First-half thread for NU vs. Rutgers

[lou v]

It seems like I write every game that this is as close to a must-win as you can have in January. Well, this one is a little different. This is just a plain, old must-win. You simply can't lose to Rutgers. Period.

 

[Alan Smithee]

I don't mind the early struggle, if it serves to remind them that Rutgers is going to fight.

The early foul trouble for Law, however, was avoidable.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Go cats

 

[RhabdoWildcat]

It seems like I write every game that this is as close to a must-win as you can have in January. Well, this one is a little different. This is just a plain, old must-win. You simply can't lose to Rutgers. Period.

Rutgers is playing fantastic ball. Tough defense . Effort on both ends. They aren't a great team but will beat us if we sleep walk through this game.

 

[TheC]

We look HORRIBLE. No ball movement. Terrible shot selection. Lazy defense. They better snap out of this before they wind up down by 15+.

 

[Alan Smithee]

You may notice, though, that as poorly as we've played Rutgers has been unable to pull away. Entering the danger zone now with Law and Pardon both with 2 fouls.

 

[TheC]

We look like a bad basketball team getting schooled by another bad team. Not sure why.

 

[catcrazy]

Potential repeat bed crapping. No way should lose to this team

 

[lou v]

Damn, this is UGLY basketball. Both teams, Northwestern more so. It's hard to watch.

 

[ubercat]

C'mon Cats, this is rucking Futgers! Like the way Brown's playing, though.

 

[TheC]

Rutgers is doing what I feared teams would eventually figure out. Pressure the hell out of Macintosh and NU's offense falls apart. He is not quick enough to get around a good defender.

 

[Alan Smithee]

What we seem to lack most - especially tonight - is toughness.

 

[DaCat]

We are lacking points!

 

[Hungry Jack]

The Cats are getting zero luck on bounces, loose balls, rim rolls, tips, and taps. It's like all the bad juju conspired against them. And they certainly aren't shooting well. Yet here we are down 3 at the half.

We can win this. They cannot play much worse.

 

[GOUNUII]

What we seem to lack most - especially tonight - is toughness.

Ugly,lazy, dumb and weak.

GOUNUII

 

[NUThump]

Seems like everyone has 2 fouls. Ticky-tack calls or earned?

 

[Alan Smithee]

The Cats are getting zero luck on bounces, loose balls, rim rolls, tips, and taps. It's like all the bad juju conspired against them. And they certainly aren't shooting well. Yet here we are down 3 at the half.

We can win this. They cannot play much worse.

This is a strong candidate for worst half of the season. We should be able to clean this up. At least Collins didn't have to burn any timeouts.

 

[Alan Smithee]

Seems like everyone has 2 fouls. Ticky-tack calls or earned?

I don't think I've seen any bad calls except for the missed Skelly flop. They're calling it tight though.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Ugly,lazy, dumb and weak.

GOUNUII

...is no way to go through life.

 

[Hungry Jack]

BTW, Gladiator is airing on AMC. And I like Gladiator movies.

Fortuitously, the scene where they reenact the sacking of Carthage just played. This is where Gladiator wins the crowd over by leading his band of ragtag barbarians to victory in the Coliseum.

This bodes well for the Cats. They will play like gladiators in the second half.

 

[NU Houston]

Rutgers is doing what I feared teams would eventually figure out. Pressure the hell out of Macintosh and NU's offense falls apart. He is not quick enough to get around a good defender.

Isiah Brown is, though. He split the two defenders at the perimeter in the first half and came out of it with an easy pull up jumper. That was good to see.