Firings Aside, Plenty of Job Security in the Big Ten

Well, we’re coming off a rough day in the Big Ten, as Illinois’ Bruce Weber and Nebraska’s Doc Sadler were put on the chopping block after disappointing seasons.

I can understand why Weber was fired. After nine seasons, the Fighting Illini seemed to have backward momentum, and were underachieving to an extreme degree. How a team with a NBA-caliber point guard in Brandon Paul, an elite big man in Meyers Leonard and a useful glue guy in Joseph Bertrand could lose that many games is a mystery to me. This might be the most disappointing team in the Big Ten, and their hasty Big Ten Tournament exit against Iowa certainly didn’t help matters. That being said, this is an unfortunate firing in the sense that Weber had grown really close to top recruit Jabari Parker. His firing could jeopardize Illinois’ chances at landing him. Indeed, his family said as much, which is a shame considering that Parker is the No. 1 ranked small forward in the class of 2013, and is easily the most talented of five Chicago natives that Weber was targeting. As crazy as it sounds, I have to wonder if Weber could be bound for Evanston. While I believe Carmody should remain Northwestern’s coach, if he is fired, Weber could be an intriguing fit. He has shown a knack for recruiting in the city of Chicago, and you can just imagine the fuss is Weber somehow brought Parker to Evanston. I literally would think I was in Heaven already.

Meanwhile, I really don’t understand Doc Sadler’s firing. Listen, there’s no doubt Nebraska struggled this year, but don’t forget that this was the Cornhuskers’ first year in the Big Ten, and the jump from the Big XII to the Big Ten is not an easy one to make, whether it’s the jump in skill level or simply game-planning for 11 new conference foes. And then you take into consideration that Nebraska puts such minimal money into its basketball program, the lowest such figure in the Big Ten as one fan pointed out in a full-page newspaper advertisement, and it’s no wonder this team struggled. I mean this team’s only real star was Bo Spencer, and I hesitate to call him even that. Sadler should have been given another chance.

As for the hot stove rankings, with 10 coaches left, I give you my spin on who’s safe and who’s in hot water:

Untouchables

Bo Ryan, Wisconsin – Unbelievable, Jon Leuer departs for the NBA, and the Badgers come back as good as ever. Their defense remains one of the best in the Big Ten, and with Sam Dekker coming in, fans in Madison have plenty to be excited about.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State – Obviously, the Big Ten Coach of the Year doesn’t have much to worry about in terms of job security, but the job he did this season deserves further praise. This Spartans team lacks stars with the exception of Draymond Green, but Izzo once again fit all of the pieces together into something beautiful.

Thad Matta, Ohio State – Is it a little disappointing that the Buckeyes have had so little success in the NCAA Tournament? Yes, but that doesn’t take away from Matta’s immense skills as a recruiter. It will be very fun watching a talented Class of 2011, featuring four four-star recruits, contribute on the court.

Hero Mode

Matt Painter, Purdue – One of the most underrated coaches in the Big Ten, Painter eked every bit of possible effort out of this Boilermakers team, coaxing a limited team (Hummel and who else?) to a late-season run. Yes, despite the losses of E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, Purdue is still destined for the NCAA Tournament. And now he has the 16th-ranked freshman class coming in, a shockingly good haul considering West Lafayette’s limits as a basketball town.

Fran McCaffery, Iowa – His Hawkeyes team was feisty in 2011, finishing close to .500 in Big Ten play, and pulling off a nice victory over the Fighting Illini in the Big Ten Tournament. His team seemed to overachieve, riding several role players to surprising victories. The Hawkeyes’ 24th-ranked incoming freshman class doesn’t hurt either. He definitely has this program heading in the right direction.

Tom Crean, Indiana – He brought in Cody Zeller and he has Yogi Ferrell coming in next year. He has a recruiting lock on the state of Indiana, and is reaping heavy rewards from the rich soil of the Hoosier State. He has made Hoosiers basketball relevant again, and their NCAA Tournament berth alone should keep fans in Bloomington happy for a while.

John Bellein, Michigan – The Wolverines tend to do well in the fundamental aspects of the game under Bellein, and have become a perennial top contender in the Big Ten. Add in the freshman of the year, and the 11th-ranked incoming recruiting class, and you get the feeling that Bellein will be in Ann Arbor for a long time to come.

Dicey Mode

Tubby Smith, Minnesota – The Golden Gophers put forth a really chippy effort in the Big Ten Tournament, and it’s unlikely Tubby Smith will get fired after a season that was compromised by Trevor Mbakwe’s season-ending injury. Still, Minnesota hasn’t gone anywhere in a while, and there’s no doubt things haven’t turned out as planned in Minneapolis.

Bill Carmody, Northwestern – A strong run in the NIT would help make his case for steady progress within the program, but even without a few NIT wins, he should be fine for a little while longer. Athletic director Jim Phillips tends to be quite patient with coaches, and from a historical perspective, Carmody is doing things that have never been done in Evanston. Now, if only he could recruit post players.

Too Early to Judge

Patrick Chambers, Penn State – He had one year and it didn’t go very well. But he deserves time to try to build his own program. Brandon Austin, the No. 13 small forward in the Class of 2013, is looking like a big recruit, and if he can tap into the Philadelphia metropolitan area, that could be a huge break. That being said, he needs to learn not to chase referees across the court. Murder usually doesn’t look good on a resume.

In Other News

Meanwhile, someone in the Redskins’ front office made a decision that ought to get him or her fired, trading away three first-round picks and one second-round pick for the No. 2 selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, or in other words, the right to select Robert Griffin III. Listen, I know that we were all awed and charmed by Griffin’s press conference at the Combine, and I know that he will sell a lot of tickets at FedEx Field, but is it really worth it?

No doubt Robert Griffin III is good. He’s been tossing touchdowns in the pass-happy Big XII for a long time, and with his mobility, he’s the type of quarterback that doesn’t need a strong offensive line to make him look good, which is a happy coincidence given that most of the teams that own top draft picks lack strong offensive lines. It’s how they got there in the first place. So, Griffin III can step in right away into a bad situation and win some ballgames. But, at the same time, Griffin’s 2011 numbers were a little bit out of nowhere, he did play in an unorthodox offensive system and it sometimes seems like any quarterback can toss 30 touchdown passes in the aerial launching ground that is the Big XII. Could he put those type of numbers up in the Big Ten, or more importantly, in the NFL? I’m not so sure.

Perhaps the thinking is that he has the mobility of a John Elway, who Mike Shanahan did well with in Denver, but still as good as Griffin III is, three first-round picks? When you consider that every first-round pick has the potential to be a franchise-changer, that’s a lot to give away. St. Louis could completely remake its defense with those three picks. This year, the Rams will have the No. 6, No. 33 and No. 39 picks, and then they should have two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts. I’m practically salivating thinking of what St. Louis could do with its three picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. The Rams could pick up Matt Kalil or David DeCastro to shore up their offensive line, then pick up Alshon Jeffery to give Sam Bradford someone to throw to and finally pick up Jerel Worthy to stuff the run.

Whether or not that’s the best approach, I have no idea, but the point is they can now address multiple weaknesses through the 2012 NFL Draft. The way I just outlined would help fix the line, receiving corps and run defense in one fell swoop. It’s the greatest new mind game for NFL fans to play in their free time: how the Rams should spend their first three picks, and it’s all courtesy of the Redskins. This isn’t just a vote of confidence in Sam Bradford by St. Louis, it’s also quite simply a very smart move. Meanwhile, I can’t really blame Washington. When you consider how long the Redskins have gone without an elite quarterback, you can see why they made this desperate move.

On Your Marks, Get Set, Go. It’s Big Ten Tourney Time in Indy.

IOWA HAWKEYES VS. ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

Despite their inferior conference record, the Fighting Illini are the favorites in this one. Meyers Leonard has proven himself this season as a truly dominant big man, averaging 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, and the Hawkeyes lack the size to contain him.

Iowa (16-15, 8-10) vs. Illinois (17-14, 6-12). 10:30 a.m. Big Ten Network.

Illinois lost 11 of its last 13 this season, thus blowing its NCAA Tournament chances, but one of those two wins did come against Iowa a little more than a week ago. In their recent matchup at Assembly Hall, the Fighting Illini won by 11, fueled by 22 points and 14 rebounds from Leonard.

The Hawkeyes never led in that contest, shooting just 37 percent in Champaign. They will rely heavily on Matt Gatens, the senior sharpshooter who will need to have a field day against one of the Big Ten’s weakest three-point defenses in order to give Iowa a shot.

INDIANA HOOSIERS VS. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

The Nittany Lions are hoping that the third time is the charm against the Hoosiers. Penn State nearly beat Indiana at home on January 8, before falling by 19 points in Bloomington on January 22. Tim Frazier leads the Nittany Lions in points (18.6), assists (6.3), steals (2.3) and rebounds (4.8). If only he had some help. Penn State lacks a post threat and shoots just 30 percent from behind the arc. It’s not like the Nittany Lions turn the ball over; they just can’t seem to figure out a way to score other than putting the ball in Frazier’s hands.

Indiana (11-7) vs. Penn State (4-14). Shortly after Iowa/Illinois. BTN.

Hoosiers coach Tom Crean is too smart to allow Frazier to beat his team. Meanwhile, his shooters went 23-of-40 from behind the arc in two games against Penn State this season. The inside-outside combination that Indiana boasts will probably be too much for Penn State. As upset-heavy as the Big Ten has been this season, the one team that has been unable to pull off any miracles thus far is Penn State. I doubt that changes Thursday.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VS. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

The Golden Gophers destroyed the Wildcats at the Barn. Northwestern returned the favor at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Now, here comes the tiebreaker. Minnesota lost six straight before pulling out a win over Nebraska in its regular-season finale, and has had a particularly difficult time putting up points of late. The last time the Golden Gophers topped 70 points was on January 28 in an overtime win over the Fighting Illini. The Wildcats, meanwhile, have no difficulties putting up points as long as their threes are falling. Five of the top 15 three-point shooters in the conference, astoundingly enough, don the purple and white.

Northwestern (8-10) vs. Minnesota (6-12). 4:30 p.m. ESPN2

While Golden Gophers guard Julian Welch is also present in the top 15, he’s hardly an elite scorer, and indeed, Minnesota clearly lacks stars. Rodney Williams, its leading scorer, averages just 10.9 points. Northwestern, on the other hand, has plenty of starpower, with John Shurna and Drew Crawford leading the way with 19.8 points per game and 16.4 points per game, respectively. The Wildcats’ weakness pertains mainly to depth, something the Golden Gophers have in spades, so Thursday’s contest quite simply pits depth and mediocrity against a star-studded and short-handed Northwestern lineup.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS VS. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

Purdue won five of seven to finish off its conference schedule while Nebraska lost eight of nine to cap off its first season within the Big Ten. The Boilermakers have been led by a remarkable renaissance from senior Robbie Hummel, who torched the Cornhuskers for 29 points and seven rebounds the last time these two teams met. Both teams actually shot greater than 50 percent in that meeting but scored 65 points or less, pointing to slow, methodical possessions.

Purdue (10-8) vs. Nebraska (4-14). Shortly after NU/Minn. ESPN2.

With the exception of Bo Spencer, who is a legitimate swoop to the hoop kind of guy, Nebraska lacks true scoring options. Purdue, on the other hand, boasts Hummel and a slew of no-name players who can light it up from behind the arc. Just to put a name or two to the Boilermakers roster, D.J. Byrd and Ryne Smith are both in the top 11 of the conference in three-point percentage, with each draining greater than 40 percent of their attempts from behind the arc. The Cornhuskers, on the other hand, are not present in the top 15.

At Last, A True Must-Win For Northwestern

In one of the biggest games in Northwestern history, the Wildcats take on the Hawkeyes today at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Everyone has been way too liberal with their use of the must-win label thus far this season, but for once, the tag fits perfectly.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS at IOWA HAWKEYES

Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Saturday, March 3, 2012, 1:30 p.m. Central

If the Wildcats lose, they will fall to 6-10 in the Big Ten, meaning only a Big Ten Tournament title would save their season. If they win, they pass the Hawkeyes in the conference standings, they would likely play Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament instead of Illinois and a win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament would likely be enough to get them into the NCAA Tournament. And to be clear, I would much rather see Northwestern play Minnesota, since Meyers Leonard is far better down low than Ralph Sampson III is, and since Brandon Paul scares me with his explosive NBA-level talent. Minnesota doesn’t have anyone like that. With such big stakes riding on today’s game, I figured I would give you a quick, little preview to get you up to speed on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

NCAA Implications – Iowa actually has a better conference record than Northwestern as it stands, but the Hawkeyes have so many bad losses, both in conference (Penn State and Nebraska) and out of conference (a 20-point loss to Northern Iowa and a 16-point loss to Campbell), that they would be hard-pressed to earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. They need to win a few more games to even stand a chance. While Iowa went 7-5 in non-conference play against a generally non-challenging slate, Northwestern took on Baylor, beat Seton Hall and LSU and finished with a 10-2 non-conference record, which looks far more impressive. Right now, the Wildcats ought to be thanking their lucky stars that they won the Charleston Classic. That early-season tournament could go a long way toward deciding their fate.

Up and Down Play – Most fans would consider this an up and down season for the Wildcats, but if you think about it Northwestern generally won the games it was expected to win and lost the games it was expected to lose. The Wildcats essentially have no bad losses at this point in the season, which should appeal to voters when it comes time to make the NCAA Tournament bracket. Their worst losses were a road loss to the Golden Gophers and a home loss to the Fighting Illini, and they got lucky in that the Boilermakers went on a strong run to end the season. Now, Northwestern’s two losses to Purdue don’t look so bad, since the Boilermakers are a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. If you want to look at an up and down team, just take a look at Iowa, which beat Wisconsin and Michigan, only to fall to Campbell and Penn State.

New Coat of Paint – Iowa is one of the few teams in the Big Ten that will be hard-pressed to challenge Northwestern in the paint. If Davide Curletti can’t hold down the fort against Zach McCabe, I hear there are a few villas in Italy that are still for sale. McCabe has made just six of his last 17 from the field and hasn’t reached double-digits since February 4. Melsahn Basabe is a good athlete, but can usually be contained, and both McCabe and Basabe are only six-feet, seven-inches tall. Iowa lacks a marquee center, and Northwestern couldn’t ask for a nicer gift.

Foot in my Mouth – Last time, these two teams played, I made the brilliant assessment that Matt Gatens isn’t a legitimate star within the Big Ten. Then, he put up 15 points at Welsh-Ryan Arena, draining three-of-five from behind the arc, and only turning the ball over once. Since then, Gatens has been on fire. He is only averaging 15.7 points on the season, but he has posted at least 16 points in each of his last five games, including a 33-point performance against Wisconsin and a 30-point performance against Indiana. He made 7-of-10 from behind the arc in both games, and considering Northwestern’s inability to defend the arc, Gatens could pose a serious threat. I still don’t think he’s on the level of a Jordan Taylor or John Shurna, but he can light it up, particularly against the Wildcats’ porous 1-3-1 defense. And one last thing, like many of Northwestern’s players, Gatens never comes out. He has played 40 minutes in three of Iowa’s last five games, and hasn’t reached four personal fouls since December 9, so good luck trying to get him into foul trouble.

Home Sweet Home – Never known as one of the more intimidating venues in the Big Ten, Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been witness to four consecutive Iowa wins, including victories over Wisconsin and Indiana.

Last Time Out – Last time out, Northwestern made it look easy, downing Iowa 83-64 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. In the battle of teams with hyphenated arena names, the Wildcats rode a dominating 56 percent performance from the field, and 13-of-25 performance from behind the arc, to victory. Dave Sobolewski was majestic that game, driving to the hole with authority, and finishing with 23 points, and really the entire Northwestern squad played a beautifully aggressive game and finished around the basket like I’ve never seen the Wildcats do before. They were playing out of their minds that night, and I wouldn’t necessarily expect to see that type of show again. Northwestern may win, if it can keep Gatens guarded behind the arc, but it will not be easy against an Iowa team chock full of productive role players, including Aaron White and Roy Devyn Marble.

Disappointment in Champaign

I hate to put a damper on Illinois’ win over Iowa, but after watching that game, it has become clear to me that the Fighting Illini are the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten. Their six-game losing streak has knocked them out of NCAA Tournament contention, Big Ten Tournament miracle aside, and their 6-10 conference record can only be regarded as an abysmal letdown. They have a player in Brandon Paul, who has NBA talent, as evidenced by the number of difficult jump shots he hit against the Hawkeyes. They have a guy in Meyers Leonard, who has been performing at an unbelievably high level of late. His leaping ability, dunking ability and blocking ability all stand out immediately, and his fantastic dunk over Iowa’s Zach McCabe was awfully fun to watch. I’ve long thought that McCabe is nothing more than a mediocre interior player within the Big Ten, and as much as Leonard gets under my skin at times, it was fun to watch him assert his superiority on Sunday. His blocks were even more impressive, particularly during one 30-second span, when Leonard posted two highlight-reel blocks in a row. You simply cannot go for simple layups when Leonard is under the basket. He is such a reliable shot blocking threat, to an extent unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. And yet, this Fighting Illini team continues to underachieve, even Sunday, when it let the Hawkeyes hang around, in no small part due to Illinois’ 17 team turnovers. You wouldn’t think it would be that hard to simply feed the ball inside to Leonard, and for Leonard to whip it back out to the perimeter. For Christ’s sake, Northwestern relies far more on cross-court passes, and risky backdoor plays. If anyone should be turning the ball over, it’s the Wildcats, not the Fighting Illini. But on Sunday, Brandon Paul showed off tremendous arm strength and even greater inaccuracy when he hurled a pass to Leonard about 10 feet over Leonard’s head, an impressive accomplishment when you consider how tall Leonard is. The pass landed in the second row of the stands behind Illinois’ bench. Small wonder the Fighting Illini are dead last in the Big Ten with 13.8 turnovers per game.

Cardiac Collapse Costs Cats Dearly

Michigan 67 – Northwestern 55 (OT)

I wish I could cry.

It’s not like the Wildcats’ wilting performance came as a surprise. With approximately 1:30 remaining in regulation in Northwestern’s overtime loss to Michigan, I texted my closest friend from high school, and guaranteed that the Wolverines would win. Let’s face this, Northwestern Nation, this Wildcats program, when it comes to the revenue-earning sports of football and basketball, is among the least clutch programs ever in sports history. If only someone could inject this bunch with the ice-cold blood that runs through the lacrosse program’s veins, as evidence in its one-goal defeats of both North Carolina and Maryland to win its sixth national title in seven years. Instead, try to think of the last time this basketball program won a game in the closing minutes. Sure, the Wildcats have stunned plenty of teams, but those victories have always come by six or seven points. When was the last time Northwestern hit a buzzer-beater, scored on that crucial final possession, and finished that drive to the hoop? The last time I can recollect is when a much younger, yet still very baby-faced, John Shurna hit a three to defeat Ohio State at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Since then, it has been unmitigated disaster after unmitigated disaster. Whether it’s Meyers Leonard swatting Drew Crawford or a missed Shurna three at the buzzer that rattles off both rims the result is always the same. Northwestern always loses.

It’s not like the Wildcats’ wilting performance came as a surprise.

You’ll have to forgive me for not using more stats in this article. I’m writing this post from the passenger seat of my 2011 Toyota Prius, stealthily stashed away in a Wilmette parking lot. The excitement was so great surrounding tonight’s game that I had to park here. The traffic down Central Street was too tremendous to navigate toward the stadium any further. I had to abandon the car, and walk the rest of the way. That’s how big a game this was. And the student body knew it too. It’s unfortunate that it’s considered a great achievement every time the purple and white-clad fans descend upon Welsh-Ryan Arena and Ryan Field, but that’s what this was. This was one of the few times when every seat was taken, and countless students arriving minutes late to the game found no place for them in the student section. One could wonder when they will expand seating for students at Welsh-Ryan Arena. One could certainly understand why miffed students, finding themselves rebuffed from sitting amongst their colleagues or anyone for that matter, would feel that way. But for now any plans to expand Welsh-Ryan Arena are a joke, particularly when you consider the way the stands are half-filled for most other Big Ten home games. As it was, I was fortunate to snare a seat on this occasion. If I had stayed in the car, I would have arrived at 7:30, too late to sit down, likely to be banished to … well, God knows where. My miraculous decision to park 10 minutes from the stadium saved the day. For me, anyway.

Now, it’s easy to imagine Northwestern fans turning away from Welsh-Ryan Arena after this game. Think about how many times the students have packed the arena, only to see their hometown heroes lose. Sure, there was that win over Michigan State. But more frequently, the fans come, only to see the Wildcats suffer devastating defeats to Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois and Purdue. But that’s no excuse to stay away. I believe that at this point, fans have to subscribe to the “If you build it, they will come” philosophy of sports team building. Fill up this stadium consistently and maybe the Wildcats will have a better shot at drawing top recruits. Fill up this stadium and perhaps the wins will come. Welsh-Ryan Arena has always been known as one of the softest road games in the Big Ten, and it’s up to us to change that. Packing the stadium three times a year doesn’t undo row after row of empty benches against Purdue or Iowa. If the fans want to turn Welsh-Ryan into a consistent locale for Wildcats victories, let’s start by turning this into one of the toughest home gyms in the Big Ten. I couldn’t care less if we have half the seats of Value City Arena. As we have seen over the past two games, when you pack a small gym like Welsh-Ryan Arena, and start screaming, the noise reverberates. The on-court results shouldn’t inspire us, but they shouldn’t turn us away either. And the atmosphere should inspire us, and let us know that Northwestern is capable of bringing the heat.

Heck, he even drained his free throws, which happens about as often as Bill Carmody keeps his suit jacket on for the whole game.

As for the game itself, Northwestern played such an inspired first half of basketball. Davide Curletti was nearly back to Michigan State form, driving aggressively to the hoop, backing down defenders and grabbing rebounds. He even added a few jump shots, including an impressive fadeaway jumper from the elbow that sent Welsh-Ryan Arena into a frenzy. Heck, he even drained his free throws, which happens about as often as Bill Carmody keeps his suit jacket on for the whole game. But, what I didn’t understand is why Curletti turned silent in the second half. Sure, he added another block or two, but when the game ticked down into the final minutes, Curletti played scared, resorting to his usual post at the elbow, and waiting to find open men to pass to, rather than taking it for himself. John Shurna disappeared too. After a fairly pedestrian 10-point performance in the first half, he was even quieter in the closing act. At one point, he hit a couple of clutch, spinning, whirling dervish shots from within the paint, and it looked like once again he would carry the Wildcats through the tough stretch, but then he inexplicably disappeared. Ever since an odd play, where Shurna came up short, and appeared to limp away from contact, he was not to be seen. I heard that he wasn’t injured, that his shoe simply fell off, but whatever the case, Shurna vanished. The rest of his shots were a junky collection of airballs. Drew Crawford disappeared too, presumably because of injury. Either way, he was virtually absent for nearly the entire second half, and then he was literally absent for the entire overtime period. Which meant that JerShon Cobb of all people ended up taking all the clutch shots as regulation ticked to a close. Why an unproven sophomore had the ball in his hands is a mystery to me.

Take his three-point attempt in the final minute of the game. With ten seconds remaining on the shot clock, the ball ends up in Cobb’s hands. You can’t blame him for shooting, not when John Shurna was stationed out by the top of the arc, a spectator rather than an active participant in the game. But, you can wonder if this is really the play the Wildcats called coming out of a timeout. Cobb, for all his accolades out of high school, has yet to prove himself as a legitimate three-point threat, so for him to take that shot, is a mystery. Yes, he was having a good game, and for that matter, I like what Cobb’s return has brought to Northwestern. His rebounding ability and defensive presence are greatly appreciated. Heck, I loved that one play Tuesday night when Cobb used what his mother gave him, as few players did, backed down his defender, and then faded away for an easy swish in the paint. It’s always mystified me why more players don’t use their butts to create shots, and Cobb did it beautifully Tuesday night. But even during his best performance of the season, he couldn’t knock down a three for his life. All of his sorry attempts bounced off the front rim, so it shouldn’t have come as any surprise when his late-game attempt did the very same. Give credit to Reggie Hearn. His presence on the offensive boards offers something new and exciting for the Cats, and when he secured that rebound, off pure hustle in the final minute, I actually thought Northwestern had a chance for a fleeting moment. That’s what the Wildcats have been missing all these years, but they blew the opportunity, giving the Wolverines the ball with the shot clock off. Unbelievably enough, because of Northwestern’s miserable 18-point performance in the second half, Michigan had a chance to win it at the buzzer. Give the Wildcats credit, they played perfect defense. They used their final foul to give with 4.7 seconds remaining. Then, they contested the Wolverines’ buzzer-beating three-point attempt so beautifully that the shot failed to find even the rim. They had a chance. The arena was rocking.

It felt similar to Pullman. Somehow, the Wildcats miraculously force overtime. The momentum should be coursing through their veins. John Shurna pumped his fist exiting the court following the final buzzer of regulation. Welsh-Ryan Arena was ready to witness a miracle. And then they came out as flat as you could possibly come out in overtime. On offense, it was a series of missed shots from Shurna, misses so bad that you wondered if he was injured, and turnovers. On defense, it was surrendering open three-pointers again and again to the Wolverines. Three three-pointers later and Michigan held a nine-point lead. Northwestern did its usual late-game tease, but per usual, it had dug itself a hole far too deep to climb its way out of. Why the Wildcats can’t figure out a way to set the tone in overtime on their home court is more than a bother, it’s a severe problem. Let’s face it, the Wolverines set the tone for the entire second half, as well as the entire overtime period. Whereas the Wildcats, led by Curletti, attacked the hoop early on, and forced Michigan to go over the limit just 13 minutes into the game, the offense looked dead in the latter two periods, allowing Michigan to confine it to the perimeter. On one of those perimeter plays, Reggie Hearn actually stepped up and hit a three-pointer, from well beyond the arc. I thought that might be the difference, as that gave the Wildcats a late lead. But the offense could never manage anything more. The Wolverines’ defense won the game.

Whatever it is, the Northwestern offense, so frequently lauded for its creativity, frequently seems to drift away in the clutch.

One could wonder why it’s always the opponent’s defense winning the game and not Northwestern’s. We saw it happen in Bloomington, when the Hoosiers and Wildcats were neck and neck entering the final minutes, and Indiana’s defense simply refused to allow Northwestern to score. The Wildcats were unable to do the same. I think, part of it, is that when push comes to shove, Northwestern lacks people who can drive to the basket and create their own shots. Part of it is a lack of ability in the clutch. Whatever it is, the Northwestern offense, so frequently lauded for its creativity, frequently seems to drift away in the clutch. Meanwhile, the 1-3-1 defense is fairly simple to understand. The way Northwestern runs it, the Wildcats don’t just sit in the 1-3-1, they try to apply a flurry of pressure on the ball-handler. The goal is to create turnovers, and against the Golden Gophers, it worked. Minnesota turned it over 21 times, and Northwestern won the game. Even when it forces bad passes, that cause the men on the wings to fumble for the ball, it has done its job, since that gives enough time for the defenders to cut back and cut off the open three-pointer. But fluid ball movement can defeat the 1-3-1 defense each and every time, and on Tuesday, the Wolverines managed to push the ball around the arc, and find the open man on the wings, enough times to win the game. Particularly in overtime. The amount of space Timmy Hardaway Jr. had on some of his three-point attempts was ridiculous. The Michigan shooters had all the time in the world to set their feet, and they cashed in. Give Northwestern credit, its interior defense has gotten much better. The Wildcats are blocking more shots than ever and they didn’t allow the Wolverines to control the paint. But they did allow Michigan to hit three-pointers in overtime that changed the course of the game.

But all of this scheming and work on the chalkboard doesn’t change the fact that Northwestern blew a golden chance tonight. And quite frankly, the Wildcats are running out of chances. Fast.

So, what happens now? Well, Northwestern isn’t done, no matter what the press says. Too many times this season, we’ve heard games described as must-win games (remember those home games against Illinois and Purdue) only to see the Wildcats lose and their tournament hopes remain alive. If they take care of business against Iowa and Penn State, which is easier said than done, they will finish with an 8-10 record in Big Ten play. That gives them a chance. With an 8-10 record, I wouldn’t be surprised if one Big Ten Tournament win was enough to make the NCAA Tournament. But all of this scheming and work on the chalkboard doesn’t change the fact that Northwestern blew a golden chance tonight. And quite frankly, the Wildcats are running out of chances. Fast.

Please forgive me if I have been overly dramatic. Please forgive me if I’ve made any mistakes of memory. This entire post has come from my head. I don’t have any access to stat sheets, here in my darkened car, off of Central Street. It’s only my head and I tonight. And tear ducts that are dried after watching far too many Northwestern games. That’s what this post was for, a chance to rant, empathize and mourn. And now it’s time to move on. Start your engines, Wildcats. It’s time to get this car in motion.

One Magic Moment

Northwestern 83 – Iowa 64

At the conclusion of last night’s battle between the Wildcats and the Hawkeyes, I stood on the floor of Welsh-Ryan Arena, giving high-fives to all the Northwestern players as they walked off the court. And as each player walked by, I uttered one simple statement: Bring This to Mackey. The most important game of the Wildcats’ season awaits them, as they head to West Lafayette for a pivotal contest with the Boilermakers. With the excitement of March Madness already settling in, this game means everything to Northwestern. In past years, the Wildcats would lose this game. This year, they need to reverse the result and defeat a Boilermakers team that really isn’t all that good in my opinion. They lack stars, shooting touch and any significant strengths for that matter. The Wildcats should win, and if they bring to the Hoosier State the same type of effort that they brought against the Hawkeyes, they will win this one.

Quite frankly, I can’t recall a time when I was as proud of Northwestern as I was last night. The Wildcats were in rare form, dominant in a way that I’ve rarely seen them before. Taking on an underrated and relatively hot Hawkeyes team, they delivered an absolute pounding. Dave Sobolewski had the best performance of his young career, finishing with 23 points. But it wasn’t the quantity that impressed me, it was the quality. The freshman point guard wasn’t settling for outside shots, which is a good thing since he lacks the touch of an elite shooter. Instead, he was driving to the hoop relentlessly, time after time. He was pushing the ball up court without fail, sometimes finishing the play by himself with a bold drive and sometimes displaying that trademark vision on the run and finding an open shooter.

Northwestern, for that matter, was dishing the ball all around the court, which probably speaks as poorly of the Hawkeyes’ defense as it speaks well of the Wildcats’ attack. I mean, honestly, what kind of defense lets the ball get flung around the court like that? Northwestern was completing beautiful cross-court passes, utilizing the backdoor game to perfection, hitting threes — all the things they usually strive for — and in an unusual twist, the Wildcats were driving to the hoop with tenacity. Their ability to finish around the hoop was astounding. Thursday night featured an absolute bevy of ridiculous reverse layups, all sorts of close-range shots taken from extraordinary angles, and more often than not, they went in. Whether the Wildcats can make those types of tricky shots on a consistent basis remains to be seen, but it was refreshing to see them drive into the paint and rely on something other than the three.

Back to Sobolewski, it’s too early in his career to make any definitive statements about him and you certainly don’t want to call him a star after just one worthy performance, but this game did show a guy who can do more than just pass the rock. He can drive to the hoop, and push the ball up the court, and not only could he do it, he should do it in every single game. Sobolewski was a little Energizer Bunny out there on Thursday night. Literally from the opening tip to the final whistle, he was sprinting past Iowa’s defense and taking it to the hole. Not every defense will let him through like the Hawkeyes did, and trees like Cody Zeller and Meyers Leonard, I’m sure, are licking their lips at the chance to block Soboloewski one more time, but Sobolewski should continue driving because it keeps a defense honest, and because even if half of his shots get blocked and half go in, that’s still a good percentage. And thankfully for the Wildcats, they only take on the elite big men of the conference a couple of more times this season. Iowa and Penn State lack the type of big men that can swat shots away. Against Ralph Sampson III, Cody Zeller and Jared Sullinger, well let’s just say Sobolewski might want to be a little more careful.

Also, in an underrated point from Thursday’s game, Northwestern’s defense truly played a huge role in its win. When you play a 1-3-1 zone defense, you need to have active hands. That’s the entire point of the zone defense, each player has a sphere around him, about seven feet of wingspan that he takes up and uses to clog the court. The zone is all about intercepting passes, and cutting off areas of the court, but when your hands are down, you might as well be a stick. Thursday night, those Wildcats defenders had their hands out, and the result was a myriad of turnovers, particularly off of errant entry passes. Yes, a fair amount of Iowa’s 18 giveaways came off of passes that sailed into the fifth row of the stands, but even many of those were the result of pressure, and many other steals came in the paint. That’s no coincidence, ladies and gentlemen. It was also a big night for Reggie Hearn, who went a long way toward showing that Sunday afternoon was no fluke. He had another solid game against Iowa, continuing to show off his improved touch from behind the arc, continuing to drive to the hoop and continuing to fight for loose balls.

The statistic of the game though has to be the team assist-to-turnover ratios. Iowa had 14 assists and 18 giveaways; Northwestern had 22 assists and seven turnovers. That’s practically the margin of victory right there if you think about it, and as Bill Carmody astutely pointed out, that was the key to the game.

And now, as a result of their three straight wins, the Wildcats have a path to the NCAA Tournament so simple, even a caveman could do it. Sorry GEICO to steal from you there. Hopefully, the fact that I just mentioned your name makes up for stealing your slogan. Anyway, Northwestern currently stands at 5-6 in Big Ten play. The Wildcats could finish 8-10, win a game or two in the Big Ten Tournament and make it, but why go through all that fuss. It’s reasonable, at this point, to expect them to finish with a 9-9 record. In order to do that, they would have to go 4-3 over their final seven games, and in a perfect coincidence, they have four upcoming games with non-ranked, mediocre teams coming up, as well as three upcoming bouts with Top 25 teams. That should be four wins, three losses right there. But before you all get into a tizzy, note that I said simple, not easy. No Big Ten game is easy, and certainly Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Mackey Arena and the Bryce Jordan Center each present challenges of their own. But the formula is simple enough.

On February 12, 2011, WIN at Purdue. The Boilermakers are not that good a team, they can’t shoot, and neither Robbie Hummel nor Lewis Jackson are bonafide stars. If the Wildcats can overcome their occasional road heebie-jeebies, they should win this one.

On February 18, 2011, WIN versus Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are a gritty team, but they turn the ball over far too much and score far too little to defeat the Wildcats twice in one season. Northwestern needs to use this game as a chance at revenge, and insert pride into the equation. The Wildcats should also be grateful that the man who would have tormented their weak interior defense, Trevor Mbakwe, is out of the season.

On February 21, 2011, WIN versus Michigan. This a tough one, and not just because Michigan is ranked. The Wolverines rebound the ball far better than the Wildcats do, but Northwestern should thrive on its home court, after nearly defeating Michigan at the Crisler Center. It will be interesting to see which Tim Hardaway Jr. shows up at Welsh-Ryan Arena. As talented a player as any in the Big Ten, he has hit just 13 of his last 47 attempts from the field.

On February 25, 2011, WIN at Penn State. University Park has had a hex on Northwestern of late, but the Wildcats need to step up and win this one. The Nittany Lions have struggled this season and are far too one-dimensional to be a legitimate threat. Penn State has made just 38 percent of its shots this season, so this is another chance for Northwestern’s aggressive defense to wreak some havoc.

On March 3, 2011, WIN at Iowa. The Wildcats clearly have better scoring threats than the Hawkeyes do, and are significantly less sloppy. Iowa lacks the type of big man who usually gives Bill Carmody nightmares. Playing on the road will be a challenge but with their NCAA hopes likely on the line in the regular-season finale, the Wildcats needs to play with their hair on fire.

You may notice I’ve put five should-wins on the docket. That’s because, knowing the Wildcats, they will find a way to blow one of these games. But that’s OK. Just win four out of five, and you’ll head to Indianapolis with a NCAA Tournament to play for.

Northwestern vs. Iowa: The Need to Maintain Momentum

The thought heading into tonight’s game against the Iowa Hawkeyes is alright, an easy win for Northwestern. Well, as Lee Corso is quick to say, not so fast, my friend! This is an Iowa team that is 5-6 in Big Ten play, and was able to beat Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, all schools that Northwestern has been unable to beat thus far this season. This Hawkeyes team is rocky, falling to the Boilermakers and Cornhuskers after their big upset of the Wolverines, but they are threatening. And at a half-game in front of the Wildcats in the Big Ten standings, Iowa is a team that Northwestern must pass in order to make the NCAA Tournament. The two teams are on a six-lane highway right now, or however many conference teams will make the NCAA Tournament this season, and the Wildcats could pass the Hawkeyes tonight.

The good news for Northwestern, currently second-to-last in the Big Ten with its -4.8 rebounding margin, is that Iowa has struggled on the boards as well. And the Wildcats should be encouraged by their ability to out-rebound the Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall on Sunday. Shooting 60 percent definitely helped in that effort, and it’s unclear whether Northwestern will be able to pull that off against an Iowa team that has surrendered just 62.5 points per game in its last two appearances. Memories of that 103-point shellacking the Hawkeyes suffered in Bloomington are beginning to fade away, and while this is the Big Ten’s worst team in terms of scoring defense, it appears that Fran McCaffery’s unit is beginning to round into shape. Overall, I believe that statistics aside, Northwestern should be able to score, since Iowa’s last two opponents, Penn State and Nebraska, lack Northwestern’s attacking prowess, and John Shurna and Drew Crawford present a dynamic duo of the likes Iowa has rarely seen before. Iowa’s statistically strong three-point defense raises an interesting question, as to whether Northwestern will be forced to resort to its backdoor passes. But at this point, I’m probably delving too far into the statistics.

The Hawkeyes also have very few people who scare me. They have plenty of people whom I respect, like Matt Gatens, Bryce Cartwright and Aaron White, but none of these guys deserves to be considered among the Big Ten’s elite. Sure, Gatens is averaging 13.9 points per game and shooting 34 percent from behind the arc, but he tends to confine himself to the perimeter, and I don’t consider him an elite driver by any means. I like Cartwright. I think he’s an athletic kid that can clearly do a lot of things, but neither him nor Melsahn Basabe, whose physicality I admire, are the types of players that can take over a game. Also, Iowa is prone to turn the ball over quite a bit, so this is a chance for Northwestern to use its 1-3-1 to force mistakes. Iowa is among the league leaders in steals so there is the potential for both teams to collect plenty of turnovers, and run up and down the court. I think that type of tempo is to Northwestern’s advantage, so the Wildcats should embrace the speed of the game.

Now, it’s time to update the Wildcats’ postseason tournament hopes chart:

Current Record: 4-6

Necessary Record: 8-10

Need to Go (At Least): 4-4

* Below games are ordered by Northwestern’s chance of winning, ranked on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the most likely.

8 Northwestern vs. Iowa, February 9, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. – The Hawkeyes are not bad as evidenced by their comeback victory over the Golden Gophers, but the Wildcats have usually had success keeping Matt Gatens in check. Besides, I’ve never viewed Gatens as a legitimate star. He’s a good shooter, with some ability to drive to the hoop, but he doesn’t fit into the category of Big Ten elite. The Hawkeyes’ defense is too shaky to be trusted, and assuming the Wildcats don’t turn it over twice a minute like the Golden Gophers did, they should be fine in the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Opponent Profile: Hawkeyes (13-11, 5-6), tied for seventh in the Big Ten, four games back, two-game winning streak (Minnesota, PSU)

7 Northwestern at Penn State, February 25, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. — This is a mediocre Penn State squad, but that hasn’t stopped the Wildcats from falling to the Nittany Lions in the past. Guard Tim Frazier is an absolute beast, averaging 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game this season, and while Northwestern has actually kept him in check in the past, he still scares me. Plus, the Wildcats have never had much success in Unhappy Valley, losing every game they’ve played there since February 16, 2002. The Nittany Lions’ +4.1 rebounding margin also scares me, given the Wildcats’ difficulties controlling the boards in the past.

Opponent Profile: Nittany Lions (10-15, 2-10), last in the Big Ten, 7.5 games back, five-game losing streak, last two by 33 points combined

7 Northwestern at Iowa, March 3, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. — Short of Gatens, Melsahn Basabe is a top athlete, but he has yet to put up much production during Big Ten play. While the Hawkeyes have a bunch of talented athletes down low, overachievers in my opinion, none of them are awe-inspiring, and I expect the Wildcats to be able to have some success down low.

Opponent Profile: Hawkeyes (13-11, 5-6), tied for seventh in the Big Ten, four games back, two-game winning streak (Minnesota, PSU)

6 Northwestern at Purdue, February 12, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. — Not to sound like a sore loser, but I wasn’t impressed by the Boilermakers at all when they beat the Wildcats 58-56 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. This is a Purdue team that lacks an elite scorer, since I still refuse to recognize Robbie Hummel as a legitimate star within the Big Ten, and for that matter, this is a Boilermakers team that straight up cannot shoot the rock. They missed more open shots against Northwestern than I care to mention, and the funny thing is, despite how badly the Wildcats played all game, they still only lost by two. I expect Northwestern to come out and win at Purdue, even though Mackey Arena is an undeniably tough gym to play in.

Opponent Profile: Boilermakers (15-9, 5-6), tied for seventh in the Big Ten, four games back, two-game losing streak (Indiana, @OSU), gave the Buckeyes a surprisingly tough fight in Columbus

6 Northwestern vs. Michigan, February 21, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. — The Wolverines may be ranked, but the Wildcats gave them the fight of a lifetime in Ann Arbor not so long ago. In fact, Northwestern easily could have won that game, as Michigan attempted to hand that game over on a silver platter on numerous occasions. The Wildcats simply failed to take advantage, bungling buzzer-beating opportunities and missing critical free throws to spoil a fine shooting day from the field. Undoubtedly, Northwestern has a better offense than Michigan, which isn’t a claim you can make very often about the Wildcats these days, but the question is can they take care of business on the boards against an excellent rebounding team? The Wolverines fired an astounding 18 extra shots when these teams last played, and the Wildcats will have to work to make their shot counts far more even. If the shot counts are even, I’d put money on Northwestern draining more.

Opponent Profile: Wolverines (18-7, 8-4), No. 22 AP, third in the Big Ten, 1.5 games back, haven’t won consecutive games since January 11

6 Northwestern vs. Minnesota, February 18, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. — I cover Golden Gophers basketball for Big Ten or Bust, so I have plenty of experience watching them play, and all I can say is they are a tough, gritty team that can turn any game into a physical, low-scoring contest. Their defense is mean, which could present a challenge for a Wildcats’ attack that struggles against elite defenses, but at the same time, Minnesota doesn’t play all that well away from home and turns the ball over way too much. The Golden Gophers have no elite scorers of Drew Crawford or John Shurna’s caliber, although that being said, Rodney Williams presents numerous matchup problems as an athletic forward who can rebound, dunk and shoot the three. Ralph Sampson III also is flat-out better than Luka Mirkovic and Davide Curletti. He never really dominates a game, but if Minnesota wins, it will be on the legs of Williams, with consistent chip-ins from Sampson III.

Opponent Profile: Golden Gophers (17-7, 5-6), tied for seventh in the Big Ten, four games back, split last four games, won five of seven

3 Northwestern at Indiana, February 15, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. — Northwestern made history last year, breaking a losing streak at Assembly Hall so long that it made my dad’s bald spot look like a recent development. As impressive as that win was, I’m not sure I see it happening again. The Wildcats will have deep difficulties stopping Cody Zeller in the paint. Zeller is so much bigger, more creative and more agile than Northwestern’s interior players that he will cause serious matchup problems. And don’t forget that the Wildcats still aren’t a very good road team. Still, the one thing in their favor is that the Hoosiers rely heavily on the three, and when the outside shots aren’t falling, Indiana is prone to upsets.

Opponent Profile: Hoosiers (18-6, 6-6), fifth in Big Ten, 3.5 games back, lost five of last eight games, perfect non-conference record faded fast

2 Northwestern vs. Ohio State, February 29, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. — Northwestern actually played Ohio State tight on multiple occasions last season, but it’s hard to imagine the Wildcats handing the Buckeyes a stunning defeat in this episode of their new rivalry. Centers Davide Curletti and Luka Mirkovic have struggled all season against centers far lesser than Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger, so I expect Sullinger to absolutely dominate the paint against Northwestern. The Buckeyes also have an able crew of outside shooters, including stud William Buford (who is averaging 15 points per game) and floor general Aaron Kraft, who is a superior version of Dave Sobolewski. In addition to having the offensive weapons necessary to pummel the Wildcats, the Buckeyes also have a stalwart defense that has held opponents to 55 points or less in five of Ohio State’s last seven games. For an offense that has struggled against elite defenses this season, this could be deadly, and I fully expect the Buckeyes to keep the Wildcats in check in this one.

Opponent Profile: Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2), No. 3 AP, first in Big Ten, won six straight, Purdue and Wisconsin challenged them last time out

OSU, Indiana moving on up; NU women’s basketball, not so much

You take the good…

In other Big Ten basketball news, don’t look now but Ohio State is on the move once again. After a shocking loss to the Fighting Illini, the Buckeyes have bounced back with four straight wins and are now in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. Their wins have been nothing short of dominant, as they have triumphed by an average margin of 22.5 points during their win streak. While the majority of their recently defeated foes weren’t exactly among the cream of the crop, their 15-point win over Michigan should make waves. Meanwhile, Indiana rode a flurry of dunks and excellent ball movement to its first triple-digit performance in Big Ten play since 1995. Even though it was against Iowa, it’s still impressive to see. And Cody Zeller continued to impress, draining 11-of-12 shots to finish with a season-high 26 points. For a freshman, his immediate impact on the Indiana basketball program is astounding, and he has already become one of the best dunk artists in the conference. Also, it’s worth noting that Iowa really needs to learn how to box out. The number of second-chance dunks the Hawkeyes gave up was simply embarrassing. So, Iowa loses despite hitting 63 percent of its shots from the field. When was the last time you saw that happen? Also, Josh Oglesby was a sight to see even in Iowa’s losing effort. His ability to sink the corner eight ball, he finished with five made shots from behind the arc, was highly impressive.

You take the bad…

You’d think I would be happy with the 68-61 win the Northwestern women’s basketball team put up against Indiana this afternoon. But that’s hardly the case. Let’s face it, let’s call a spade a spade, and admit that the Wildcats were barely able to beat a Hoosiers team that is still winless in Big Ten play. Northwestern hit 34 percent of its shots from the field, turned the ball over 18 times and surrendered 18 offensive rebounds. If the Wildcats play like this, their new win streak will not last long, and their run of consecutive WNIT appearances will come to an end this season. Credit post player Dannielle Diamant with a fine performance, as she posted 11 rebounds, hit 9-of-11 from the charity stripe and led the team with 22 points. Forward Kendall Hackney was also brilliant, recording 11 rebounds of her own, an impressive number for a non-center like Hackney. It’s safe to say she has stepped up her game this season, in Amy Jaeschke’s absence. One player who has struggled to live up to the hype is Morgan Jones, who has hit just 33 percent of her shots from the field this season. She has scored plenty, but that’s hardly surprising when you’ve taken as many shots as the freshman guard has. She was better than usual on Sunday, hitting 6-of-15, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc, but she hit just 3-of-16 against Purdue and 4-of-17 against Wisconsin. Her ability to drive to the hoop is tremendous, her tenacity and toughness on the court are unquestionable but her shot selection has got to improve. I tried looking back at the statistics and I can’t find the last time Morgan Jones made more shots than she missed. That’s not a good sign for Northwestern. The talent is there, but she could stand to develop. And I want to see her drive to the hoop more, those misses I don’t mind, but the shots from three feet behind the arc have got to stop. That’s for damn sure. Certainly, the Wildcats will have to amp up their play, with games upcoming against a Michigan team (16-5, 5-3 Big Ten) that they lost to by 10 at Welsh-Ryan Arena earlier this season, followed by a contest at the Breslin Center against Michigan State (13-9, 5-4). The Spartans’ record might not be all that impressive this season, but let’s not forget how they throttled the Wildcats last season, by a score of 56-25, to end Northwestern’s Big Ten Tournament hopes. It doesn’t get any easier from there as the Wildcats take on the Nittany Lions (16-5, 6-3) at home, before traveling to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers (18-3, 7-2). The way things have been going this season, I think a women’s basketball upset of Nebraska might be even more improbable than the football team’s upset was earlier this season. Safe to say, Northwestern will need to step up its play.