A Big Chip on Northwestern’s Shoulder

Northwestern got jipped. Let there be no doubt about it, the Wildcats were robbed. No, I’m not one of those crazies who still thinks that they should have made the NCAA Tournament. Admittedly, they were handed millions of chances to make it to March Madness and dropped the ball each and every time. Their inability to win a single, close game all year was laughable at best, and no, wins over Penn State and Iowa don’t count, considering the way Northwestern essentially did all it could to give both games away in the final minutes. Yes, I still think the fact that South Florida made it over Northwestern is an embarrassment, considering the Bulls’ inexplicable number of awful losses, including Auburn, Old Dominion and Penn State, but overall, I’m content to admit that we did not deserve a bid into March Madness.

But a No. 4 seed in the NIT? You have to be kidding me. You’re telling me that Northwestern is on a similar level as its first-round opponent, No. 5 seed Akron? You’re telling me that Stanford, with its 10-8 record in the susceptible Pac-12, is better than Northwestern? This is a team that notched its best wins against Oregon and California teams that barely eked their way into the tournament. This No. 4 seed is a joke, a clear indication that the NIT selection committee doesn’t respect the Big Ten, arguably the top conference in college basketball. It’s a clear indication that the committee didn’t watch close losses to Ohio State or Michigan, or better yet, didn’t care. How is it that a Northwestern team that was considered one of the first several teams out of the NCAA Tournament, that was still picked by Jerry Palm as making it to March Madness, that was long considered a No. 1 seed in the NIT somehow fell to a No. 4 seed in the NIT? You’re telling me that a loss to an inspired Minnesota team that was clearly playing its best basketball of the season and nearly downed Michigan in overtime a day later despite its exhaustion, dropped the Wildcats this far. That’s ridiculous. Northwestern should have had multiple home games in store. Now, they face the frightening prospect of traveling to Washington for a second-round match, and having a second straight season end in the Evergreen State. Let it be known that I called bullshit before the NIT even began.

In hockey, overtime losses are rewarded by a single point. Clearly, close losses are not rewarded by the NCAA Tournament and NIT selection committees. While they might have been the least clutch team in the United States of America, the Wildcats showed that they could compete with nearly every single team in the country. They held Ohio State, Michigan and Indiana close, gave Creighton a scare on the road and famously downed Michigan State at home. Few were the times in which Northwestern looked completely outmatched. This is a Wildcats team that could clearly light up your television set every night, if not the victory column. Yet, clearly a cynical committee decided that their 8-10 record in the best basketball conference in the country was not all that impressive. When you think about it, Northwestern beat very few good teams, mainly downing the chaff of the Big Ten, while falling to the wheat. But you would think the Wildcats would get more credit for the way they played in their non-conference schedule, the way they downed Louisiana State and Seton Hall in the Charleston Classic, the ease with which they defeated Nebraska, their road win over a talented Illinois team and their win over Michigan State.

Akron at Northwestern, NIT First Round, 8:00 p.m. ESPN2

But here we are, with an opening contest against Akron at Welsh-Ryan Arena. If Northwestern loses, it will have the interesting and unusual distinction of having both its soccer and basketball seasons end at the hands (and feet) of the Zips. But hopefully, Northwestern asserts itself as playing on a different level, a few stories up on the old glass elevator, than Akron. This is an Akron team that lost five of its first eight, while Northwestern was playing well against a high level of competition in its non-conference schedule. This is a Zips team that lost by 24 to Middle Tennessee State and by five to Duquesne. Their biggest win likely came against Detroit. Give them credit, they did well in conference play, gave several good teams a fight and came back well from an awful start to the season, but I want Northwestern to win this game very, very badly. The Wildcats ought to play this game with a chip on their shoulder.

The main obstacle standing in their way, of course, will be seven-foot center Zeke Marshall, who is Akron’s leading scorer with 10.2 points per game. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per game and 2.8 blocks per game. This is obviously the last thing Northwestern needed, a tall guy that can expose the Wildcats’ weakness down low, literally stepping on their Achilles heel for 40 minutes of action at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and completely disproving all that I said about Northwestern playing at a higher level. This is an Akron team that also plays good defense, although they’ve likely seen few attacks like that which Northwestern boasts. They’ve likely seen few players of John Shurna and Drew Crawford’s ilk as well. But the Zips are solid, boast a couple of guys who hit 44 percent or more of their shots from three-point land, burying into another Northwestern weakness, and tend to hold their own on the boards. They are certainly capable of the upset, but for once, I hope that the Wildcats do what they’ve done all season. No, i don’t mean collapse in the clutch. I mean easily dispatch of an inferior team, and show that we belonged on a higher plane. There’s a big chip on my shoulder. I hope I can say the same of my team.

NOTES

Knowing how much help the Buffalo Bills need, I would say stay away from trying to lure targets like Peyton Manning, and focus on upgrading the wide receiving corps (Pierre Garcon is just 25 years old) since Stevie Johnson is a shaky No. 1 wide receiver. Also, an upgrade in the secondary (tough-minded Cortland Finnegan would add personality to the defense, and help with the run game as well as the Bills’ pass defense) would be nice … Meanwhile, heading back to Evanston for a moment, let’s play a fun game over the next couple of days and try to rank and compare the Northwestern basketball teams from the past four years. Since the Wildcats have made the NIT in four consecutive seasons, let’s figure out which NIT teams were the best, and which were the worst. Did you prefer Jeremy Nash as the defensive, athletic component of the Wildcats’ roster or Jershon Cobb? Would you rather have Michael “Juice” Thompson running the show or Dave Sobolewski? Did you like John Shurna as Kevin Coble’s sniper sidekick or did you like Shurna better as the team’s No. 1 option? I’ll start examining these questions later in the week, but feel free to start commenting now.

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.

Living On A Prayer

Northwestern 67 – Penn State 66

First of all, my apologies for not posting more of late. I’ve been really occupied this week with my work for Pro Football Weekly. We’ve been at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis all week, and between the 9-7 days at Lucas Oil Stadium and the long nights of writing at the Comfort Suites across the street, there hasn’t been much time to think about anything other than the NFL. But I figure as long as I’m on the blog tonight, speaking about Northwestern’s win over Penn State, I might as well make a few remarks about the Combine. I’ll try to say something more poetic later, but I should say that I was struck by the similarities between the young kids I was interviewing and myself. At this point, you might be rolling your eyes and smacking your forehead, but I’m serious. Sure, my 40 time would probably be greater than five seconds and my height and weight is more fitting for a career on the links, but beyond the obvious gap in athleticism, there are some serious similarities. Most of us are college seniors. We are all surrounded by the most elite members of our profession and we are all hoping to make a winning impression. In my case, I’m surrounded by some of the most talented sports journalists in the country, big shots like Chris Mortensen and Rachel Nichols, as well as lesser known print journalists, and I’m simply trying to prove I belong. And like the athletes, I’m simply honored to be at the Combine, as hard as I might have to work there, as stressful as it might be. Wisconsin punter Bradley Nortman probably said it best when he told a couple of us:

It’s a thrill, it really is, it’s once in a lifetime. So few get to be part of something this special, something this busy, something that has this much impact on their life, and you know everything about it, I’m just excited to be a part of and to be given an opportunity like this, I’m very blessed.

Back to the important things in life like Northwestern basketball, let me just start by saying that Bon Jovi’s timeless mantra has never seemed more fitting than tonight. Except instead of living on a prayer, it’s living on a call, as a whistle in the final seconds sent John Shurna to the free-throw line with a chance to tie or win the game. He drained both shots, providing the decisive margin in Northwestern’s 67-66 victory over Penn State.

First of all, no matter what Penn State coach Patrick Chambers might think, I believe that the referees absolutely made the right call. There’s little doubt in my mind that Shurna was fouled after he hoisted up his prayer of a jump shot, if not earlier when he received the entry pass. Replays showed fairly conclusively in my opinion that one of the two defenders hit Shurna on the arm. Right call or not, Chambers certainly embarrassed himself when he tried to chase the referees off the court. Thank God his assistant got in his way and held him back, because it seemed to me like he was about to do something that would bring great shame on Penn State. He had nothing to be so angry about. It was certainly a close call, and by no means, a blown call. If he was angry at anybody, his rage should have been directed toward his defender, who made the mistake of fouling Shurna on a very difficult jump shot attempt. As for Shurna, give him credit, not only for draining the free throws but for drawing the foul. Just snatching that entry pass away from the double-team was impressive, and then he had the presence of mind to realize that with the way the defenders were hounding him, a shot would likely result in a foul. I can’t say, of course, whether or not he was thinking that, but it certainly seemed like a smart play from my vantage point, and a brilliant way of working his way to the free-throw line. And then for a guy who has struggled on his free throws at times this season to swish the two biggest free throws of his life, well, it was impressive. Northwestern obviously needed this win, and now at 7-9, the Wildcats remain alive in the hunt for March Madness. My recipe remains clear. One win against Iowa or Ohio State and one win in the Big Ten Tournament should do it. Two regular-season wins or postseason wins would clinch it. And let’s face it, Northwestern fans are just grateful to be able to talk tournament hopes seriously after that scare in Happy Valley. We’re also happy to win at the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time in a very long time. Two wins over the Nittany Lions this season should put an end to the hex that Penn State has had over us in recent years.

The end of the Northwestern-Penn State game was hardly pretty, but it wasn’t the ugliest ending of the day. I would have to give that award to North Carolina and Virginia. An excellent game turned pretty ugly in the second half with a myriad of missed shots, including two missed threes by the Cavaliers in the final minute. Virginia had multiple open chances from behind the arc, and was absolutely unable to hit the big shot. I’ll give credit to Tyler Zeller for his thunderous dunk in the last minute, but at the same time, let’s face it, a fairly mediocre shot fake somehow sent the defense stumbling. It was as much bad defense from the Cavaliers as good offense from the Tar Heels. North Carolina continues to look like something far less than a Dream Team at this point in the season.

Also, my question of the day, does St. John’s have a chance at the NCAA Tournament after defeating a ranked Notre Dame team at home? It doesn’t look like it right now, as the Red Storm are just 13-16 on the season and 6-10 in the Big East. But wait, there’s more. Their final two games are on the road, against Pittsburgh and Rutgers, and if they are able to defeat two of the conference’s cellar-dwellers, they will enter the Big East Tournament on a five-game winning streak. Go on a bit of a run in the tournament, which of course ends on St. John’s home court at Madison Square Garden, and the Red Storm could have a chance. Yes, it’s a remote chance, but it’s not entirely outside of the realm of possibility.

And speaking of tournament talk, how about the Purdue Boilermakers, one of the hottest teams in the country, after a decisive win at No. 13 Michigan. At 9-7 in the Big Ten, and just one bad loss on the season (a 20-point defeat at the hands of Penn State), the Boilermakers should be set for March Madness. Assuming a win over Penn State and a loss to Indiana, which seems logical, they would have a 10-8 record in Big Ten play, and would certainly have the edge over a team like Northwestern, with their two wins over the Wildcats. Those games suddenly look increasingly crucial. If the Wildcats are able to snag either of those two games, then they might get a bid over the Boilermakers.

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.

Shurna At His Best

John Shurna has hit plenty of threes before. And his 249th three-pointer wasn’t all that different from any of his other shots. He spotted up from a few feet behind the arc, noticed a gap between him and the defender and quickly released a shot. When that shot went in the hoop, it wasn’t surprising for the result, only stunning in its effect. With that simple shot, John Shurna broke Billy McKinney’s mark and established his own place in the record books as Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer.

And after Shurna broke the record, a frenetic crowd at Welsh-Ryan Arena broke into alternating chants of “Shurna,” “Johnny Shurna” and “MVP.” It was fitting that just days after the Big Ten Network commentators blasted Shurna for appearing tired toward the end of Northwestern’s loss to Indiana, a home crowd, a crowd that has watched him grow for four years, delivered the final verdict: MVP. There are few players that do more for their team than Johnny Shurna does. He is the Wildcats’ leading scorer, creating his own shots, when the rest of the team is unable to manufacture any. He is the team’s most consistent driver, its best shooter and probably its best defender as well. He is Northwestern’s top shot blocker and its top threat on the glass, and now the do-it-all forward is right where he belongs, in the record books as the leading scorer in program history.

It was fitting the way in which Shurna broke the record, with a total focus on team, and seemingly little focus on breaking the record. He barely touched the ball for the first ten minutes of the game, electing instead to watch Drew Crawford and David Sobolewski toss up three-pointer after three-pointer. Then, when the offense lagged, when the early lead had slipped away and his team needed him the most, Shurna did what he does best: He took over the game. Basketball is a sport in which players generally take turns occupying the spotlight. First, one guy dunks it. Then, another guy hits a three. Then, someone else drives in for a layup. For three minutes on Saturday, the game belonged to John Shurna. With Minnesota down 24-21, and driving with a chance to tie the game, John Shurna anticipated a cross-court pass, made a bold stab for the ball, gracefully intercepted the ball with his long arms and then sprinted down court for a jackhammer dunk. With the crowd already electrified, Shurna followed with a three-pointer from the top of the arc. That was followed by an impressive drive, where Shurna saw a little room to the right of his defender, drove toward the baseline, and finished with a powerful swoop to the hoop, capped off by a layup. That was followed by a three-pointer, taken from well behind the three-point line. When all was said and done, and Shurna’s personal barrage was over, the Wildcats held onto a comfortable nine-point lead.

Shurna was the game-changer and the most valuable player for Northwestern once again. As good as Crawford has been at times this season, there is no doubt who the Wildcats’ best and most important player is at this point. This past week, including games against Purdue, Indiana and Minnesota, has shown that when the Wildcats need a basket, Shurna is their man. His 59 combined points against Purdue and Indiana were impressive, but on Saturday, Shurna was back in his element, dishing the ball around and passing up shots. He is truly one of the most unselfish players I have ever had the joy of witnessing, and it didn’t surprise me, when with the record just a basket or two away, Shurna refused to force shots, instead opting to pass it to open teammates, like Alex Marcotullio, who couldn’t buy an open three. After the game, watching Shurna sign countless autographs for fans simply cemented my positive feelings, perhaps adoration, for one of the greatest players the purple and white has ever known.

Another positive from Saturday’s game was JerShon Cobb’s presence in the starting lineup. Although he was essentially invisible when it came to the stats sheet, scoring only on a pair of free throws, his contributions on the defensive end were invaluable. He finished with four rebounds and four steals, and most important, provided the Wildcats with some sorely needed depth. Next year, Northwestern will need Cobb to emerge as the scorer we all know he is capable of becoming, but for now, if Cobb can simply step up as a consistent role player, that will be more than enough. His 24 minutes meant that Shurna went down from 40 minutes to 37 minutes and no other Wildcats player saw more than 35 minutes of action. Still too much, but an improvement to be sure.

On this most positive of days at Welsh-Ryan Arena, there are certainly negatives that must be corrected before Michigan comes to town. For one, a program that is historically bad on the glass reached a new low, as Northwestern grabbed just 20 rebounds to Minnesota’s 41. The Golden Gophers also snagged 17 offensive rebounds, and while the effort was there for the Wildcats, the execution was not, including several deeply frustrating sets, in which the ball got tipped in the air over and over again, with no Northwestern player able to get the ball securely in his grasp. When Davide Curletti finally won one of these tip wars, and firmly held onto the ball, it might have been the finest moment of the night. At -6.6, Northwestern, by now, is far and away, the worst rebounding school in the Big Ten, which could prove problematic, even against a fellow cellar-dweller like Michigan, which is still far better at -4.0 in conference play. Last time these two teams played, the Wolverines snared 14 offensive rebounds, compared to just three for the Wildcats. The other issue is, lo and behold, Northwestern’s three-point defense. Time after time, Saturday night, Julian Welch was left wide open behind the three-point line. Why Minnesota’s best three-point shooter was repeatedly left open will always remain a mystery to me? Between all of Robbie Hummel’s open threes and Julian Welch’s open threes, the Wildcats could use some work before facing a Wolverines team that is second in the conference in made three-pointers.