based reasoning?

(*I’m not entirely sure this is true. But I think it his only B1G win was in 2017.)

I got this...

Iowa is NOT a big team.
In our recent encounter, Collins opened the game with Beran on Keegan Murray.
The frontcourt of Nance and Beran got beat up 22-8 in less than 7 minutes.
They allowed 7 offensive rebounds.
Complete disaster.

Nance and Williams got beat 14-9 in 6.5 minutes, giving up 4 more offensive rebounds...
Young and Williams got beat 10-2 in 6 minutes, gave up 3 more offensive rebounds...

However, when Ryan Young and Pete Nance played together for 13 minutes, the rebounding nightmare ended. We gave up zero offensive rebounds and outscored Iowa 30-24.

So, as Tre Demps stated last night in the postgame "I really liked what I saw late in the game today for Northwestern - getting the ball inside and controlling the paint. I expect to see a lot of Young and Nance together against Iowa."

He didn't mention Nicholson off the bench, but Iowa cannot guard him. Just a thought.

Oh and when Iowa beat us, we supposedly had sick players and the dynamic backcourt duo of Greer and Buie did not play together. So there's that too.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

I believe the best case is this: every time CCC wins a conference tournament game, NU goes to the NCAA tourney*. And, since NU will not qualify at-large, NU must run the table for this rock-solid relationship to hold.

I did not see the Iowa game, though I was excited to vent about it for a few minutes here anyway.

Does anybody have a basketball-based reasoning?

(*I’m not entirely sure this is true. But I think it his only B1G win was in 2017.)

In 2017, NU didn't just win a game in the tourney; they made the semis. Carmody never made the semis in all his years coaching here.

I think the case is that if the 'Cats make the semis, they'll make the postseason. They won't make the NCAA Tourney, but making it to the semis will clinch a .500 record and add a couple of much-needed quality wins to the ledger. I think making the semis will put the 'Cats in the NIT.

 

[rwhitney014]

The best argument is that half the team had the flu a couple weeks ago when we played Iowa, and Buie essentially missed the game. The broadcast yesterday also reported that Fran said he was surprised we were able to come back and get into the game - basically implying we would just roll over and die after falling behind. That might put a chip on our shoulders to prove that game wasn't indicative, and Collins' teams always play better when they have that extra something.

Iowa's a better team if we're playing 10 times, but it's one game and anything can happen. The ball has to go into the net, though. We can't have one of the 30% shooting performances.

 

[eastbaycat99]

I do think the game at Iowa City was not predictive of today’s game for reasons already cited. My guess is, unlike that game, and the first half yesterday, the Cats will bring some intensity and be competitive. Unfortunately, unlike Nebraska, Iowa has the players and coaching to close out and win a game in the last few minutes.

 

[DaCat]

Iowa will be over confident and ripe for the picking.

 

[Hungry Jack]

No

My post aged well!