Northwestern (6-3, 0-1 Big Ten) hosts No. 19 Illinois (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten) tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip off at 8:05 pm, the game will air on BTN.
Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 19 Illinois
- Thread starter mshelton33
- Start date
I got laid off Monday, yet I find myself more upset about and re-living the Tuesday night loss. I know that makes my priorities out of whack, but geez, that game Tuesday hurt. Hopefully the Cats can make this ultimately a good week!
Started the game having a lot of trouble staying in front of the Lithuanian and Boswell. Improved a lot since.
Unfortunately quite cold on offense.
Unfortunately quite cold on offense.
Barnhizer's defense is monstrously good tonight. I love the back and forth with Boswell (I had not seen him before tonight, but I love his game from what I've seen tonight).
Points-wise, we're playing more at NU's pace than Illinois', but maybe that's just because everyone is missing shots and less about actual pace.
Points-wise, we're playing more at NU's pace than Illinois', but maybe that's just because everyone is missing shots and less about actual pace.
There was also a screen that looked like Martinelli was elbowed in the face. No call.
We simply cannot make shots that 90% of other teams would.
Getting good looks. Just not making them.
Getting good looks. Just not making them.
Illinois shot tougher shots in the 1st half than NU. That was an excellent half of defense. Need to start hitting some shots now. Great D that half though.
Great NU shots at the rim right before halftime should be called "Boos." Leach has a couple of Boos this year. Loved that one.
Man this team plays hard but I just don’t know if they can hang with the talent-loaded teams in conference relying on BB/NM hero ball. The two are 5-19 but somehow it feels much worse than that.
Second half will be telling.
Second half will be telling.
I honestly don’t think it was as good as the score indicates. Illinois missed some really easy ones. They won’t miss them in the second half.
He has to adjust to the whole send-the-whole-defense-to-stop-him strategy now that he's a focal point of the offense. He's used to making all those shots in close, but that's because when only guy is covering him, he can get past him. In heavy traffic, he struggles.
IL averages well over 80 PPG. That was an excellent first half for defense. They will for sure score more in the 2nd. Hopefully so will we. 2/9 from one of our studs won’t do it.
Down by 3 at the half. Not bad considering Martinelli really struggling Mullins missing open 3 after open 3 and Berry not on the scoreboard either.
Lets see if the guys can have a good 2nd half like Iowa with a better finish of course.
Lets see if the guys can have a good 2nd half like Iowa with a better finish of course.
Totally. It’s still possible things will click for this offense but right now it’s disjointed and painful to watch. I know it wasn’t always perfect in the Boo era either and he bailed us out countless times, but this feels like a new level of “head down and drive wildly into the basket” from BB/NM.
Overall a solid half. There were some struggles on O but the effort is there and the D is elite.
It was damn good defense. Shots hit or not. That was a great defensive half.
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