Second-half thread for NU vs. Maryland

[lou v]

That was a pretty brutal half -- until Red Panda took the floor.

NU made just nine baskets in the first half to trail 32-22. Law and BMac are a combined 2-13 and NU is 2-12 on 3s. The defense -- 7 blocks and 8 turnovers -- is keeping the Cats in the game. They are fortunate to be down just 10. The bench came through with 9 points, too.

NU has to figure out how to guard Melo, who killed them with 13 in the first half. They had Law on him early and then went to Sanjay, and that didn't work. Sanjay just can't stay with him.

Overall NU looks a little flat. You have to think they have a little bit of a hangover from the Wisconsin game. BMac needs to stay on the floor and spark the offense in the second half.

 

[DaCat]

How do we get the shots to fall, especially for Law and Mac?

 

[Hungry Jack]

Who is Red Panda?

 

[EagerFan]

Red Panda rides the unicycle and flips bowls onto her head.

Or Canada's greatest super hero, assisted by his drive the flying Squirell. Depends on the context...

 

[lou v]

Who is Red Panda?

Dude, you gotta get out more. She's a showstopper. She kicks bowls onto her head while riding a unicycle. She's incredible. You'll recognize tonight's designated bowl tosser...

 

[DaCat]

Maryland is playing some really tough D.

 

[Alvious]

Maybe she can get the basketball team to toss a bunch of bricks on her head. But they'd probably miss.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

We look plain nasty!

 

[JournCat]

We have to find a way to stop Trimble. Just don't know that there is one.

 

[scru]

Lets at least try to make this respectable down the stretch...

 

[EagerFan]

How about we just try making some baskets? Our outside shooting is so bad they can collapse with confidence.

 

[TheC]

We look bad. Teams that can shoot the three are eating us alive. Not sure what the answer is.

 

[D_C_B]

We're honestly not a team of great shooters. We have guys who can hit open shots when the system leaves them open. And we have guys who can get hot here and there but can be ice cold too.

Maryland is exposing that tonight.

 

[TheC]

Why do we suck so much at home?

 

[D_C_B]

We are just tossing bricks. We have too many guys who toss bricks on a far too regular basis. Our best players. Even misses need to be decent. These shots are missed offf the hand. That's not very good.

 

[D_C_B]

Law needs to play agressively. He's mediocre as as "smart" "conservative" player. He's dynamite as an aggressive player.

 

[JournCat]

Melo just did a version of Michael Jordan's "spectacular move" against the Lakers. I'm ready to move on to Saturday. Sit Mac and let Brown get some more experience running the offense.

 

[EagerFan]

At 5 minutes, Melo is half their score.

 

[scru]

At 5 minutes, Melo is half their score.

Would have liked to have seen a lineup that featured Ash starting with match-up responsibility for Melo.

 

[D_C_B]

I thought we could shut Melo down. I was wrong. We still can. We just need Lindsay to cut off his passing lanes. Law can take him and shit him down but not if he's on an island without lengthy help.

 

[TheC]

Brown has ability but he also takes some dumb shots.... but then so does Mac. I guess you just learn to live with that. No one else on this team can score except those two, so what the heck.

 

[D_C_B]

Brown will be a star. Tiny Archcibald in the making.

 

[EagerFan]

Who'd have thought it was our free throw shooting that ultimately doomed us.

Melo is talented, quick and our guys couldn't stop him. Add a few timely moving screens and shirt grabs and he got a lot of extra points tonight.

 

[TheC]

I hate losing. And I hate Maryland being in the Big10.

 

[DaCat]

We came out flat and never got untracked.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Brown will be a star. Tiny Archcibald in the making.

I think his future is promising. But right now he's like the cavemen in Quest for Fire.