Game thread for Northwestern vs. Illinois

[lou v]

I'm here courtside at the State Farm Center, right behind Dave Eanet and Billy McKinney at the scorer's table. There's a buzz here tonight, for sure. The Orange Krush sections were almost full an hour before the game. This is my first time in this arena. It looks like an aging, '50s B movie spaceship from the outside, but it's pretty nice in here. Lots of plush amenities, including a very nice media room, even if it is underground.

I've been told that Terrence Shannon Jr. will play tonight for the Illini. He's coming back from a concussion.

 

[DaCat]

Get it done, Cats!!

 

[NUCat320]

GO CATS GO CATS GO

🐱💜🏀⛹️‍♂️🦵💪🥇

 

[GrandRapidsCatFan]

Good start, let's keep it going

 

[SmellyCat]

Nice baseline move by Dainja to get out of the double team.

Like the BTN studio guys talking about how good Nicholson's screens are. All of our three-point attempts so far tonight seemed to have been because of his screens (though the screen on the Buie make would have Indiana/Purdue fans in quite a tizzy).

 

[NUCat320]

Couldn’t ask for a better start.

The defensive effort is impressive. No matter the shooting, you’re in a good situation if you are defending at a point-per-minute pace.

 

[GatoLouco]

Beran being referred to as an X factor is a perennial presence on the game bingo card

 

[SmellyCat]

Beran being referred to as an X factor is a perennial presence on the game bingo card

Also, the need early on to say NU needs a third scorer to step up.

 

[GatoLouco]

Also, the need early on to say NU needs a third scorer to step up.

True! Waiting on the reference of Talor Battle’s influence on Buie.

 

[CappyNU]

Those were...not the best minutes from Martinelli.

 

[NUCat320]

Not as good in the next four minutes…

 

[bjm989]

Okay Cats. Early run from Illini to tie it back up. Let’s put ‘em down again.

 

[HawkCat]

Aside from hitting the early threes, we are getting pretty seriously outplayed. They are smoking us on the boards, and we can’t hit anything other than threes. Fortunate to be tied. We need to regain our composure a bit.

 

[NUCat320]

Boo in February 2023 is the best player in Northwestern history.

 

[HawkCat]

Nice recovery out of the timeout.

 

[NUCat320]

True! Waiting on the reference of Talor Battle’s influence on Buie.

Barnhizer led Indiana in scoring…?

Edit: coach’s kid, but not the scoring thing

 

[GrandRapidsCatFan]

Well, early returns have me regretting not taking the Red Wings / Northwestern parlay at +550

 

[SmellyCat]

Chase's layup after the timeout was absolutely huge. Not only did it stop the bleeding, but it set up Boo's three a moment later. Love it.

12 minutes into the game and they haven't called a single foul on the home team yet.

 

[NUCat320]

Aside from hitting the early threes, we are getting pretty seriously outplayed. They are smoking us on the boards, and we can’t hit anything other than threes. Fortunate to be tied. We need to regain our composure a bit.

So far, Illinois has 5 boards after Illini misses, and NU has 4. Box out, boys.

 

[EagerFan]

Has Illinois been called for a single foul yet?

 

[NUCat320]

WTH Village of Bedford Park advertises on the sidelines in Champaign, too!?!?!

 

[GatoLouco]

Barnhizer led Indiana in scoring…?

Edit: coach’s kid, but not the scoring thing

Doubling the post and Lowery. Done

 

[GatoLouco]

Really amazing how crazy over a dunk a crowd can go. Even when your team is not playing well.

Wish Buie kept his zero shirt. This would become known as the kangaroo game

 

[DarkSide576]

Cold shooting.
Foul trouble.
We need Barney to hit some shots.

 

[NUCat320]

Several times the Illinois shooter has visibly hurried with NU coming hard at them. NU is scrambling and switching and the pressure makes Illinois jittery.

(But srsly, stick a butt in your dude, dudes.)

 

[EagerFan]

I'm just amazed that somehow in all that no fouling, Boo's number got ripped off his chest.

Cats driving in now though, getting some foul calls so that's better.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

This team has swagger

 

[SmellyCat]

Getting killed on the boards (until that last possession). Better rebounding and this would be a blowout.

Or even more of a blowout than it already is. Let's keep it going!

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Mystery man #4 getting the job done.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

This is incredible, Buie is somehow still getting better, rapidly, in real time. How good can he possibly get? Apparently the ceiling is unlimited.

 

[bjm989]

Cats driving in now though, getting some foul calls so that's better.

boo playing really tough tonight. The man.

 

[BosCat]

Ummm .....

I'm just amazed that somehow in all that no fouling, Boo's number got ripped off his chest.

Cats driving in now though, getting some foul calls so that's better.

 

[HawkCat]

This team has swagger

I love the aggressiveness at both ends. Love the driving we are now doing on the offensive end.

 

[bjm989]

Great 3 pt shooting so far tonight and incredible defense in that last possession. oMG. Doesn’t get better than that.

 

[GrandRapidsCatFan]

Has Illinois been called for a single foul yet?

They caught back up quickly enough

 

[GatoLouco]

Chances of a good old fashioned yelling sesh, at half time, in the IL locker room, are close to 100%

 

[bjm989]

OMG Buie!

 

[GrandRapidsCatFan]

OMG Buie!

Best half of the season I think

 

[bjm989]

I love the aggressiveness at both ends. Love the driving we are now doing on the offensive end.

Just incredible defense tonight so far.

 

[NUCat320]

This domination is so thorough that Underwood doesn’t even have the energy to be angry.