Game Thread: Northwestern vs. Iowa (Billy McKinney Night)

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (20-8, 11-6 Big Ten) hosts Iowa (17-12, 9-9 Big Ten) this afternoon at 4:30 pm at Welsh-Ryan Arena, airing on BTN. The game also serves to honor Northwestern legend and current broadcaster Billy McKinney, who will be recognized at halftime as the first player in the history of Northwestern athletics to have their jersey retired.

After Wisconsin's loss earlier today, the Wildcats are 1.5 games up on the Badgers and Huskers for third place in the Big Ten. Purdue and Illinois have clinched their double byes in first and second. A win today would give NU a two-game lead with two games remaining, with the top four teams in conference getting a double bye in the tournament.

 

[DaCat]

Cats got to bring the energy today to help overcome the absence of Borg and Berry.

 

[Hungry Jack]

According to Sports Reference, McKinney's nickname was "The Crazed Hummingbird."

 

[SmellyCat]

Rapheal Davis has been talking all season about building a Boo Buie statue. Nice running joke.

 

[zbag51]

Anyone notice they used the Penn state graphic instead of NU when they cut to Evanston? SMH

 

[NUCat320]

According to Sports Reference, McKinney's nickname was "The Crazed Hummingbird."

Almost as good as Blake Smith’s, “The Mustachioed Assassin.”

 

[NUCat320]

Nicholson to Nicky Buckets! Go Cats!

 

[TheC]

Iowa ain't Maryland. They can shoot and have a lot of length.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Iowa forcing a track meet already

 

[RhabdoWildcat]

Nicholson to Nicky Buckets! Go Cats!

Martinelli needs to stop hacking up threes.

 

[SmellyCat]

Blake Smith is leading NU in scoring tonight! He also gave up two threes and got yanked.

 

[jensberg]

Not a good start for a boo. Last couple games he doesn't seem to be the player he was earlier in the year.

 

[TheC]

Not a good start for a boo. Last couple games he doesn't seem to be the player he was earlier in the year.

The loss of Berry and now Langborg means teams can pack the paint against his drives.

 

[NUCat320]

Blake Smith is leading NU in scoring tonight! He also gave up two threes and got yanked.

Sandfort was only a 27% three-point shooter in February. Hopefully we’ll see him miss the rest of the way.

 

[FeralFelidae]

This game is starting like the Michigan game.

I hope it ends the same way.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

We need Barnhizer to have a big game

 

[TheC]

Boo is going to have to be special today

 

[SmellyCat]

Imagine how good NU and Martinelli will be when he is able to reliably hit threes.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Nicholbomb!

 

[SmellyCat]

This game is so different from the Maryland game. Shots going in, not many fouls. Crazy.

 

[TheC]

Hunger is really bad on those hedges after the high pick.

 

[EagerFan]

Iowa definitely playing to wear Cats out.

 

[EagerFan]

Well that was a bad sequence after the lead :/

 

[TheC]

We have got to stay mentally focused. We got lax on both ends and Iowa quickly goes 8-0

 

[zbag51]

Gonna be a streaky game. Just hope we end on an NU streak!

 

[SmellyCat]

I'm guessing Boo couldn't touch that one because he shot it, but didn't it touch another player? Seems he could've taken a chance to pick it up.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Happened a lot this year where we get a bit of a lead and just lull ourselves into complacency on offense

 

[TheC]

I'm guessing Boo couldn't touch that one because he shot it, but didn't it touch another player? Seems he could've taken a chance to pick it up.

Even a double dribble call would have been better than a live ball turnover

 

[jensberg]

This game being played at Iowa's Pace just the way they like it. Going to be hard to stay with them in a high scoring game.

 

[zbag51]

I'm guessing Boo couldn't touch that one because he shot it, but didn't it touch another player? Seems he could've taken a chance to pick it up.

Thanks, thought that looked weird

 

[NUCat320]

Nicholson was just spectacular on that swat. Toe to toe with the little then baited him. What a unique player.

 

[zbag51]

Terrible possession

 

[EagerFan]

The game is moving a little too fast for Clayton

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

All things considered I'll take that first half

 

[jensberg]

Barney and Mart 0-6 from 3 that hurts

 

[TheC]

I really am so amazed how well we're competing with such a depleted lineup. We are lacking our shooters. Guys are playing every minute. And we weren't deep to begin with. Really impressive.

 

[SmellyCat]

Nicholson was just spectacular on that swat. Toe to toe with the little then baited him. What a unique player.

Felt like he had a very strong first half. Just two points, but four assists and zero fouls! And for whatever reason, the box score has him at zero blocks.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Felt like he had a very strong first half. Just two points, but four assists and zero fouls! And for whatever reason, the box score has him at zero blocks.

That last rebound he picked up might be the highest I've seen MN get off the ground in ages.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Gitten’’ er done. Now win the second half, and send the hogeyes to Kum-n-Go.

 

[GatoLouco]

We played decent defense 80% of the time. Unfortunately the other 20% are Iowa going on runs where they score very quickly