Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 13 Auburn

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (5-0) plays No. 13 Auburn (5-0) tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the championship game of the Cancun Challenge's Riviera Division. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.

 

[Alvious]

Great moments are born from great opportunities. Go Cats!

 

[FeralFelidae]

We're going to live or die by the 3.

 

[NUWildcats17]

There's no doubt that this team relies on defense

 

[FeralFelidae]

That was a hard foul. (And yet it seems no foul was called.)

 

[jensberg]

The shooting by every single player on our team is just egregious

 

[IMC Cat]

Athletic disparity on full display. We have NOBODY who can beat an Auburn defender off the dribble.

 

[FeralFelidae]

The shooting by every single player on our team is just egregious

Verhoeven's shooting 50%, and his miss was a 3-pointer he had to take because the shot clock ran out.

 

[TheC]

Really bad shot selection

 

[wildcatpn]

Athletic disparity on full display. We have NOBODY who can beat an Auburn defender off the dribble.

But our defense is very good which takes athleticism.

 

[FeralFelidae]

I LOVE our defense. This team plays the best defense since our Tournament team.

That will keep us in games. Alas, our offense seems to consist of waiting for a streaky shooter to get hot.

 

[DaCat]

We're just not very fun to watch. Buie drives me crazy.

 

[TheC]

At what point do we have to worry if we’ll score double digits in this half? Or game?

ok… on edit… we were stuck on 2 for a long time when I typed this. Picking up a little now.

 

[ballerog711]

Defense is awesome,

Guardsneed to use the screens correctly, go shoulder to shoulder to create space and switches to open up the bigs. Now if NU makes a layup, that's another story.

 

[ballerog711]

Roper being hurt is killing NU

 

[IMC Cat]

This color commentator is something else...

 

[TheC]

Sorry, but we miss Pete Nance tonight. They have no respect for our big men and so can pressure the heck out at the three point line.

 

[FeralFelidae]

That should've been a goaltending call. The ball was coming down from its peak.

 

[FeralFelidae]

This color commentator is something else...

He's an ex-coach.

 

[jensberg]

No way is Auburn the number 13 team in the nation. I think we have a good defense but they are not that good. However, we are horrendous. There's not a guy on our team that can shoot the ball.

 

[DaCat]

Where's Audige?

 

[NUCat320]

Matty is a good player.

I hope Boo remembers how to shoot in December, or maybe at the half.

 

[FeralFelidae]

He's an ex-coach.

Coached at Xavier, Virginia, and Providence.

 

[julescat]

Coached at Xavier, Virginia, and Providence.

Pete Gillen was a very good coach. He is from the clown school of color commentating but he knows his hoops.

 

[TheC]

We are competing. Can’t deny that. Like the toughness.

 

[The Purple Knight]

Listen. Barnhizer needs to be in the game as much as possible with Big Matt and Beran up front. Ty and Chase in back court. Period.

 

[NUCat320]

Would’ve been a beautiful finish to the half if Big Matt had quicker ups. Excellent design.

 

[BosCat]

Combined 9/51 at the half

 

[Alvious]

Tied at halftime vs #13. Color me impressed! If the 3s start falling for the Cats, look out!

 

[TheC]

We’re in their head. Did you see that Auburn guard trying to start shit with Chase on the way into the locker room? Chase was hav none of it. We have them frustrated.

 

[ballerog711]

These dudes play their butts off and compete.. That's all you can ask for. Nice to watch

Matt needs a jump rope for xmas,

 

[mesacat]

That was the ugliest half of bb that I've ever seen. Auburn is no ranked team and we are unwatchable unless we're a die hard fan

 

[jensberg]

Listen. Barnhizer needs to be in the game as much as possible with Big Matt and Beran up front. Ty and Chase in back court. Period.

Totally agree that is our best lineup. Barnheiser is a very good player. Maybe once Boo learns how to shoot again might be a different lineup That would be best but right now he should not be playing.

 

[IMC Cat]

I suspect that in the closing minutes our inability to create open looks will doom us but...

I'm happy to see a NU team that is playing excellent defense and has not been out-toughed by a strong SEC team. We will be in some street fight B1G games this season and methinks we'll keep it close enough to steal some.

 

[The Purple Knight]

PLEASE coach, play Buie sparingly in 2nd half. Barnhizer solid, good shooter and plays under control. Chase at point, Ty as 2 guard.

 

[NUCat320]

That was the ugliest half of bb that I've ever seen. Auburn is no ranked team and we are unwatchable unless we're a die hard fan

NU plays hard defense. That was NU’s identity for that 16-17 roster.

They box out. They force long possessions. They contest threes.

Defensive intensity is something that less-talented teams can always bring. NU is bringing it.

 

[IMC Cat]

PLEASE coach, play Buie sparingly in 2nd half. Barnhizer solid, good shooter and plays under control. Chase at point, Ty as 2 guard.

I know Boo is frustrating but I don't think Chase at the 1 is going to be an improvement

 

[DaCat]

Buie hurts us more than helps us.

 

[12375CAT]

Low scoring game.

 

[Secho99]

Pete Gillen was a very good coach. He is from the clown school of color commentating but he knows his hoops.

Took Providence to the Elite 8 once. Also, Rex Chapman erroneously said Gillen was dead during an NCAA tourney broadcast back in March of this year.