Hard to overstate how huge of a win this was

[freewillie07]

Whew. Now that we actually secured the W, can we talk about just how huge it was that NU won tonight?!

- Secures highest BTT seed in program history
- Can legitimately say we were the No. 2 team in the conference on the recruiting trail
- Avoids a potential 5-game skid that would make us a bit nervous on Selection Sunday
- More rest, one less game to win a Big Ten Championship
- Being the No. 2 in the Big Ten could help NCAA seeding just from pure perception

The vibe would be totally different as a 9. Was an absolute must-win, and it wasn’t always pretty, but the guys did it.

Congratulations NU Men’s Basketball on an outstanding regular season. Amazing accomplishment. The fun is just beginning.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

It’s the greatest regular season in the modern history is the program, straight up. It can’t be overstated how big of a win it is, it’s the absolute pinnacle of our history. What an achievement.

 

[GatoLouco]

We are so nostalgic about the 2016 team. But this is the best team in NU history.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Really really needed this win. Lose, play RU again, maybe lose again, crappy NCAA seed. And so on.

2nd place. 2nd seed, probably 5-6 seed in tourney or higher.

Wish they would get hot shooting

 

[CappyNU]

We're the #2 seed and have a 4-0 record against the 1, 3 and 4 seeds. What a year.

 

[NUCat320]

For what it’s worth, I also think NU has earned at least a 7 seed, which is waaaaay better than an 8. (Seems like a 6, realistically.)

At Rutgers is *another* Quad 1 win.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

We are so nostalgic about the 2016 team. But this is the best team in NU history.

2016 will always be special. It shattered such a painful and embarrassing streak. And they won a tourney game, which this team still has yet to accomplish.

But truly this year’s team has ascended to new heights.

 

[HawkCat]

Boo showed up when needed. Barnhizer continues to develop into a scorer. And the B1G Network guys note a great thing: Nicholson playing within himself, playing great D and flushing with authority when so fed. Awesome!

 

[PurpleFaze]

What a great season this has been so far. And Friday we may get to play Illinois for a 3rd time

Just a huge difference between being the 2 seed and 9 seed from a confidence and feel good standpoint.

 

[NJcatsfan_rivals139741]

There was SO MUCH at stake in this game, I couldn’t watch it straight through, due to nerves. It wasn’t just about the seeding. It was the momentum, the confidence…everything. The most NU thing would have been to lose out and slink into the tourney, somehow leaving a less-than-great feeling after the epic 5-game win streak. But this is the most anti-NU basketball team I’ve ever seen & they proved it again tonight. Thrilled and so, so proud.

 

[NUinIowafan]

A very satisfying game! Almost left in first half- looking like another losing game but just as i was getting up- they started kicking it up a notch and never looked back! Barnhizer and Boo are so much fun yo watch along w nicolson dunks! For the first time ever i am looking forward to the big 10 tourney! Go Cats!!

 

[DaCat]

Boo showed up when needed. Barnhizer continues to develop into a scorer. And the B1G Network guys note a great thing: Nicholson playing within himself, playing great D and flushing with authority when so fed. Awesome!

If Nicholson can develop a go-to shot in the post other than the Shaq dunk, the sky's the limit for Big Matt. The dude has good feet and is athletic.

 

[NU Houston]

A very satisfying game! Almost left in first half- looking like another losing game but just as i was getting up- they started kicking it up a notch and never looked back! Barnhizer and Boo are so much fun yo watch along w nicolson dunks! For the first time ever i am looking forward to the big 10 tourney! Go Cats!!

Wait, you were at the game and almost left in the first half?

 

[HawkCat]

I had a hard time watching at times, but will admit to being so proud of this team. I think it might be less talented than the 2016-2017 team, but it seems to have great chemistry—which is just as important!

 

[NJCat]

Wait, you were at the game and almost left in the first half?

Wanted to beat the crowds to Stuff Yer Face.....

 

[hdhntr1]

We are so nostalgic about the 2016 team. But this is the best team in NU history.

2016/17 was most important but this was pretty close

 

[NUinIowafan]

Wait, you were at the game and almost left in the first half?

No …. Just watching at home and just couldnt handle watching them lose- but it quickly turned around- such a fun game to watch!!

 

[hdhntr1]

What a great season this has been so far. And Friday we may get to play Illinois for a 3rd time

Just a huge difference between being the 2 seed and 9 seed from a confidence and feel good standpoint.

Or PSU for a second time

 

[The Purple Knight]

There was a lot of big wins this year, but this one was right at the top. Sets things up for a post season run.

 

[hdhntr1]

For what it’s worth, I also think NU has earned at least a 7 seed, which is waaaaay better than an 8. (Seems like a 6, realistically.)

At Rutgers is *another* Quad 1 win.

They were already talked about as a 6-7 so this likely puts them in a 5-6 range. Could go higher depending on BTT

 

[ubercat]

So I was recording the game, planning to watch it tomorrow. (This being our 40th wedding anniversary.) After dinner, wife insists I catch up on the DVR and watch in real time. Yeah, I married up.

 

[hdhntr1]

\

There was a lot of big wins this year, but this one was right at the top. Sets things up for a post season run.

6-4 in the BIG in road games. That is unreal. Only other team in that range is Purdue

 

[NU Houston]

12-8. Damn. Anyone predicting that at the start of the season would have been laughed out of the room.

 

[hdhntr1]

12-8. Damn. Anyone predicting that at the start of the season would have been laughed out of the room.

6-4 home 6-4 road. And to think they had MD ranked when they cannot win on the road. We are more dangerous in Dance because we don't need home court to be dangerous

 

[SmellyCat]

Whew. Now that we actually secured the W, can we talk about just how huge it was that NU won tonight?!

- Secures highest BTT seed in program history
- Can legitimately say we were the No. 2 team in the conference on the recruiting trail
- Avoids a potential 5-game skid that would make us a bit nervous on Selection Sunday
- More rest, one less game to win a Big Ten Championship
- Being the No. 2 in the Big Ten could help NCAA seeding just from pure perception

The vibe would be totally different as a 9. Was an absolute must-win, and it wasn’t always pretty, but the guys did it.

Congratulations NU Men’s Basketball on an outstanding regular season. Amazing accomplishment. The fun is just beginning.

In addition to all of these are individual accolades:

Collins probably loses Big 10 COTY if he lost tonight. Now I think he's done enough to beat Painter.

Boo was shaky for a while tonight, but may have done enough to be make the all-conference first team.

Chase, as bad as he was down the stretch offensively, was phenomenal AGAIN tonight defensively, and considering Rutgers had a guy the announcers kept saying was one of the best defenders in the league and Chase outplayed him defensively, maybe Chase wins DPOTY as well.

Plus the team accolade of winning 12 games for the first time, with the overall record within reach as well.

So much at stake tonight!

 

[hdhntr1]

So I was recording the game, planning to watch it tomorrow. (This being our 40th wedding anniversary.) After dinner, wife insists I catch up on the DVR and watch in real time. Yeah, I married up.

That said anybody for you was marrying up. Of course that can be said of a lot of us

 

[NUCat320]

Chase, as bad as he was down the stretch offensively, was phenomenal AGAIN tonight defensively, and considering Rutgers had a guy the announcers kept saying was one of the best defenders in the league and Chase outplayed him defensively, maybe Chase wins DPOTY as well.

Good post, and Chase was darn good, but McConnell got credited with six swipes tonight and holds onto the conference steals title.

Maybe the power of the Cats story, and that theft and dunk against Purdue gets Chase the nod.

 

[SmellyCat]

Good post, and Chase was darn good, but McConnell got credited with six swipes tonight and holds onto the conference steals title.

Maybe the power of the Cats story, and that theft and dunk against Purdue gets Chase the nod.

I missed that he had six. Ok, maybe he had better stats than Chase, but I still think Chase played better overall defense. Of course, I wasn't really watching the other guy.

 

[hdhntr1]

Good post, and Chase was darn good, but McConnell got credited with six swipes tonight and holds onto the conference steals title.

Maybe the power of the Cats story, and that theft and dunk against Purdue gets Chase the nod.

Chase's D is not just the steals. Mulcahy was the DPOY last year Chase has a good shot this year

 

[hdhntr1]

A very satisfying game! Almost left in first half- looking like another losing game but just as i was getting up- they started kicking it up a notch and never looked back! Barnhizer and Boo are so much fun yo watch along w nicolson dunks! For the first time ever i am looking forward to the big 10 tourney! Go Cats!!

You mean not having to watch then Weds and Thurs?

 

[zbag51]

Such a great win tonight. WE needed it for seeding in the Big Ten tourney, and just for momentum, etc. Rutgers needed it for NCAA resume, it was their senior night, etc. We played clutch basketball. Every single time RU even THOUGHT about a run in the second half, we shut them down with clutch plays on both sides of the ball. LOVE how we played with as much pressure as there could have been in this last game of the regular season.

This team has grit and toughness, and is just plain fun to watch and root for.

 

[freewillie07]

In addition to all of these are individual accolades:

Collins probably loses Big 10 COTY if he lost tonight. Now I think he's done enough to beat Painter.

Boo was shaky for a while tonight, but may have done enough to be make the all-conference first team.

Chase, as bad as he was down the stretch offensively, was phenomenal AGAIN tonight defensively, and considering Rutgers had a guy the announcers kept saying was one of the best defenders in the league and Chase outplayed him defensively, maybe Chase wins DPOTY as well.

Plus the team accolade of winning 12 games for the first time, with the overall record within reach as well.

So much at stake tonight!

Good points. I’m not sure all of those individual accolades will happen, but you’re right that they would all be significantly less likely without a win tonight.

 

[Katatonic]

Numerous accomplishments for the program that were firsts or hadn't been done in a really long time; just too bad they couldn't pull out a win against UI or PSU to finish with single digit losses for the regular season.

 

[catcrazy]

Collins as coach of the year should be a no brainer

 

[NJCat]

Collins as coach of the year should be a no brainer

Yep. Team picked to finish, at best, 13th ends up second after losing 4 players from a team that sucked last year.

 

[NJcatsfan_rivals139741]

Hilariously, the Purdue fans are swarming on social media about how Painter should win it. When Collins gets it, they’ll blame the refs.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Hilariously, the Purdue fans are swarming on social media about how Painter should win it. When Collins gets it, they’ll blame the refs.

I honestly didn’t realize how whiny a fan base Purdue was until this year

 

[CappyNU]

I honestly didn’t realize how whiny a fan base Purdue was until this year

They have long been my least favorite basketball fan base, like well over a decade at this point, due to said whining. I took great joy being at the United Center for the tourney when VCU took them down.

 

[hdhntr1]

They have long been my least favorite basketball fan base, like well over a decade at this point, due to said whining. I took great joy being at the United Center for the tourney when VCU took them down.

I have so many least favorites it is hard to tell

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Whew. Now that we actually secured the W, can we talk about just how huge it was that NU won tonight?!

- Secures highest BTT seed in program history
- Can legitimately say we were the No. 2 team in the conference on the recruiting trail
- Avoids a potential 5-game skid that would make us a bit nervous on Selection Sunday
- More rest, one less game to win a Big Ten Championship
- Being the No. 2 in the Big Ten could help NCAA seeding just from pure perception

The vibe would be totally different as a 9. Was an absolute must-win, and it wasn’t always pretty, but the guys did it.

Congratulations NU Men’s Basketball on an outstanding regular season. Amazing accomplishment. The fun is just beginning.

Must have hit a chord. -36 likes and more to come!


That flight back to Evanston has to be a fun ride for all aboard.

Thanks and congratulations to the coaches. team and supporting cast for a terrific regular season.

Best for the post-season ahead.