Game Thread for Illinois vs. Northwestern

[lou v]

We're expecting a sellout crowd in Evanston today, and I imagine it will be mostly Orange.

Kofi will play for Illinois but Curbelo is still out with COVID. He's had a tough year off the court -- he had a concussion earlier this season.

It will be interesting to see how NU plays Kofi. Will they play Nance, run a lot of five-out and try to get the big fella away from the basket, or will they go with more Young and try to attack him in the post? Either way, I expect Illinois to shoot a lot of threes today. Northwestern ranks 14th in the B1G in three-point percentage defense.

 

[freewillie07]

Lid on the basket for NU. RY with two point-blank misses. Chase with one of those "I'm going to dribble as much as necessary to shoot" possessions. Sigh.

Only good thing we have going is a handful of foul calls on Illinois in the early going.

 

[DaCat]

1-9 shooting start for Cats

 

[freewillie07]

Absolutely no rhythm to our offense right now. Illinois's athleticism is giving us trouble.

Gotta make some FTs here in these last 9 minutes to stay in it. Rare bonus opportunity for us.

 

[freewillie07]

And we miss a 3-on-1 layup, leading to an easy Illini dunk the other way.

Just doesn't feel like our day.

 

[IMC Cat]

Not a good indicator of success when Boo is leading a 5-on-1 fastbreak and all I can think is "how will they screw this up?"

 

[lunker35]

Speakers are out in half the arena. It’s bizarre as you can hardly hear the PA or the music.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Not a good indicator of success when Boo is leading a 5-on-1 fastbreak and all I can think is "how will they screw this up?"

It literally happens over 90% of the time…

 

[NUCat320]

I don’t know if it was truly a 5 on 1, but that’s what the announcer called NU’s fast break, right before it turned into an Illini dunk. Go Cats.

 

[freewillie07]

Not a good indicator of success when Boo is leading a 5-on-1 fastbreak and all I can think is "how will they screw this up?"

Needed to give it up to Chase, who can finish above the rim.

 

[Arlcatsfan]

The next time we have a fast break we should decline the opportunity and just wait for the other teams D to set up.I can’t remember the last time we scored on a fast break and to make matters worse the other team comes down and score.

 

[catfans5]

The fast break eff up by Buie is emblatic of the problem with the program.

 

[NUCat320]

The fast break eff up by Buie is emblatic of the problem with the program.

All the not-so-good basketball players?

 

[freewillie07]

I have never been so thankful to "only" be down 21-11.

 

[DaCat]

Illanoys playing like crap but still up 10 because we're worse than crap.

 

[DaCat]

Just like that Boo blocks a shot and Berry drains the three. When he's good he can be very good.

 

[DaCat]

Then follows up with an awkward foul.

 

[freewillie07]

We have now resorted to top of the key 3s from both Young and Williams this game. Not ideal.

 

[NUCat320]

We have now resorted to top of the key 3s from both Young and Williams this game. Not ideal.

Again, Williams is a nice story. But he doesn’t need minutes over Nicholson.

 

[freewillie07]

Wow Collins absolutely ripping into the team right now. He's livid.

 

[JournCat]

Wow Collins absolutely ripping into the team right now. He's livid.

Don’t mind it.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

The Collins tirade inspired Robbie Beran to throw up a 15 foot airball.

 

[catfans5]

Half time. Lucky to be in the game with the bad shooting.

Can get loud in arena.

 

[DaCat]

We only scored 19 points in the first half. Ugh.

 

[Arlcatsfan]

Down by 5 shooting only 26 percent.Can we put together a big 2nd half and win this game?Make shots dammit and play with confidence.This game is there for the taking.Can we take it?We will see.

 

[DaCat]

Half time. Lucky to be in the game with the bad shooting.

Can get loud in arena.

The students turned out in numbers it looks like. Very loud and energetic.

 

[freewillie07]

Don’t mind it.

Nor do I. This game is right there for the taking, and NU is shooting a pathetic 25% from the field and 22% from 3.

 

[zbag51]

Am i wrong that when the shot clock was turned off there were still 0.6 seconds left on it? I thought maybe the second show was up before another 0.6 seconds ran off the game clock from that point.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Nor do I. This game is right there for the taking, and NU is shooting a pathetic 25% from the field and 22% from 3.

Elyjah Williams and Ryan Young both chucked one up.
Not ideal.
Some teams let Audige shoot them on purpose.

 

[CatManTrue]

24-19? I’ve heard of basketball scores in football games, but not so much of football scores in basketball games.

Zing! My best jokes are being wasted over here. @NUCat320 doesn’t even know that we have a basketball team.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

24-19? I’ve heard of basketball scores in football games, but not so much of football scores in basketball games.

Zing! My best jokes are being wasted over here. @NUCat320 doesn’t even know that we have a basketball team.

I don’t know that you want to admit that these are your best jokes.

 

[NUCat320]

Should we call our new, modern center Ryan-Anthony Towns or Ryan Embiid? (Edit: actually, Joelyan-Anthony EmbYoung works best.)

And can you believe Nance started the half on Cockburn when Nance’s next foul would get him to the bench?

 

[CatManTrue]

I don’t know that you want to admit that these are your best jokes.

@NUCat320 laughed and he’s pretty much the funniest person on the board.

Except for corbi when he’s joking about football analysis.

 

[cat inkansas]

@NUCat320 laughed and he’s pretty much the funniest person on the board.

Except for corbi when he’s joking about football analysis.

I think Brad Underwood might be obnoxious.

 

[DaCat]

Collins must be listening to @PurpleWhiteBoy with Nicholson on Cockburn.

 

[NUCat320]

Students are absolutely in Frazier’s head.

 

[NUCat320]

Cats lead 10-2 since Matt “Rally Monkey” Nicholson entered (then quickly left) the game.

 

[DaCat]

Refs blew two calls just now. They suck eggs.

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

Greer and Williams playing some of their best games. I love Greer on the fast break because he either settles it and waits or makes the right play and doesn’t force it.

 

[DaCat]

Greer is the man!