Game Day Essentials: Game #20 vs Northwestern

Northwestern Info

Head Coach: Chris Collins
Location: Evanston, IL
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Wildcats

Mascot: Willie the Wildcat
Last time out: Beat Ohio St
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+
Line: Northwestern by 10.5
Tempo: Slow paced
Style: High assist
4 Factors Good: Not turning the ball over, shooting defense
4 Factors Bad: Losing in the FT Game

Most Frequently Used Lineup over the last 5 games

Last time out

In front of a sleepy crowd Northwestern slowly worked over the Huskers until Nebraska exploded for a 14-0 run in the last two minutes of the half. Tai Webster half court buzzer beater gave Nebraska a 4 point half time lead. Northwestern took the lead for good with 11 minutes to go and was able to consistently answer any attempts by the Huskers to claw back into the game. Tai Webster led the Nebraska with 17 while Evan Taylor had his first double digit scoring game with 11. Four Wildcats scored in double digits led by Scottie Lindsey's 19 points. It would later be revealed that Ed Morrow played the game on a bad foot and is still out with injury.

Miles Presser

• Miles confirms that Ed is out for Thursday..implies he's out for Sunday and they'll look at him Monday.
• Miles will take your requests for last second plays
• Will try and take away some of their 3s. NW not necessarily shooting great at home.
• NW's length has been giving our guards problems
• Need 3pt shooting from either Jack or Jeriah from the 3
• Gave Roby a true freshman compliment sandwich.
  • Likes what he's seeing when Roby is playing with force, active defensively
  • Play inconsistent due to a combination of not being used to the sort of effort needed in Div 1 (basically could coast in HS) plus the pre-season injury. (In non-coach speak, Isaiah is a little soft physically and mentally right now)
  • Over time he's going to be a triple double guy...the kind of guy who fills up the stats sheet

Jacobson Presser

McVeigh Presser

The Skinny

Miles pulled out a number in his presser where Northwestern is shooting worse from 3 at home vs the road.  On closer inspection of NW's long range shooting vs team 3pt defense in conference play, there is also a pattern of NW torching teams with poor 3pt shooting defense. With Bryant McIntosh still struggling with his shot the success of this defense will rely on minimizing the double teams and keeping the ball in his hands. Can the Huskers be patient enough on defense to stick with a Northwestern team hunting for 3s or goad the right guys into taking low percentage shots?

Offensively Northwestern has turned Glynn Watson into a non-factor as noted by Lee B. Their overall length has not only given Watson trouble but is also part of the reason why they've allowed a league best 28% shooting from 3 during conference play. Transition points will be hard to come by vs this careful NW offense though offensive rebounds still remain. With the Huskers unlikely to out shoot and out possession the Wildcats can Nebraska take advantage of Northwestern's propensity for putting the opposition on the FT line?  The only team not to shoot 20+ FTs vs Northwestern thus far in conference play was Nebraska just over 2 weeks ago. How much offensive GATA do the Huskers possess? 

Is this the sort of Northwestern team that is dealing with their success by mentally checking off the Huskers in preparation for upcoming games with Indiana and Purdue? Is NW still swept up with beating Ohio St on the road for the first time since 1977? Does Nebraska have something different up their sleeve besides watching Northwestern slowly kill them?  This game seems like a lost cause but so did those Indiana and Maryland road trips.

Prediction: Northwestern 72 - Nebraska 61