Game Thread for NU vs. Georgia

[lou v]

This is a big one in terms of a litmus test for the rest of the season. Last night's loss to Providence was disappointing, but the Friars are a likely tournament team ranked 30th in ESPN's BPI rankings. NU is 54th. If the Cats follow that up with a loss to Georgia (124th)...well I don't think there will be much confidence that this season will be a whole lot different than last season.

 

[TejasCat]

another tremendous start

 

[phatcat]

Whoever isn't watching this just missed this 1st half buzzer beater from beyond half court by Ryan Greer.

 

[ubercat]

Cats with a 35-13 run to finish the half. Greer with a 60 foot buzzer beater

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

At the game. Georgia is horrible.

Defensive intensity tonight >>> defensive intensity last night. Greer has improved considerably. I hope he returns next year for a fifth year. We dodged a bullet with Buie and his arm injury. Young is a master of the angles.

Morty is here as usual. We will really miss him. He loves NU athletics. Told AD Gragg I will see him at the NCAA tourney. Go Cats!

 

[mekCat]

A very enjoyable half of basketball. Also 13 assists, only 2 turnovers. 6 steals.

 

[BosCat]

Whoever isn't watching this just missed this 1st half buzzer beater from beyond half court by Ryan Greer.

You mean this.....

 

[mekCat]

When we shoot like this we are very good.

 

[NUera]

I just wish that Buie would think twice before bringing the ball up court, dribbling a few times, then hoisting up a 26-footer. Bruh, pass the ball and run the offense. You can get that awful shot any time.

 

[Alan Smithee]

You mean this.....

View embedded media

Nice steal by Berry to give Ryan the shot.

 

[DaCat]

Beran is the poster boy.

 

[Alan Smithee]

Beran is the poster boy.

Aw, who cares. He’s the guy who got back and tried to defend after someone else’s turnover.

 

[DaCat]

Cats are playing really well and are enjoyable to watch for a change.

 

[DaCat]

Aw, who cares. He’s the guy who got back and tried to defend after someone else’s turnover.

True. He gives effort but needs to play better.

 

[phatcat]

Aw, who cares. He’s the guy who got back and tried to defend after someone else’s turnover.

I can tell you this, I'm sick of hearing about it already. Great play, get on with it.

 

[ubercat]

Does Jon Crispin ever shut up?

 

[clarificationcat]

I just wish that Buie would think twice before bringing the ball up court, dribbling a few times, then hoisting up a 26-footer. Bruh, pass the ball and run the offense. You can get that awful shot any time.

Why is an open 3-pointer an awful shot? His floater is an awful shot (so far this season) but if he can hit 38% of his 3-point shots, it's a good shot. If Young is rolling, feed him the ball. Otherwise, we don't have enough guys that are effective at driving to the basket and hitting a high percentage of 2-point shots. If there is an open 3, we should take it.

 

[DaCat]

We will live and die with Boo this season. He hoisted up another crazy long shot that missed and now the 24 pt lead is down to 10.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Nance is sleep-walking through this game - he is a sieve in the lane on D. And Boo’s D is poor. Need to step up here.

 

[DaCat]

Why is an open 3-pointer an awful shot? His floater is an awful shot (so far this season) but if he can hit 38% of his 3-point shots, it's a good shot. If Young is rolling, feed him the ball. Otherwise, we don't have enough guys that are effective at driving to the basket and hitting a high percentage of 2-point shots. If there is an open 3, we should take it.

He's a ball hog. As a point guard he needs to get other players involved.

 

[phatcat]

Nance is sleep-walking through this game - he is a sieve in the lane on D. And Boo’s D is poor. Need to step up here.

yeah they can easily lose this. EDIT> calling it. They're gonna lose.

 

[jensberg]

Great first half, second half not so much. Nance is a non-factor unfortunately

 

[DaCat]

Buie is the most frustrating player to watch. Can't wait for Brumbaugh to arrive and take over the reins.

 

[DaCat]

Great first half, second half not so much. Nance is a non-factor unfortunately

Buie is hogging the ball and not distributing it.

 

[freewillie07]

Buie is hogging the ball and not distributing it.

He certainly got the memo to take more 3s.

 

[GatoLouco]

I could live without Buie’s multiple heat checks. But you guys are overlooking he is the only reliable exterior scorer on this team. Berry TBD. But Buie has to carry a fair amount of the scoring load or our offense will be very bad.

Beran, blah.

Nance, might be a bit too worn out.

 

[NUera]

Why is an open 3-pointer an awful shot? His floater is an awful shot (so far this season) but if he can hit 38% of his 3-point shots, it's a good shot. If Young is rolling, feed him the ball. Otherwise, we don't have enough guys that are effective at driving to the basket and hitting a high percentage of 2-point shots. If there is an open 3, we should take it.

He doesn’t make 38% of his shots from 25-feet or deeper. Not even close. So by your logic, the quickest way to that percentage is to avoid bombing from extra deep. Beyond that, it’s a shot he can get at any time — he doesn’t need to take it at the top of the shot clock. Taking that low percentage shot that early is basically giving away a possession. And that’s why it’s awful.

Bottom line is that he’s not a good enough player to snuff out his teammates’ contributions, especially Nance’s. At any given time there’s one, maybe two other people we’d rather have taking shots. So whether it’s forcing it into the lane or shooting from extra deep at the top of clock, it’s still a bad decision and needs to go away.

 

[mekCat]

Which explains his six assists. And only one turnover.

 

[GatoLouco]

GA is today’s NU. Their fans might be saying “good effort” and similar self comforting things to see the silver lining of a game they blew very early

 

[freewillie07]

For those who believe in the transitive property:

Providence beat Wisconsin by the same margin as us.

Wisconsin is leading #12 Houston with 3 minutes to play.

 

[phatcat]

I had forgotten how much I dislike Tom Crean.

 

[GatoLouco]

For those who believe in the transitive property:

Providence beat Wisconsin by the same margin as us.

Wisconsin is leading #12 Houston with 3 minutes to play.

So Providence is like #6 in the country?

 

[cat inkansas]

I had forgotten how much I dislike Tom Crean.

Simmons playing some defense on that sequence.

 

[NUera]

Which explains his six assists. And only one turnover.

Idk who you’re responding to but I’ll say this: As much as I like him cutting down the really bad turnovers, some of his worst turnovers go down as “field goal attempts.”

 

[freewillie07]

yeah they can easily lose this. EDIT> calling it. They're gonna lose.

Bad call

 

[Alan Smithee]

Kinda fun listening at the buzzer to hear some middle-school band butcher our fight song.

I’m easily amused.

 

[phatcat]

Bad call

I'm badly scarred from previous years. I'll accept the reprimand.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Which explains his six assists. And only one turnover.

We need Boo.

 

[phatcat]

We need Boo.

OTOH, not impressed with a guy with 4 fouls and zero points. Reminds me of a certain defender in FB

 

[catfans5]

Simmons played a very game. 7 rebounds and played very good defense. He also plays under control. A very huge addition to the team.