First-half thread for NU vs. Minnesota

[lou v]

Will this be the last game for the 2019-20 Cats? It will be if Vegas is right. They have the Gophers as a 10-point favorite.

Minnesota swept NU this season, beating them by 9 in Minneapolis in January (albeit without Buie and Turner) and then hammering them by 26 in Evanston just a few weeks ago.

To win, the Cats must somehow contain Daniel Oturu, who has been a one-man wrecking crew against them. In two games, the sophomore big man has gone for 41 points, 28 rebounds and 8 blocks. Yikes.

 

[GatoLouco]

5 min in and the intensity is barely above warming up. Must be the NBA arena rubbing off on the teams

 

[lou v]

NU and Minnesota are a combined 2 for 19 shooting. I blame the coronavirus.

 

[lou v]

How about Pete Nance? Pretty move for a short jumper around the rim, then he drains a 3. He's got five points in three minutes.

 

[rwhitney014]

Oh, man, Nance with a gorgeous jump stop in the post for an easy bunny and then a pump-fake, step-back 3 (with arc!) that put Oturu on the floor.

I posted a few weeks about how the best thing that could happen for the rest of this year was Nance stringing together some solid games so he had something to build on this summer. He's pretty clearly done that. That's the best possible thing that could happen to the program right now. The delta between where he is and where he could be is huge, and it looks to my eyes that he's starting to tap that potential.

 

[TheC]

Man, our guys have terrible post moves. But the defensive energy is good. Ohturu is getting his, but no one else is.

 

[freewillie07]

Oh, man, Nance with a gorgeous jump stop in the post for an easy bunny and then a pump-fake, step-back 3 (with arc!) that put Oturu on the floor.

I posted a few weeks about how the best thing that could happen for the rest of this year was Nance stringing together some solid games so he had something to build on this summer. He's pretty clearly done that. That's the best possible thing that could happen to the program right now. The delta between where he is and where he could be is huge, and it looks to my eyes that he's starting to tap that potential.

Well said, feel exactly the same way.

 

[rwhitney014]

Well said, feel exactly the same way.

So nice I said it twice!

 

[DaCat]

Jones!

 

[TheC]

I think they are about to say no fans tomorrow.

Yep.... good call by the BIG

 

[TheC]

Good minutes by Greer. He's keeping Carr in front of him.

 

[DaCat]

Cats playing tough.

 

[DaCat]

Bam! Nance jam.

 

[GatoLouco]

Kind of feels, other than Oturu, none of the MN players want to be here

 

[TheC]

Kind of feels, other than Oturu, none of the MN players want to be here

As long as he doesn't get to 35 to take Juice's record, let Oturu try to beat us by himself. I don't think he can.

 

[freewillie07]

Wasn't pretty in any way, shape or form (perhaps with the exception of Nance), but it's a lead to end the first half. I'll take it.

 

[jensberg]

Couple thoughts. First, Nance 3-point shot has a lot more arc on it thanbit had earlier in the year. Second, eight fowls on us and two on them.

 

[GatoLouco]

Couple thoughts. First, Nance 3-point shot has a lot more arc on it thanbit had earlier in the year. Second, eight fowls on us and two on them.

I think it’s more like he’s not rushing the shot. He seems so much more confident.