The computers already love the 'Cats and I think the committee would be inclined to reward that king of strong finish to the season.
Win 4 more and we're in. I believe it.
- Thread starter FeralFelidae
- Start date
Beat UCLA and the first game in the BIG 10 tournament and there is a chance
Wins over UCLA, Maryland x2, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa… win the games you list and we are well above the cut line. Bubble is skewing weaker this year which is to our benefit.
Winning tourney games the last two years, finishing strong, and the narrative of a scrappy team reinventing itself after injuries would be differentiators as soft factors go. We also have a top 15 scorer in the nation with a unicorn, lefty, YMCA game who improved year over year as much as anybody in the NCAA.
If our blind resume is in the discussion (win the next two and it is), these things stack up well for us. Committee can blather on about the metrics all day, but the first two rounds of the tourney are about storytelling and a Cinderella tale never goes out of fashion.
Winning tourney games the last two years, finishing strong, and the narrative of a scrappy team reinventing itself after injuries would be differentiators as soft factors go. We also have a top 15 scorer in the nation with a unicorn, lefty, YMCA game who improved year over year as much as anybody in the NCAA.
If our blind resume is in the discussion (win the next two and it is), these things stack up well for us. Committee can blather on about the metrics all day, but the first two rounds of the tourney are about storytelling and a Cinderella tale never goes out of fashion.
The last three games have been great, but all three were against mediocre competition. The next two get a lot harder.
True. But it’s also March and the games still matter and that is really fun. Two weeks ago there were people here who thought we’d seen our last win.
Ohio State is firmly on the bubble and Minnesota had been playing well. Obviously, Monday is a step up in weight class but we weren’t playing DePaul the last 3 lol.
Curious as to what the nu-ucla spread will be. I would guess about even. I’m assuming ucla is staying in the area after their Purdue loss, tough road travels.
There are three key factors contributing to Northwestern’s recent success and their push for a potential tournament spot:
Historically, how many teams in Northwestern’s past could say they lost two out of their top three players and still found a way to have a real chance? It’s a testament to the program’s growth under Coach Collins. The future is bright, and it’s exciting to see how the team continues to develop, especially with young players who are improving rapidly and have the potential to be even more fun to watch in the coming seasons.
http://www.playoffstatus.com/big10basketball/big10sosag.html
- Level of Competition: Recent opponents like Minnesota and Iowa aren’t expected to be tournament contenders, or even Big Ten tournament teams. This has allowed Northwestern to string together some wins. However, outside of Washington, they've faced the toughest part of their schedule already, and their upcoming schedule should test their mettle. As of now, Northwestern ranks 6th in the Big Ten in strength of schedule, indicating they've had a relatively "easier" stretch recently.
- KJ’s Development: KJ has emerged as a legitimate third scoring option, which has been a huge boost for the offense. Alongside Clayton, the two have shown significant improvement in running the offense better than they did earlier in the season. KJ's overall game has improved steadily throughout the year, especially in his defense, offensive decision-making, and staying within the system. The scoring potential was clear early on, but his development in other areas has been the key. Despite a few freshman mistakes, his ability to drop 20 points shows he’s playing at a high level. One of the most impressive performances was his game against Minnesota, where he did an excellent job of facilitating and moving the ball.
- Matt’s Defensive Growth: Arguably the most significant change this season has been Matt’s defensive impact. His communication, shot-blocking, and ability to alter shots have elevated the entire team’s defensive play. Having a post player who can anchor the defense makes life much easier for everyone else on the floor. His improvement on that end has been crucial, and it has helped Northwestern stay competitive in tough games.
Historically, how many teams in Northwestern’s past could say they lost two out of their top three players and still found a way to have a real chance? It’s a testament to the program’s growth under Coach Collins. The future is bright, and it’s exciting to see how the team continues to develop, especially with young players who are improving rapidly and have the potential to be even more fun to watch in the coming seasons.
http://www.playoffstatus.com/big10basketball/big10sosag.html
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I agree with you. Our 2nd tourney team arguably lost top 2 players year before in Nance and young transferring to NC and Duke. And I think that team with boo and audige leading us was NU's best team ever. Those 2 transfers and losses of 2 best players by them leaving was the best thing that ever happened to our roster. I love brooks and think if he hadn't gotten hurt he would be our best player. But I wish we could have med redshirted him and bring him back next season. His crippled play this season was probably painful and dangerous
That said, two were on the road and that is pretty big. The BIG is pretty strong top to bottom so those wins on the road are pretty big
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