March Madness Game Thread: Northwestern vs. FAU

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Buie, Langborg, Mart and Hunger are a combined 4 for 23.

When the Russian is on the bench, we have to go inside to Mart and Barney, even Hunger.
When the Russian is playing, Hunger HAS TO MAKE A 3 to open it up inside.
They aren't guarding him at the arc.

If he can't make one, go with Preston.

 

[Just Gary]

My favorite number is 8 steals for Northwestern in the first half. This 20-point first half performance has not been “careless with the ball as they’ve turned it over 12 times.” The story is “FAU has had no open space in the court, and of course they’re missing or losing the ball.”

If Martinelli can’t shoot better, Smith’s gotta get his minutes. Hunger has to accept that the shops aren’t falling and think like a facilitator. NU’s only got six turnovers. It’s been misses — that’s jitters.

Maybe playing hard defense, letting Brooks cook, and a few floaters that fall in instead of out for Boo will be enough.

NU looks like a better team to my purple-shaded eyes.

This is the type of game that someone like Langborg has to get a little hot and the team will follow. Hopefully the nerves are done and the team can make shots in the second half.

 

[DaCat]

Embarassing performance, missing wide open threes, throwing ball away, and missing wide open bunnies.

And the Cats aren’t playing much better either!

 

[Catreporter]

Man, what might have been...if no injuries to Berry and Nich. Really a shame.

 

[TejasCat]

Both teams fans thinking they should be up 20 at half.

 

[NUCat320]

NU has 26 misses and 9 offensive boards.
FAU has 14 misses and 3 offensive boards.

NU is stronger, tougher, and better.

Optimistic.

 

[DaCat]

Uncharacteristically missing shots around the rim… Marty, Buie, Hunger…

Bad news, good news… we’re down by one at the half because Buie only has 3 points.. good news is he only has 3 points and we’re only down by one. Big second half coming up!

 

[EagerFan]

Yeah, everyone missed a lot of open looks in the first half. I can only chalk it up to jitters. Defense has been great. FAU has really be collapsing on Boo and pushing hard to keep Brooks out as well.

That jump ball with Brooks was weird to me. I guess I don't know the rules well enough. I could have called a simple block, a foul on the defender, or a jump ball.

 

[EagerFan]

Davis seems like the only player on either team with some offense. NU defense was stellar, but stopping him was still a bit of a problem. We've definitely got to score better because he'll want to take over the second half.

 

[Eurocat]

If you didn't know any better you'd think both teams are playing their first game in the NCAA tournament.

Cmon guys, get it together, you know how to make shots, layups and snag rebounds.

As Nike says - JUST DO IT!

 

[NUCat320]

This is the type of game that someone like Langborg has to get a little hot and the team will follow. Hopefully the nerves are done and the team can make shots in the second half.

You were saying…?

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Brooks is playing with so much heart

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Preston has meathooks for hands today. Brooks got him right in his palms for a dunk and he didn’t even react until after the ball was gone

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

OK just got home love the scoreline so far what have I missed

 

[EagerFan]

Flagrant?

 

[AdamOnFirst]

What a disastrously stupid play

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Hunger misses a FT and then flagrants on a 3... I'll see myself out

 

[NUCat320]

Good luck Cats. I’ve gotta watch the last 11 minutes on tape delay. New boss, first meeting, Friday at 2pm. Yeesh.

I see a bit of panic in white and mostly composure in purple. I hope I’m right.

Whose time? BOO’S TIME!

 

[TejasCat]

Hunger scares the hell out of me any time he touches the ball

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Like what I'm seeing so far

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I see you, Ryan Langborg. I see you.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

All about the Borg!

 

[stpaulcat]

Keep this lead, guys, and make it larger!

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Lets finish this!!!

 

[EvanstonCat]

We would be killing this team if Nicholson and Berry were playing.

Did Preston just finish? I’ll take that

 

[DaCat]

Buie leading the way with 16 points now, 13 so far in the second half! Keep it up!!!

 

[EagerFan]

Preston just had two bad plays in a row, lead shrinks from 9 to 4

come on Preston, find that OSU mojo!

 

[TejasCat]

Preston just needs to turn around and dunk it for 11 pt lead .... and now up 4

 

[EvanstonCat]

Preston just needs to turn around and dunk it for 11 pt lead .... and now up 4

that would have been another Nicholbomb

Damn u Preston

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Now I'm nervous.

 

[GatoLouco]

Talk sh** all you want about Hunger, Preston has made a lot more mistakes on defense. Greatly responsible for evaporating a solid lead

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Talk sh** all you want about Hunger, Preston has made a lot more mistakes on defense. Greatly responsible for evaporating a solid lead

Since I've turned the game on they've both been bad

 

[EagerFan]

Talk a bit about overacting, as big boy 50 fails and goes to the ground, he clutches the wrong side of his face.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

That was a ****ing horrible stretch from the refs

 

[FeralFelidae]

That flagrant call rescued FAU.

Maybe it was the right call, but it was huge. The 'Cats were about to put it away.

 

[stpaulcat]

God, I can't stand it!

 

[GatoLouco]

That flagrant call rescued FAU.

Maybe it was the right call, but it was huge. The 'Cats were about to put it away.

They followed it by getting an out of bounds wrong which benefited us and missing a travel by Ivan Drago that led to two made free throws

 

[PurpWildCatNation]

Okay what just happened... Goldin is a p*ssy and took an elbow off a rebound so we got docked 4 points?

 

[Darren72]

10 minutes ago I was a calm dude looking forward to us putting this game away.
Shots got to fall now.

 

[DaCat]

Refs should not make game changing calls like that.