Game Thread: Northwestern vs. No. 9 Illinois

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten) plays at No. 9 Illinois (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten) tonight at 8 pm CT at the State Farm Center.

The game will air on BTN. Illinois star Terrance Shannon Jr. remains indefinitely suspended and will not play.

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

B1G network has NU as 6-7 (1-1) in the ticker.

 

[Pasadena Bound]

B1G network has NU as 6-7 (1-1) in the ticker.

Just saw that. Fake news. Must be an Illinois grad operating the chryon

 

[Pasadena Bound]

Just saw that. Fake news. Must be an Illinois grad operating the chryon

They just fixed it

 

[BosCat]

Just saw that. Fake news. Must be an Illinois grad operating the chryon

That was record for NU women (now 6-8 / 1-2 after loss)

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Wow, Illinois comes out on absolute fire. Getting some good looks and not missing any of them. Gotta be better with our close outs and rotations.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

We will not do well in B10 play if nicholson continues to be a non factor

 

[NUCat320]

Nicholson with two fouls, a failure to box out, and not quick enough on a semi-lob on the first offensive possession. Let’s go big Luke.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Illinois will soon tire of making so many shots

 

[AdamOnFirst]

This team ****in SUCKS at rebounding

 

[cat inkansas]

We will not do well in B10 play if nicholson continues to be a non factor

Really a disappointment. And Preston is not helping much.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Was glad to see Hunger come off the bench before Preston. Hope he gets more minutes. I just don’t see Preston as a guy who can play well at this level.

 

[cat inkansas]

Nicholson with two fouls, a failure to box out, and not quick enough on a semi-lob on the first offensive possession. Let’s go big Luke.

I didn't realize how slow he is.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

I didn't realize how slow he is.

He looks out of shape or hurt

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Hunger with a 3 gotta like that. Langborg and Barny gonna have to step up

 

[Skunkpilot]

Enough of the stupid double team trap.

 

[IMC Cat]

The trapping/doubling on defense simply isn't working. Collins needs to switch up.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

I'm not gonna say it's gonna get ugly... because they've comeback before against good teams recently... but this definitely could get ugly

 

[GatoLouco]

I like the fact we allowed like 25 points in 9 minutes, which is terrible, and raised the physicality of the game a lot. Unfortunately, I don't remember a team getting out of these double plays so easily. Ever.

 

[cat inkansas]

The trapping/doubling on defense simply isn't working. Collins needs to switch up.

If we can see that, why can,'t he see it?

 

[NUCat320]

Everyone seems a step slow on defense tonight. So many potential steals a fingertip away.

 

[MC_Cat]

Barnhizer is awful. Not the only one though.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Boo doesn't seem invested in this game at all

 

[Catreporter]

Cats won't win many more if Barnhizer continues his hand injury induced scoring slump.

 

[MC_Cat]

His dislocated finger is playing a role no doubt.

 

[cat inkansas]

Cats won't win many more if Barnhizer continues his hand injury induced scoring slump.

He is really struggling.

 

[NUCat320]

This is gross. At least NU switches to the normal-sized rim in the second half. This one feels smaller than regulation size.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Cats won't win many more if Barnhizer continues his hand injury induced scoring slump.

This. I don’t know if it’s his injured finger, but he has not been himself for the last month or so. We need way more from him than we’ve been getting.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

NU was getting ass kicked BEFORE they went on an 8 minute shooting slump.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Whatever happened in that Chicago State game is still affecting this teams confidence

 

[cat inkansas]

NU was getting ass kicked BEFORE they went on an 8 minute shooting slump.

Kind of blame Collins a bit. All of that double teaming put us in a deep hole early.

 

[Hungry Jack]

All that All-B1G talk went straight through Nicholson’s beard into his head

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Boo doesn't seem invested in this game at all

This could not be more wrong. Boo looks more invested than anyone.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

We need points so we slow down the clock down 15 and iso Boo? What is happening

 

[SmellyCat]

Domask is the player we all thought Barnhizer was going to be this year.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Kind of blame Collins a bit. All of that double teaming put us in a deep hole early.

It’s what we’ve been doing for the last two years. Illinois is countering it very effectively, but you can’t just snap your fingers and play an entirely different defense.

 

[DaCat]

When did Bajakian start running our basketball offense?

 

[NUCat320]

NU has 6 O-boards to Illinois’ 5, except that at least four of NU’s came on a single possession.

Good thing there are two months of games left.

 

[SDakaGordie]

We are losing in the double team trapping and one-on-one defending.

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

This could not be more wrong. Boo looks more invested than anyone.

He's forcing shots and Illinois is more than happy to let him. Langborg and Barnhizer have been non existent. Nicholson might as well be in another state.