Game Thread: No. 10 Illinois vs. Northwestern

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (13-5, 4-3 Big Ten) hosts No. 10 Illinois (14-4, 5-2 Big Ten) tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game tips off at 8 pm and will air on BTN.

The Wildcats have lost nine of their last 10 to Illinois, including a 96-66 drubbing in Champaign earlier this season. They'll plan to flip the script tonight.

 

[EagerFan]

Students out in their purple glory.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Too soon?

 

[EagerFan]

Crowds a little feisty.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

forcing it right now

 

[EagerFan]

Shannon out of controls gets ref love

 

[EagerFan]

Illini getting away with a lot of early violence

 

[SmellyCat]

Feel like Illinois has already missed more shots in the first five minutes than the did in the entire game last time.

 

[Figrating]

Pretty tough out there.

 

[DaCat]

We’ve also missed some shots, need to stay under control

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

getting killed on the boards this early is not a good sign

 

[GatoLouco]

Saw Rodgers and Hawkins clearly celebrating while staring at the students. I’d say IL not worried about taunts.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

jump ball? wtf

 

[The Purple Knight]

cats look like crap! Not moving the ball, people standing around, no rebounding, too many floaters.

Need to start moving the ball and rebounding!

 

[EagerFan]

Yeah, lots of love Illini way so far. But cats need to make those shots, too.

 

[GatoLouco]

Incredible level of effort on defense despite the offensive rebounds. Unfortunately not shooting well

 

[Figrating]

NU shooting cold, but hanging in there with the the Ill mofos, who are great shooters, but NU is in their face.

 

[bjm989]

cats look like crap! Not moving the ball, people standing around, no rebounding, too many floaters.

Need to start moving the ball and rebounding!

Defensive rebounding more than anything

 

[CatManTrue]

Crowds a little feisty.

Love the “no means no” chants aimed at Shannon

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

zebras have been garbage so far

 

[EagerFan]

It rough getting ahead when they goaltend and then charge and get both results in their favor.

 

[SmellyCat]

Something to look out for that I've been wondering about for years - Collins was WAY out of the box, and you could see the ref saying something to him. Consider him "warned."

 

[SDakaGordie]

zebras have been garbage so far

That goaltending miss is so inexcusable. But so are Illini’s 11 offensive boards.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Martinelli has been the X factor so far... if Boo or Ty or Langborg start hitting we have a chance

 

[SmellyCat]

Good lord that layup to beat the shot clock was an All-America shot. Then a minute later might have been better.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

We got a game on our hands boys

 

[drewjin]

That goaltending miss is so inexcusable. But so are Illini’s 11 offensive boards.

Boxing out better the last couple of defensive stands!

 

[NUinIowafan]

Is Berry not playing tonight? There are no stats for him at halftime

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

The no means no chant has definitely ruffled Shannons feathers

 

[IGNORE2]

Shannon out of controls gets ref love

Probably get charged in the morning

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Is Berry not playing tonight? There are no stats for him at halftime

They haven't run a play for him yet... he was open once or twice but didn't shoot

 

[SmellyCat]

Is Berry not playing tonight? There are no stats for him at halftime

Hasn't even taken a shot, but look in the "personal fouls" column of the box score. He has stats.

 

[DaCat]

Something to look out for that I've been wondering about for years - Collins was WAY out of the box, and you could see the ref saying something to him. Consider him "warned."

Collins is literally our sixth man!

 

[EagerFan]

A little classicalMetallica for halftime.

 

[FeralFelidae]

A little classicalMetallica for halftime.

What a halftime show from Raviv!

 

[EagerFan]

Is Berry not playing tonight? There are no stats for him at halftime

Berry has gotten run over a few times by out of control Shannon, so he’s sitting with fouls.

 

[IGNORE2]

Berry has gotten run over a few times by out of control Shannon, so he’s sitting with fouls.

He did draw one charge.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Hasn't even taken a shot, but look in the "personal fouls" column of the box score. He has stats.

He’s been the main defensive guy on Shannon. Even before he had to sit with two fouls, he wasn’t in the flow of the offense at all.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

No action for Hunger in first half. I hope he’s not injured.

 

[DaCat]

No action for Hunger in first half. I hope he’s not injured.

Fortunately both Big Matt and Preston have played well so far.