Is it strange that following Northwestern’s 77-51 victory tonight, I feel more relief than joy? Shouldn’t a win feel good and be a cause for celebration, not exhalation? After seeing past non-conference debacles, it was nice to finally see the ‘Cats avoid disaster and take care of business.
The ‘Cats got off to a quick start tonight, jumping out to a 25-5 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half, and only expanding upon that lead throughout the rest of the game. Howard was short-handed, with only 8 men dressed, and it was evident that they couldn’t withstand the hounding 1-3-1 defense Northwestern employed. The ‘Cats were able to put pressure on Howard due to the Bison’s inept ball handling; and their incompetence along with Northwestern’s defense can be credited equally toward the ‘Cats victory tonight. Nonetheless, the ‘Cats capitalized on Howard mistakes and took advantage of fast break opportunities.
The ‘Cats win tonight was truly a team effort. Seven players scored 8 or more points and even the walk-ons got some significant playing time down the stretch.
Jeff Ryan shined early with his hustle on the boards and efficiency around the basket. Later in the game, it was Sterling Williams using his defensive energy to spark his aggressive offense. And finally, late in the second half Jeremy Nash entered the game; returning after missing the first eight games due to injury. He looked timid and rusty at first, but got comfortable quickly. He was disruptive defensively, highlighted by a huge block late in the game. With Kevin Coble expected back for the Big Ten opener, it appears that the ‘Cats will be at full strength for the first time this season.
The age-old Northwestern basketball adage reminds us to consider what to draw from a game like this. Sure, the ‘Cats won convincingly, looked smooth and efficient offensively, while playing aggressive and savvy defensively. But, this happens year in and year out. The ‘Cats seem to have a way of building you up during the non-conference season (see Northwestern State last season), only to break your heart shortly thereafter (see everything after that). Now, I’m not saying that this team has any chance of postseason glory this season, but with performances like tonight they put a glimmer of hope in your mind. And it’s that hope that keeps us all coming back as Northwestern fans.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The New Age Has Finally Dawned
It took five weeks, but the new and improved Northwestern Wildcat Women's Basketball team finally made a full game appearance last night in Milwaukee. The Lady Wildcats beat Marquette 65-63 thanks to a tremendous effort from freshman Amy Jaeschke.
It's still too early to call her a phenom, but if her next 20 games resemble her first two, she could be a serious contender for Freshman of the Year (can't say a "lock" because of her counterpart, Lavender, at OSU).
Jaeschke scored 21 points in her return to the lineup on 9 of 15 shooting. She also blocked a potential lead-taking shot at the very end, after making a key free throw, thus securing the win. Through two games, she has 40 points and obviously becomes the team's focus on the court.
I'm a little surprised Coach Combs put Jaeschke in yesterday's lineup, but I completely agree with the decision. She could have played it safe, letting her rest up completely for the Big Ten season opener. But against the Illini, she'll be facing off against Jenna Smith, one of the best big girls in the conference. Playing against a good Marquette team and a great/ranked DePaul team will give her some much needed warm-up experience. Also, it seems like Amy's 100% since she played 38 minutes.
I'll finally get to see Jaeschke play Thursday night against the #16 Blue Demons, tip at noon. I'll report back afterward.
Some other notes from the Marquette game:
- Today also marked the first game with the Jaeschke cousins in the starting lineup. With K-Mac out for the year, Ellen will probably get the majority of the minutes at the 4, especially if Amy can continue to play an entire game. Ellen had 8 points on 3-7, with 4 assists but no rebounds. Up to this point, cleaning up the glass had been a strength for this team. But against Marquette, they were out-rebounded by 18. Amy only had 4 boards, while Eckhart/Bibbs combined for 13.
- Yesterday also marked another big change in the lineup. Senior captain Sara Stutz was on the bench as freshman Meshia Reed got the start. Reed twice led the team in scoring this season, including a 20-point effort against BC. She looks like she could be a huge contributor, especially with Stutz struggling mightily, but her first start was less than impressive: 1-9 (0-4 from downtown) in 27 minutes.
- The perimeter defense is still a huge concern for the Cats. They allowed Marquette's point guard to score 30 points, which single-handedly kept them in the game.
It's still too early to call her a phenom, but if her next 20 games resemble her first two, she could be a serious contender for Freshman of the Year (can't say a "lock" because of her counterpart, Lavender, at OSU).
Jaeschke scored 21 points in her return to the lineup on 9 of 15 shooting. She also blocked a potential lead-taking shot at the very end, after making a key free throw, thus securing the win. Through two games, she has 40 points and obviously becomes the team's focus on the court.
I'm a little surprised Coach Combs put Jaeschke in yesterday's lineup, but I completely agree with the decision. She could have played it safe, letting her rest up completely for the Big Ten season opener. But against the Illini, she'll be facing off against Jenna Smith, one of the best big girls in the conference. Playing against a good Marquette team and a great/ranked DePaul team will give her some much needed warm-up experience. Also, it seems like Amy's 100% since she played 38 minutes.
I'll finally get to see Jaeschke play Thursday night against the #16 Blue Demons, tip at noon. I'll report back afterward.
Some other notes from the Marquette game:
- Today also marked the first game with the Jaeschke cousins in the starting lineup. With K-Mac out for the year, Ellen will probably get the majority of the minutes at the 4, especially if Amy can continue to play an entire game. Ellen had 8 points on 3-7, with 4 assists but no rebounds. Up to this point, cleaning up the glass had been a strength for this team. But against Marquette, they were out-rebounded by 18. Amy only had 4 boards, while Eckhart/Bibbs combined for 13.
- Yesterday also marked another big change in the lineup. Senior captain Sara Stutz was on the bench as freshman Meshia Reed got the start. Reed twice led the team in scoring this season, including a 20-point effort against BC. She looks like she could be a huge contributor, especially with Stutz struggling mightily, but her first start was less than impressive: 1-9 (0-4 from downtown) in 27 minutes.
- The perimeter defense is still a huge concern for the Cats. They allowed Marquette's point guard to score 30 points, which single-handedly kept them in the game.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Winter Break Plans?
Its currently winter break at Northwestern, so while most of the students have left the campus, a few remain.
Some of those men and women currently on campus include both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. While the women continue to play games over break (even starting their Big Ten season shortly before the New Year), the men have only three games scheduled over their three week break.
So you might ask, what would a 4-4 team do with so much time off? Well, based on the early season results, one would hope they would spend some time practicing. And at the top of the list of practice priorities needs to be defense.
For the season Northwestern is giving up 68 points per game. That number appears average and definitely doesn’t scream out improvement needed here ASAP. Unfortunately that number is not indicative of NU’s quality of defense, but more their style of play. The ‘Cats slow down Princeton offense can sometimes mask their defensive struggles.
Through the first 8 games of the season, Northwestern’s opponents are shooting a scorching 44.8% from behind the arch. That high percentage is a direct result of a team not suited to play the 1-3-1 zone. This defense has been the ‘Cats’ identity since Mohamed Hachad arrived on campus, but it just isn’t working for this Northwestern team. They currently don’t possess the personnel to run the defense effectively, and it’s turning an already bad rebounding team, into a historically inept rebounding team. The aggressive, pressure-oriented 1-3-1 works against weaker opponents, but against hot-shooting opponents with good ball handlers the ‘Cats poor rotations around the perimeter get them burned by outside shooting.
The ‘Cats need a fresh start on defense and should implement a new defense over their break, not necessarily to entirely replace the 1-3-1, but to give Coach Carmody an option in times of poor perimeter defense. The solution to that problem is the 2-3 zone defense. The positioning of players defensively will eliminate the corner 3’s, and put less pressure on Juice Thompson by moving him out to the top of the key; unlike in the 1-3-1 where he plays the “baseline” position and races back and forth along the baseline. The ‘Cats will still need to rotate around the perimeter to prevent the 3’s from the wings, but eliminating the constant threat of a 3 from the corner should help alleviate some of the pressure on the ‘Cats defensively. The rebounding should improve in the 2-3 zone by bringing players back to more traditional points on the court. This defense provides more stability around the perimeter while allowing the ‘Cats to still play aggressively if Carmody chooses.
Nonetheless the most important aspect of this defense or any zone defense is rotating by following the ball. The ‘Cats have struggled in this area since game 1 and must improve to have success in any zone defense they choose to play.
Thursday’s matchup against Howard would be a good time to try out a new defense.
Some of those men and women currently on campus include both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. While the women continue to play games over break (even starting their Big Ten season shortly before the New Year), the men have only three games scheduled over their three week break.
So you might ask, what would a 4-4 team do with so much time off? Well, based on the early season results, one would hope they would spend some time practicing. And at the top of the list of practice priorities needs to be defense.
For the season Northwestern is giving up 68 points per game. That number appears average and definitely doesn’t scream out improvement needed here ASAP. Unfortunately that number is not indicative of NU’s quality of defense, but more their style of play. The ‘Cats slow down Princeton offense can sometimes mask their defensive struggles.
Through the first 8 games of the season, Northwestern’s opponents are shooting a scorching 44.8% from behind the arch. That high percentage is a direct result of a team not suited to play the 1-3-1 zone. This defense has been the ‘Cats’ identity since Mohamed Hachad arrived on campus, but it just isn’t working for this Northwestern team. They currently don’t possess the personnel to run the defense effectively, and it’s turning an already bad rebounding team, into a historically inept rebounding team. The aggressive, pressure-oriented 1-3-1 works against weaker opponents, but against hot-shooting opponents with good ball handlers the ‘Cats poor rotations around the perimeter get them burned by outside shooting.
The ‘Cats need a fresh start on defense and should implement a new defense over their break, not necessarily to entirely replace the 1-3-1, but to give Coach Carmody an option in times of poor perimeter defense. The solution to that problem is the 2-3 zone defense. The positioning of players defensively will eliminate the corner 3’s, and put less pressure on Juice Thompson by moving him out to the top of the key; unlike in the 1-3-1 where he plays the “baseline” position and races back and forth along the baseline. The ‘Cats will still need to rotate around the perimeter to prevent the 3’s from the wings, but eliminating the constant threat of a 3 from the corner should help alleviate some of the pressure on the ‘Cats defensively. The rebounding should improve in the 2-3 zone by bringing players back to more traditional points on the court. This defense provides more stability around the perimeter while allowing the ‘Cats to still play aggressively if Carmody chooses.
Nonetheless the most important aspect of this defense or any zone defense is rotating by following the ball. The ‘Cats have struggled in this area since game 1 and must improve to have success in any zone defense they choose to play.
Thursday’s matchup against Howard would be a good time to try out a new defense.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Road Warriors
Very solid win for the 'Cats against Western Michigan on the road, 65-63. Definitely the best win of the young season. The Broncos had already beaten a tough Davidson team at home, and the 'Cats were facing a hostile crowd in an arena similar to Welsh-Ryan. And somehow, after being down by 15 after 12 minutes in the first half, they tied the game at halftime and finished it down the stretch.
Craig Moore has been on fire this year. He scored 24 points, and hit 5-6 free throws in the last 17 seconds to preserve the win. The overmatched Wildcats are going to need Moore to play with this sort of consistency during Big Ten season if they want to have a chance.
Props also to Jason Okrzesik and Nikola Baran. J.O. has never really performed well at Northwestern except for short spurts, and in his senior year he is really stepping up.
Baran has been criticized by fans early in his career at NU, and has been benched many times by Bill Carmody, but he was able to put together a decent game.
Nice to see the 'Cats hit free throws. They were 7-9, all coming in the second half. It is a little discouraging that they don't get to the line very often, but that is probably a product of their lack of rebounding, particularly on the offensive end, and the fact that they don't take it to the hole very often. It doesn't really matter if they continue to shoot over 40% from beyond the arc.
Now Northwestern will take a break for finals, and play one more home game before the start of the conference season vs. Howard. I think most people wish the 'Cats had another few games before they host Penn St. on Jan. 2 to see this team continue to mesh and grow before the grueling start of Big Ten play, but the Wildcats will just have to do it in practice.
Hopefully Kevin Coble will start practicing with the team in the next couple of weeks. Northwestern had two players play all 40 minutes vs. Western Michigan, and another play 38. Coble will, at the very least, add another viable player for Carmody to put in the rotation. These guys are going to need it.
Craig Moore has been on fire this year. He scored 24 points, and hit 5-6 free throws in the last 17 seconds to preserve the win. The overmatched Wildcats are going to need Moore to play with this sort of consistency during Big Ten season if they want to have a chance.
Props also to Jason Okrzesik and Nikola Baran. J.O. has never really performed well at Northwestern except for short spurts, and in his senior year he is really stepping up.
Baran has been criticized by fans early in his career at NU, and has been benched many times by Bill Carmody, but he was able to put together a decent game.
Nice to see the 'Cats hit free throws. They were 7-9, all coming in the second half. It is a little discouraging that they don't get to the line very often, but that is probably a product of their lack of rebounding, particularly on the offensive end, and the fact that they don't take it to the hole very often. It doesn't really matter if they continue to shoot over 40% from beyond the arc.
Now Northwestern will take a break for finals, and play one more home game before the start of the conference season vs. Howard. I think most people wish the 'Cats had another few games before they host Penn St. on Jan. 2 to see this team continue to mesh and grow before the grueling start of Big Ten play, but the Wildcats will just have to do it in practice.
Hopefully Kevin Coble will start practicing with the team in the next couple of weeks. Northwestern had two players play all 40 minutes vs. Western Michigan, and another play 38. Coble will, at the very least, add another viable player for Carmody to put in the rotation. These guys are going to need it.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Tale of Two Halves
The first half was ugly. Really ugly. And, of course, it was to a team that nobody has ever seen play: Arkansas St.
I was booing by the first media timeout, when the 'Cats were down 11-1. I was really not in the mood to sit at a mostly empty Welsh-Ryan and see Northwestern lose to a terrible team. Not my idea of fun during "Reading Week."
But then the light switch went on, and NU actually started playing like a team that should take care of inferior opponents. The 'Cats went on a 13-2 run to close the first half, capped off by a Craig Moore three-pointer at the buzzer, to tie the game at 34.
Whatever Bill Carmody told his team at halftime worked, as Northwestern used 15 straight points as part of a 21-2 run to start the half. From there, the 'Cats never looked back.
Props to Craig Moore. The junior had 20 points and 5 assists, including 6 three-pointers. When Moore is shooting well (and he was dead on last night), this offense really clicks.
In fact, if the Princeton Offense worked to perfection like it did last night in every game, Northwestern could make the Big Dance. Of course, physical Big Ten teams might have something to say about that, but every once in a while Northwestern plays a game offensively that reminds people why Carmody is considered such an innovative coach.
It has happened now twice this season, though both times against very poor teams, and it happened a few times last season (Utah, anyone?). So if Northwestern can capture the offense from the last 25 minutes of last night's game, and release it once in a while during Big Ten season, the 'Cats might not go winless in conference play.
We can hope, right?
Also, Andy Katz of ESPN.com posted a great story today about Kevin Coble and his time being spent with his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. Really puts Coble in a great light, and says that he should be back for the conference opener against Penn State on Jan. 2. Definitely worthy of a read.
I was booing by the first media timeout, when the 'Cats were down 11-1. I was really not in the mood to sit at a mostly empty Welsh-Ryan and see Northwestern lose to a terrible team. Not my idea of fun during "Reading Week."
But then the light switch went on, and NU actually started playing like a team that should take care of inferior opponents. The 'Cats went on a 13-2 run to close the first half, capped off by a Craig Moore three-pointer at the buzzer, to tie the game at 34.
Whatever Bill Carmody told his team at halftime worked, as Northwestern used 15 straight points as part of a 21-2 run to start the half. From there, the 'Cats never looked back.
Props to Craig Moore. The junior had 20 points and 5 assists, including 6 three-pointers. When Moore is shooting well (and he was dead on last night), this offense really clicks.
In fact, if the Princeton Offense worked to perfection like it did last night in every game, Northwestern could make the Big Dance. Of course, physical Big Ten teams might have something to say about that, but every once in a while Northwestern plays a game offensively that reminds people why Carmody is considered such an innovative coach.
It has happened now twice this season, though both times against very poor teams, and it happened a few times last season (Utah, anyone?). So if Northwestern can capture the offense from the last 25 minutes of last night's game, and release it once in a while during Big Ten season, the 'Cats might not go winless in conference play.
We can hope, right?
Also, Andy Katz of ESPN.com posted a great story today about Kevin Coble and his time being spent with his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. Really puts Coble in a great light, and says that he should be back for the conference opener against Penn State on Jan. 2. Definitely worthy of a read.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Winning Ugly
Northwestern wins? Northwestern wins! Yes, the Wildcats finally won today defeating Savannah State in a very ugly and painful 68-58 game. Sure, it’s nice to see the ‘Cats get their first win against a Division 1 opponent, but leaving that game I did not feel good about this team.
Coach Carmody essentially went with a six-man rotation in the second half, which might work against Savannah State and Arkansas State, but it won’t work in Big Ten schedule. Conference play is too physical to rely on playing only six or sometimes seven guys a game. Carmody needs to find some players off the bench to chew up minutes on the court before Coble and Nash return to the team.
However, on a positive note, the heavily criticized defensive play was better today, as the ‘Cats were able to come up with 32 turnovers. However, many of those turnovers can be credited to Savannah State’s inept offensive play, not the ‘Cats’ aggressive defense. The ‘Cats played the 1-3-1 for most of the game, but were still giving up wide-open 3-point attempts. For the game Savannah State was 6-14 from behind the arch. During a short stretch in the first half the ‘Cats appeared to play a 2-3 zone. It slowed the game down on the perimeter and allowed the ‘Cats to get stops and creep back into the game after trailing early on. Northwestern would be wise to continue playing this defense as the season progresses. At this point, with the current personnel group, the 1-3-1 doesn’t suit this team best.
The ‘Cats have plenty to work on in practice and they’ll head back to the court on Monday night at 7 looking to improve their record to 3-4 as they host Arkansas State.
Coach Carmody essentially went with a six-man rotation in the second half, which might work against Savannah State and Arkansas State, but it won’t work in Big Ten schedule. Conference play is too physical to rely on playing only six or sometimes seven guys a game. Carmody needs to find some players off the bench to chew up minutes on the court before Coble and Nash return to the team.
However, on a positive note, the heavily criticized defensive play was better today, as the ‘Cats were able to come up with 32 turnovers. However, many of those turnovers can be credited to Savannah State’s inept offensive play, not the ‘Cats’ aggressive defense. The ‘Cats played the 1-3-1 for most of the game, but were still giving up wide-open 3-point attempts. For the game Savannah State was 6-14 from behind the arch. During a short stretch in the first half the ‘Cats appeared to play a 2-3 zone. It slowed the game down on the perimeter and allowed the ‘Cats to get stops and creep back into the game after trailing early on. Northwestern would be wise to continue playing this defense as the season progresses. At this point, with the current personnel group, the 1-3-1 doesn’t suit this team best.
The ‘Cats have plenty to work on in practice and they’ll head back to the court on Monday night at 7 looking to improve their record to 3-4 as they host Arkansas State.
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