Category: Uncategorized

By Greg Mroz

Hoffman Estates, Ill – As has been their trademark in many games this season, Northwestern got down early and trailed by ten going into halftime. Yet as they have throughout the whole year, the Wildcats found a way to win by dominating the second half.

Five different Wildcats scored in double figures as 4^th seeded Northwestern started the 2^nd half on a 21-4 run to win their quarterfinal matchup with 5^th seeded Rutgers 62-57 at the Sears Centre. Ashley Deary, who did not attempt a shot in the first half, went 5-7 in the 2^nd half with 12 points to go along with 4 steals.

“Great second half by us, really proud of our team the way they responded at half time.” Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown said. “Once we took the lead, I thought we played with a lot of poise”

Out of the break, the Wildcats came out of the gate hot, starting with a 7-0 run that prompted Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer to call a time out just over a minute and a half into the second period. Northwestern turned it into an 11-2 run to make it 39-38 Rutgers. From there the run grew even more, as sophomore Ashley Deary stepped it up with three weaving layups that gave Northwestern a 44-39 lead. The Wildcats continued to push, with the run growing to 21-4 and the lead to 48-41 with 12 minutes left. After that, Northwestern just continued to dominate.

“What we were focusing on going into the second half was our defensive pressure and we knew shots would fall.” Northwestern junior guard Maggie Lyon said. Lyon lead all Northwestern scorers with 15 points on 4-12 shooting.

The Scarlet Knights made a late charge to get it to 61-54, but on a breakaway Ariel Butts was called for a charge with 35 seconds left, giving Northwestern the ball and icing the game for Northwestern.

“We know what we’re capable of when we play together” Sophomore forward Nia Coffey said. “We have to make sure to maintain that mental stability and we’ll be successful.”

Foul trouble proved to be costly for Rutgers all day long, as the Scarlet Knights had three different players with 3 or more fouls at the end of the first half. By the game’s conclusion, Rutgers had committed 26 total fouls, with four players receiving four fouls or more. Kahleah Coppper lead the Scarlet Knights with 14 points, although 12 of them came in the first half.

“I liked the way we played defense” Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer stated. “With the foul situation as it was, it was difficult to sustain.”

Northwestern’s next challenge will come tomorrow against the 1^st seeded Maryland Terrapins, the team they lost to 69-48 on Sunday. That game does not matter now, because for the Wildcats, the Big Ten Tournament represents a brand new opportunity.

“I think we are going to come out a whole different team.” Sophomore guard Ashley Deary said. “We want to win the Big Ten championship and that’s our goal. There’s not going to be a team that’s going to stop us from doing that. ”

“Whether you win by one or 10, you just want to move on” McKeown added later.

With the way they are playing, the goal of winning the Big Ten Tournament title is well within reach. If you can find a way to come back being down ten to one of the best defensive teams in the country, anything is possible.

By Greg Mroz

Hoffman Estates, Ill

Rapid Reaction to Northwestern’s 62-57 victory over Rutgers.

Starting the 2nd Half Hot

Often when a team is down by ten at halftime, the immediate start to the second half is the best and only opportunity to get back in the game. The Wildcats took full advantage of this, going on a 21-4 run to start the second half. After not attempting a shot in the first half, Ashley Deary went 5-7 scoring 12 points and being extremely active on the defensive end. Northwestern started the half 12-18 from the field while Rutgers was 4-17 during the same span.

Defensive Pressure

Northwestern’s patented “Blizzard” zone forced Rutgers to the perimeter, and without center Rachel Hollivay, the Scarlet Knights had no legitimate interior threat. The Scarlet Knights struggled to make shots, and had choppy ball movement the entire second half. Kahleah Copper scored 12 in the first half for Rutgers, but was silent in the 2nd half, managing only two more points. It may have been one of the best halves of basketball on the defensive end for Northwestern all season.

 

By Greg Mroz

Hoffman Estates, Ill – Here is a recap of the first half of Northwestern’s Big Ten Tournament game against Rutgers.

1. Turnovers

This has been a big problem for the Wildcats in the past, and it proved to be huge in the first half. Northwestern turned the ball over 14 times and just looked all around sloppy. Rutgers is a much more physical tea on the defensive end which may be a part of it, but the Wildcats have to be better handling the rock in the second half.

2. Rutgers Foul Trouble

While the Scarlet Knights for the most part outplayed the Wildcats in the first half, it came at a price. Kahleah Copper exited with two fouls relatively early in the half, and  Ariel Butts, Tyler Scaife,  and  Syessence Davis picked up three personals. With Rachel Hollivay more than likely out of the game with an injury, bodies could become an issue for Rutgers down the stretch.

3. Offensive Opportunities

Northwestern went on a 12-2 run late in the first half, but the Wildcats have not had many chances to shoot the ball. The Wildcats finished the first half 7-21 from the field, going 1-6 from beyond the arch. At the line, Northwestern went 12-17, which in a tight game like this could prove critical down the stretch.

By Greg Mroz

Hoffman Estates, Ill – As Northwestern begins its postseason journey today against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, here are some things to think about coming into the game

Home Cooking

One advantage that Northwestern has on the rest of the field is that they essentially don’t have to travel. Since their game at Wisconsin on February 22nd, the Wildcats have not had to leave the state of Illinois, and wont feasibly have to until the NCAA tournament. Rutgers meanwhile has the farthest distance to travel to get to the Sears Centre, they have already played a game in the tournament, and they were just in the area last week when they faced Northwestern. With so much that goes on in the life of a student-athlete, being able to be close to home is a big advantage, and in terms of this tournament, one that nobody else but Northwestern has.

The Last Time They Met

On February 26th, the Wildcats squashed Rutgers at home 80-60, and the game was never close. Ashley Deary lead the way with 19 points and was 8-13 from the field, while the Wildcats had five different players score in double figures. Despite the large margin of victory, it wasnt as if the Wildcats held all of Rutgers’ stars in check. Betnijah Laney had 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Kahleah Copper shot 50% from the field while dropping in 20. Despite leading by eight at halftime, Northwestern was more dominant in the 2nd half than they were in the first, shooting 62% from the field. Its hard to imagine that Rutgers will go into today’s matchup without some thoughts about getting wiped out in the 2nd half last week.

Scouting Last Night’s Game

Unlike the Wildcats, the Scarlet Knights had to play last night, and for the most part handled Indiana. A 63-52 victory for Rutgers saw three different Scarlet Knights score in double figures, with Betnijah Laney scoring 12 while grabbing 15 rebounds. Laney is going to be key to watch, she averages a double double (16.0 points/11.0 rebounds) per game. She is also only six feet tall, and her athleticism poses a problem for everyone shes around.

Key Matchup

This is a no brainer, its Betnijah Laney against Nia Coffey. Both play much bigger than their size, and both dominate when they are on the floor. It will be fun to watch these two go at it again. Both teams outside of Laney and Coffey rely on good guard play to generate offense. Both teams have stiff defenses, with the WIldcats allowing 62.7 points per game, and Rutgers allowing only 60 points per game. Expect somewhat of a low scoring game if both defenses are up to snuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvHsgFrd4XM&list=UUrIVOElS1_jADI2ds0HyO9Q

Axel Boada and Mike Marut take you through the men’s basketball team’s thrilling overtime defeat of Michigan. Special guests Claire Hansen and Jason Dorow talk women’s basketball postseason. And, could the lacrosse team beat a the 2nd ranked North Carolina Tar Heels? All of that, and more, coming up on SportsNight.

By Greg Mroz

Champaign, Ill – As with most things in life, nothing lasts forever. With the case of the Northwestern men’s basketball team, the way they had been playing over the past two weeks, it looked as if they would be able to keep their winning streak alive for the foreseeable future. Yet the four game winning streak that got Northwestern back to 500 overall came to an end with a loud thud Saturday night

Rayvonte Rice lead all scorers with 19 points on 5 of 9 shooting as the Illinois Fighting Illini (18-11, 8-8) ended the longest conference winning streak in 48 years for Northwestern (14-15, 5-11) with a 86-60 victory at State Farm Center.

“Tonight our execution matched our effort” Illinois head coach John Groce said. “Most importantly tonight we played well and I just want to build on that”

The Illini were efficient all game offensively, having four of five starters score in double figures, and shooting 14 of 29 from three point range. Illinois in the first half, like Indiana on Wednesday was hot from beyond the arch against the Wildcats. The Illini made their first four three pointers and finished the half 9 for 16. Malcolm Hill went 3 for 5 from deep in the first half and finished with 15 points on 4 of 7 from three point range. Ahmad Starks was the second leading scorer with 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting with two three pointers.

“We were really hitting on all cylinders, the ball was moving, and we were getting great looks” Illini senior guard Ahmad Starks said.

The Illini made their first four shot attempts, all three to open up an early 12-2 lead. Northwestern would respond with a 7-0 run triggered by baskets from Alex Olah, Tre Demps, and Bryant McIntosh that made it 12-9. It was at that point where the tide turned permanently in favor of the Illini.

From that point, the Wildcats didn’t make another field goal for another 10 minutes and 25 seconds. The only points Northwestern got in that stretch were three free throws from Vic Law that made it 19-12. An 11-0 run that included two threes from Malcolm Hill made it 30-12 Illinois with six minutes left in the first half, and proved to be too big of a deficit to overcome.

“We have been a lot sharper and a lot of that goes to their defense.” Northwestern head coach Chris Collins said. “I just think we were a step slower tonight. “

Alex Olah lead the Wildcats with 18 points on 7 of 10 shooting while Bryant McIntosh added 13 on 5 of 11 from the floor. Northwestern, who had been on point from long range in recent games, was only 5 of 20 from beyond the arch.

The Wildcats started the 2^nd half with a mini push, starting with a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to 46-29. Yet that’s the closest the Wildcats would get, as Illinois continued to make it rain from the outside. For the game, Illinois shot 48.3 percent from three point range, and had four of five starters finish with at least two made three pointers. Despite the fatigue from the Wildcats, Collins won’t take anything away from the effort of the Illini.

“I thought Illinois was really good, and we weren’t at our best.” Collins said. “They were just firing on all cylinders tonight.“

 

 

 

By Greg Mroz

Champaign, Ill – Here is the rapid reaction from the 1st half of Illinois and Northwestern.

1. 10 minute field goal droughts hurt.

Boy did this ever hurt Northwestern. After a Bryant McIntosh floater made it 12-9 Illinois with 16:23 left in the half, Northwestern didnt make another bucket until the 5:58 mark. By that point, the Illini lead 30-14. Regardless of the type of defense that you play, no team can survive not scoring for ten minutes. It feels like the Michigan State game all over again

2. Illinois can fill it

The Illini went 9 for 16 from 3 point range in the first half, and got countless open looks. Similar to the Indiana game, the 2-3 zone is allowing open outside shots, but unlike the Hoosiers, the Illini are also willing to drive the baseline. Even though they only shoot a touch under 42 percent from the field on the season, Illinois is a team with streaky shooters. It will be interesting to see if the Illini cool off in the 2nd half or if the pace will continue.

3. Vic Law is not following the law

Three fouls, three turnovers and no field goals in the first half. Law does not look like the same person who scored in double figures the past two games. Either the focus is not there again or he is just having a bad game. Regardless, the Wildcats play their best when Law is on his game, and that has been far from the case thus far.

By Greg Mroz

Champaign, Ill – Here are 3 things to think about before Northwestern’s road tilt against Illinois

1. Illini in foul trouble

Illinois has had trouble keeping out of foul trouble, especially in the post. Nnanna Egwu in particular has been in foul trouble often, fouling out against Iowa on Wednesday, but his impact is more critical on the defensive than offensive end, as he hasn’t scored in double figures since February 7th against Michigan State when he poured in 12. If Egwu is forced out of the game because of foul trouble, look for Northwestern to feed Alex Olah often.

2. Forcing Illinois outside

Like it did against Indiana, Northwestern’s zone will force the Illini to shoot a lot of three pointers, but unlike the Hoosiers, Illinois is not nearly as proficient of a shooting team. The Illini shoot 41.8 percent as a team, which ranks 12th in the Big Ten. However, from the three point line, Illinois shoots 36 percent which ranks 6th in the conference. Watch out for grad transfer Ahmad Starks, Oregon State’s all time leader in three pointers made. He is shooting 33.6 percent from deep, but can be deadly when he heats up. Against Iowa on Wednesday, Starks was 5 of 9 from three land.

3. Tre Demps staying hot

During the Wildcats current four game winning streak, Demps has been hot and efficient, going 8 for 12 against Indiana and shooting 5 of 10 from the field against Penn State. Demps has also scored 11 or more points in each of the last five games, and is getting a lot of open opportunities coming off of screens. He is taking smarter shots and waiting for the right opportunity to attack, which has proven dividends for the Wildcat offense.