In an earlier Post, I warned that Northwestern could be a dangerous game for the Spartans…and not only did the Cats prove to be dangerous but they exceeded expectations!
Northwestern was seemingly on a mission and soundly beat the Spartans 81-74. In spite of their shortcomings, starting with Northwestern’s short bench…obstacles are no problem when you’re on fire. 5 Northwestern players exceeded their season point averages: Crawford + 3; Shurna + 3; Hearn + 4; Marcotuillo + 2 and Curletti was an eye popping +12.
In summary, Northwestern shot 50% from the field, 47% beyond the arc and 72% from the stripe defying the Spartan Defense that previously held opponents to a meager 37% from the field.
To overcome their shortcomings, Northwestern implements the Princeton ‘motion’ Offense and it was running smoothly yesterday as they beat the Spartans ‘time and again’ on ‘back door’ breaks. For the most part, the Spartans played well, certainly not poorly…but Northwestern was not going to be denied on this winter afternoon in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The Spartans lead 12-6 at the 15 min mark and they lead by 25-16 at the 9 min mark but the Cats slowly whittled away at the lead and only trailed 31-27 at the 2 minute mark…but as they whittled away the lead, it was obvious that their confidence was growing. With 1:09 remaining, the Cats took the lead for the first time and then the lead exchanged hands but with time expiring in the first half…Shurna buried a three point shot from arguably 6 feet beyond the arc to take the lead 39-37 going into the half.
Shurna’s shot was a metaphor for the game. His shot was unorthodox, it was a line drive with no arc, almost impossible to make and yet it flew thru the net like a heat seeking missile. The officials could have stopped the game at that point and awarded the win to Northwestern because the script was written.
If there was any question the Spartans would come back to dominate the second half, that question was answered on the opening play of the second half. The Cats took the ball and ran the basic Princeton ‘back door’ cut…beat the Spartans and scored on a goal tend and the script was written in stone.
Thereafter, the Cats never relinquished the lead. They lead 51-45 at the 15 minute mark and 62-52 at the 10 minute mark and the Spartans couldn’t mount a meaningful run. The game ended with the Spartans allowing 81 points for only the second time this season and the only other time they relinquished 81 points was a 90-81 win over Lehigh.
Northwestern is always dangerous and I knew they would present a unique set of matchup problems…personnel…systems and so on but, in the end, the Spartans had the talent to win but on certain days…talent isn’t enough, and on this day Northwestern would not be denied.
Overall, it was a bad day at the office. Nothing went right. The Spartans didn’t play poorly. They shot well (46% FG & 50% 3P). They Rebounded well (37). They got a fair number of steals (6) and blocks (4) but they couldn’t break Northwestern code and this game will be best be forgotten quickly because the Spartans go on the road to play Michigan on Tuesday…and the Wolverines will not be happy given the fact they got soundly beaten in Iowa City 75-69.
Such is the ‘street fight’ that takes place each week in the Big Ten!
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