Men’s Hoops: NU grows up to outmuscle Florida State
By Adam Fusfeld
The players were fired up, showing emotion at each stoppage and throwing themselves at each loose ball igniting the crowd.
Northwestern (5-1) played energetic and inspired ball to the tune of a 73-59 victory over Florida State on Wednesday. Still, it was the team’s commitment to defense and rebounding behind all the emotion that led them to win.
The Wildcats forced 22 turnovers, and held the Seminoles to just 7 of 26 shooting in the second half, to come back from a five-point halftime deficit.
“We got much tougher in the second half,” sophomore forward Ivan Peljusic said. “In the first half we were kind of letting them push us around. They were like grown men, and we were like kids.”
Peljusic was an instrumental element to NU’s second half surge. He scored eight straight points, including a fast-break slam, to open up a five-point Cats lead.
But coach Bill Carmody said he substituted Peljusic into the game not for his offense, but for his defensive help, especially in the paint.
Just as the young Florida State squad would get accustomed to the NU defensive scheme, Carmody would change it up. He alternated between a 2-3 matchup zone and his patented 1-3-1 defense to disrupt the offense. Carmody also interchanged a full court press to pester the Seminoles.
“The 1-3-1 initially did cause a number of turnovers,” he said. “I also think that the little annoying press with Craig (Moore0 up there and Mike (Thompson) up there helped. Even if you don’t get a turnover it starts their offense further out a little bit, and so they’re not really in sync and I thought that helped us.”
Turnovers were a huge factor in the Cats nationally-televised victory. Toney Douglas, Florida State’s senior guard and leading scorer, turned the ball over seven times.
Still, Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton felt that the turnovers were not a result of NU pressure, but rather a consistent defensive mindset. He said many of his teams turnovers were unforced, the sign of a young team.
“They went through our hands, through our legs. We walked without any pressure. We invented ways to turn the ball over,” Hamilton said. “We did not take care of the ball even though I thought that their 2-2-1 was more of a contained zone not a pressure zone that forced the turnovers. It just slows you up, and instead of slowing us up it forced us into indecision.”
The NU defense did more than just force turnovers. Aside from holding Florida State to low shooting percentages, the Cats also outrebounded their opponent 41-33. The Cats grabbed 18 offensive rebounds including four by freshman forward John Shurna. And Junior forwards Kevin Coble and Jeff Ryan each pulled down eight boards of their own.
“We didn’t think they could shoot that well,” senior guard Craig Moore said. “But we knew once they missed it they got the rebound and put it back in. So we had to (hold them to) one-shot and out. And I think we did that pretty well tonight.”
Certainly the energy and hustle that the Cats displayed were a crucial aspect to the victory. But by combining their methodical offense, with defensive intensity and a good showing on the glass, the squad was able to stifle the Seminoles and ensure a win.
“We won this game with our defense,” Peljusic said. They shot like 25 percent [6-of-23] from the 3-point line, and we outrebounded them too. So, I think defense was a major part of this win for us.”
adamfusfeld2007@u.northwestern.edu
