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.