Purdue Boilermakers, 87, Northwestern Wildcats, 77, Postgame Thread
by Rodger Sherman on Feb 12, 2012 7:17 PM CST
in 2011-12 Northwestern Wildcats Basketball
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Northwestern played a competitive game, but couldn't win its fourth consecutive conference game - a feat we were told a dozen times NU has not accomplished since 1967 - falling to Purdue in frustrating fashion. In the first half, Northwestern played well on defense, but couldn't grab a rebound, allowing 11 offensive boards right off the bat, and looked stagnant as all get out on offense, only putting up 25 points, allowing Purdue to get away with a poor offensive performance of their own.
In the second, things clicked on offense, as NU put up 51 points, but Ryne Smith and D.J. Byrd found all the soft spots in NU's zone and drilled threes to keep the Boilers perpetually three to six points ahead of Northwestern for most of the second half. John Shurna really went off, putting up 30, many in a late-game scoring spree, but it didn't help.
This isn't the death knell for NU's tourney hopes, but it's not fun, as the game really could've done wonders for the resume. NU will just have to do work elsewhere.
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Cobb
I get not playing him earlier, even though Freundt was awful. But assuming that, how can we turnaround and insert him to shoot critical free throws completely cold off the bench? Bizarre sequence.
this was weird
NU had to bring in someone off the bench to shoot that free throw, they chose Cobb. I assume he’s not 100% yet.
by Rodger Sherman on Feb 12, 2012 7:26 PM CST up reply actions
Who else was there?
Marcotullio had fouled out. Curletti can’t make FTs. Mirkovic? One of the walk-ons?
Good point
Um … Coble still has eligibility left? Makes more sense now.
The game was over...
…and there were only walk ons left
And the roller coaster takes a dip...
UP-DOWN-UP-DOWN-DOWN-UP-UP-DOWN
Here’s to Irrational hope for a bounce back against Indiana.
Quick thoughts.
So, NU is 15-9 (5-7) and at tied for seventh in the Big Ten. While L8 is absolutely correct about the committee paying no EXTRA attention to conference record and/or standing (much to my frustration), I do think that 8-10 will get NU into the tournament. There are three very winnable games left on the schedule (home Minn, road PSU, and road Iowa), plus I definitely do believe that NU can sneak another win (home Mich), so I still feel the tournament is still in play.
I agree w/Chad that NU has yet to have a bad loss, which is really great compared to MANY teams in the field. And, in my opinion, I’m not too worried about this team losing to a ‘bad team,’ so if they can get the Minnesota and/or Michigan games, NU will be in the field. I’m sure I’m like many of you wanting to make the tourney at least at 9-9, and that is totally doable.
I watched the game, but also watching Adele’s 60 minutes piece and the Grammy pre-show, so I don’t have as much in-game analysis as normal. But, it was a game where the 2nd half defense was just crazy, good at times, but sloppy at others.
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 12, 2012 7:33 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
the quality of the wins will be important
at 8-10, along with BTT performances.
by Rodger Sherman on Feb 12, 2012 7:37 PM CST up reply actions
Fair Assessment.
+1
I feel the same way about the upcoming games.
also
i’m going to be the one to make fun of you using watching the Adele 60 minutes piece as a reason to have not paid attention to the game. it’s my job.
by Rodger Sherman on Feb 12, 2012 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
Go ahead.
She’s one of my favorite artists. I enjoyed learning more about her, and she is an incredible vocalist and interesting personality.
But, don’t worry Rodger, I know my rap/R&B/Neo-Soul VERY well. My boy Kanye To The is already racked up four Grammy’s. And the two he lost, he was nominated against himself.
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 12, 2012 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
I thought about you.
I was hoping to win to see if you’d post again, but after you did now, I believe you a little more than I did before.
You just have to understand, I have YEARS of opposing fans telling me how they love the Cats.
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 12, 2012 7:49 PM CST up reply actions
I understand completely and was prepared to post a congrats if we lost and we could have very easily.
Had a few things went your way that didn’t you would have won, it was a close hard fought game all night.
I will be pulling for you guys like you cannot believe on Wednesday and the rest of the year. Good luck with the rest of the season and crush the Hoosiers. I really want to see guys in the tournament.
by GeorgiaBoiler on Feb 12, 2012 8:25 PM CST up reply actions
I agree, beat the hoosiers
And I have heard the “I hope you win” that rankled a bit when I rooted for other teams. It’s tough—but even saying THAT can seem patronizing.
I was prepared too for a rough loss where NU deserved to win (been a few the last few years) and got busy…so, yeah.
Side note, though, of the things fans can’t control—it’s good to see SoP getting strong activity for a game thread. Keep it up, y’all.
by Beavis Beefcake on Feb 12, 2012 8:46 PM CST up reply actions
Could have went either way tonight.
Crawford and Shurna are tough. I like Hearn too, he’s from Ft. Wayne which is only a stone’s throw from where the wife and I hail from.
by GeorgiaBoiler on Feb 12, 2012 9:42 PM CST up reply actions
Bloomington on Wednesday
We need quality road wins to convince the committee, if we indeed end up 8-10 in conference (and 1 BTT win). Let’s hope Illinois doesn’t falter too much down the stretch. @Iowa, @PSU are not C.V. boosters. Well, that leaves IU on Wednesday as the last chance for a statement win away from home. On a positive note, this is our first (and only) meeting with IU this season, and we have their number as of recent. They obviously have Zeller, who is 50-70 times better than Meyers Leonard. If the "Cats allow Hulls,Watford and company tee-off from 3-pt range like Smith, Byrd and Hummel, then it won’t be competitive.
If Johnny goes into F-U mode and can get some more first-half looks, then watch out! Keep the faith….
If you knock them off at Assembly Hall that is a helluva quality road win. Shut down Zeller, Hulls, and Oladipo and you will be fine. The officiating there will be one-sided, especially in regards to Zeller, if you look at him wrong they’ll call a foul, but your guys can get the job done. Good luck! I’ll be pulling for you.
by GeorgiaBoiler on Feb 12, 2012 8:31 PM CST up reply actions
Hahaha wait.
Shut down Zeller, Hulls, and Oladipo and you will be fine.
Good. That sounds easy enough, y’know, given our strong center play this season and our propensity to wither shooters’ arms by looking at them.
I kid, of course, GB. We appreciate the sentiment.
I know they’re not on the road, but beating Minny or Michigan would BOTH be high quality wins.
by Chadnudj on Feb 12, 2012 10:13 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
I agree.
I think those two home games will be the make/break of this season. NU must win one of those two, b/c most people assume NU will beat PSU and Iowa, so where is that ‘magic’ eighth win going to come from? Most people assume one of those two home games.
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 13, 2012 9:33 AM CST up reply actions
I thought they played really well...
…when u play a gimmick defense though it is tough to board and if the other team hits their 3s it can be tough. I actually think they’ll be fine if they stay healthy and don’t trip over themselves @ Iowa.
Root for that Illinois win not to be irrelevant though. It’s important.
From Eanet and Morris
It sounds like whomever was near Smith shouldn’t have been providing help on drives to the middle of the zone. But NU never made the adjustment, or at least they didn’t until Smith had drained 4 threes in the second half.
By the way...
…anyone have a problem with that Gus Johnson stat he kept repeating…that carmody has won 6 games or more 7 out of 12 years and that is a huge accomplishment?
For those keeping score, that means a .333 winning % in conference 7 out of 12 yrs is our gold standard. That had to come from our athletic dept. seemed a bit odd we wld brag this, but I guess that explains some stuff.
Almost as odd as Dan bonner’s criticism of curletti’s loose ball timeout, referencing the possession arrow in the middle of the 1st half as a reason why saving the TO was not a good idea. Vhat?
by dbr0675own1 on Feb 12, 2012 8:50 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Had the same reax to Gus hyping BC
The narrative begins: yes, we barely missed the tourney again, but Carmody’s the best coach we’ve ever had, gets more from less, etc.
To which I say: I want The Dance. If we miss again, FBC.
by SeattleCat on Feb 12, 2012 9:01 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions
that whole skirmish at the end of the first half
youve got barlow instigating, and effectively pulling the hockey move where the goon tries to fight one of the other teams stars so they both have to go to the box. theres very few guys who could resist saying something after an opponent yaps and gets in their face the way Barlow did.
and then you’ve got LOL Ryne Smith, the third man in talking shit from over two guys shoulders and only trying to fight Crawford AFTER he was being restrained. just pathetic;. smith is the master of getting involved in shit he had nothing to do with, i remember in Evanston someone on NU blew by him and a teammate came over and took a charge, and Smith is pumping his fist like he actually did something. goddamn that guy tilts me. I want apologies from anyone who told me Smith wasnt as big a douche as Byrd. Byrd is annoying, but he has game. Smith is a poor mans Craig Moore with a douchey haircut.
I at least respect Barlow’s status as a habitual line stepper, if given the chance he probably would have happily fought NU’s entire starting 5 by himself. Smith is just a clown though, he’d probably run from a fight against Nick Fruendt if there was no one to protect him.
by Loretta8 on Feb 12, 2012 8:59 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
This was probably why my dad texted me
“I’ve never liked Purdue”…
I was trying to figure out exactly why that was usually I would channel my B1G Hate at OSU IO_A and ILL-we-can-spell ! Guess this fills in the blanks.
Bit more on the fight
1) Big props to Curletti for understanding his role, stepping in there and getting Crawford out of the way. He looked like he was ready to go.
2) Well, this doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the fight, but can we really see Byrd’s parents just a few more times?
Does Purdue have a couple students who dress up as hick parents so BTN can show … whatever they’re trying to demonstrate? Thank goodness the costumes for Chris Kramer’s parents have been replaced by the costumes for Byrd’s parents. Yeeeeee haw!!!
Douche scale
Smith > Byrd
Byrd + Byrd Dad >= smith
props to purdue for executing their offense in the 2nd half
they deserved to win.
by Loretta8 on Feb 12, 2012 9:02 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
you guys definitely have a shot still
Beating Minnesota, Penn State, and Iowa is critical. If you can get Michigan at home after nearly beating them in ann Arbor it should be enough
A futile crusade to prevent mass ignorance
HammerAndRails, SBNation's Boilermaker Blog
I have a theory on NU's Centers
Curletti plays well against only MSU because he’s from Michigan, and Luka plays well against only Indiana for some reason.
If he’s healthy he should play against the Hoosiers. He loves taking it to that Assembly Hall crowd.
It was the hair!
I’d forgotten what a full mane Luka used to have. Like Samson, his powers disappeared with the shearing of his lovely locks.
http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=10604765
I know alot of people were initially angry at Barlow for initiating the confrontation but to me looks he did get hit in the face with a swinging “space clearing” elbow. Not trying to troll but just an observation. Barlow shouldn’t have said things/got in his face but still
Reach In or Elbow?
Always hard to tell without slo mo replay
I only listened to the game. I’ve seen some phantom elbows get called in other games where an elbow didn’t come within 6 in of the face and a player got called for the tech. In short, I’ve seen tech’s called for less.
The second tech sucked though, because it was for a reaction to a bad call… which was later overturned. Still can’t spike the ball though, but instances of throwing the ball go uncalled with some frequency.
Having Crawford might’ve helped down the stretch, but NU needed to find a way to get stops and secure defensive boards. Period. The mantra holds true – You need to be 10pts better than your opponent on the road.
Good luck the rest of the way.
Bitter because the sweep really hurts NU’s NCAA chances, and is a momentum killer. It’s tough to watch Hummel because as an opposing fan I’m thinking “something very bad is going to happen to us” as soon as the ball gets in his hands. That said, he’s battled through two “career ending” injuries and deserves major props for that.
WRT the calls:
At least you’re not winning at home because of the garbage calls Syracuse gets in the Dome night in and night out. Not to mention the football game they stole from Toledo…
Understand. Never been a huge NU fan but seeing the way they played twice this year I have been very impressed
You guys play a very similar type of the same tough nose try-hard basketball that Purdue prides itself on. It was a well fought game and I honestly have a new found respect for NU basketball. Good luck for the rest of the year
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