After reading the game thread and various other discussions, it is evident that everyone could benefit from taking a step back and for a moment and relax. Undeniably, the game was quite frustrating and NU did not perform up to their usual standard. However, there was never any doubt about which team would emerge as the victor and prove themselves as the superior team last night. Defensively, there were numerous instances of sloppy play, lack of communication, and failure to box out. NU's performance in this aspect was truly abysmal, falling short of their own expectations.
Nevertheless, it is worth acknowledging that they still managed to force a significant number of turnovers, and defensively, Barnhizer is a wrecking ball, causing disruption for the opposing team. Berry, on the other hand, demonstrated unusual lapses in his defensive abilities. The big players on NU's team failed miserably in boxing out and preventing WMU players from gaining good positioning on the boards. Additionally, the guards were not proactive in grabbing a body either.
On a more positive note, Clayton, despite being a freshman, performed commendably during his time on the court, and he earned his minutes through his impressive display of skills and effort on the defensive end as well as hitting a 3. He also had a very athletic board in the 2nd half, skying over a WMU player.
Offensively, the team struggled to make shots from deep. Langborg, in particular, had difficulty scoring even when inside the arc. Despite missing multiple wide open three-point shots throughout the night, Barnhizer still managed to score 20 points. Buie was the only player who consistently hit three-pointers, but even he missed several open opportunities. Although the shooting overall was extremely poor, it's worth noting that the team took good shots within the flow of the offense rather than forcing low-percentage shots. However, their execution was lacking, and NU was unable to convert these opportunities.
Barnhizer is clearly showing immense potential this season, benefiting from the defensive attention drawn towards Buie, which allows him to exploit mismatches and create scoring opportunities. He is a versatile player who poses a challenge to opposing teams. Buie made a ton of clutch plays down the stretch and sees the court extremely well. His court vision and passing do so much for the cats.
The game itself was difficult to watch, highlighting numerous areas for improvement. Nonetheless, the team managed to secure a victory. Now, let's shift our focus to the upcoming game and just be happy we escaped with a win.
Nevertheless, it is worth acknowledging that they still managed to force a significant number of turnovers, and defensively, Barnhizer is a wrecking ball, causing disruption for the opposing team. Berry, on the other hand, demonstrated unusual lapses in his defensive abilities. The big players on NU's team failed miserably in boxing out and preventing WMU players from gaining good positioning on the boards. Additionally, the guards were not proactive in grabbing a body either.
On a more positive note, Clayton, despite being a freshman, performed commendably during his time on the court, and he earned his minutes through his impressive display of skills and effort on the defensive end as well as hitting a 3. He also had a very athletic board in the 2nd half, skying over a WMU player.
Offensively, the team struggled to make shots from deep. Langborg, in particular, had difficulty scoring even when inside the arc. Despite missing multiple wide open three-point shots throughout the night, Barnhizer still managed to score 20 points. Buie was the only player who consistently hit three-pointers, but even he missed several open opportunities. Although the shooting overall was extremely poor, it's worth noting that the team took good shots within the flow of the offense rather than forcing low-percentage shots. However, their execution was lacking, and NU was unable to convert these opportunities.
Barnhizer is clearly showing immense potential this season, benefiting from the defensive attention drawn towards Buie, which allows him to exploit mismatches and create scoring opportunities. He is a versatile player who poses a challenge to opposing teams. Buie made a ton of clutch plays down the stretch and sees the court extremely well. His court vision and passing do so much for the cats.
The game itself was difficult to watch, highlighting numerous areas for improvement. Nonetheless, the team managed to secure a victory. Now, let's shift our focus to the upcoming game and just be happy we escaped with a win.
