Game Thread: Northwestern at No. 20 Michigan

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (11-6, 2-4 Big Ten) is on the road this afternoon at No. 20 Michigan (13-4, 5-1 Big Ten). The game will tip at 1 pm CT and will air on BTN.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

What's everyone's feeling on this game? My spidey sense is blowout loss but I hope I'm wrong.

 

[GatoLouco]

My wife, from the 35th row, is confidently saying Nick’s eyeliner game is on point.

 

[EagerFan]

I'm hopeful and pessimistic.

Go Cats!

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

What's everyone's feeling on this game? My spidey sense is blowout loss but I hope I'm wrong.

I sure wish Michigan blew out Minnesota last game. They should be fired up. I got a bad feeling that we are going to get destroyed at the bucket. Please be wrong.

 

[DaCat]

Keep it up boys

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Gelo had his best defense of the season before the first time out. Clean switches on the MN block.

 

[GatoLouco]

Our defense has been great, yet the only basket we allowed was a complete brain fart

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Hit a damn shot boys

 

[GatoLouco]

4 fouls and two looked very questionable.

 

[DaCat]

Michigan started out ice cold but we lost the opportunity to build a big lead. Barney missing wide open looks.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Barnhizer having a rough go of it atm

 

[TejasCat]

They are 2-14 from field and can take the lead with these FTs, our offense is SAD

 

[CatManTrue]

Barnhizer having a rough go of it atm

Is he hurt or something? He looks like a shell of his normal self.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Is he hurt or something? He looks like a shell of his normal self.

Confidence maybe he looks a little unsure of himself so far

 

[GatoLouco]

At some point you going to have to come out to contest the Russian

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Someone tell MN to get out and guard that guy

 

[DaCat]

Jello trying to dunk over Goldin, freshman move. Didn’t mind the aggression though. Goldin can’t miss from the three. Argh.

 

[GC Go Cat]

There is something going on with Mullins. Super weird that he goes from playing 20 minutes plus per game to not at all.

 

[TheC]

Confidence maybe he looks a little unsure of himself so far

Playing against two 7 footers doesn't help for a guy who's game is in the paint

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Playing against two 7 footers doesn't help for a guy who's game is in the paint

I get that but his shots haven't been close so far either

 

[GatoLouco]

Another very questionable call and Nicholson has 2 fouls

 

[TheC]

We're fighting

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Leach having a solid half

 

[zbag51]

If Leach and Berry can keep hitting shots, we’ve got a chance.

 

[CappyNU]

There is something going on with Mullins. Super weird that he goes from playing 20 minutes plus per game to not at all.

My guess is disciplinary, but I have no insight.

 

[CatManTrue]

Leach having a solid half

Leach and Berry both provided much needed offense.

Barnhizer must be playing hurt. He is not driving to the hoop at all.

Nicholson needs to assert himself in the paint

 

[GatoLouco]

My guess is disciplinary, but I have no insight.

My guess is more it’s strategic. We saw what Purdue did. Coach decided the best way to take away so much of the defense sagging when Brooks and Nick have the ball is to have more aggressive shooters in there.

 

[TheC]

That gamble to try Barkley for 1 minute failed

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

My guess is more it’s strategic. We saw what Purdue did. Coach decided the best way to take away so much of the defense sagging when Brooks and Nick have the ball is to have more aggressive shooters in there.

Why not use him as a defensive sub? Why use Smith?

 

[TheC]

Long way to go, but a good first stanza

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Well that went better than expected

 

[GC Go Cat]

Why not use him as a defensive sub? Why use Smith?

Exactly. No way Smith is a better defensive option than Mullins. Collins brought Smith in for defense over Mullins at the end of the Maryland game too. That doesn't add up.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I am confident Barnhizer is playing with a foot injury. He was favoring it against maryland and aggravated it with his dunk in that game.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

When Collins has to use Barkley instead of Hunger (or Fitzmorris) that hurts. Especially against a tall frontcourt like Michigan's.
We've got a problem with our bigs having 5 fouls at halftime.

 

[Davidgolds5]

I am confident Barnhizer is playing with a foot injury. He was favoring it against maryland and aggravated it with his dunk in that game.

No doubt about it.

 

[GatoLouco]

Why not use him as a defensive sub? Why use Smith?

I don’t have an answer for that. But my first instinct is rarely disciplinary, especially with a guy that has not shown signs of having much of a temper.

Also noteworthy KJ got into the game soon after Michigan started pressing. Good chance he would not have gotten in had the press not happened. And what confidence in the freshman’s ability to stay cool.

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

I don’t have an answer for that. But my first instinct is rarely disciplinary, especially with a guy that has not shown signs of having much of a temper.

Also noteworthy KJ got into the game soon after Michigan started pressing. Good chance he would not have had the press not happened. And what confidence in the freshman’s ability to stay cool.

Im not saying disciplinary. Something’s just off imo.

 

[EagerFan]

Brooks said something to that effect in the last post game, he's been playing injured all season. Given the boot weeks, a foot injury seems like the obvious culprit.

 

[GatoLouco]

Barnhizer, pre game in warm up, was hitting his 3 pt shots at a very good rate.

He’s now doing the same at half time.

Hit those open shots!