First-half thread for Indiana-Northwestern

[lou v]

This place is gonna be packed to the rafters tonight. There's going to be a lot of red, too -- Hoosier fans bought their tickets as soon as they went on sale. Needless to say, they thought Indiana would be in a better spot than they are now.

The big news is, of course, is that James Blackmon is out. He joins OG Anunoby on the very talented Indiana sideline. Still, Thomas Bryant is a beast in the middle and Robert Johnson is a talented guard. NU is a 7-point favorite last time I looked. That seems too high to me, even if IU is coming off of a 30-point beatdown at Michigan on Thursday night.

There's a definite big-game buzz in Welsh-Ryan tonight.

 

[Eurocat]

This might be one of the biggest games in Northwestern basketball history.

I don't want to overdramatize.....but seriously, this game could be make or break in terms of making the tournament and we all know what that would mean for us.

GO CATS!

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Purdue goes down to Nebraska! Good for Cats!

 

[lou v]

The students get a lot of crap on our boards -- and for good reason -- but they are out in force tonight!

 

[CommodoresAndCats]

Team doesn't look they've come to play out of the gate. We need to pull it together and play with confidence.

 

[Figrating]

The famous NU slow start...

 

[Hungry Jack]

Jeez. The Cats are gator arming those open looks. Seem a little tight in the sphincter at the onset here.

 

[DaCat]

Getting warmed up and charging back. Let's go Cats!

 

[CommodoresAndCats]

Jeez. The Cats are gator arming those open looks. Seem a little tight in the sphincter at the onset here.

Agreed, they don't look like they are playing loose. Just need to go out and play their game.

 

[Hungry Jack]

IU is very athletic. Crean gets guys who can jump and run.

Great sequence by Benson.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Need to knock down some shots

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

We need to make some threes

 

[Hungry Jack]

Great recovery by the Cats to take the lead!

 

[Hungry Jack]

Lumpkin with an awesome play.

Yeah, we really should reduce his minutes.

 

[Figrating]

Wow - didn't this game turn on a dime.

I think IU senses they're gonna have to fight to stay w NU...

 

[Figrating]

Crowd is into it.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Wow - didn't this game turn on a dime.

I think IU senses they're gonna have to fight to stay w NU...

IU looks like it's unraveling, but I don't think they are packing it in.

 

[The_Waterboy]

Just turned on the tube to the NU-Indy game & the 'Cats just went on a 11-zilch run to turn a 4-point deficit into a 7 pt lead!!! Go 'Cats. Go Pardon/Benson

 

[DaCat]

Lumpkin steal and slam! Take that, haters!

 

[Figrating]

Wouldn'tcha love to be at this game?

 

[DrillCat]

Wow. NU BB looks great!

 

[DrillCat]

Wouldn'tcha love to be at this game?

How about at the historic NCAA tourney game? That, sir would be exciting.

 

[catcrazy]

Hope Tap is okay

 

[Ubermorgen]

Great minutes from Benson in the first half.

 

[fkfootball]

Thank you! This is exactly what I wanted! I love watching Crean go down in flames.

 

[Katatonic]

Lumpkin with an awesome play.

Yeah, we really should reduce his minutes.

Lumpkin steal and slam! Take that, haters!

Basically been the same posters who get on Lumpkin whenever he makes a mistake or has an off game.

Also, Tap w/ the big 3 and then a nice move to the basket (hopefully, he can walk off that ankle).

Really like what we're seeing from BB - holding his own w/ Pardon out due to fouls.

While that Pardon injury stunk, was good to get BB some real minutes to get ready for B1G play.

 

[its_the_sauce]

Wouldn'tcha love to be at this game?

It's rocking. Nice purple turnout.

 

[Ubermorgen]

Love it!

 

[DaCat]

Season-low 23 points for Indy in the half. Cats defense getting it done.

 

[The_Waterboy]

The 2nd half is gonna define the character of the 2017 'Cats b-ball team. In past seasons, when holding a 12 pt lead heading into the intermission, Carmody teams would play not to lose and keep their shots relegated to backdoor cuts and deperation jumpers as shot clock neared expiration. This season, Collins will set the current 'Cats to play the agressive transition game and take the game into the grill of Crean's Who-ZIts with balls-out drives thru the lane & to the hole and either take the chippie layup among the trees or pass to the open man on the perimeter for the long-distance jumper. In 2017, the 'Cats have the personnel to knock down those jumpers on a regular basis. I'm LOVING THIS TEAM & COACH.

GO 'Cats!!!

 

[DaCat]

Let's double the lead in the second half!

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Wow. NU BB looks great!

How about at the historic NCAA tourney game? That, sir would be exciting.

It's rocking. Nice purple turnout.

Love it!

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Season-low 23 points for Indy in the half. Cats defense getting it done.

The 2nd half is gonna define the character of the 2017 'Cats b-ball team. In past seasons, when holding a 12 pt lead heading into the intermission, Carmody teams would play not to lose and keep their shots relegated to backdoor cuts and deperation jumpers as shot clock neared expiration. This season, Collins will set the current 'Cats to play the agressive transition game and take the game into the grill of Crean's Who-ZIts with balls-out drives thru the lane & to the hole and either take the chippie layup among the trees or pass to the open man on the perimeter for the long-distance jumper. In 2017, the 'Cats have the personnel to knock down those jumpers on a regular basis. I'm LOVING THIS TEAM & COACH.

GO 'Cats!!!

Go Cats!

 

[Katatonic]

The 2nd half is gonna define the character of the 2017 'Cats b-ball team. In past seasons, when holding a 12 pt lead heading into the intermission, Carmody teams would play not to lose and keep their shots relegated to backdoor cuts and deperation jumpers as shot clock neared expiration. This season, Collins will set the current 'Cats to play the agressive transition game and take the game into the grill of Crean's Who-ZIts with balls-out drives thru the lane & to the hole and either take the chippie layup among the trees or pass to the open man on the perimeter for the long-distance jumper. In 2017, the 'Cats have the personnel to knock down those jumpers on a regular basis. I'm LOVING THIS TEAM & COACH.

GO 'Cats!!!

Not sure if it was so much not playing to lose, as it was simply being exhausted down the stretch as there was really no bench.