Cats’ Corner: Your source for NU basketball

This game mattered. Don’t let the calendar, or the circumstances or the players tell you differently.

Northwestern’s 73-59 win over Florida State was a statement. It was a call out to the rest of the Big Ten: Throw your best at us, the Wildcats will not roll over.

Forget last year’s disappointing 8-22 effort. That was erased like the four-point margin the Seminoles held early in the second quarter when Craig Moore unleashed his fury and energy on the Welsh-Ryan Arena floor.

It was Moore who took a charge, hit a three and then drew another offensive foul on consecutive possessions with 16:33 left that sparked a 20-2 run that gave the Cats a 56-44 lead with 11:16 left. His primal scream echoed through the rafters of the arena as the crowd grew louder, heightening the excitement and intensity of the nationally televised game.

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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.”
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By Matt Forman

After Northwestern’s 16-point victory over UC Riverside on Monday, coach Bill Carmody wished for his team to be tied or trailing at halftime in a game to see how it responded.

On Wednesday, Carmody got exactly what he was hoping for. NU went into halftime down three points to an undefeated Florida State.

“I was pretty disappointed heading into halftime,” Carmody said. “I was not pleased at all.”

In the second half, Carmody got more than he ever could have hoped for.

The Wildcats (5-1) responded with arguably the best 20 minutes of basketball during Carmody’s eight seasons in Evanston and topped the Seminoles 73-59.

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Northwestern used an outpouring of emotion in the middle of the second half to spark a 20-2 run to transform a 42-36 deficit into a 53-44 lead. Florida State could not handle the pressure applied by the team’s defense as the Wildcats earned the victory 73-59 Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Senior guard Craig Moore sparked the run with a series of three hustle plays. He first drew an offensive foul on defense. Then he hit a 3-pointer to pull NU (5-2) (5-1) within one. As Florida State attempted to bring the ball up the court, Moore drew a second charge, pounding his chest and issuing a scream to punctuate the series.

The energy was infectious. As junior forward Kevin Coble would block a shot and find sophomore forward Ivan Peljusic for a dunk a minute later. Peljusic gave the Cats a four point lead when he drew a foul on a two-handed lay up. He made the free throw to further extend the lead.

The Seminoles (7-1) could not recover as they committed more than 10 turnovers in the second half and could not match their 56 percent shooting performance from the first half.

The Cats found their shooting tough after struggling in the first half both from the field and the line and easily put the game away.

Moore scored 20 points and Coble added 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the win.

Keep it here for a more complete wrap-up.

The energy that propelled the Wildcats to a double-digit lead has dissipated but unlike in previous games, they have been able to hold onto their second half lead without giving too much. They lead the Seminoles 63-53 with 3:03 left.

It helps that Florida State has shot themselves in the foot several times with unforced turnovers. Northwestern has put the defensive pressure on all game and has made Florida State look lost offensively. The Seminoles seem overwhelmed.

That does not mean Florida State cannot come back and make this a game late. Toney Douglas has 16 points and is carrying the offense right now. He has not been committing a lot of turnovers and the ball is going to be in his hands exclusively down the stretch.

No one else on Florida State has been able to do much else. All the shots the Seminoles were making in the first half have gone.

With the game slowing to a crawl, it definitely favors the more measured NU team. The Cats have executed their offense solidly all game and are doing it more so, working the shot clock low now that they have a solid lead.

They will need to make some more shots to ice this game and it might have to come from someone besides Craig Moore, who now has All-ACC Defensive Team member Douglas on him. It looks like NU is willing to answer the call and take this game.

Whatever coach Bill Carmody said at halftime really worked wonders on this team.

Northwestern has come out with a defensive and offensive fire and are playing this game as if it were a must-win, erasing the halftime deficit and taking as large as a nine-point lead. They have a 53-44 lead with 11:51 left.

Want proof of this newfound energy and fire?

Down by four, senior guard Craig Moore drew a charge, nailed a 3-pointer and drew a push-off offensive foul on consecutive possessions. After he drew the second charge, he let out a primal scream and pounded his chest.

Want more proof?

Try sophomore Ivan Peljusic throwing down a two-handed jam and then getting the ball again on the baseline and going up for another dunk, but hitting the basket and earning the foul to give the Cats the lead.

NU is on a 17-2 run and Florida State seems lost. the Seminoles continue to turn the ball over. They have at least five midway through the second half. One of them being a shot clock violation that came after a timeout.

The Cats have the Seminoles on the ropes right now. They will have to keep up their hot shooting — off of an efficient offense — and pressure defense to keep the lead.

Florida State has pushed the pace of the game and has caused a little bit of a sloppy start to this one. The ball has bounced around a few times beneath the basket, but it has mostly been Florida State coming out on top. The Seminoles hold a 15-11 lead with 11:46 left in the half.

A big key the Seminoles’ lead has been the speed of the game. Both teams are running up and down the court and Florida State is looking to break off every missed shot. The team has had some opportunities as Toney Douglas completed a layup and foul shot to give the Seminoles the lead.

NU offensively has been able to respond by attacking the basket and getting to the foul line. But both of those have gotten the Wildcats into some trouble.

They are shooting a paltry three of eight from the foul line. That difference is the deficit in the game.

When the Cats are not getting hacked when they get to the rim they are finding the ball bouncing back toward them. Florida State averages nearly six blocks per game. The team has four already — including back-to-back blocks of Luka Mirkovic and John Shurna right at the rim by Solomon Alabi.

A lot is made about NU’s lack of dunks in recent years. But there is something to be said about dunking. The way the Cats are attacking the basket is leaving them open to challenges and blocks by the Florida State defense, which has been quick to recover off of ball reversals and screens.

If NU players will gather themselves more and go up strong with the ball at the rim — with two hands — they will not only get the foul but likely the bucket too. It is not a dunking thing. It is a strenght thing NU needs to overcome.

At least the Cats’ defense has been effective. Florida State has not been able to extend the lead and has committed numerous turnovers.

Northwestern is off to its best start since 2001 witha 4-1 start. But the Wildcats will be playing for more than a 5-1 start tonight as they battle the Seminoles. NU’s game against Florida State may very well determine who wins the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, a competition the Big Ten has never won.

Obviously, that is the last thing on the Cats’ mind as they hope to continue their fast start. The 2001-02 season, interestingly enough, is the only season NU has finished with an overall record above .500 under coach Bill Carmody. More interestingly, that team defeated Florida State 57-50 at home in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

NU easily defeated UC Riverside 59-43 Monday night. The Cats have been able to race out to early leads and, except for the loss to Butler, have held on to the lead. The Bulldogs have been the toughest team NU has seen this season and the Seminoles should offer a stiffer challenge.

Florida State has gotten off to a 7-0 start, the team’s best in five season, and went to the NIT last season. The Seminoles lost some players from that squad, but they have gotten off to a quick start by winning some tight games. Florida State has won four games by four points or less.

Senior guard Toney Douglas is the team’s best player. He is averaging 19.0 points per game after being All-ACC Defensive Team selection and earning a spot on the All-ACC third team. He has gotten some help from freshman Chris Singleton down low. Singleton has added 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Keys to the Game

1. Keep the Seminoles in front on the perimeter- coach Bill Carmody said it simply after NU’s 81-39 opening game win over Central Arkansas: the difference between this year and last is the team’s ability to keep opponents in front of them on the perimeter. Stopping dribble penetration is a key for any team’s victory, but it was something the Cats struggled with especially last season.

Florida State is the most athletic team NU has faced so far this season and it will be a test for the team’s perimeter defense. Keeping players like Douglas from driving into the lane, will be important to maintaining the pressure the Cats want on defense.

2. Trust the system – it sounds real hoeky and a lot of people may not like it. But in the past, NU has closed the gap with strong teams by using its time-consuming Princeton offense and its pressure 1-3-1 zone. The 1-3-1 zone might not be used as much (although expect some of it tonight), but the pressure on defense and the methodical workings of the Prineceton will still be there.

It has been successful in the past and Florida State has not seen an offense like the Prinecton. Points are there to be had, but the Cats have to remain patient within their system and look for opportunities to attack. They have work within the system to find offense and they cannot get discouraged or rush when things go poorly if they want to win.

3. Rebounding – NU has already faced a solid rebounder, but probably none like Florida State can offer. Singleton has eight rebounds per game. While the Cats have done a good job rebounding, behind junior forward Kevin Coble’s 5.4 per game.

The big men have alleviated some pressure on the boards, but they will need to be on their game tonight crashing the glass. Florida State has given up more than 10 offensive rebounds per game (89 in seven games), so chances on the glass will be there.

Whoever wins the battle on the boards is most likely to win this game.