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Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 19 Illinois

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.
Just for fun, but IL did indeed score a bucket more in the second half than the first. :)
 
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Not many talking about it but Leach had a good game even though he missed some shots I think he’d like back.

Another disappointing game from Berry, with 4 fouls and 0 points. When he went to the bench with his fourth I thought it was interesting that he just never came back.

We aren’t going to win many going 4-23 from 3. Gonna have to get a lot better there.
 
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!
Undie got pissed when some kid incredulously asked him how he has lost three straight at WR. Said the questioner and many of their fans had a false impression that NU is not good.
 
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Undie got pissed when some kid incredulously asked him how he has lost three straight at WR. Said the questioner and many of their fans had a false impression that NU is not good.
Basketball world has known Collins is darn good coach for awhile now. Sports media might slowly be catching up with the state of NU’s program. There is a serious home court advantage the last few years.
 
Not many talking about it but Leach had a good game even though he missed some shots I think he’d like back.

Another disappointing game from Berry, with 4 fouls and 0 points. When he went to the bench with his fourth I thought it was interesting that he just never came back.

We aren’t going to win many going 4-23 from 3. Gonna have to get a lot better there.
Berry subbed in for Nicholson for one defensive possession late in OT, but that was it. He was back on the bench when NU got the ball back.
 
Berry subbed in for Nicholson for one defensive possession late in OT, but that was it. He was back on the bench when NU got the ball back.
And that was clearly, "we know Illinois will foul...gotta get Nicholson off the court."
 
And that was clearly, "we know Illinois will foul...gotta get Nicholson off the court."
Actually, Berry subbed in for Nicholson on defense, not offense. Matt was out there for every possession on offense. I assume Berry came in on defense to avoid bad matchups where Matt would switch onto a guy out on the perimeter. Hummel mentioned that NU was fielding a small lineup.
 
This team is gritty and Barnhizer and Martinelli have turned into complete players but we need Berry to step it up. We saw flashes of that in the Iowa game but need more consistency. If he can do that then we can be a top third of the big ten team. If not middle of the pack. I notice this year this is probably the toughest preseason schedule we have played in a while and our only a few bounces and rolls from being 10-0
 
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Actually, Berry subbed in for Nicholson on defense, not offense. Matt was out there for every possession on offense. I assume Berry came in on defense to avoid bad matchups where Matt would switch onto a guy out on the perimeter. Hummel mentioned that NU was fielding a small lineup.
I think we’re both right. NU had a three-point lead I believe and I think Collins was foreseeing a rebound/defensive stop (or even a made basket) and needed to make sure Nicholson wasn’t on the court if Illini were to commit a quick foul. either way, felt CC had a good game coaching wise.
 
The upper deck is mostly game by game sales.
The two seats immediately to my left are almost always visiting fans and the two seats to my right are often empty, but when they have people, they're usually visitors as well. It's too bad, we've got great seats imho and NU fans should be in them.
 
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