Northwestern (6-3, 0-1 Big Ten) hosts No. 19 Illinois (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten) tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip off at 8:05 pm, the game will air on BTN.
Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 19 Illinois
- Thread starter mshelton33
- Start date
Took about 25 minutes to make the last two blocks into the parking lot, whee.
Student sections packed with white. Seats packed with white and orange.
The house is rocking at tip off.
Student sections packed with white. Seats packed with white and orange.
The house is rocking at tip off.
6 minutes in, Cats are playing good defense and missing their shots.
Matt has a nice heads-up deflection earlier.
Lots of mid range jump shots on our end so far.
Matt has a nice heads-up deflection earlier.
Lots of mid range jump shots on our end so far.
Barnhizer's defense is monstrously good tonight. I love the back and forth with Boswell (I had not seen him before tonight, but I love his game from what I've seen tonight).
Points-wise, we're playing more at NU's pace than Illinois', but maybe that's just because everyone is missing shots and less about actual pace.
Points-wise, we're playing more at NU's pace than Illinois', but maybe that's just because everyone is missing shots and less about actual pace.
Refs mostly swallowing their whistles on both ends. Barney got absolutely hammered twice at the rim, no calls. Lots of shirt grabbing and arm pulling, mostly the oranges, but not only.
Only two fouls called at the 8 minute mark.
Only two fouls called at the 8 minute mark.
There was also a screen that looked like Martinelli was elbowed in the face. No call.
Man our offense is rough.
If Mullins can somehow make them pay for sagging off of him — as he finally showed — that would go a long long way.
Defense is outstanding though. Team has bought into the identity at least.
We need to play much better to win.
If Mullins can somehow make them pay for sagging off of him — as he finally showed — that would go a long long way.
Defense is outstanding though. Team has bought into the identity at least.
We need to play much better to win.
We simply cannot make shots that 90% of other teams would.
Getting good looks. Just not making them.
Getting good looks. Just not making them.
Orange cries worked up after the big guy’s pass for the back door cut layup.
Nick seems discombobulated today. He’s missing a lot of stuff he usually makes. Hope he works that out in the second half.
Nick seems discombobulated today. He’s missing a lot of stuff he usually makes. Hope he works that out in the second half.
Looks like the refs will call fouls tho, it just needs a cat smashed to the court to catch their attention.
Considering how terrible Cats shot, I’m amazed the score is so close.
Do we have any assists so far?
Do we have any assists so far?
Illinois shot tougher shots in the 1st half than NU. That was an excellent half of defense. Need to start hitting some shots now. Great D that half though.
Man this team plays hard but I just don’t know if they can hang with the talent-loaded teams in conference relying on BB/NM hero ball. The two are 5-19 but somehow it feels much worse than that.
Second half will be telling.
Second half will be telling.
I honestly don’t think it was as good as the score indicates. Illinois missed some really easy ones. They won’t miss them in the second half.
He has to adjust to the whole send-the-whole-defense-to-stop-him strategy now that he's a focal point of the offense. He's used to making all those shots in close, but that's because when only guy is covering him, he can get past him. In heavy traffic, he struggles.
Down by 3 at the half. Not bad considering Martinelli really struggling Mullins missing open 3 after open 3 and Berry not on the scoreboard either.
Lets see if the guys can have a good 2nd half like Iowa with a better finish of course.
Lets see if the guys can have a good 2nd half like Iowa with a better finish of course.
Totally. It’s still possible things will click for this offense but right now it’s disjointed and painful to watch. I know it wasn’t always perfect in the Boo era either and he bailed us out countless times, but this feels like a new level of “head down and drive wildly into the basket” from BB/NM.
Overall a solid half. There were some struggles on O but the effort is there and the D is elite.
Orange play a bit outside themselves, at least tonight. They’re making a lot of hard contacts. Mostly working in our favor.