I have a collegiate/Big Ten tabletop basketball game that I have dabbled in over the years and I am currently in the rewrite process. Part of that process is updating the card set for the most recently played Big Ten season.

Most of the cards are based on pure statistical output, but there is one set of ratings that I need some help with, and that is Defensive value. I know there are a number of defensive metrics out there, but all include elements such as steals and blocked shots and those are already accounted for in the game system.

What I am looking for is how effective a player is at locking down and forcing opponents to take contested shots. I have my own opinions, but as a Badger fan, I simply don't watch your team play as much or with as critical an eye as you do.

Rank these players from best to worst in terms of their on the ball defensive value without taking into account blocks, steals, or rebounding. I can take it from there.

Buie
Audige
Berry
Barnhizer
Beran
Nicholson
Verhoeven
Roper
Marinelli

Thanks so much for your time.

I had inquired with the ticket office a couple weeks ago about season basketball ticket distribution, They said after Oct 17th. Anyone seen anything yet?

What the hell is wrong with the guy? No way he survives this. He’ll almost certainly be in the NFL next year. Maybe the Bears?

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Northwestern’s controversial Rebuild Ryan Field project met mixed reviews from the Land Use Commission late Wednesday night: the nine-member body unanimously recommended approval of NU’s plan to build a new stadium, but voted 7-2 against the zoning amendment that would allow it to host concerts at the venue.

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“The stadium project as proposed is inextricably linked to the approval of a text amendment that permits a limited number of concerts,” Dave Davis, NU’s neighborhood liaison, told commissioners. “This project cannot and will not move forward without this approval.”

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The commission’s veto of the zoning amendment, however, will not halt the project’s move toward city approval. The Land Use Commission does not hold legislative power but serves as an advisory unit for the final decision-maker: City Council. The two separate proposals – one proposing the reconstruction and the other allowing NU to host concerts – will still move to a council vote this fall.

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@lou v and I log our predictions for Northwestern's matchup with the Terrapins this Saturday.

I talked to Brendan Sullivan this morning about how he grades his performance so far, what he's working on going forward, and preparing for likely his third start of the season against Maryland.

If you are a Northwestern fan and watching the game on TV, you are welcome to join us for a live Zoom discussion during the game. It is usually just a few of us "more mature" fans who show up for these chats, but I have found that having others to talk to during the game makes for a better experience.

I hope to see you on Zoom on Saturday @ 11:00 CT.
Topic: Zoom In-Game Discussion: Maryland at NU Saturday October 28 11:00 AM
Time: Oct 28, 2023 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 819 9375 2597
Passcode: 396272

Go 'Cats
- Astro

I talked to Coco Azema and Rod Heard after practice on Tuesday about their performance against Nebraska, setting the standard going forward and embracing their role as the offense struggles.

Timi Oke is visiting Northwestern this week for the Maryland game. @lou v has the story on the British corner's first OV to an American school.

Braun just wrapped up his weekly press conference, here are my initial notes. A full takeaways article will be up this afternoon.

Expect Sullivan to start

Braun was still non-committal on Bryant. Called it a "fickle deal" he's been working through and said they expect him to return this season. He said that nothing has changed from after the Penn State and Howard games when he spoke as if Bryant would return for the following games, and that those comments came from "optimism from our standpoint. We approach this with a mentality that guys are going to be back as soon as possible. We're going to stay optimistic with our rehab approach and keep certain elements of that in house and keep taking it day to day."

When I mentioned Sullivan being poised to start his third game, Braun didn't break stride in his response so I expect #6 to be out there again. He spoke to his progression and how he hopes to continue to see him improve as a signal caller.

"I see a young man that battles and that's all you can ask out of your quarterback. I'm confident and our group is confident we're going to continue to improve and find ways to protect Sully in the passing game. As long as he continues to trend in the direction he's trending right now, very confident that he is going to find ways to help us win a lot of games."

Braun still giving Bajakian room to operate

It was one of the more frustrating performances from a Northwestern offense under offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian against Nebraska, but Braun reiterated his light touch approach to the offense. He said there are conversations and discussions with Bajakian throughout the week but he puts the offense mostly in his hands on game day.

"Considering the context of the situation and the way this all happened, I was never going to be a micromanager on offense. The conversations and the consistency of those conversations has not changed."

"In game, it's more strategy, time management, things that I'm seeing."

There was a bit of a confusing statement as Braun highlighted the performance of Tre Tyus, who ended the game with 10.5 yards per carry, as something he commented on to Bajakian. Tyus finished with six carries for 63 yards and had just one carry after breaking a 39-yard run.

"Simple comments like keep rolling with it, Tre is running the ball really well right now. At the end of the day, I know from calling defense for a long time that one of the worst things you can do as a head coach is being too involved, especially when the offense or defense is on the field. You have to trust that a play caller is going to find a rhythm."

Braun backtracked a bit on his Tyus comment saying "I'm not mandating who's in and who's out on offense. I trust our offensive staff to make in-game adjustments and decisions as they continue to manage our offense. I'm going to continue to give feedback on the things I'm seeing, specifically from my role as head coach and years of experience as a defensive coordinator."

Team resetting its goals with Big Ten West title likely out of reach

Northwestern's goals are still ahead of them, but most likely out of reach. With three Big Ten losses a Big Ten West title would almost assuredly require the Wildcats to win out, but Braun isn't fazed and has adjusted his team's targets to the near future.

"The goal moving forward is find a way to beat Maryland. We're in the third quarter of our season and we have to set the stage for how we're going to move forward. All of our efforts and energy have to go into finding a way to get a win at Ryan Field."

Excitement still palpable from Braun

I asked him about the experience of Coco Azema and Rod Heard, and he still lit up with an opportunity to talk about the players. He was visibly disappointed with the team missing out on a win against Nebraska, but his fire and this team's fire are far from extinguished.

"It is so easy to get into this facility and be around our guys and just go pour everything we have into them. [It's so easy] to coach them hard and mentor them and spend time with them. I mean, Coco, the way that dude plays the game, all you have to do is turn on the film. It's contagious, it's energizing, it's awesome. It makes it awfully fun to coach this group."

@lou v talked to Scott Greene, the publisher of TerrapinSportsReport.com, to get the inside scoop on Maryland this week.

@lou v talked to Scott Greene, the publisher of TerrapinSportsReport.com, to get the inside scoop on Maryland this week.

First to file his wrongful termination lawsuit. Which overpaid former head coach will be next?

I was watching my recording of the Nebraska game today. We give Bajakian a lot of heat, and deservedly so. But the offense's struggles aren't all on him. Sometimes, it's just terrible execution and individual breakdowns.

Take the first drive of the second half. NU is trailing 10-6. On first down, Sully throws a quick out to Johnson, in front of the corner who is in soft coverage. It was a poor throw by Sully and Johnson had to dive for it, but it was a completion for five yards. It's second-and-5. On the next play, everyone on the offense moves in unison on Sully's count -- except Carsello, who snapped the ball late. False start. Now it's second-and-10. Sully throws a perfect strike to Johnson on a slant, right between the linebackers, and he just drops it. It hit him right in the numbers and would have been a first down. Then, on third-and-10, Nebraska blitzes, and NU has the perfect play call, a screen to Porter. He catches the pass, turns upfield and is tackled by Gifford because Tiernan whiffs badly on his block. (Actually, both Carsello and Tiernan were out there. If either of them can block Gifford, that was a first down and more.)

Just a pathetic sequence: a penalty, a drop and a missed block on successive plays, and NU punts.

I talked to Coco Azema and Rod Heard after practice on Tuesday about their performance against Nebraska, setting the standard going forward and embracing their role as the offense struggles.

Is there a scrimmage before the Howard/homecoming game? Is it open to the public?

Army is joining the AAC.

The Army-Navy Game will remain a non-conference game as the final football game of the regular season.

Army and Navy will not play each other in a conference game, unless they face each other in the AAC Championship Game. If that happens, they will play the championship game, then play each other again the following week in the non-conference Army-Navy Game.

Is Gallagher quietly having an exceptional season? I only see what the TV offers so I can't tell how he does in coverage, but he is bringing a load every week against the running games.

Here are my takeaways from David Braun's press conference heading into Maryland week.

It seems weak to extraordinarily weak, not a good preparation for the B1G season.

That this bloke will become a Wildcat! Read the incredible story of Timi Oke, the Englishman who I think will commit one day soon.

I don't get it.
Football is a competitive sport. Not just physically.
Teams scout each other. Safeties read the QB's eyes to get a jump on the ball if the QB doesn't look them off.
Defensive coordinators mix up looks, fake blitzes, etc in order to throw off the offence. Offensive coordinators change it up too. Maybe not ours.
There are plenty of mind games.

So who decided to draw the line at sign stealing?

We would be pretty good at it. So...is it the dumb schools that pushed for this rule? My suggestion is to kill the rule and make it part of the game, because it already is.
Finally, I can't imagine how they expect to enforce/police this rule. Luck of the draw when it gets discovered - but I would think only 5-10% of the sign stealing is found out. So the ban on sign stealing probably penalises the smart-yet-ethical schools, and rewards the smart and unethical ones.

Any views?

I am a little surprised this didn't become a topic of conversation here.

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For the uninformed...Iowa's punt returner ran one back for a breathtaking late-game/game-changing TD that the refs eventually called back, ruling that he called for a fair catch.

Feelings about Iowa aside (if that's possible), I'm genuinely interested in how people here felt about this one. I tend to think the refs blew it, especially since they didn't blow the whistle at any point during the return nor did they seem to call a penalty on Minny special teams for making initial contact after the alleged fair catch...

I didn't even realize that Sumlin was coaching at Maryland. He caught my eye for a bad reason -- he got arrested for DUI on Sunday morning in Florida.

@lou v , I am not sure you can provide insight as you don't want to burn bridges, and I think you have been critical of the athletic department, but feel free to disregard or delete.

What is the main differences you have seen from the current athletic department opposed to the JP days? I am not asking about the Fitz or baseball situations, but the overall functionality of the operation. I have been critical regarding the notable issues, but perhaps I am off target of the perceived issues within or items I heard secondhand. Thought I would ask, but feel free to delete.