Inside NU: All Posts by David GoldRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2024-03-24T21:06:35-05:00https://www.insidenu.com/authors/david-gold/rss2024-03-24T21:06:35-05:002024-03-24T21:06:35-05:00Three takeaways from Northwestern’s 75-58 Round of 32 loss to Connecticut
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<figcaption>Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Our main takeaway: UConn is a darn good basketball team.</p> <p id="jWjlvO">NEW YORK — All good things must come to an end.</p>
<p id="vGtE8v">Northwestern’s 2023-24 season wrapped up on Sunday night with a 75-58 loss to Connecticut in the Round of 32. It was all Huskies from start to finish, but the Wildcats showed fight until the final whistle. Here are three prominent takeaways from the affair in Brooklyn on Sunday night.</p>
<h2 id="tXastg"><strong>UConn’s defense smothered Northwestern, and the Wildcats couldn’t make contested shots</strong></h2>
<p id="DpLE7X">This game was over before it even got started because Northwestern could not throw the ball in the ocean. The Wildcats started the game 2-of-12 from the field, handing UConn an 18-4 lead eight minutes into the game. To make matters worse, the ‘Cats were 1-of-6 in the paint to start the game. Northwestern was no match for Donovan Clingan, who had five blocks in the first half alone. After 20 minutes, Boo Buie, Brooks Barnhizer and Ryan Langborg were a combined 1-of-15 from the field, with Buie and Barnhizer not making a single shot. The only thing working for the ‘Cats was Nick Martinelli’s signature lefty floater. </p>
<p id="FSq10H">By the time the ‘Cats found any rhythm offensively, it was too late. Northwestern shot 50% from the field in the second half, but the Huskies were already well ahead when NU started to find a rhythm. Buie had open looks throughout the game, both inside and out, but just couldn’t get a friendly roll in his final career game.</p>
<h2 id="2SSxSR"><strong>Donovan Clingan is an NBA lottery pick</strong></h2>
<p id="WGSvCv">There are not enough words to describe just how dominant the Huskies center was on Sunday night. The sophomore completely wrecked any game plan that Chris Collins and Co. made. Clingan singlehandedly shut down the paint, denying the Wildcats eight times. On the offensive side, none of Luke Hunger, Blake Preston or Nick Martinelli had any answer for Clingan, as he rolled to the rim and flushed the ball home with ease. He had a double-double by halftime: 12 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in just 13 minutes.</p>
<p id="CPSTvB">The only way to describe Clingan on the floor was a man against boys. When the NBA Draft is in this same building in June, whatever team hears Clingan’s name called (if he declares) is going to get a bonafide stud in the heart of its lineup.</p>
<h2 id="ygitmc"><strong>This loss should not diminish what Northwestern accomplished this season</strong></h2>
<p id="gTAmFQ">While this defeat will leave a sour taste in many ‘Cats fans’ mouths for a long time, it should not take away from what Northwestern accomplished this year. The Wildcats ran into a buzzsaw in the front-runner UConn — there was simply nothing they could do. At the end of the day, much like this whole season, Northwestern never quit. Down 22 at halftime, the ‘Cats put together an encouraging stretch in the middle of the second half, even outscoring the Huskies by five points in the final 20 minutes.</p>
<p id="BvLuw4">That being said, this was still a hell of a run for NU this season. Despite being depleted by injuries, the Wildcats made the Round of 32. There was plenty of adversity all season, but Northwestern always found a way to keep pushing and win a game. It was not always easy, but this was an impressive run by Collins’ team.</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2024/3/24/24110996/three-takeaways-from-northwesterns-75-58-round-of-32-loss-to-connecticutDavid Gold2024-03-24T13:56:31-05:002024-03-24T13:56:31-05:00Despite never matching up on the court, Northwestern and UConn know each other all too well
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<p>The connections between the ‘Cats and Huskies run deep.</p> <p id="dDnpJS">Nearly 1,000 miles separate Evanston, Illinois and Storrs, Connecticut. On the surface, the only thing these two places have in common is their affinity for a certain style of pizza, a love for historic baseball franchises and frigid winters.</p>
<p id="nMWzs2">Yet, when the Wildcats and the Huskies take the floor Sunday night in Brooklyn, the two squads will know each other quite well despite never facing off on the hardwood. While both sides battle for a spot in the Sweet 16, there is also another, less important, prize on the line — bragging rights. </p>
<p id="sIvyGL">Whether it is the two men at the helm of these programs, or a player taking on his brother’s alma mater, the ‘Cats and Huskies have an invisible string tying them together. </p>
<p id="zEyWeT">“I just think that there’s probably not a coach, besides my brother, that I can relate to in our profession than Chris,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said Saturday. </p>
<p id="9VZRCh">The connection between these two squads began 31 years ago when 18-year-old Chris Collins first stepped foot in Durham, North Carolina. The Blue Devil freshman, a coach’s kid, instantly bonded with another coach’s kid who had led Duke to back-to-back national championships, Bobby Hurley. In turn, a young Collins met Hurley’s younger brother — Dan Hurley.</p>
<p id="VqcUPf">“He and I have known each other forever...” Collins said. “I think we’ve had similar upbringings and coach in a similar manner.”</p>
<p id="lyXzIG">When Hurley, or Danny as Collins calls him, was coaching high school basketball in New Jersey throughout the 2000s, Collins, then an assistant coach at Duke, would be in the gym recruiting Hurley’s players for the Blue Devils. What Collins knew at the time was what the rest of the world learned as Hurley transitioned to the college game — any of Hurley’s players were well coached, disciplined and poised to excel.</p>
<p id="thx2Fc">“They’re a very together group and they are a tough, competitive group, and when I say those characteristics, you think of their coach,” Collins said Saturday. “I think that Danny sets the tone. His leadership and his ability to mold his program in his personality is impressive. I think his players are just an extension of who he is. “</p>
<p id="aTnnQI">As both coaches have their teams jockeying for a spot in the second weekend, they both refer back to their family lineage for guidance throughout the season. Collins’ father Doug has spent the better part of 30 years on the sideline while Hurley’s father, Bob Hurley Sr., amassed 26 New Jersey state titles across 40 years of coaching. Both elders still have a coaching itch, helping their sons whenever called upon for advice. For Collins, Doug has become Northwestern’s adopted grandfather, still grasping the attention of the ‘Cats and holding court at practice.</p>
<p id="AEYul7">“One of my favorite times is when he comes to practice, watches and lets it all settle,” Collins said Saturday. ”After practice is over, our guys huddle around him and he just holds court with his basketball experiences. That’s really cool for me to be able to share that with him.”</p>
<p id="ND6bkk">On the floor, Northwestern fans may recognize a familiar name on the back of a UConn jersey tonight — Spencer.</p>
<p id="Kp3plS">Cam Spencer, who took down the Wildcats last year with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, transferred to Storrs for his final season of eligibility. When Spencer is announced in the starting five, his brother will be in an interesting position 3,000 miles away. After a lucrative lacrosse career at Loyola Maryland, including a Tewwaaraton award, Pat Spencer made the absurd jump to spend his final year of collegiate eligibility playing organized basketball for the first time since high school.</p>
<p id="yssqNM">Despite Spencer’s athletic prowess, only one high-major team offered him a spot: Northwestern. In his lone season with the ‘Cats, Spencer averaged 10.4 points, but NU had an abysmal season, finishing 3-17 in conference play. However, Collins credited Spencer with helping a first-year from Albany find his way in college basketball. That first-year was none other than Boo Buie.</p>
<p id="3WItrT">“He was with us for one year, but his impact was huge,” Collins said when asked about Spencer. “Pat did a great job showing Boo the ropes of what it takes to be a great athlete at the college level, and the mentality and the mindset you have to have.”</p>
<p id="m3tyNF">Collins told the media that he and Spencer text often throughout the season, and NU’s head coach added that the elder Spencer was not a fan of how the bracket pitted the ‘Cats against the Huskies. Collins also said that despite Pat Spencer’s unlikely journey to the NBA, suiting up for the Golden State Warriors, he still reminds Spencer when he is not living up to his potential.</p>
<p id="PUM6IG">“I thought his dunk was kind of weak the other night,” Collins said in jest. “I told him, ‘You’re more athletic than that. You should have windmilled it or something.’”</p>
<p id="QD5OPq">When asked yesterday about NU, Cam Spencer said how thankful his family is for the opportunity Collins and Co. gave his older brother to play college basketball; however, the Huskies’ guard was pretty confident in which colors Pat would don on Sunday night.</p>
<p id="OfdYes">“I think he’s rooting for UConn tomorrow,” Spencer said.</p>
<p id="lPcpiU">Tonight, two teams will step on the floor, and one season will end when the final buzzer sounds. However, when the dust settles and the clock strikes zero, there will be plenty of laughter and love between these two sides.</p>
<p id="tcotky">Whether it is a brotherhood formed by the coaching fraternity and 30 years’ worth of memories, or an actual brotherhood formed by blood, the ‘Cats and Huskies are much closer than the 1,000 miles, or the lack of previous matchups, would make it out to be.</p>
<p id="L0YQqF">“I think we’re so similar in so many ways, it feels like you’re looking in the mirror,” Hurley said.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/3/24/24110281/despite-never-matching-up-on-the-court-northwestern-and-uconn-know-each-other-all-too-wellDavid Gold2024-03-22T13:56:24-05:002024-03-22T13:56:24-05:00Rapid Reaction: Northwestern prevails in Round of 64 77-65 in overtime over Florida Atlantic, moves on to Round of 32
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<figcaption>Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>All hail March Ryan Langborg.</p> <p id="LCA1MI">NEW YORK — When the lights shone brightest in the city where lights shine like the Sun, Northwestern’s biggest stars came to play.</p>
<p id="HnI4EK">No. 9-seed Northwestern (21-12, 12-8 B1G) took down No. 8-seed Florida Atlantic (25-8, 14-4 AAC) 77-65 in an absolute thriller from Barclays Center. It took 45 minutes for Northwestern to put down the Owls, with Brooks Barnhizer evening the game with less than 10 seconds left in regulation.</p>
<p id="nZfruy">The Wildcats were led by Ryan Langborg, who finished the day with 27 points, four rebounds and three assists. Boo Buie had 22 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Barnhizer rounded out NU’s big three with a double-double, finishing the day with 13 points and 10 boards. For FAU, Vladislav Goldin had 19 points and nine boards, plus Johnell Davis chipped in 18 points.</p>
<p id="1kge6R">The Owls turned it over twice on their first two possessions. However, NU sent the ball right back to FAU when Martinelli could not handle a pass from Buie.</p>
<p id="9zwjhE">Luke Hunger got the ‘Cats on the board after he split a pair from the charity stripe, but Alijah Martin answered with a layup to put FAU on the scoreboard and Goldin converted a pair from the line to give the Owls a 4-1 lead. The ‘Cats struggled mightily from the field to start the game, shooting 0-of-4 from deep in the first four minutes, until Buie drilled a triple to even the game at four at the under-16 stoppage.</p>
<p id="giGlmZ">Out of the timeout, Ryan Langborg connected on a baby floater, and Blake Smith forced two straight defensive stops, including one where he ripped the ball away underneath the rim. But, Barnhizer’s ensuing lob attempt to Blake Preston fell out of bounds, and the Owls tied the game at six. A possession later, a turnover by Martinelli turned into an easy layup for Davis, giving FAU an 8-6 advantage at the under-12.</p>
<p id="j2jTUU">Out of the break, No. 13 finally got one to fall, and Hunger finished over the 7-foot-1 Goldin to give NU a 10-8 lead midway through the first frame. After a midway jumper from Barnhizer pushed the lead to four, Goldin split a pair from the line, and Martin converted at the rim to cut the Wildcats lead to 12-11 with 7:08 left in the first half.</p>
<p id="CJfESM">After the timeout, Davis drilled one from beyond the arc to give the Owls a 14-12 lead. After three straight empty possessions for the Wildcats, an easy slam from Martin pushed the FAU lead to four. Northwestern missed nine straight shots, embarking on a five-minute scoring drought as the Owls took a 16-12 edge with 3:45 left in the first half.</p>
<p id="X7D5mW">Martinelli stopped the run with a layup, but FAU answered right back at the rim. Following a few empty possessions, Barnhizer capitalized on another FAU turnover to give NU back a 19-18 lead with less than a minute left in the half. However, Davis got a floater to go at the horn with a friendly bounce to send the Owls into the locker room with a 20-19 lead.</p>
<p id="WjlIox">Buie splashed one from deep to open the second half, but Goldin answered with a dunk to knot the game back up. Langborg found the bottom of the net from the midrange and again from the elbow to expand NU’s lead to 26-22. However, a three from Brandon Weatherspoon cut the lead to one before Barnhizer floated one in. A few possessions later, an errant pass from FAU found the hands of Buie, who sent it over to Barnhizer for a three-point play, but No. 13 missed the free throw. After another Owl turnover, NU went into the under-16 leading 30-27.</p>
<p id="PvTSRH">Out of the break, Buie curled off a screen and nailed a deep triple to double NU’s lead, and Langborg hit another floater to make the advantage eight. However, an and-one by Bryan Greenlee stifled NU’s run for a moment until Buie worked his way to the rim for two. Greenlee answered with another triple to cut the game to four points. </p>
<p id="laoiXG">He had a chance to bring home another three points after Hunger fouled him on a three-point attempt, but the FAU senior only converted one of three attempts from the line. On the other end, Langborg finally got one to fall from deep, but Florida Atlantic responded with an easy foul. One trip down the floor later, Buie corralled his own miss and floated it in to expand NU’s lead to 43-36 with 10:53 left to play in the game.</p>
<p id="zdXV3C">Following the timeout, a Langborg turnover ended in a three for the Owls, but Buie answered right back with a triple of his own. On the next possession, Martinelli was denied by Goldin, but Langborg made up for it with a runner in the lane. Langborg continued his phenomenal half, finding Martinelli in the lane for a left-hand floater and hitting Preston down low for a bunny to give the Wildcats a 52-43 lead with 7:10 left to go in the game.</p>
<p id="8ZZsCh">After the pause, Goldin grabbed an offensive board and put it back in, but Langborg answered with a mid-range jumper. However, a quick 5-0 run for the Owls made it 54-50 Wildcats with 5:19 left in the game.</p>
<p id="lv8nzY">Off the inbound, Buie circled his way to the cup for an easy deuce, but Langborg did not handle the handoff on the next possession, sending the ball right back to the Owls. FAU found the bottom of the net, but NU went into the final media timeout leading 56-52.</p>
<p id="pqHF2z">After a long discussion by the refs, Nick Martinelli was called for a flagrant foul, and Goldin hit both free throws. On the other end, Barnhizer’s mid-range jumper rimmed in and out, and Goldin worked his way to line again down two and hit both to tie this game up.</p>
<p id="BmydEt">Buie went ice cold in the final minutes, missing three straight looks at the rim. With a minute left, Davis got a runner to fall in to give FAU a two-point lead. However, with 10 seconds left in the game, Barnhizer beat Goldin to the cup and laid it in to tie the game. Davis’ final three was blocked, and we had free basketball in Brooklyn.</p>
<p id="12Aboq">In overtime, FAU controlled the tip, but the Owls came up empty on their first possession, and Langborg hit another mid-range jump shot to put NU ahead. The midrange was scalding hot for No. 5, connecting again to make it a four-point game. Davis split a pair from the charity line, but Langborg drilled from deep to double NU’s lead with less than three minutes to go. Not to be outdone, Buie somehow flips one in off one leg as the shot clock expired to give Northwestern a 67-59 lead with 2:21 left in overtime. FAU tried to mount one last comeback, but two straight misses from deep turned into a Langborg deep three to expand its lead to double-digits with 90 seconds left. Langborg added on two more free throws to ice the game, and Northwestern escaped with a 77-65 victory.</p>
<p id="cxiCUD">Northwestern will be back in action Sunday to take on the winner of No. 1 UConn and No. 16 Stetson, who began play a few minutes after the Wildcats won. Tip-off time will be announced later today.</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2024/3/22/24108797/rapid-reaction-northwestern-prevails-round-of-64-xx-xx-in-overtime-over-florida-atlantic-round-of-32David Gold2024-03-22T08:10:38-05:002024-03-22T08:10:38-05:00Sidelined by injuries, Ty Berry and Matt Nicholson found new ways to lead Northwestern back to NCAA Tournament
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<figcaption>Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Northwestern may have lost two starters, but it added two more experienced coaches to its staff.</p> <p id="H2EZA2">When the Wildcats took the floor for their 40-minute open practice in Brooklyn, Matthew Nicholson and Ty Berry stood on opposite sides of the floor. Nicholson, fresh off a 12.5-hour drive from Chicago to New York, hurled passes to his teammates in the low block, keeping his foot propped on his scooter as he urged his fellow big men to “body” their way to the rim. </p>
<p id="FnTI2w">On the other end, Berry hyped up his teammates with his booming voice when each three-ball splashed through the bottom of the net. Throughout the practice, the senior guard could be seen cracking jokes with Ryan Langborg, shooting one-legged threes or swinging passes to his teammates, who knocked down open shots. By the time the final horn sounded to wrap up practice, Berry was in the middle of the huddle to break the ‘Cats down.</p>
<p id="BKWkER">Thursday’s practice was a microcosm of the roles Berry and Nicholson have taken on since being sidelined with season-ending injuries. Berry tore his meniscus on Feb. 7, and Nicholson suffered a foot injury on March 2. While both seniors are now forced to watch the Wildcats take on March from the sidelines, the pair are doing whatever they can to help NU prepare for the final stretch.</p>
<p id="y7KeaX">“They are our leaders on the court, and now that they’re off the court, they’re just able to use their voices more,“ Boo Buie said Thursday. “They’re able to see a lot more and help people more because when you’re out there, you got to help yourself first and then try to do that.”</p>
<p id="87gfDH">If you ask anyone in the locker room what Berry brings to the squad, the same word is repeated over and over again: energy. Whether it was on the floor or now on the bench, Berry has earned a reputation for bringing the juice and willing his teammates to leave every last bit of their effort out on the floor. </p>
<p id="nRkMau">In a recent media availability, Chris Collins admitted that when Berry<strong> </strong>could not be on the sideline after surgery<strong>, </strong>he could feel a dip in the energy and morale. In one of the first games following Berry’s injury, the Wildcats looked to break a huddle, but stood there in confusion for a second. No. 3 was always the one to send the ‘Cats out of the huddle and onto the floor, so there was a momentary pause as NU looked around for its captain.</p>
<p id="mjPtGQ">Now back with his team, Berry noted that he has retaken his role in the huddle and has sparked Northwestern during the final push of the season.</p>
<p id="11ro1l">“My job now is to be as positive as possible and just to give energy to the guys,” Berry said Thursday morning. “Keep everybody confident and ready to play.“</p>
<p id="9Vs6AY">On top of his energy, the senior has jumped in to help guide younger players step into the role vacated by his injury. As Northwestern’s primary on-ball defender before his injury, Berry passed off his defensive responsibilities to younger players like Blake Smith, Jordan Clayton and Justin Mullins. Although Berry deferred most of the defensive coaching to assistant coach Chris Lowery, others have pointed out No. 3’s defensive prowess.</p>
<p id="HrqLfW">“What people don’t see behind the scenes at practice is none of that’s changed,” Ryan Langborg said. “He’s always just lighting a fire under everybody. Even though he’s not on the court, he’s still as much of an integral part of our team.”</p>
<p id="ZsYRNb">Much like Berry, Nicholson has carved out a role as another set of eyes for the ‘Cats’ big men on the bench. Nicholson, who has spent the better half of the past two years in the starting five, has utilized the past few weeks preparing Luke Hunger and Blake Preston prepare for increased minutes for the rest of the season. Although Nicholson’s voyage from Evanston to New York City somewhat impeded his ability to help those big men get ready for FAU’s Vladislav Goldin, both Preston and Hunger lauded Nicholson for his advice since No. 34 was sidelined.</p>
<p id="kAO7o9">“He’s been screaming at us to be on all of our rotations, all our coverages,” Hunger said. “He’s kind of been a coach on the sideline, and he has all the experience in the world, so I am always listening to him.”</p>
<p id="WtElJs">With Nicholson out, NU has five fewer fouls to use from its big men. Because of foul trouble, Nick Martinelli has had to slide to the five in small-ball lineups. Despite standing at only 6-foot-7, Martinelli has impressed Nicholson with his ability to battle down on the low block.</p>
<p id="lZ9KFP">“The main thing I got to help him with is that ball screen coverage,” Nicholson said. “He’s done a great job at practice working through it, diving into it and accepting that role. I’m very proud of Nick.”</p>
<p id="NJ5WiP">While the ‘Cats have had to find their way on the floor without two of their starters,<strong> </strong>the team feels Berry and Nicholson’s impact both inside the locker room and out on the practice floor. Buie said that the team talked to Nicholson’s family via FaceTime as it traversed the Midwest. While neither member of the pair said they had decided on whether to return for a fifth season in Evanston, the bonds that Nicholson and Berry have created with their teammates, and the Northwestern community, radiated throughout Barclays Center locker room.</p>
<p id="TX5XY6">“The Northwestern community is family to me,” Berry said. “It’s home.” </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/3/22/24107893/sidelined-injuries-ty-berry-and-matt-nicholson-found-new-ways-lead-northwestern-back-ncaa-tournamentDavid Gold2024-03-16T17:40:07-05:002024-03-16T17:40:07-05:00If Northwestern wants to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament, Boo Buie cannot do it alone
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<figcaption>Photo by David Berding/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Agent Zero needs help.</p> <p id="o9Whq5">How can a team have Superman, yet his own teammates be his Kryptonite?</p>
<p id="OLeDKa">When Boo Buie stepped on the floor at the Target Center yesterday, he was a man on a mission. In the first nine minutes of the game, Agent Zero had 16 points. By the time the clock struck zero, Buie finished the afternoon with 29 points on a 9-of-15 shooting clip from the field, including a 7-of-11 mark from deep. However, none of that mattered when he was the only source of offense out on the floor.</p>
<p id="R23fIm">Up 21-10 after Buie’s scorching hot start, No. 0 got tangled up with Tyler Wahl and had to leave the game for a couple of minutes because of a stinger knee. In that span, Wisconsin began a 14-0 run to take the lead and never looked back. Outside of Buie, the rest of the Wildcats shot 11-of-38 from the field, and only 1-of-12 from deep.</p>
<p id="y1MYdz">“We just were not ourselves,” Buie said after the game. “Our offense was a little stagnant. I know how capable this team is, and I just didn’t feel we were ourselves tonight.”</p>
<p id="HNuKI0">With a lot of the attention focused on Northwestern’s star, Brooks Barnhizer had to step up to provide the ‘Cats with another option. But, No. 13 arguably played his worst game of the year. Barnhizer finished the day 3-of-15 from the field, 0-of-4 from deep and committed four turnovers. As a ball handler, he looked out of control at times, often pushing the ball into traffic and throwing up contested shots. By the time the second half rolled around, Barnhizer appeared to be forcing things, trying to create any sort of rhythm to get going, but it backfired throughout the game. </p>
<p id="YDh6kY">In a microcosm of his afternoon, the Wildcats, trailing by seven, poked the ball away and tried to push the pace down the floor. Without a numbers advantage, Barnhizer pushed his way to the rim uncontrollably and ended up missing the bunny. Because of the haste, the Badgers were able to leak out, and A.J. Storr finished it off with an alley-oop slam that brought the UW faithful to their feet. Instead of possibly making it a five or four-point game and sparking the ‘Cats back into the game, this four-point swing all but cemented the fact that Northwestern would be going home on Friday.</p>
<p id="kggNlR">“I definitely didn’t play a great offensive game,“ Barnhizer said postgame. “With the position we put ourselves in, we’re going to have another chance to go out there and play again, so we’re going to have to learn from this, come back and go get the next one.”</p>
<p id="DbzIGE">Much like Barnhizer, a lackluster performance from Ryan Langborg sank the Wildcats’ chance of victory. Langborg could barely stay on the floor yesterday, finding himself in foul trouble for all 40 minutes against Wisconsin. No. 5 only played 22 minutes on Friday afternoon, scoring six points on 2-of-6 shooting. Without his offensive prowess, NU had no viable floor spacing, allowing the Badgers to clamp down inside the paint and put heavy pressure on Barnhizer and Nick Martinelli. </p>
<p id="lORtfX">For the ‘Cats to make any noise in the NCAA Tournament, Langborg has to be on the court and shooting at the rate that is expected. He does not need to be 2023 March Ryan Langborg (although that would be nice for NU fans), but he needs to be a viable scoring option that Chris Collins and Co. can rely on each night. If he has to sit on the bench for most of the game due to fouls, Northwestern has a slim chance of making it past the opening round.</p>
<p id="wG2Osg">“We need his scoring,” Collins said postgame.</p>
<p id="1grCeL">A version of this story has been written in every game since Ty Berry and Matt Nicholson went down — whether the ‘Cats won or lost; however, as Collins said postgame, there are no more do-overs for this team. It does not matter how many points Buie has in the game because he cannot do it alone. </p>
<p id="THQ1dn">The defense has been solid over the past month, but heading into the NCAA Tournament, the biggest question surrounding the Wildcats is whether this team has enough firepower to make a run in the Big Dance. If the team that showed up in Minneapolis shows up in the Round of 64, the 2023-24 Northwestern basketball season — and the Boo Buie era in Evanston — will end with a whimper.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/3/16/24103299/if-northwestern-wants-to-make-any-noise-in-the-ncaa-tournament-boo-buie-cannot-do-it-aloneDavid Gold2024-02-23T14:18:37-06:002024-02-23T14:18:37-06:00Boo Buie broke a record, and crystallized a legacy
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Michigan at Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F6BcRFo_cxBDbFdqqL1Z6IZVUqk=/0x0:4865x3243/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73160202/usa_today_22591378.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Agent Zero has put Northwestern on the map.</p> <p id="HzJBp2">Where do you even start when talking about Boo Buie?</p>
<p id="fERkrr">When Northwestern stepped on the floor last night to take on Michigan, the storyline had very little to do with the game. Sure, Northwestern was looking to reach the vaunted double-digit Big Ten wins mark for just the fifth time in program history and for the first time in back-to-back seasons, but that was secondary to Agent Zero’s chase last night. </p>
<p id="SomIPT">Heading into Wednesday night, Buie sat just five points away from breaking John Shurna’s all-time Northwestern men’s basketball scoring record. Everyone inside Welsh-Ryan Arena knew what was at stake and watched with bated breath each time Buie touched the ball. When No. 0 cut backdoor and laid one in to start the game, Welsh-Ryan Arena was a powder keg ready to explode. </p>
<p id="kxE9M1">As everyone waited for history, you could feel the tension inside the arena, and the ‘Cats looked out of sync early. While it took a little longer than expected, and NU found itself in a deep hole against the lowly Wolverines, Agent Zero etched his name in history in the Buie way. He pulled up from Michigan’s bench and splashed a deep three, surpassing Shurna with 2,039 points and sending the Northwestern faithful into a frenzy. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s a 3-pointer for the record <a href="https://twitter.com/booboo_buie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@booboo_buie</a> <a href="https://t.co/GLE1ObwDQZ">pic.twitter.com/GLE1ObwDQZ</a></p>— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NUMensBball/status/1760856857545933130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a>
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<p id="KeFatG">Buie’s accolades speak for themselves. He’s the all-time leading scorer in program history, second in assists, on his way to being the first back-to-back First-Team All-Big Ten Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer and quite possibly the fifth to be named an All-American. Not to forget, he will lead Northwestern to two NCAA Tournament appearances. </p>
<p id="HogWuS">There was no one happier for Buie last night than Chris Collins, so much so that Collins rolled into his postgame press conference sporting Buie’s signature headband. In 2018, Collins watched this no-name kid from Albany, New York ball out at an AAU tournament in California. The kid had no Power Five offers and was ranked in the 300s by most recruiting services, but Collins watched him torch two elite AAU teams, full of Division I and NBA players, dropping 30 points on each squad. That kid was Boo Buie, and Collins took a chance on him developing into Bryant McIntosh’s replacement. </p>
<p id="ZhuGHt">It was not all rainbows and unicorns for the pair, with NU going winning a combined 16 conference games in Buie’s first three years in Evanston, but neither flinched. When the Wildcats saw a transfer exodus in 2021 and 2022, Buie remained committed and loyal to Collins and his vision of the program. On the flip side, Collins remained committed to Buie, allowing him to take his lumps on the floor and develop into the player he is today. When last night’s game was long settled, Collins subbed Buie out, and the duo embraced each other.</p>
<p id="OYF4yF">Those two bet their careers on each other, and it paid off immensely.</p>
<p id="wS8inS">“Boo is like family to me, so you’re incredibly proud to see someone who’s family do something so special,” Collins said postgame. “Stories like this are why a lot of us like to coach in college. It’s sad for me because I know I’m only going to coach him for another month.”</p>
<p id="Kps613">While his accolades are impeccable, there is something that cannot be measured on paper: Buie’s biggest impact on the Northwestern community. In preparing for last night’s milestone, Inside NU put together a bracket of 32 of Buie’s best buckets. Trying to fill out the bracket, Iggy Dowling and I dove into the past five years to find some sleeper picks from No. 0’s earlier points of his career. </p>
<p id="Fm52Uj">Being a transfer junior, I have only seen the past two seasons of NU basketball, so I only know a sold-out Welsh-Ryan Arena; however, going through the old tape, I understood what my friends meant when they said that no one was at the games. In a Big Ten matchup against Rutgers in 2019-20, I witnessed little kids sitting in the front row of the student section, the same seats people now line up for two hours before the game, with no one behind them. When COVID hit the following season, it was not like there were that many fewer fans in the building than when it was allowed to be at full capacity. While it may sound harsh, the reality was Northwestern basketball was an afterthought. </p>
<p id="IZUio1">Flash forward five years later, and a Northwestern basketball ticket is one of the hardest things to get for students. For the past week, the Wildside GroupMe has been flooded with messages of, “Does anyone have an extra ticket?” Students are now waiting in standby lines to get into games, and NU’s expanded student section is still standing room only most nights — imagine telling that to Buie when he stepped onto campus in 2019. When he was subbed out of the game last night, 6,400 people, almost all decked out in purple, rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation as chants of MVP rained down from the crowd. </p>
<p id="cLVRLM">“It’s special because when I first got here on campus, you literally could see so many open seats in the stands,” Buie said postgame. “Now, just walking off the court to a whole stadium standing up on their feet clapping for you and your teammates is super special to see. That’s what I’m most proud about during my career here.”</p>
<p id="ltrcBJ">There is no argument that Boo Buie is the greatest player in Northwestern history, but his legacy is way more than what he’s done on the court. With Buie at the helm of the program, Northwestern basketball has transitioned from an afterthought to a selling point. Collins said last night that Buie has given the program a “cool factor” — he has done that and more. Boo Buie has put Northwestern basketball on the map for good and set a winning culture. </p>
<p id="nkhLfz">So, enjoy the last dance ‘Cats fans, because we are witnessing greatness.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/2/23/24081133/boo-buie-broke-a-record-and-crystallized-a-legacyDavid Gold2024-02-12T14:54:20-06:002024-02-12T14:54:20-06:00Without Ty Berry, Northwestern got contributions from everywhere to defeat Penn State
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: Penn State at Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Oe8-RpL3hHhGMaU8N_D-3ucibgE=/0x0:3437x2291/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73134197/usa_today_22499027.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>To divvy up the loss of No. 3, the ‘Cats need everyone —from the starting five to the end of the bench.</p> <p id="cg2jUA">They don’t ask how, just how many.</p>
<p id="wzA9eJ">In front of a sleepy Welsh-Ryan Arena on a Sunday afternoon, the ‘Cats found themselves in a 40-minute slugfest against a scrappy Nittany Lions squad. While Chris Collins did not call it a rock fight, it was the type of grind-it-out, shot-not-falling game the Wildcats became known for on their journey to the NCAA Tournament last year. This season, however, NU has found itself in shootouts nearly every night, falling into the bottom third defensively in the conference. </p>
<p id="EZW3FR">In the preseason, Collins said that any game above 70 points does not bode well for the Wildcats, yet the ‘Cats have allowed 70 points in all but three Big Ten games this season and only one below 68 points. So when the shots are not falling like they usually do on Sunday afternoon, the Wildcats connected on 31.7% from the field, the odds of walking away victorious sinks quickly. Yet, the Wildcats did just enough to eke out their eighth Big Ten win of the season.</p>
<p id="8xm9Nx">“This was the best win of the year for us,“ Collins said postgame. “Some Big Ten games you have to grind them out. It’s not going to be pretty every game... You just have to figure out how to win, and that’s what we did.”</p>
<p id="ZJ5e2q">Don’t get me wrong, Penn State deserves a ton of credit for shutting down the Wildcats’ potent offense. Ace Baldwin Jr. raised hell on the perimeter, making it difficult for Boo Buie to get downhill or create enough separation to hit from beyond the arc. Qudus Wahab also was a dominant rim protector, swatting multiple attempts by the ‘Cats at the rim. However, the biggest missing piece to the ‘Cats’ offense was Ty Berry. Berry, who shot a ridiculous 49% from deep in the month of January, was sidelined on Sunday with a knee injury. Without Berry on the floor, the Nittany Lions had one less shooter to worry about on the floor, the Nittany Lions could focus on neutralizing Agent Zero, throwing two defenders at him throughout the game.</p>
<p id="qn60J1">“You can’t run plays, you have to make plays,“ Collins said about facing the Nittany Lions. </p>
<p id="tkZMKq">Without Berry, NU’s third-leading scorer, and a rough day from the field for Northwestern’s usual offensive juggernauts in Buie and Brooks Barnhizer, the Wildcats needed to find contributions from the top to the bottom of the rotation, and they sure did.</p>
<p id="TfyWrM">“When one person goes down, it doesn’t require just one person to step up, everyone has to step up,” Buie said postgame. “Everyone contributes a little bit to make up to that whole.”</p>
<p id="IWLW8y">For a team that usually wants to play on the perimeter, a new element to the starting lineup changed the style of play. Nick Martinelli slid into the starting five to replace Berry and brings his post-play “herky-jerky” hook shot into the game. At 6-foot-7, Martinelli uses his body to get inside, somehow always getting to his left hand and finding the bottom of the net. When asked about him postgame, Penn State head coach Mike Rhodes said it didn’t matter if you know Martinelli’s going to spin to his left hand, he just makes it work. Even though I, nor Chris Collins, can figure out why it works, Martinelli’s 11 points helped the ‘Cats edge out the Nittany Lions.</p>
<p id="qc6CEg">The other big (yes, pun intended) performance came from Matt Nicholson. Nicholson has looked more like the 2022-23 version of himself after returning to the starting lineup in mid-January. Sometimes, being benched is a wake-up call, and it sure looks that way for No. 34. While Nicholson had two rim-rattling throwdowns, including one that resulted in an electric floor slapping on the other end, the play that stuck out most to me was his assist from the top of the elbow, finding Martinelli on a backdoor cut for an easy jam. There was once a point where Nicholson had the best assist-to-turnover ratio in all of college basketball, and his ability as a passer makes him much more of a threat on the court. </p>
<p id="ZRoInF">Also, his eight rebounds against PSU were his highest of the season. With Berry out of the lineup, Nicholson will have to become more involved in the offense to help make up No. 3’s lost production. If Sunday’s performance is any indication, the senior center looks to be hitting his stride when NU needs it the most.</p>
<p id="xUQtHD">“We get on Matt a lot to just let it out because he’s got that fire in him,” Collins said postgame. “We’re a better team when Matt plays with that fire and energy.”</p>
<p id="ndJv3G">While the starting five will carry the brunt of the load, NU’s already thin depth will have to step up with the sixth man slotting into the lineup, Guys like Jordan Clayton, who has only played 53 minutes of Big Ten action and has not scored a point, Justin Mullins, who has played a total of 19 minutes this season and has not scored a point, or even a walk-on like Blake Smith, who did not have a stat recorded on Northwestern’s website before Sunday, will all have to play meaningful minutes down the stretch for the ‘Cats. Is it less than ideal? Absolutely; however, these are the cards Chris Collins and Co. were dealt. If the Wildcats want to hold onto that vaunted double bye, someone from the bench will have to unexpectedly step up because three bench points will not cut it in the Big Ten or the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p id="onKMaB">“It’s all hands on deck,“ Collins said. “That’s why you have a team. You never know when something is going to pop up and you’re going to lean on those other guys.”</p>
<p id="Tww1lX">With Boo Buie and Brooks Barnhizer still running the show, Berry’s absence does not sink the ‘Cats’ chances of reaching the postseason; however, it is going to take a complete team effort to replace everything No. 3 does on the floor. Against Penn State, the Wildcats did just that. On one of the worst shooting performances of the year, NU still found a way to leave the floor with a win because each member who stepped on the court did their job. That is a winning formula for the ‘Cats, who will have to step up and answer the bell twice this week on the road.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/2/12/24070726/without-ty-berry-northwestern-got-contributions-from-everywhere-to-defeat-penn-stateDavid Gold2024-02-09T14:00:36-06:002024-02-09T14:00:36-06:00“I think we’re ready”: Kate Drohan, Northwestern softball begin new era
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<img alt="NCAA Softball: Women’s College World Series UCLA vs Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zJRZFAtg12x7y3ZXV5O86CB8bHg=/0x0:5397x3598/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73126768/usa_today_18440717.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Inside NU sat down with the ‘Cats’ head coach to hear her perspective on the beginning of the 2024 season.</p> <p id="sQlRTX">It’s officially softball season!</p>
<p id="KyRHgf">Northwestern began its Big Ten title defense on Friday, kicking off the 2024 season in Arizona by competing in the Kajikawa Classic. It is a much different squad than the last time the ‘Cats took the field, reaching the NCAA Super Regional in 2023. For the first time in five years, the Wildcats did not have Danielle Williams, Jordyn Rudd, Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson and Skyler Shellmyer in the starting lineup on opening day. When the ‘Cats stepped onto the diamond this morning, it began a new era of Northwestern softball. Despite plenty of new faces, nine to be exact, head coach Kate Drohan has been impressed with her squad throughout the preseason.</p>
<p id="tsEAeE">“It’s been fun to figure out how to teach them,” Drohan told Inside NU. “Each team is so unique, and we as coaches need to learn them and really craft the best way to kind of teach them and guide them along. I feel like in the last six practices, I can see our play being elevated. It was a little clunky in the beginning of January, but we’re doing some good stuff here.”</p>
<p id="Gaw2W4">The biggest question mark facing the Wildcats in 2024 is their pitching rotation. Without Williams, the 2022 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and winningest pitcher in program history, Northwestern will have to create a new trust tree and determine who can take the circle throughout the season. Drohan and pitching coach Michelle Gascoigne will also have to find a new strategy to fill the innings that Williams used to eat. In the last five years, Williams led the ‘Cats in innings pitched, eclipsing the 200 mark twice; however, Northwestern has seven pitchers on its roster, a number so high that Drohan could not recall the last time her team fielded that many.</p>
<p id="6hmPf7">“We’ve been preaching to our pitchers to stay calm in the moment,” Drohan said. “Keep competing, keep pounding the strike zone and trust your spin through the zone. We’re excited for people to step up.”</p>
<p id="rLWeEY">Taking the reins from Williams will presumably be Lauren Boyd. Boyd burst onto the scene in 2023, slotting into the No. 2 spot in the rotation. In her junior season, Boyd turned in a 2.24 ERA and an 8-4 record. Her 103 innings last season was the first time a Northwestern pitcher not named Williams eclipsed the triple-digit mark since 2019. A ground ball pitcher, Boyd finished 2023 with 93 punchouts; however, her .224 opponent batting average placed No. 15 in the upper echelon in the Big Ten. With another offseason under her belt, the senior appears destined to be the ace and workhorse of the rotation.</p>
<p id="eynncN">The only other returning pitcher to toss meaningful innings for the ‘Cats last season was Cami Henry. Henry transferred to Northwestern after spending her undergraduate career at DePauw but struggled in her first season in purple and white. Throughout the year, Henry had trouble keeping the ball in the yard, giving up two or more homers in seven appearances. Despite Drohan shying away from Henry in the postseason, the ‘Cats’ skipper is confident the sixth-year will look more like her undergraduate self in 2024.</p>
<p id="45kO1n">“She put a team on her back and was a warrior for her undergrad,” Drohan said. “We talked a lot about that same kind of mentality here, being ready for the ball whenever we want to hand it to her. I think the more we asked her, the better she’ll be.”</p>
<p id="t1PnOs">As Drohan and Co. looked to round out its rotation this summer, the coaches turned to the transfer portal and brought a familiar foe to the shores of Lake Michigan. In its lone portal move of the season, Northwestern added Ashley Miller from Michigan State. Miller had back-to-back sub-3.00 ERA seasons to start her collegiate career but posted a 5.43 last season. Despite the lackluster year in 2023, Drohan told Inside NU that she caught Miller’s first-ever bullpen in Evanston and was dazzled by Miller’s stuff. Much like in Henry, the Wildcats’ head coach has full faith that Miller can reach her ace potential.</p>
<p id="TT74p2">“It’s about really trusting that stuff, feeding the defense and understanding how our system is going to work behind her,” Drohan said. “There’s no doubt in my mind she’s ready.”</p>
<p id="6oaeL9">Similar to the missing star in the circle, the Wildcats will have to replace the other half of their battery as well. Rudd, the 2022 catcher of the year, is now an assistant coach at Purdue, so Northwestern will have a new backstop this season. NU has two options behind the dish this year: Lauren Sciborski and Emma Raye.</p>
<p id="qgrSDM">Sciborski, a junior, has shown some pop with her bat, smacking five extra-base hits in 2023; however, she has not played a lot behind the plate. On the other hand, Raye was predicted to be the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by Softball America. Drohan said both will see time early in the year behind the dish and noted how excited she is by both of the catchers’ hitting prowess. However, securing the starting gig will come down to working with the pitcher in the circle and calling a game.</p>
<p id="0E8rqk">“They’ve got to understand what this pitcher shakes, this is what we’re going to, or this is what she’s feeling that day,” Drohan said. “We’re asking a lot of them, but I have no doubt that they can step up and do it.”</p>
<p id="fGg3Cb">Moving around the infield, Hannah Cady will hold down the hot corner, playing third base. Besides Cady, there is only one other member of the 2023 starting infield who will take the field with the ‘Cats in 2024. Grace Nieto will trot out to second base for the third straight season, looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued sophomore campaign. Nieto missed almost a month with a lower-body injury last year and never found her groove at the plate. While her numbers from last year do not jump off the stat sheet, Drohan said that Nieto played well in 2023. Now as a three-year starter and upperclassman, No. 22 is in prime position to take a step forward.</p>
<p id="J5Kgl3">“Everybody internally knew she gave everything she had,” Drohan said about Nieto. “She played through a lot of discomfort last year to get our team that championship.”</p>
<p id="8kuZ01">For the other two infield positions, the Wildcats will turn to a pair of sophomores poised to have breakout campaigns. After Nelson played almost every game at shortstop over the past five years, Drohan and Co. will turn the spot over to Bridget Donahey for 2024. Donahey spent most of her first season as a pinch runner; however, when she did step into the batter’s box, she hit a meager .063. The lack of production in her first collegiate season appears to be more from a lack of consistent reps than a talent issue. Coming out of high school, Donahey was ranked 13th in the nation for her recruiting class by Extra Innings Softball. Drohan noted the amount of work that Donahey has put in since arriving on campus, and it should be evident when she takes over one of the most vaunted positions in all of sports.</p>
<p id="pw7lmJ">“She’s a really, really smooth shortstop,” Drohan said.</p>
<p id="33lI1W">Rounding out the infield should be Kansas Robinson replacing Cuchran at first base. Spending most of her first year as the designated player or filling in for the injured Nieto at second base, Robinson displayed her prowess at the plate, slashing .284 with 16 extra-base hits. While No. 10 already started 42 games last season, she will be a fixture in the heart of Northwestern’s lineup. However, Drohan was non-committal about Robinson at first, saying that first-year Ainsley Muno has been hitting the ball well in practice.</p>
<p id="KKNIM5">Moving to the outfield, the corners are set with Angela Zedak returning for one last season and Kelsey Nader building on an impressive freshman season; however, the big change will be Ayana Lindsey taking over in center field. Lindsey has played all over the diamond during her time at NU, including coming off the bench as a pinch runner. Now roaming the middle, Drohan described Lindsey as an “anchor” of the ‘Cats’ defense,</p>
<p id="UMsgBR">Overall, the biggest shift for the Wildcats entering this season is, based on today’s version of college athletics, a generation one. When the Wildcats took the field on opening day in 2023, eight of the 10 starters were upperclassmen. In fact, the ‘Cats graduated 10 players last year, nearly half of their roster. Flash forward to opening day in 2024, and NU has eight first-years on its roster — the most since the Class of 2018. You know, the one that produced all of the superstars for the past five years. </p>
<p id="vcE3dP">“I knew they were going to be fun, but they’re feisty,” Drohan quipped.</p>
<p id="kHyS0n">Nevertheless, Drohan said that the newbies will see action throughout the early portion of the season, and they’ll have to adjust to the college game quickly. Despite having plenty of veteran pitchers ahead on the depth chart, Drohan expects the three young hurlers to be in the circle this season. She added that some will see heavier workloads than others, but even if the first-years do not get many opportunities in the circle during 2024, Drohan refused to let their talent slip away.</p>
<p id="P9hFp7">“Something that [Sharon] Drysdale taught me a long time ago [is] when you find a player that you really want on your team, go get them,” Drohan said. “She taught me to focus a lot less on balancing each class and more on finding the right people.”</p>
<p id="C06RDx">When the ‘Cats last laced up their cleats, a veteran group had been through the highs and lows of college softball, letting their experience carry the momentum and stabilize the ship at times. This time around, a young team will have to find its footing as it traverses away from home for the next month. Furthermore, Northwestern’s early season schedule is by no means a cakewalk, so the Wildcats will have to try and stay ahead of the learning curve as they get their feet wet. Drohan is optimistic that all the preparation over the past nine months will alleviate the curve, allowing the ‘Cats to play free and trust their training out on the field.</p>
<p id="fT6Byc">“They’re really focused on the process, so I appreciate the mature focus that they have,” Drohan said. “We’re gonna play Boise State, and our goal is to be a better team when we take the field together against Arizona State.”</p>
<p id="gpdmyo">For the next five weeks, the Wildcats will hit the road and play in tournaments across the country. Whether it be on the West Coast or down south, the Wildcats will not only learn how to play together as a unit on the field, but these trips also create a time for the team to build the camaraderie needed to sustain the peaks and valleys of a grueling three month season. While Drohan joked that she doesn’t have as much control over which tournaments NU plays in as she might want, the beginning of the season lays the foundation for when Big Ten play begins in late March.</p>
<p id="xDoAcG">“These are just as important games we play the first weekend of May,” Drohan said. “It’s important for us to start fast. It’s important for us to really understand the pace of play right away.”</p>
<p id="tPsGEN">Starting today, Northwestern’s title defense is on. Sure, it is a much different team than the one a year ago, but the groundwork is there. Winning is the standard at the J, so there is no dip in expectations for Drohan — who’s eager to see her revamped team realize its hard work.</p>
<p id="fULGxL">“Once you get in the games and you start playing together, that’s when some really fun growth happens,” Drohan said. “I’m excited to start that with them, and I think we’re ready.”</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/2/9/24066578/i-think-were-ready-kate-drohan-northwestern-softball-begin-new-eraDavid Gold2024-02-08T20:00:20-06:002024-02-08T20:00:20-06:00Rapid Reaction: Illinois completes season sweep of Northwestern with 82-71 win
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<figcaption>@IlliniWBB / X</figcaption>
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<p>Improvement from the last meeting, but NU still falls short.</p> <p id="zg148Z">The ‘Cats will not be the queens of Illinois for the 2023-24 season.</p>
<p id="Ssu8Nk">Northwestern (8-15, 3-9 B1G) was defeated by Illinois (11-11, 5-7 B1G) 82-71 in Champaign. The ‘Cats did not lead for a second of the game and trailed by as many as 20 points in the matchup.</p>
<p id="7bOxeN">Grad transfer Maggie Pina led the way for the Wildcats, scoring 15 points and splashing three shots from beyond the arc. Paige Mott chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds. For the Illini, Adalia McKenzie and Makira Cook combined for 39 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the field.</p>
<p id="lPl9Pd">Northwestern opened the game with a turnover, leading to an easy layup for Illinois. Walsh answered with a pair of free throws, and Caroline Lau poked the ball away on the next possession, yet the ‘Cats did not finish on the offensive end. After two straight misses by Mott, the Illini went on a 5-0 run, pushing the score to 7-2. Halfway through the first quarter, Melannie Daley checked into the game and sank a floater, but the Illini held a 11-6 lead at the media timeout.</p>
<p id="3ruxu5">Out of the timeout, Illinois pushed its lead to 15-6, aided by the Wildcats’ poor shooting, but two straight buckets by NU cut its deficit to five with two minutes to play. Daley had a chance to put another dent into the Illinois lead, as she poked one away and tiptoed the sideline to keep it in bounds. However, Walsh was whistled for an offensive foul. The Illini responded with the first three of the game, but Walsh backed her way inside and hit a hook shot. That kept Illinois's lead at 20-12 after one quarter.</p>
<p id="j2EHnO">Starting the second quarter, Pina found Mott underneath for an easy layup, but a three-point play by McKenzie and a long two by Camille Hobby pushed the Illini lead back to double digits. Both teams went cold in the middle of the quarter, but the offense picked up when Pina drilled a deep three to cut the game to eight. </p>
<p id="DBBsLw">The Illini answered right back, though. They forced a turnover and scored at the rim to send its edge right back to 10, which it held at the media timeout with under five minutes to play in the half.</p>
<p id="VlYlkt">Soon after, Daley picked up her third foul of the game, so she took a seat. On the floor, Illinois took a commanding 37-23 lead with 90 seconds left in the half. The run continued, as the Fighting Illini lead grew to 18 before Pina banked in a deep three as the half ended. Nevertheless, the Wildcats trailed Illinois 41-26.</p>
<p id="bGCE3O">Out of the break, Northwestern tried to will itself back into the game, bringing the game all the way to a 49-40 deficit. The Wildcats opened the half shooting 6-of-10 from the field while the Illini only had two field goals midway through the quarter. Pina connected on her third triple to make it a two-possession game; however, Illinois took advantage of the ‘Cats’ foul trouble and expanded its advantage all the way to 59-44 with less than 90 seconds to go in the third quarter. By the time the final buzzer sounded for the quarter, Illinois held a sizable 63-44 lead.</p>
<p id="mVRAYM">By the time the fourth quarter was in full swing, it was too late for any comeback from the ‘Cats. NU tried to cut the lead throughout the fourth quarter and managed to outscore the Illini in the final period thanks to seven points from Hailey Weaver, but Illinois completed its 82-71 victory without much trouble.</p>
<p id="9D5fIc">Northwestern returns to action next Wednesday, taking on Purdue at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/2/8/24066785/rapid-reaction-illinois-completes-season-sweep-of-northwestern-with-82-71-winDavid Gold2024-02-06T15:13:00-06:002024-02-06T15:13:00-06:00BREAKING: Tim Nollan named Northwestern volleyball head coach
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<figcaption>Taylor Hansen/GCU</figcaption>
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<p>A new era has begun.</p> <p id="mZ3cmX">Northwestern volleyball has tapped its next leader.</p>
<p id="MKZNFL">Tim Nollan was named the Wildcats’ head volleyball coach on Tuesday afternoon, Northwestern announced. Nollan comes to Evanston after spending the past eight years at Grand Canyon University, helping the Lopes reach their first NCAA Tournament in 2023. He replaces Shane Davis, who mutually parted ways with NU after eight seasons at the end of the 2023 campaign.</p>
<p id="JQpQJP">“Tim is a proven coach who transformed Grand Canyon into a championship program following successful stops at USC and Pepperdine,” Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg said in a statement. “He’s a winner and is the right fit to deliver a first-class experience to our student-athletes while leading our volleyball program in one of the nation’s premier conferences. I couldn’t be happier to officially welcome Tim, [his wife] Kristen, [and children] Avery, Emma, and Deacon to the Wildcat family.”</p>
<p id="t0PX3E">During his time at Grand Canyon, Nollan guided the Lopes to a 120-92 record, including a 95-36 performance in the last five seasons. Twenty-four Grand Canyon players earned All-WAC honors during Nollan's tenure. Also, Nolan coached GCU’s first-ever Division I All-American: Tatum Parrott.</p>
<p id="3iJCO8">“I would like to say thank you to Dr. Gragg and his leadership team for their belief in my vision for Northwestern volleyball,” Nollan said in a statement. “I am excited to build a program that reflects the elite standards of Northwestern University. It is a world-class institution in a world-class city and my family and I are excited to be part of it. Go ‘Cats!”</p>
<p id="5iqOJw">Nollan takes over a program that has not posted a winning Big Ten record since 1988 and hasn't even reached .500 in conference play since 2005. </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/2/6/24063920/breaking-tim-nollan-named-northwestern-volleyball-head-coachDavid Gold