Game Thread: Northwestern vs. Illinois State (Exhibition)

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (0-0) hosts Illinois State (0-0) tonight for their second and last exhibition before the start of the season. The game is set for tip at 7 pm CT and will air on BTN+.
I am there in person and you can follow along on Twitter at @M_Shelton33.

Wildcats—donate blood in Abbott and the Big Ten’s We Give Blood competition to help NU win $1 million for campus health initiatives and score a limited edition Homefield t-shirt at bigten.org/abbott/northwestern.

 

[wocka]

Jake West out again with a concussion, Jayden Reid not on the injury report.

 

[wocka]

Jello starting over KJ once again. Seems like he will be to start the season.

 

[TheC]

Jello starting over KJ once again. Seems like he will be to start the season.

If KJ isn’t our second star this season, we may be in trouble

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

If KJ isn’t our second star this season, we may be in trouble

I personally am most worried about the defense. The 5 lacks depth pretty noticeably too.

 

[SmellyCat]

If KJ isn’t our second star this season, we may be in trouble

I think there will be a lot of “second stars” this year, including Jello. I’m not worried yet about KJ, who already has a three tonight.

 

[jensberg]

KJ with another three. I think our big problem might be rebounding.

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

Gelo is stronger and more fundamentally sound. If the 3 is consistent he’ll have a good year.

 

[Secho99]

If KJ isn’t our second star this season, we may be in trouble

I would argue that if KJ hasn't regressed and we now have other guys on the roster who are as good or better than him that actually bodes well for us.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Teams are going to cover Nick as tight to as Griffin Wilde!

 

[jensberg]

Could have a lot of trouble with good centers

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Could have a lot of trouble with good centers

ISU center is a monster. Would start for us.

 

[TheC]

Guess we pulled away in the second half. Wow.

 

[wildcatpn]

ISU center is a monster. Would start for us.

Page must’ve read this at halftime.

 

[catcrazy]

What was final score?

 

[SmellyCat]

I really want to see tonight’s box score - any chance you can post it post game Mr. Shelton? Thanks!

 

[TheC]

What was final score?

Still going. Up 95-60

 

[SmellyCat]

100!

 

[SmellyCat]

What was final score?

100-65. 59-31 in the second half. Last three points went to Bennerman.

 

[Secho99]

Page with 16 pts and 4 fouls in 10 minutes

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Page with 16 pts and 4 fouls in 10 minutes

His shooting touch is better than our previous big men. However, he has to be able to stay in the floor more than 10 minutes. Very silly fouls that reminded me of Big Matt his RS Fr year. ISU center bullied him in first half. Had that run in 2nd half which flashed what he can do.

 

[GatoLouco]

Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern Athletics

nusports.com

 

[TheC]

Strangely, a lot of non-highlights in this highlight reel, but plenty of good stuff too

 

[No Chores]

I really want to see tonight’s box score - any chance you can post it post game Mr. Shelton? Thanks!

I really want to see tonight’s box score - any chance you can post it post game Mr. Shelton? Thanks!

You can follow the play by play on online, which is what I usually do. It will also you the box score in real time whenever you want so you can determine points by players. rebounds, assists, turnovers, shots made and missed, fouls,etc.

 

[SmellyCat]

Thanks. I just didn't think the box scores were getting updated anywhere because it was an exhibition, but I'll admit I didn't look too hard. I always have the box score/play-by-play up during the regular season!

 

[Hungry Jack]

How many flagrants did ISU have?

 

[mickbula]

It was good to see Mart shooting lots of free throws. He should get lots of favorable calls by refs like edey did his senior year for Purdue. Reid and page are going to be very exciting

 

[SmellyCat]

Some interesting things in the box score:

Martinelli scored his 21 points on only nine field-goal attempts. I believe he had just 10 against Iowa State. That is really efficient. He took 12 free-throw attempts (making nine), for a decent 75%. If he can make nine free throws a game this year - and like mickbula above, I think/hope he'll get the calls befitting the leading scorer this time around - it wouldn't be crazy to see him around 20 ppg again.

Green filled the box score more than I thought - five points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, zero turnovers in 17 minutes. Not bad for someone who isn't really getting any notices yet.

Illinois State was an excellent three-point shooting team last year. Last night: 4-for-27 for just 15%. I like to think NU's D had something to do with it, but they missed a lot of wide-open ones too.

NU was 11 for 22 from deep, and to go with (I think) 8-for-21 in the first game, that's a sparkling 44% in two games. Let's keep it up! Windham made four threes and wasn't shy last night. If he's one of the sharpshooters, all the better. Seven different players made at least one three last night, and nine took at least one three.

Page had 16 points but just one rebound. I know he was limited by foul trouble, but you would think he'd get a few more by accident.

Outside the box score, I have to say I love Reid. He seems like he has more personality than most NU players have had over the years. His post-game interview on WGN (and those guys spent the game raving about him) was fun.

 

[Catreporter]

I came away worried about the center position. Big Ten teams are going to attack us down there. Kropp isn't ready to help and Page will have to fend off a lot of bulky guys like the iSU center last night without fouling. However, on the bright side, we have a lot of weapons from 3-point range and that is a very good thing in today's basketball.

 

[macarthur31]

Some interesting things in the box score:

Martinelli scored his 21 points on only nine field-goal attempts. I believe he had just 10 against Iowa State. That is really efficient. He took 12 free-throw attempts (making nine), for a decent 75%. If he can make nine free throws a game this year - and like mickbula above, I think/hope he'll get the calls befitting the leading scorer this time around - it wouldn't be crazy to see him around 20 ppg again.

Green filled the box score more than I thought - five points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, zero turnovers in 17 minutes. Not bad for someone who isn't really getting any notices yet.

Illinois State was an excellent three-point shooting team last year. Last night: 4-for-27 for just 15%. I like to think NU's D had something to do with it, but they missed a lot of wide-open ones too.

NU was 11 for 22 from deep, and to go with (I think) 8-for-21 in the first game, that's a sparkling 44% in two games. Let's keep it up! Windham made four threes and wasn't shy last night. If he's one of the sharpshooters, all the better. Seven different players made at least one three last night, and nine took at least one three.

Page had 16 points but just one rebound. I know he was limited by foul trouble, but you would think he'd get a few more by accident.

Outside the box score, I have to say I love Reid. He seems like he has more personality than most NU players have had over the years. His post-game interview on WGN (and those guys spent the game raving about him) was fun.

I was struck by the stat that Nick has the longest active streak of games of scoring 15 pts or more (17 straight, I think?). To your point, if he can get that superstar whistle and be at 75% this year, he's got the makin's of being a steady 20 every game. I also anticipate that throwing into Nick to go iso is a type of set that can settle a team down when the game might get sped up. He's gonna get up a higher percentage flip, or earn two at the stripe.

In the first half, I counted 5 defensive possessions where ISU ran through several sets, only to settle for a 25 foot low percentage heave. That long with the 'Cats athleticism and depth wearing the Redbirds down perhaps contributed to such a poor 3FG accuracy game for the Redbirds.

When Reid was being recruited in the portal - I google searched his past interviews at USF and learned that he's interested in theatre/performance (perhaps related - he can play two instruments, sax and trombone), and that he's pretty animated as an interviewee. I anticipate that this year, he's gonna show more of that infectious energy on the court. Though in the meantime, it's refreshing to hear in last night's player presser how he really took to Nick this past summer, and appreciates his mentorship as he adapts to a new team. All in all, the more this team takes on Nick's team-first and high work-ethic qualities, the better.

 

[Username Not Available]

It looks like they'll need to settle Page down on defense, he seems too quick to leave his feet. I agree he will probably struggle against the B1G bulks pushing him around and backing him down. I think coach needs to work with him in the double concept of staying on his feet and pushing back while Tre or someone else backdoors them for the block/steal. Page might be too accustomed to doing all the work solo, I dunno. But he can't be giving out 4-5 fouls a game in conference.

Reid looked great. He dished so much and so well that it opened up his scoring as well. He looks really quick so far, and showed great court vision offensively.

The defense really suffers from the lack of experience and cohesion, and hopefully the team will get that sorted before January. Way too many open threes as guys unintentionally double on the pass.

 

[NJCat]

The problem is, Page is really a stretch 4, not a 5. Round peg in a square hole.

 

[macarthur31]

The problem is, Page is really a stretch 4, not a 5. Round peg in a square hole.

If anything, he probably embodies Collins ideal when it comes to "positionless basketball." He has shown an ability to play with his back to the basket, and he can also receive the ball face-up at the key and drive and score. He also can hit the catch and shoot 3. Offensively, he's a "stretch 5."

A good question is can he consistently defend the 5 without getting into foul trouble. He's got the wingspan and footspeed to deal with 5s who want to go perimeter. However, what remains to be seen is consistently defend on the low block, and/or lock in to finish defensive possesions with boards (or at least be able to box out two and free up rebounds for others).

 

[wocka]

It looks like they'll need to settle Page down on defense, he seems too quick to leave his feet. I agree he will probably struggle against the B1G bulks pushing him around and backing him down. I think coach needs to work with him in the double concept of staying on his feet and pushing back while Tre or someone else backdoors them for the block/steal. Page might be too accustomed to doing all the work solo, I dunno. But he can't be giving out 4-5 fouls a game in conference.

Reid looked great. He dished so much and so well that it opened up his scoring as well. He looks really quick so far, and showed great court vision offensively.

The defense really suffers from the lack of experience and cohesion, and hopefully the team will get that sorted before January. Way too many open threes as guys unintentionally double on the pass.

The ref from last night, Paul Szelc, is one of the most whistle-happy refs out there. Was the same ref for Michigan State/UConn (74 free throw attempts) and Loyola/Depaul (82 free throw attempts) exhibitions. Hard to say if Page is particularly foul-prone or if this was a one-off.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

The ref from last night, Paul Szelc, is one of the most whistle-happy refs out there. Was the same ref for Michigan State/UConn (74 free throw attempts) and Loyola/Depaul (82 free throw attempts) exhibitions. Hard to say if Page is particularly foul-prone or if this was a one-off.

Page’s fouls were silly, especially the one to start the second half. He has to concede the shot a few times when he is beat. He’s a big upgrade over Hunger, but it’s probably going to be a rollar coaster with him.

 

[NJCat]

Page’s fouls were silly, especially the one to start the second half. He has to concede the shot a few times when he is beat. He’s a big upgrade over Hunger, but it’s probably going to be a rollar coaster with him.

NU would be better off if he played little defense and just outscored his opponent. He has great offensive skills but no one has taught him to defend. Steep learning curve for a third year player.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

NU would be better off if he played little defense and just outscored his opponent. He has great offensive skills but no one has taught him to defend. Steep learning curve for a third year player.

No worries CLow will kick him into shape!

 

[GatoLouco]

It was good to see Mart shooting lots of free throws. He should get lots of favorable calls by refs like edey did his senior year for Purdue. Reid and page are going to be very exciting

Love the optimism on Mart getting calls based on earned reputation. Unfortunately, he does not play for a program who's history helps getting such calls. I hope you are right!

Reid is going to be our second scorer. I'm confident about that, even if I do not have much to base that on. Good feelings out of my bum about that.

 

[Username Not Available]

The ref from last night, Paul Szelc, is one of the most whistle-happy refs out there. Was the same ref for Michigan State/UConn (74 free throw attempts) and Loyola/Depaul (82 free throw attempts) exhibitions. Hard to say if Page is particularly foul-prone or if this was a one-off.

Absolutely a tiny sample size and whistles were blowing constantly all game on everyone. What I saw watching the replay was a guy eager to leave his feet for the block being easily baited into creating an and-1 or an open shot by stepping past him while he's in the air.

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

Love the optimism on Mart getting calls based on earned reputation. Unfortunately, he does not play for a program who's history helps getting such calls. I hope you are right!

Reid is going to be our second scorer. I'm confident about that, even if I do not have much to base that on. Good feelings out of my bum about that.

I voted Reid for 2nd leading scorer. This scrimmage made me feel good about that vote. Dude is the quickest player NU has had in a while. Gotta be quick at his height to play D1 ball.