Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 19 Illinois

[GatoLouco]

The softness of Hunger’s fouls is maddening.

If there’s a statistic of percentage of and 1’s per fouls committed he probably leads the nation.

 

[freewillie07]

Anyone else noticing the rotation is getting tight? KJ and Jello not seeing much action.

Blake Smith got to play for 37 seconds.

 

[SDakaGordie]

It was damn good defense. Shots hit or not. That was a great defensive half.

I watched and there were plenty of problems. And we are seeing them in the second half as well.

 

[SmellyCat]

The softness of Hunger’s fouls is maddening.

If there’s a statistic of percentage of and 1’s per fouls committed he probably leads the nation.

I'd like to know the statistic of who gets the most rebounds off missed first free throws when a second free throw is still coming. Nicholson surely leads the nation there.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Some of the 'Cats' misses are just a bit short, which is an indication of fatigue. Remember that the 'Cats are coming off a tough Iowa game whereas the Illini have had a week off to rest (this is only their first Big Ten game).

 

[freewillie07]

I don’t know if there’s a better offensive option than Brooks dribbling around until he can find a small amount of space to jack a midrange J, but I would like to think that there is.

 

[FeralFelidae]

What a BS foul; nobody touched him. Not even close.

Have to love the effort from Big Matt on the near-steal.

 

[freewillie07]

If the Cats come back to win this, will have to go down as the Bloody Elbow game. LOVE that Matt was lifting it over his head to pump up the crowd.

 

[SmellyCat]

I don’t know if there’s a better offensive option than Brooks dribbling around until he can find a small amount of space to jack a midrange J, but I would like to think that there is.

There is, but when NU has had open shots tonight, they've missed them.

Bloody Nicholson is going to be the turning point though. Let's go!

 

[FeralFelidae]

Illinois had a 10-0 run, and we're on our own 6-0 run right now.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Some of the 'Cats' misses are just a bit short, which is an indication of fatigue. Remember that the 'Cats are coming off a tough Iowa game whereas the Illini have had a week off to rest (this is only their first Big Ten game).

Barnhizer missed a FT short...

 

[SmellyCat]

"How many Barnhizers are on the court?" is the line of the night. There was that brief period where he took over the game yet only got one point.

 

[freewillie07]

You can count on one hand the number of guards in the nation who can hit a fadeaway 3 over Big Matt.

Unfortunately Jakacionis is one of them. Wow.

 

[EagerFan]

Tied game 35.7 seconds.

This team is all heart!

 

[FeralFelidae]

Tied!

 

[EagerFan]

Argh overtime

 

[Gatabowl]

It would be really nice to be able to make 3s. That was a really bad look w a chance to win it.

And yet we still have OT!

 

[SDakaGordie]

Argh overtime

Would have liked a better last shot.

 

[freewillie07]

I can’t knock Brooks too much since he did hit the game-tying shot… but you’d love to see a little more urgency on that last possession and some action headed toward the hoop.

Anyway, overtime!

 

[SDakaGordie]

Call a GD travel!

 

[FanatiCat]

Pretty amazing to tie it up after shooting so poorly in all 3 phases from layups to FT to 3s. Unfortunately bad shot choice at the end and that was our best chance to walk away with the win.

Why? We didn’t need a 3. Why not drive in and at least try to draw a foul at the last second when 1 is all we needed???

 

[FanatiCat]

Should have taken a timeout to set up the play before end of regulation.

 

[EagerFan]

This is an exciting game. This has to be some record low for assists by cats

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

I think being an NU sports fan is shaving years off my life

 

[FeralFelidae]

Should have taken a timeout to set up the play before end of regulation.

There are arguments for and against doing that. Don Haskins (whom I grew up watching) always preferred letting the players play it out.

 

[EagerFan]

Oh, thank god

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Should have taken a timeout to set up the play before end of regulation.

Not Collins style. Worked well the past two years.

 

[freewillie07]

HECK YEAHHHHHH GO CATS

Big win is an understatement. Home court advantage baby.

 

[SmellyCat]

You can count on one hand the number of guards in the nation who can hit a fadeaway 3 over Big Matt.

Unfortunately Jakacionis is one of them. Wow.

Wow...he was really really good. I was happy to see Domask gone, but the monster who replaced him may be even better.

Still, our guys gritted it out and came through when they needed to. Nicholson was a beast in the OT, especially on that block.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Great win lets see what kind of momentum we get from this. Berry still needs to find his shot!

 

[FanatiCat]

Stand corrected - they decided to start making all their shots in OT.

 

[EagerFan]

Matt is playing really well these last few games. He had a lot of running around to do tonight, and he handled his business pretty darn well

 

[SmellyCat]

If the Cats come back to win this, will have to go down as the Bloody Elbow game. LOVE that Matt was lifting it over his head to pump up the crowd.

I'm good with this.

46-40 when it happened. 30-20 Cats afterwards.

 

[Arlcatsfan]

Great hard fought win tonight. Martinelli exploded in the 2nd half and OT. Brooks just ballin' all night. We needed another scorer tonight and Jalen Leach answered the bell for 16.
And how about Matt Nicholson. Looked the best he has since we'll maybe ever. Very good tough D. 9 rebounds and a tremendous block with 40 secs. to go and the rebound. Even looked at his feet before grabbing the ball to make sure he was inbounds.
Brad Underwood was just asked about Northwestern and he said " people better wake the hell up Northwestern is a helluva basketball team. Damn straight.
Hard- nosed team.

 

[FeralFelidae]

@Vassar69 Thoughts?

 

[Arlcatsfan]

Illinois came in averaging 89 points on the season. Scored 66 points tonight in an overtime game. Messed up some on communications on D but overall played tough D.
A great win over a top # 25 team.

 

[NUCatswin]

Good win,

need to improve our 3 point percent and free throw percentage for the future! Too many ILL fans in the upper level

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

@Vassar69 Thoughts?

He’s texting Fighter of the Nightman pontificating about the large Orange presence in the upper deck.

 

[rogerkim]

Too many ILL fans in the upper level

yes, but it was oh so sweet to wave them all goodbye as they started vacating Welsh-Ryan. 😄

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Great hard fought win tonight. Martinelli exploded in the 2nd half and OT. Brooks just ballin' all night. We needed another scorer tonight and Jalen Leach answered the bell for 16.
And how about Matt Nicholson. Looked the best he has since we'll maybe ever. Very good tough D. 9 rebounds and a tremendous block with 40 secs. to go and the rebound. Even looked at his feet before grabbing the ball to make sure he was inbounds.
Brad Underwood was just asked about Northwestern and he said " people better wake the hell up Northwestern is a helluva basketball team. Damn straight.
Hard- nosed team.

Brad’s red faced courtside manner comes off as negative but he’s different in interviews and in the press conference. Less coach speak than most guys.

Collins’s press conference was instructive too. “We are a mid-range team.”

If that’s this team’s identity, embrace it and let’s see where they end up.

Go Cats!