Official first-half thread for NU vs. Gonzaga

[lou v]

Well, here we are at the NCAA Round of 32. Northwestern takes on No. 1 Gonzaga with an opportunity to pull off one of the biggest upset in tournament history. How many of us thought that was possible at the beginning of the season?

Here is my game preview: The skinny

It goes without saying that NU will have to shoot very, very well to have a shot to pull this off, north of 50 percent. The Big 3 will all have to play their A games offensively, Pardon will have to be a beast vs. Karnowski, Law will have to limit Williams-Goss -- and the Cats will still need a little bit of luck.But this is college basketball. Anything can happen. And NU has been wearing the glass slipper for the last few weeks.

Buckle up, guys. It's gonna be a fun ride, no matter what happens.

 

[EagerFan]

In my seat, the crowd hasn't filtered in yet but there were many outside when I walked in the door. I'm seeing a lot of red shirts in the crowd. It looks like they move the purple crowd below me and across from the bench instead of behind it. Ditto for the band shifting away from the bench and by the hometown crowd.

 

[Figrating]

Do it, Wildcats!!!

 

[EagerFan]

And the announcer totally mangles the team intros.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Gonna have to shoot well on the wings to have a chance.

 

[Fitz51]

It's insane here at Kincade's for the Chicago watch party. Four rooms packed. News vans outside.

 

[TejasCat]

if they shoot like that from the outside all game, its gonna be ugly

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Mac has three turnovers so far

 

[willycat]

Gonna have to shoot well on the wings to have a chance.

so far not so good but it looks like they've taken the big out of his comfort zone.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

We look horrible. Five turnovers

 

[Alvious]

Not looking good. I just hope we can make the final score look respectable.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Taphorn and Brown both turn it over! Where is Ash?

 

[Figrating]

Gzzzzzz

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Ash is so much better than Taphorn on defense! Just bad coaching

 

[WildcatfanChris17]

Too many turnovers

 

[FeliSilvestris]

2 BS foul calls in a row.

 

[TejasCat]

We can't seem to make a pass, can't make an open shot, the refs are giving them the calls, and we are down 10 to a 1 seed. NOT GOOD

 

[Alan Smithee]

We definitely can't beat Gonzaga AND the refs. Hope the bad calls even out over time.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

Somebody is going to have to start scoring. Hopefully Law will have one of his 7-9 days

 

[jjjjjjj]

Is Gonzaga that quick or are we playing in slow mo?

 

[Palindrome]

Need to either hustle down the floor at breakneck speed --- or if that’s not there, then work the offense, slow and steady, until someone is clearly open. Trying too hard to force passes in traffic, which will not work against the Zags defense

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Brown looks horrible! Yank em! Where the heck is Ash?

 

[Hungry Jack]

This is what an elite team looks like.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Calm ourselves down and get our game going!

 

[FeliSilvestris]

Wouldn't beat Rutgers with this kind of shooting. It'd better get fixed soon.

 

[Fitz51]

Our offense is almost humorous. If the Zags were shooting well at all, they'd be up 25.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

Ice cold. Had to shoot well to have a chance today...

 

[Alvious]

Trying to fight the urge to say it's over.

 

[EagerFan]

We are definitely playing poorly and they are doing a great job of reading our passes. But our shooting is doing a lot of damage too. Hopefully coach can settle the guys down.

 

[Katatonic]

Surprised the lead isn't bigger w/ the way the 'Cats are playing.

Pardon is the only 'Cat playing well.

Biggest difference - the Gonzaga wings making their jumpshots.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

This is what an elite team looks like.

Maybe, but we seem to be doing everything wrong, and some of it doesn't seem to have anything to do with GU. Like missing every 3P attempt, whether contested or not.

 

[Figrating]

Zags with their normal game and NU with nothing...

 

[TejasCat]

If we could make an open shot and make a pass, we would be winning right now.

 

[Fitz51]

Lucky this is all gravy. I look forward to the point where the program progresses to where this game would piss me off!

 

[EagerFan]

It ain't over til it's over and there is a lot of game left. I think the zags are playing extra hard because of the media feedback on their opener.

 

[lou v]

The bad news: NU has 6 turnovers, is 0-7 on 3s and trails 20-8. The good news: It can only get better.

 

[Palindrome]

Trying to fight the urge to say it's over.

I will say it... it is over. OK. Now, usually when I say or think that --- good things have a chance to happen. So I will say again, we’re done.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

0-9 3P shooting. No way to win like that.

 

[Alvious]

It's over. All good things must come to an end.

 

[willycat]

Trying to fight the urge to say it's over.

try taping your mouth shut and your fingers to.