Game Thread for NIU vs. Northwestern

[lou v]

We've got about 12 minutes to tipoff and there are a few hundred people here. It's going to be a sleepy kind of game at Welsh-Ryan, you can already feel it.

This is going to be a tough test for the Cats.

NIU is 5-1, with only a loss to Marquette. They've got a 20 ppg scorer in David Coit, who is coming off of a 34-point, 8 3-pointer game vs. DePaul. Another starting guard, the wonderfully named Zarique Nutter, averages 16.3.

They are fourth in the nation in free-throw attempts with a whopping 29.5 per game, so they are aggressive. They have a pair of bigs in Swiss import Yanic Konan Niederhauser (another great name) and Xavier Amos who are 1-2 in blocks in the MAC.

They are a veteran team, starting two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore.

Buckle up.

 

[mekCat]

Nicholbombs!

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Decent start so far

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Good to see Big Matt off to a good start. He’s showing more energy tonight. Also, that NIU guard was on the line before the last basket.

 

[mekCat]

Boo is in assist mode. Hope Berry isn't hurt too badly!

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

I get a kick out of Martinelli's unorthodox style

 

[PURPLECAT88]

2 fouls on Boo and Borg. We might have to see Mullins before long.

 

[mekCat]

Our guard depth will really be tested now. Didn't need Boo to pick up his second foul.

 

[ballerog711]

People have caught up to Barnhizor move to get to the low post. He has to look at the mid range.

Fun fact, according to Torvik, Barnhizor has the second worse close 2 point percentage on the team. Only Preston is lower

 

[mekCat]

Berry went to the locker room, we could use him

 

[mekCat]

Berry back, good news indeed

 

[GatoLouco]

Our guard depth will really be tested now. Didn't need Boo to pick up his second foul.

Splitting hairs here but our lack of depth is not at guard. It’s at 3 and 4. Which makes us having to play 3 guards most of the time.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

People have caught up to Barnhizor move to get to the low post. He has to look at the mid range.

Fun fact, according to Torvik, Barnhizor has the second worse close 2 point percentage on the team. Only Preston is lower

Brooks does tend to dribble himself into trouble sometimes.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

That Amos kid is torching us right now

 

[mekCat]

Splitting hairs here but our lack of depth is not at guard. It’s at 3 and 4. Which makes us having to play 3 guards most of the time.

I just meant that we are going to have a chance to see if our guards are as good as advertised. Berry coming back makes this less of a test.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Buie stops the bleeding

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Awful call

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Great game so far. Martinelli stepping up large

 

[mekCat]

Did someone his the "on" switch on Matt? He's doing everything well

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

If Amos doesn't get cold in the 2nd half lookout... but still a 50/50 game so far anyone could win fun watch so far

 

[ballerog711]

The roommates are 2 for 11. Not gonna win many games with you second and third scorer shooting like that.

 

[SDakaGordie]

More concerned about stopping NIU. We can’t match them for buckets, so need to stop theirs. I would like to see Mullins on Amos.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

I hate to beat on a dead horse here but this is a game where we miss Audige on the D side of the ball

 

[ballerog711]

More concerned about stopping NIU. We can’t match them for buckets, so need to stop theirs. I would like to see Mullins on Amos.

Can't hurt to try it. Just have him stay with him like a box and 1.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I think the Bears will have more penalty yards than the Cats have points tonight (and I think we get past 80)

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Boo takin' over

 

[PURPLECAT88]

It’s fun to have the all-America on our side.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

I think the Bears will have more penalty yards than the Cats have points tonight (and I think we get past 80)

No Bears spoilers. I’m recording the game.

 

[GatoLouco]

This NIU team is interesting. Amos and Nutter are some strong P6 type of bodies. They’ve been smart on switches to abuse smaller defenders.

Fortunately for us they make a lot of mistakes on defense.

 

[mekCat]

The fans should have come out tonight. They are missing some great entertainment

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Barney dribbling like he’s angry at the floor.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

What?! Hunger has that shot?

 

[lunker35]

Brutal call on Hunger on that beautiful clean block. No idea what the ref was watching.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Berry having a solid outing. Nice to see him not just rely on the 3

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Hunger might be a something. His 3-point shot didn’t drop, but it wasn’t ugly.

 

[ballerog711]

Bench is 8 for 10 with 18 points. Needed that today

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Like what I'm seeing from Hunger

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Absolute clinic in the 2nd half

 

[zbag51]

Absolute clinic in the 2nd half

Very fun game to watch!

 

[ballerog711]

Let Mullins get some love