Game Thread: Northwestern vs. Rutgers

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten) hosts Rutgers (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten) tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will tip off at 8 pm and air on BTN.

 

[DaCat]

We’ve got to win EVERY frickin home game. Let’s do it!!!

 

[IMC Cat]

Our Maryland win is aging like Demi Moore

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Good, energetic start. Brooks still bashing that front rim.

 

[SmellyCat]

I never strapped it on, so someone explain, what is a "really spirited shootaround" mean? I am always hearing that teams have this. People were loose and happy? Does it mean the team will play well? It seems that's implied, but the phrase is used so much that I don't really know if it means anything.

 

[EagerFan]

RU working to get Leach guarding Bailey, who just shoots over him. Gotta fox that switch a bit.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Ace Bailey before the game: Wait, that skinny kid is a projected top draft pick?
Ace Bailey by the second commercial: Oh, yeah. He can play a little.

 

[SDakaGordie]

I’d try Barney on Bailey. Maybe playing some really tough D will help get his O back.

 

[GatoLouco]

You have to switch strategy on Bailey. Don’t switch, double, whatever. But you have to do something.

 

[GatoLouco]

We had them on the ropes at 13-4. Dang

 

[EagerFan]

They’re scoring at will atm. Let’s see what Coach can do about it.

 

[GatoLouco]

Our change in Bailey seems to have been putting Mullins on him. Disappointing

 

[TheC]

We just don’t have anyone in the same universe as Bailey

 

[SmellyCat]

Bailey is playing like he doesn't want Martinelli to sniff the league lead in scoring ever again.

 

[CappyNU]

This Derkack kid is a real punk, and Bailey is even better than I expected him to be.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Nicholson with two awful defensive possessions. Coach needs to do something.

 

[GatoLouco]

Rutgers looking like an offensive powerhouse right now. Ugh

 

[TejasCat]

Barnhizer 3 pt shot is a mess. Weird twitch, jumps almost backwards and ugly result

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Rutgers getting a lot of easy shots.

 

[TheC]

This group just doesn’t have enough talent. Hope next year’s recruits are part of the next great cycle of NU hoops.

 

[EagerFan]

They’re also making contested threes pretty well. I’d like to think that can’t keep going.

 

[NU Houston]

Ace Bailey before the game: Wait, that skinny kid is a projected top draft pick?
Ace Bailey by the second commercial: Oh, yeah. He can play a little.

Reminds me of one-and-done Durant coming out of UT nearly 20 years ago. Beanpole frame, with jaw-dropping talent.

 

[EagerFan]

Not a good half, I’d like to see Cats get the ball to Nick and get Ace into more foul trouble going for the big blocks.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

In 40 years of games at Welsh Ryan, I don’t know that I’ve seen a better individual first half performance.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

The defense 🧙 better dial something up because this kid doesn’t miss. Might get 50 if he doesn’t.

 

[olshin]

Our defense is embarrassingly bad at times. For a team that prides itself on "tough defense" that's happened WAYYYYY too often.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

In 40 years of games at Welsh Ryan, I don’t know that I’ve seen a better individual first half performance.

Yeah, I don’t think we were as awful as the comments on here indicate. A lot of these are tough shots. I would suggest someone gets physical with him.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Amazing how one guy can wreck an entire defense

 

[SmellyCat]

Bailey went 4-for-17 in his last game. He does miss shots sometimes. Just not against NU.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Our defense is embarrassingly bad at times. For a team that prides itself on "tough defense" that's happened WAYYYYY too often.

Let’s see the second half. They are making EVERYTHING.

 

[olshin]

Let’s see the second half. They are making EVERYTHING.

And we're resisting NOTHING.
Our softness is more bothersome than their shooting.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Bailey went 4-for-17 in his last game. He does miss shots sometimes. Just not against NU.

Maybe he’s due to come back to earth in the second half. We need to make him work on defense. Maybe pick up a quick foul or two.

 

[olshin]

Fortunately, Rutgers is a streaky team. We need to make them work harder.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

I think that guy poked Leach on purpose.

 

[EagerFan]

That ref made three horrible calls in a row, dude needs to pay attention.

Cats getting lots of chances and coming up empty.

Leach takes a shot in the eye, refs see nothing.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Starting to get into danger territory. I can't believe how many ways we found to miss on that one trip.

 

[GatoLouco]

It’s maddening to see Bailey cutting unopposed into the paint and score. Lapses on defense happen all the time but losing him in this particular game is maddening

 

[zbag51]

This is looking bad.

 

[EagerFan]

So many rim outs for us

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

When 2 of the only 4 guys that can score on this team are cold, we have problems.