Nice game by the Cats in spite of the loss. The comeback was epic, just a few plays and they would have won. UCLA killed us inside on the 2nd half, their big 7’ guy made a lot of plays to pad the Bruins lead. An amazing last couple of minutes for the Cardiac Cats that just fell a little short. Agree the refs sucked. Tough loss. We stuck with a solid UCLA team to the end. Go Cats!
Game Thread: Northwestern vs. UCLA
- Thread starter mshelton33
- Start date
OK, this take is terrible. I’m sorry. Really?
“Our team wouldn’t have lost if we played better and took the game-deciding call out of it”? You can literally say that for every game ever played.
That is my overall point when it comes to complaining about refs, so I’m with you. Nothing you said is incorrect. We were outplayed thoroughly on both ends in the second half. At the same time, it’s another example this year of a key late game call going against us.
It is what it is. Nothing we can do about it. Just a bummer this team has been on the wrong end of it late in games several times this year.
Terrible take? Thanks! You're Upset, I can tell...
We were down by 14 with two minutes left and had an amazing and unlikely run to get back in it. The refs missed some calls on us as well. UCLA dominated the boards and played suffocating defense all night. 16 fouls called on each team. I just don't like pinning the results of games on one specific moment.
What you’re missing is that UCLA had 6 fouls with 13:30ish left in the second half. When did they pick up their 7th? 1:40 left in the game. It was total trash officiating and honestly from what we’ve seen all season the conference needs to be forced to make changes.
Were there specific instances during that period of time where the refs failed to call what appeared to be obvious fouls on UCLA? I understand the point you're making, but at the same time, they're not going to blow the whistle simply because it's been a few minutes since the last time they did so.
It sucks that NU lost this game. It was a great comeback but just not quite enough in the end.
“The refs missed calls on both teams”. Great. This blindly misses the game of basketball (and all sports) having high-leverage moments that really matter. You can’t miss calls at the most important times. Specific moments are critical. Refs train for this and if you know any of them—good ones absolutely hate to be the center of attention during these moments.
Insisting the game was well officiated because fouls were called evenly completely misses the point.
38-24 edge for UCLA on the boards was the story of this one and their 7-3 backup center killed us. UCLA came into the game with the worst rebounding edge in the Big Ten but every rebound and loose ball seemed to go their way. Sometimes that happens. Sop many big ifs, including the offensive goaltend against Matt that was oh so close (but to the refs credit, they did look at it again in the timeout). I sure hope the Bruins can beat USC Saturday if we need that to get to the Big Ten tourney. Nevertheless, what an effort by this team the last four games despite being shorthanded.
I hear what you're saying, but no -- the missed call with the ball down 2 under 10 seconds is the difference.
Martinelli is mugged moat times he gets in the post and tonight was no exception. Obviously the late no-call sticks out the most, but it was not the only instance.
You will hear quality announcers refer to situations where the attacking player “forces the refs to make a call.” Martinelli does this a dozen times a game, but is middle of the pack in free throw attempts. The refs simply don’t know what to do when Martinelli specifically gets in the paint because of his physicality. The ball goes flying, Nick hits the deck (or the defender, or both) - it has to be a foul on someone or a travel. A no call is not correct.
It may be that CCC spending the summer mailing tape to the B1G daily showing this crap is more important than any portal acquisition because Martinelli could score 30 a game if he got the respect normally afforded to a star player.
The final foul tally being balanced was a joke because UCLA didn’t take the ball inside at all in the first half and lived off jumpers and long rebounds, and NU (correctly) had only a few fouls called against us. Second half was a different story but again fouls should have been called just as often on UCLA given what Martinelli was doing.
That would be the take if we were tied. But we were down. You attack the basket if you have an opening. You don’t force it like if you are down 4, but you attack.
That’s because going early gives you a chance at an offensive rebound. And another at fouling if you miss and still have a chance for another play.
It was, IMO, 100% the right call to go early when there was a lane.
Nick gets 1v1, then you get the tie or even +1 chance. And yes, Nick has been a solid rebounder off his own misses. He has also won games for us so you know you he won't be scared of the moment. Finally, if is a tie, you take it because you just roared back from 14 down in 3 minutes.
If they double him, he will kickout- to KJ or Ty, which also would've been terrific.
Overall, I'm fine with that thinking.