First-half thread for NU vs. Rutgers

[lou v]

Who needs the Oscars when you can watch the Cats and the Knights.

NU is coming off of a one-week layoff and going into a stretch of four games in 10 days. This is the first of three trips the Cats will take out East in that stretch.

Rutgers has lost two in a row and NU has dropped six straight, so someone is going to snap a losing streak tonight. Thing is, the Knights are 15-0 at the RAC this season, while NU is 1-6 in true road games. I'm not feeling optimistic.

 

[mekCat]

Nance did not start. Boo did and is shooting well.

 

[TheC]

We've made everything we've shot inside 25 feet

 

[jensberg]

This is a good lineup whether Nance is hurt or not. Does anyone know if he is?

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Fantastic start. Pretty much every game we have a stretch like this where we look phenomenal. Gotta keep it up and not lose confidence and focus.

 

[lou v]

How do you silence the sellout crowd in one of the toughest places to play in the country? You hit 6-8 shots, including 3-5 3s.

Wow, the Cats came out smoking.

NU 15 RU 5, 15:14

 

[LansingCat]

Let's hope that Nance looks hungry coming off the bench.

 

[TheC]

Let's hope that Nance looks hungry coming off the bench.

Good fix.

 

[mekCat]

Nance and Turner enter the game

 

[WHERE__IS__RYAN]

Is it just me or does Buie take a lot of charges? Seems like he gets one a game.

 

[bjm989]

Wow. Cats looking strong so far. They just need to do this for longer stretches and use strong defense to make it through the lulls. Boo adds so much to this team when he is playing well.

 

[mekCat]

4 subs in, lead goes to 12. Greer with a beautiful back door cut.

 

[lou v]

How about that: a Ryan Greer basket! That's his first since Jan. 14 vs. Iowa.

 

[TheC]

Team is playing really well. At some point they have to decide that they are good enough to win these games. They get tight in crunch time, which may be part physical because they lack depth, but also probably mental. But this is a really nice stretch so far on both ends.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

4 subs in, lead goes to 12. Greer with a beautiful back door cut.

Great pass from Nance as well.

 

[mekCat]

Let's hope Collins doesn't get tight.

 

[GatoLouco]

Against the, arguably, best defense in the B1G not named Purdue, we scored 19 in less than 9 minutes. Fantastic start.

 

[TheC]

Keep playing with confidence. Rutgers will have a run. We need to just keep fighting.

 

[LansingCat]

So how big of a lead do we need to have a safe lead?

 

[GatoLouco]

Red hot.

Also, wondering why, having allowed 7 points in 10 minutes, we started to show zone on some posessions.

 

[TheC]

And here comes that run.

 

[TheC]

And here comes that run.

And Jared Jones puts an end to that run. Wow!

 

[lou v]

Jared Jones! What the hell has gotten into him? Wow.

 

[NUCat320]

Jones had a power board after a solid defensive stop, now he’s made three straight attempts. Big moment for him.

 

[mekCat]

Zone with they have the ball out of bounds under their basket. A typical decision.

 

[rwhitney014]

Gotta keep this going. Jones with an excellent half - he’s really come on the last few weeks.

Do not get sloppy and let Rutgers back in. We tried for a few minutes and Jones came to the rescue.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

And here comes that run.

Jones says “nah”.

 

[mekCat]

Jared Jones is playing very well. Has Spencer been out of the game? Everyone else is getting significant rest.

 

[GatoLouco]

Who’s #4 on our team?

 

[mekCat]

Who’s #4 on our team?

Jones.

 

[TheC]

Turner has got to hit those wide open shots. Uggh.

 

[mekCat]

We are fortunate they've missed a bunch

 

[TheC]

Solid first half. Need to be strong when Rutgers turns up the intensity. Keep moving the ball on offense. We do well when we pass well. Our offense stagnates when its just Spencer or Buie dribbling.

 

[julescat]

Very good half by NU. Right guys getting open shots at first but still managed to keep some scoring going as that got tougher. Here's hoping for a solid 2H and to get to the last few minutes with the chance to give RU its first home loss on the season. Great to see Jones looking more and more comfortable with the ways he can contribute.