Game thread for Michigan State vs. Northwestern

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) hosts Michigan State (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) at Welsh-Ryan Arena at 6:30 p.m. tonight. The game will air on BTN.

The Wildcats are in desperate need of a win after a 30-point loss at Illinois. This is the first home game of 2024, students are packing their sections and tickets are sold out.

 

[EagerFan]

30 minutes prior and the students sections are filling up. Traffic and parking wasn’t bad coming in, so I must have beat the rush.

 

[NUCat320]

Reports on Twitter that Hunger will be starting. (I will, sadly, be watching on a delay after the fact.)

 

[EagerFan]

Hunger is indeed starting.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Hunger is a good thing

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Hunger is a good thing

A few defensive errors that lead to points, but the offense runs better with him on the floor. Open things up having someone who’s a threat to score down low.

 

[TheC]

Nicholson.... oh boy...

 

[CatManTrue]

Several bad 3s so far. Woof.

 

[ballerog711]

Make or miss, Mich St getting the ball up the court within 4 secs

 

[TheC]

Not going to win this game if we don't make shots

 

[ballerog711]

Not going to win this game if we don't make shots

Harder for a team to run against you taking the ball out of the net and jamming players trying to get out an run

 

[TheC]

Better defensive intensity right now

 

[TheC]

Also Hunger is our new center going forward

 

[ballerog711]

Luke looking like NMH Luke, finally.

 

[GatoLouco]

Hunger is, right now, our best 5. And it’s not even close.

I like that he started. I still have PTSD from 2 seasons ago seeing things not working over and over again and just repeating the same old over and over again.

 

[EagerFan]

Wow, sloppy and also never quit getting some great results atm.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Boo with the rejection! Dayum.

 

[EagerFan]

Boo with the rejection! Dayum.

With authority!

 

[TheC]

That finish by Boo to end the half was simply nasty!

 

[SmellyCat]

Those two late threes...if I were rooting for the other team, my TV screen would have a hole in it right now. Both were great recoveries by NU, so I'm thrilled, but they were crazy plays that it seemed like MSU should have been able to control. Go Cats!

 

[ballerog711]

Collins did a good job making the change. So far doing a great job using the media timeouts,etc to get players rest.

 

[phatcat]

Hunger is, right now, our best 5. And it’s not even close.

I like that he started. I still have PTSD from 2 seasons ago seeing things not working over and over again and just repeating the same old over and over again.

Worst that can happen is that the other guys wake up and play better than him (meaning that will be ok)

 

[mshelton33]

For those out of the building, Brendan Sullivan and Devin Turner helped out with set up and tear down of the halftime show, which was singer and NU cross country runner Ava Earl.

 

[SmellyCat]

Loving Hunger and his enthusiasm. I feel like Preston does a lot of the right things, but he's just too slow out there. Have a feeling he could be a coach someday, and hopefully he's kind of a coach on the floor, but I just wish he didn't get beat so often. Nicholson...I hope he gets his game together. NU will need him against Purdue and a lot of other Big Ten foes this year.

 

[ballerog711]

Don't agree with MN sub in the early second half.

 

[Hungry Jack]

BERRYENFUEGO

 

[mekCat]

We're doing fine with MN on the floor.

 

[TheC]

BERRYENFUEGO

He has really stepped up. When he plays well, we are dangerous

 

[EagerFan]

Lots of physical play tonight from both sides.

 

[DaCat]

Berry is taking up residence in Tyson Walker’s head.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Berry now living in Tyson Walker’s head

 

[SmellyCat]

Didn't like Boo's bricked three-point attempt a moment ago (not just the result, but the shot itself), but he's allowed I suppose after making the shot right before that (nice pass to him too - Martinelli, right?)

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

This is fun.

 

[GatoLouco]

Berry is, tonight, known as La Bomba. He’s exploding all over the place 💣

 

[EagerFan]

Announced Billy’s Jersey will he retired 03/02. Billy gets an O.

 

[SDakaGordie]

This is fun.

We are responding, which is taking away stress.

 

[EagerFan]

Time out, coaches need to coach em up a bit.

 

[TheC]

Need to keep getting buckets

 

[SmellyCat]

The team is playing really well together tonight. They just need to keep it up for 10 more minutes.

 

[TheC]

Gotta stop this run