Game Thread: Northwestern vs. DePaul

[ThatadultfromHolland]

Guard depth is in a good enough place. West needs more polish, especially with decision-making and pace, but the tools are there and he projects as a good piece long term. Kropp needs work too, but he’s already an upgrade over Hunger in terms of touch, feel, and physicality. Mullins stacked a bunch of plus defensive sequences.

There wasn’t a ton of bench production tonight, but that’s part of the deal with a young second unit. They’re inconsistent right now, but the talent is real. Over the course of the season we’ll get some real plus games from the bench. And we already know KJ and Green can catch fire at any moment and swing a game for a stretch.

That being said, the season is still going to move as the top three move. That has been obvious from day one in my opinion.

 

[DaCat]

Yeah, we don’t have a real backup center this year. Going to need Kropp (not a center but plays one on tv) to play a LOT better. Singleton will also help down low—he’s so tough and really confident. Made two big plays down the stretch. So excited to see him play this year. Will be so important to our success.

We need Kropp to develop fast or else we’re in trouble. The lack of a backup to AP, even at the level of a Keenan Fitzmorris, could hurt us in the B1G grind. But this team is fun to watch and I never sweated the win.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Helluva win for a team with so many young guys playing

 

[UpsetAlert]

Horrible, ticky tacky, and inconsistent but I agree it went both ways

Think they got the way better end of it, but we got a few at the end, so it felt like it balanced out. Had they not called last one, we would have been out for blood.

With halfway decent reffing, we win by 8.

 

[SouthportCat]

Depaul looked like a wide variance team. At times they looked like they were close to running us out of the building. Then they’d throw two passes into the stands and brick a few contested threes and the game would be tied again. If you told me they’ll win five games I’d believe you about the same as if you told me they’ll win twenty.

We were not prepared for the physicality they brought, and they worked much harder on the glass in the first half. We made a great adjustment in the second half (big credit to Gelo who snagged a bunch) to get that under control. It is our obvious weakness, but we have more than enough wings to keep it from getting out of hand vs most teams. Frosh will also improve.

If this is the real Page against major conference foes, we got the steal of the portal. Hard stop. His variety of moves was stunning - jump hooks with both hands, a beautiful floater, couple dunks, I recall a nice lefty finger roll - just wow.

We got punched and didn’t fold. Refs called it tight and that hurt our flow a bit, but I thought overall the zebras were fine. A good sign to get this win.

 

[UpsetAlert]

I was told we could run 10+ deep

We can at home. First game on the road, different story.

 

[SouthportCat]

We need Kropp to develop fast or else we’re in trouble. The lack of a backup to AP, even at the level of a Keenan Fitzmorris, could hurt us in the B1G grind. But this team is fun to watch and I never sweated the win.

He looks really slow and weak right now. I think he has had a bunny blocked from behind in all four games so far. He also is losing every fifty fifty rebound.

Might be more effective to run Singleton-Mart-Mullins-Gelo-point guard and let our wing athletes focus on positioning. Gelo and Mullins can rebound.

 

[diblakley]

Depaul looked like a wide variance team. At times they looked like they were close to running us out of the building. Then they’d throw two passes into the stands and brick a few contested threes and the game would be tied again. If you told me they’ll win five games I’d believe you about the same as if you told me they’ll win twenty.

We were not prepared for the physicality they brought, and they worked much harder on the glass in the first half. We made a great adjustment in the second half (big credit to Gelo who snagged a bunch) to get that under control. It is our obvious weakness, but we have more than enough wings to keep it from getting out of hand vs most teams. Frosh will also improve.

If this is the real Page against major conference foes, we got the steal of the portal. Hard stop. His variety of moves was stunning - jump hooks with both hands, a beautiful floater, couple dunks, I recall a nice lefty finger roll - just wow.

We got punched and didn’t fold. Refs called it tight and that hurt our flow a bit, but I thought overall the zebras were fine. A good sign to get this win.

I was at the game and our rebounding sucked. We got killed on the glass offensively and defensively. Still, the game would not have been nearly so close if not for the homer refs. At one point in the 2nd half, DePaul had 7 team fouls to our two. Then a series of ticky tack fouls on NU, especially fouls off the ball, made the foul count even. I don’t accept blaming refs for losses. If you’re the better team you overcome such obstacles. But these guys were a joke.

 

[Baz = Heisman]

The head ref was the same idiot who screwed us against Butler!

 

[SouthportCat]

Green is not good on defense.

His man (granted it was that freshman who looked like a helluva player) hit a three than blew by Green on back to back possessions and I don’t think he saw the floor again.

He may have one or the highest offensive ceilings on the team, but you are right he isn’t defending anybody well. We are going to find out what he is made of now.

 

[SouthportCat]

Mullens went 1 for 4 on crunch time free throws. That's just not playable.

He’s also the only guard who boxes his man out and is always running an alley in transition. I am his biggest advocate and am frustrated by misses, but he is still bringing a lot to the table.

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

He’s also the only guard who boxes his man out and is always running an alley in transition. I am his biggest advocate and am frustrated by misses, but he is still bringing a lot to the table.

Gelo did a lot of that too. I am a big defender of Mullins also. He’s a valuable player.

 

[SouthportCat]

I was at the game and our rebounding sucked. We got killed on the glass offensively and defensively. Still, the game would not have been nearly so close if not for the homer refs. At one point in the 2nd half, DePaul had 7 team fouls to our two. Then a series of ticky tack fouls on NU, especially fouls off the ball, made the foul count even. I don’t accept blaming refs for losses. If you’re the better team you overcome such obstacles. But these guys were a joke.

It did not look that way on tv (to me, anyway), but since you were there live I will defer to you.

Rebounding is largely hustle, athleticism, and luck. We should have the first two every night. First half did not feel that way so much

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Glad I was sitting in a bar stool watching game versus participating in this game thread. I must have missed most of the bad crap bring brought up here, because I thought we weren’t as terrible as being described here.

 

[Catreporter]

DePaul had a great game plan to attack the paint. I think the Cats will see a lot of that this year with our Freshmen dominated squad. I love Chris playing a lot of guys. We've got some outstanding talent but they need experience. DePaul was a big, physical team. I don't know how they ,lost to Buffalo although I saw they were 6 for 25 from deep in that game. Probably saw a zone in that one and Buffalo must have slowed the pace effectively.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Depaul looked like a wide variance team. At times they looked like they were close to running us out of the building. Then they’d throw two passes into the stands and brick a few contested threes and the game would be tied again. If you told me they’ll win five games I’d believe you about the same as if you told me they’ll win twenty.

We were not prepared for the physicality they brought, and they worked much harder on the glass in the first half. We made a great adjustment in the second half (big credit to Gelo who snagged a bunch) to get that under control. It is our obvious weakness, but we have more than enough wings to keep it from getting out of hand vs most teams. Frosh will also improve.

If this is the real Page against major conference foes, we got the steal of the portal. Hard stop. His variety of moves was stunning - jump hooks with both hands, a beautiful floater, couple dunks, I recall a nice lefty finger roll - just wow.

We got punched and didn’t fold. Refs called it tight and that hurt our flow a bit, but I thought overall the zebras were fine. A good sign to get this win.

Page on offense looks like a serious NBA potential player. He has moved across all levels and can even drive and finish. We’ve NEVER had a player who plays like that, at least in my time as an NU fan.

Page on defense and rebounding… frequently caught watching the game. Totally bullied by DePaul, a mediocre Big East team.

Nicky Buckets tough on himself and the team in the postgame, gotta whip these guys into shape

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Glad I was sitting in a bar stool watching game versus participating in this game thread. I must have missed most of the bad crap bring brought up here, because I thought we weren’t as terrible as being described here.

I watched the game late and missed the thread, but offensively that was a great performance. This team has firepower and star power.

On the glass… this looked like a Carmody team and defensively… they look stupid, unpolished, and disorganized.

Still, they DID escape with a tight win instead of frittering it away, and they have frankly at least three guys I’m happy see consume a possession late, plus a guy in Singleton who I don’t know if I need to see in isolation but can absolutely get great corner looks and easy cut layups I’m happy to see him take late.

we only decline a couple spots on the KenPom with this win so it’s all good

 

[lunker35]

Yeah, we don’t have a real backup center this year. Going to need Kropp (not a center but plays one on tv) to play a LOT better. Singleton will also help down low—he’s so tough and really confident. Made two big plays down the stretch. So excited to see him play this year. Will be so important to our success.

Is Bennerman redshirting? If not can’t he get minutes? If you see him in warmups the guy has absolute springs and can jump out of the gym. Can’t he create some problems with his size and length?

 

[mickbula]

Is Bennerman redshirting? If not can’t he get minutes? If you see him in warmups the guy has absolute springs and can jump out of the gym. Can’t he create some problems with his size and length?

If he can bring anything like rebounding and better defense,,,why not burn his redshirt?? We have a legit chance to win a lot this season. Wouldn’t he be able to backup page?? I’d play him

 

[olsh]

Page on offense looks like a serious NBA potential player. He has moved across all levels and can even drive and finish. We’ve NEVER had a player who plays like that, at least in my time as an NU fan.

Page on defense and rebounding… frequently caught watching the game. Totally bullied by DePaul, a mediocre Big East team.

Nicky Buckets tough on himself and the team in the postgame, gotta whip these guys into shape

Soooo ..... you're saying Page looks like an NBA player on offense AND defense

 

[Cataria]

Just a few night ago, I was touting how deep we are. Perhaps not. Nick is Nick (thankfully). Page is a beast. Reid is solid. We need Singleton to stay on the court. Everyone else is hit or miss.

Gelo is solid

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Gelo is solid

He has improved a lot. He still needs to be more aggressive. The other 4 starters are the main options.

 

[docrugby1]

Kropp might not be ready. See a lot of hunger

Kropp is not a center but a cross between a small and power forward.. He is being asked to do too much ..He will be a valuable player if this experience doesn't burn him out. I thought rebounding would be a problem this year after seeing the first few games, despite not appearing so statistically

I did not see the first half , when DePaul lived at the free throw line. In the second half, the refs seemed whistle happy and really were the biggest negative in an exciting game

Hopefully, the switching on D will improve but DePaul surprised me with their quickness. I think by the end of the year , they will be a lot better ranked in KenPom

 

[NURoseBowl]

We need Kropp to develop fast or else we’re in trouble. The lack of a backup to AP, even at the level of a Keenan Fitzmorris, could hurt us in the B1G grind. But this team is fun to watch and I never sweated the win.

Yes you did.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Gelo did a lot of that too. I am a big defender of Mullins also. He’s a valuable player.

Oh but those free throws….

 

[docrugby1]

Is Bennerman redshirting? If not can’t he get minutes? If you see him in warmups the guy has absolute springs and can jump out of the gym. Can’t he create some problems with his size and length?

I mentioned this last week but it was not received well