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Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 16 Michigan State

The scouting report on Michigan State as they can't shoot threes and of course they're shooting 80%

They have 1 inexplicable weakness - their highest-volume 3-point shooters can't hit 3s, like, at all. It's inexplicable b/c they are 4th in the country at FT shooting, with 8 players shooting 80% or better, yet 5 of their top 6 3-point shooters by volume are averaging 25.5% from 3 combined. What's scarier is that of those 5 players, 4 of them have shot significantly better over their career prior to this season (Akins career 38.6%, Holloman career 39.8%, Fidler 36.4% at a lower level, Booker 33.3%). If any of these guys figure it out against us...gulp. Holloman might already be there, as he's shooting 44% over the last 8 games.
 
It's a blowout know. MSU all over NU. A week off at home and we can't hit the broadside of a barn. MSU does look good though.
 
MSU dodges NU the rest of the season, lucky for them.

Really, really disappointing to come out like this after a week off. Scored 8 points getting to the paint in the first four minutes. Haven’t done much of anything since.
 
MSU has 16 field goals made and seven free throws made. I wonder how many possessions they haven't even scored a point? Not many. Then NU finally stops them and Barnhizer loses the ball, leading to an alley-oop. Or maybe a transition three. I can't remember. So many of both.
 
At the game. The physical ability difference is so obvious. MSI is Bigger, stronger, quicker and faster.
 
It has nothing to do with MSU. They’re daring our guys to shoot outside and we’re missing wide open shots.
 


I saw Hoosiers in the theater when I was in first grade, and I have *never* watched it in full since, and that scene always stuck with me. I guess I should see it again.
 
When Carr got a rebound, he could have touched the top of the backboard. Been at games regularly for over 20 years. Never saw that previously.
 
It might be time to start Ciaravino over Berry.

Hopefully as a wake-up call, but also because he’s playing better.
 
I'm starting to think this is not a tournament team. Maybe I'm the last person to get there, but it just doesn't seem like this is a team that is going to find enough wins this year.

At this point I just want enough wins to play in the BTT and maybe a shot at the NIT. Sigh.
 
Honestly I would play Windham, Mullins and Gelo. They are aggressive and let them get the experience. Bode well for next year.
Getting absolutely nothing from Berry. He has taken only one shot.
 
I'm starting to think this is not a tournament team. Maybe I'm the last person to get there, but it just doesn't seem like this is a team that is going to find enough wins this year.

At this point I just want enough wins to play in the BTT and maybe a shot at the NIT. Sigh.
NU’s opponents in conference are 20-8 so far this season. It’s tough to be optimistic right now — two games of shite — but maybe it’ll change with a few days’ layoff before Thursday night.
 
I’m getting really tired on guards who preemptively flail before they initiate contact on a defender.
 
Might be time to punt the season and start the youth movement...
We will see if this team gives up or not. I would doubt it; we have come too far as a program. But Berry, as much as we want success for him, needs to sit.
 
We will see if this team gives up or not. I would doubt it; we have come too far as a program. But Berry, as much as we want success for him, needs to sit.
Berry's airball on a three pointer a moment ago finally convinced me. It's time.
 
Not sure what has happened to Barnhizer today, recognizing he’s getting a lot of attention on offense, but we are a bottom of the league team without a normal game from him.
 
Not sure what has happened to Barnhizer today, recognizing he’s getting a lot of attention on offense, but we are a bottom of the league team without a normal game from him.
He (understandably) seemed really out of it against Purdue after he got clocked in the face a few times. I wonder if there are lingering effects from that. Not necessarily a concussion, but maybe a certain disengagement. He's slumping right now, to be sure, and as you said, if he's not playing well, there is no chance for NU.
 
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Not sure what has happened to Barnhizer today, recognizing he’s getting a lot of attention on offense, but we are a bottom of the league team without a normal game from him.
He is generally being covered by players who are bigger, faster and quicker. MSU deploys 2 6 ft 10 inch players who are in the middle. Every shot is hotly contested.
 
NU’s opponents in conference are 20-8 so far this season. It’s tough to be optimistic right now — two games of shite — but maybe it’ll change with a few days’ layoff before Thursday night.
Did you see what Purdue just did to a not at all bad Nebraska ream? This early schedule was brutal, and the way the Iowa and Penn State games ended probably took the wind out of our sails. I have faith the 'Cats will rebound when they face a more reasonable schedule, but this brutal early stretch has chewed them up.
 
I disagree. Brooks is clearly having an off shooting night. Lots of wide open shots are not falling.

15 managed to get called on his “fifth” foul and managed to injure Matt doing it.
 
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Did you see what Purdue just did to a not at all bad Nebraska ream? This early schedule was brutal, and the way the Iowa and Penn State games ended probably took the wind out of our sails. I have faith the 'Cats will rebound when they face a more reasonable schedule, but this brutal early stretch has chewed them up.
Based on the NCAA tourney DeCorsi predictions they showed for the BIG (11 teams), we just have to be competitive with USC, Nebraska, Ohio State, PSU, Indiana. That does not seem out of reach at this point.
 
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I disagree. Brooks is clearly having an off shooting night. Lots of wide open shots are not falling.

15 managed to get called on his “fifth” foul and managed to injure Matt doing it.
He missed numerous open 3's
 
I wonder if it's lingering effects of him getting his teeth knocked out for the second time. That can't be easy to deal with.
 
That was rough. Credit to Sparty for playing a great game: spreading the floor, isolating their guards (Fears is a really tough guy to stop on dribble penetrations) and taking advantage of the helps underneath. I thought they executed extremely well. It helps that they hit a few threes early (the only shot 8 all game).
 
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