Holding Big Leads

[SmellyCat]

One of the nice things about the last two games is that NU built a big lead early and then more held it the entire game. Things maybe got interesting - Georgia Tech pulled within three late in the first half, and DePaul got within eight a few times in the second half, but otherwise NU had second-half double-digit leads through almost all of both of the last two games.

That's a contrast to the Dayton game, where NU had a big lead early, but without Barnhizer couldn't hold it. The benefit of a strong start and players who can handle the press can't be more overstated.

The start to 2025 is going to be very hard - if NU loses its first five games it would not be crazy, though we'll all be panicking here - so they key is punching hard from the get go and then taking care of the ball and the lead. This all may be obvious, but it's a huge contrast from what NU was traditionally before the prime Boo years. Let's go!

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

One of the nice things about the last two games is that NU built a big lead early and then more held it the entire game. Things maybe got interesting - Georgia Tech pulled within three late in the first half, and DePaul got within eight a few times in the second half, but otherwise NU had second-half double-digit leads through almost all of both of the last two games.

That's a contrast to the Dayton game, where NU had a big lead early, but without Barnhizer couldn't hold it. The benefit of a strong start and players who can handle the press can't be more overstated.

The start to 2025 is going to be very hard - if NU loses its first five games it would not be crazy, though we'll all be panicking here - so they key is punching hard from the get go and then taking care of the ball and the lead. This all may be obvious, but it's a huge contrast from what NU was traditionally before the prime Boo years. Let's go!

You could have just as easily said the first 18 games of 2025 are going to be very hard. We are good enough to beat any team in the Big on a good night. We can lose to anyone with a poor night. The nature of NU athletics. Either way this team has resilience and lead by two tough dudes. They stay healthy we will be fine. I would ride them into the ground and screw 3 minutes a game to the Freshmen. They will be key parts next year.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Very hard to build a big lead when you are offensively challenged like us. That 20 point run was fueled by 6 straight turnovers and relatively easy buckets in transition. We shot the lights out on open looks.

Turnovers kill you in college basketball. DePaul has a problem there. If we can keep ours down, we should have a chance in all of our games.

 

[wocka]

Very hard to build a big lead when you are offensively challenged like us. That 20 point run was fueled by 6 straight turnovers and relatively easy buckets in transition. We shot the lights out on open looks.

Turnovers kill you in college basketball. DePaul has a problem there. If we can keep ours down, we should have a chance in all of our games.

I'm just happy we were hitting the open looks. Against Illinois, we were missing those open shots, and needed some insane defense and Martinelli magic to bail us out.

 

[SmellyCat]

You could have just as easily said the first 18 games of 2025 are going to be very hard. We are good enough to beat any team in the Big on a good night. We can lose to anyone with a poor night. The nature of NU athletics.

You’re right. Really only two bad teams - Minnesota and Washington. And we get only one at home. Every game will be hard.

 

[JournCat]

I'm just happy we were hitting the open looks. Against Illinois, we were missing those open shots, and needed some insane defense and Martinelli magic to bail us out.

The defense seems like it will be there with Mullins' emergence, Berry playing great on that end and Matt getting back to form. If Mullins can just make one or two threes a game, we'll be a real contender to get back to the tournament. Defenses having to respect him even a little bit would make life so much easier for BB and Martinelli inside.