Inside NU: All Posts by Zain BandoRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2023-05-03T12:29:08-05:00https://www.insidenu.com/authors/zain-bando/rss2023-05-03T12:29:08-05:002023-05-03T12:29:08-05:00What are the Browns getting in Cam Mitchell?
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<img alt="Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dW0t_TRoGQ68ag1Bqy3ueNhJ5iM=/0x0:2252x1501/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72245943/usa_today_19365909.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>The latest ‘Cat headed to the Dawg Pound.</p> <p id="QPMHgg">Despite having its worst season in 30 years, the Northwestern Wildcats still garnered a productive 2023 NFL Draft class — the busiest since 1985.</p>
<p id="rCIavw">The Cleveland Browns added to the Wildcat pipeline, snagging cornerback Cameron Mitchell with the 142nd pick in the fifth round. Mitchell was one of four Cats' selections: <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/4/30/23705076/nfl-draft-adetomiwa-adebawore-cameron-mitchell-and-evan-hull-selected-on-day-three">Peter Skoronski, Adetomiwa Adebawore, and Evan Hull</a>. </p>
<p id="31zwm3">Mitchell will join his friend and former teammate, Greg Newsome II, in Cleveland, along with former Wildcat standout Anthony Walker Jr. Both have played critical roles in NU’s success in recent seasons and are projected starters for the Browns.</p>
<p id="EK7woU">Mitchell was one of the lone bright spots on a Northwestern squad that spent the 2022 season looking for one. Declaring for the draft after four seasons of donning the purple and white, Mitchell still made his mark as Northwestern’s top corner throughout his last season.</p>
<p id="577Bvc">While Mitchell was sometimes inconsistent in 2022, he thrived against NFL-bound receivers such as Purdue’s Charlie Jones and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. His best game of the year came in Dublin during Northwestern’s lone win over Nebraska, which earned him a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week nod after he recorded two pass breakups and an interception.</p>
<p id="fXxys0">In an AFC North that features Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, defensive efficiency is paramount for on-field success. While the Browns ranked 26th in defensive estimated points added (EPA), they were 13th in EPA per dropback. The secondary, featuring Denzel Ward, wasn’t the root of their problems. So, what difference will Mitchell make?</p>
<p id="LSA3QS">He’ll bring lots of physicality as a solid scheme fit in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s unit. Although the former Eagles defensive guru doesn’t blitz aggressively, he uses creative stunts on the defensive line to affect the quarterback and tends to run with man coverage in the back end, employing different varieties of Cover One looks in the middle of the field. That can cater to Mitchell’s strengths as a press corner who excels at mirroring his opponent in man-to-man coverage.</p>
<p id="S7NjjH">Additionally, with Ward and Newsome already in the fold along with Martin Emerson, Mitchell could earn reps working in the slot. Not only does that give him a height advantage as a 6-foot cornerback working against receivers who are typically smaller, it also gives Schwartz some freedom to let Mitchell crowd the box. In the AFC North, guarding slot receivers will be crucial with the likes of Tyler Boyd, Diontae Johnson and Zay Flowers in the division, not to mention Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, George Pickens, Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr., who spend most of their time on the outside.</p>
<p id="zUdpIy">Browns general manager Andrew Berry recognized that the Northwestern defensive back could offer that positional flexibility.</p>
<p id="lrauzP">“We also liked his versatility to play inside and outside [at corner],” Browns’ general manager Andrew Berry <a href="https://twitter.com/marykaycabot/status/1652433628981260290?s=46&t=6IucOZrSJ7rj4VnSxXrDpA">told reporters.</a> “We have a number of guys in our group who we cross-train in that regard just because it gives us more flexibility in our sub-packages, and we feel, you know, Cam fills that role as well.”</p>
<p id="AdE9mS">For a corner, he was also a solid run defender at NU, and he could help buoy a Cleveland run defense that surrendered the eighth-most rushing yards per game in the NFL last year. The Browns require their defensive backs to tackle well, and the release of safety John Johnson III was in part due to his struggles as a tackler.</p>
<p id="N24ybB">With obstacles to playing time ahead of him in the cornerback room, Mitchell could also bring some depth on special teams, as Berry noted. He played almost 400 snaps on special teams with the ‘Cats, so Mitchell’s game should translate well to the next level. He could play a major factor in kick coverage and the return game.</p>
<p id="3Jv0L2">At the present time, Mitchell will have to work his way up the depth chart before finding a permanent role as a starting corner. The Browns already have Ward, who has remained productive during his years in the NFL. Barring an injury or major shake-up in the secondary, most of Mitchell’s snaps during his rookie season may come on special teams. For now, Mitchell makes sense as a developmental corner who will slot fourth or fifth on the depth chart.</p>
<p id="NsKwC6">Nonetheless, the Browns kept their unofficial Wildcat-drafting tradition alive for at least another season, as Mitchell became the latest NU alumni to head up the banks of Lake Erie. </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2023/5/3/23661775/what-are-the-browns-getting-in-cam-mitchellZain BandoEthan SegallIgnacio Dowling2023-03-28T13:10:32-05:002023-03-28T13:10:32-05:00Making the case for Boo Buie, Chase Audige, Robbie Beran to return
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>One more year, please!</p> <p id="Rd99n5">Two weeks ago, <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/">Northwestern</a> concluded its best season in recent program history. After finishing with a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament, the Wildcats were eliminated by UCLA, 68-63, in the Round of 32, thus killing all hope of a long-awaited Gonzaga rematch (sigh!).</p>
<p id="SX2o09">Nonetheless, the core of Chase Audige, Boo Buie and Robbie Beran remained consistent in 2022, <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/3/22/23651442/how-northwestern-mbb-can-maintain-success-going-forward">which arguably spark-plugged the Big Ten’s biggest comeback story. </a>Nearly all Big Ten and college basketball pundits, including those at Inside NU, predicted that the Wildcats would get off to a hot start in non-conference action before teetering off when the new year dawned.</p>
<p id="E8GnBY">Audige, Beran and Buie had little to no reason to stay after an abysmal 2021-22 season, but they <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/3/21/23647264/northwestern-mens-basketball-2022-2023-post-mortem-history-made-every-step-of-the-way">believed in the vision and mission that Chris Collins and his staff were trying to achieve.</a> And it paid off in a major way, as Northwestern finished 22-12, featuring a rivalry win against Illinois and critical road wins against Rutgers and Wisconsin.</p>
<p id="zL4lLr">Not only was Collins the Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Buie earned First Team All-Big Ten honors while Audige was named the conference’s best defender. And the numbers proved it. Beran was also productive throughout the year, averaging over 20 minutes per game and nearly five rebounds. His post presence was also tough to stop, given his nearly 7-foot frame.</p>
<p id="hU3hg2">The Wildcats’ fate rested on the shoulders of Buie, who quickly became one of the Big Ten’s most exciting players. Buie averaged 17.3 points per game, including hitting the game-winning shot against then-No. 14 Indiana, which all but clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p id="eh7Qzo">Then, of course, there’s Audige, who arguably had the most pressure entering the 2022-23 season. He was set to be the team’s most prominent player after Pete Nance and Ryan Young departed via the transfer portal. </p>
<p id="SUJnQF">Despite the low expectations, Audige delivered and proved the national media wrong. The senior guard averaged 14.1 points per game, guaranteeing that Northwestern would remain competitive in nearly every game. His breakout performance came in a Jan. 28 win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, playing nearly 40 minutes while scoring a game-high 24 points in a thrashing victory, 81-61. Win or lose, Audige played hard and wore the purple and white on his chest proudly.</p>
<p id="PZ1c1C">Truly, whatever decision this trio lands on will make NU fans proud. Given all they’ve had to go through — between the COVID season, losing to the same teams every year and missing out on the tournament (until this season) — they’ve done it all. </p>
<p id="E5A5n2">Is there unfinished business and parity in the Big Ten as the transfer portal continues to be the talk of college athletics? Of course, but what makes them unique is that they are program guys. They stuck with the team when several decided not to, blocking out all unwanted media attention and just playing their game how they saw fit. And it worked. It’s as simple as that.</p>
<p id="wnWOR1">As Buie said after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in late January, the team strives for more than to be just a one-hit-wonder.</p>
<p id="sOHTFy">“We always say in the locker room, we’re all on a different mission,” Buie said.</p>
<p id="MfORpk">Is 2023-24 the year of completing the so-called “different mission” and moving one step closer to winning a national title? If Buie, Beran and Audige return to Evanston, the answer could be an emphatic “yes.”</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2023/3/28/23659916/making-the-case-for-boo-buie-chase-audige-robbie-beran-to-returnZain Bando2023-02-15T17:00:00-06:002023-02-15T17:00:00-06:00Where does Northwestern's win over Purdue rank all-time in program history?
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<figcaption>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It’s time to look back in the archives.</p> <p id="MWj0CO">By now, you know that Northwestern shocked the college basketball world <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/2/12/23596634/rapid-reaction-northwestern-upsets-top-ranked-purdue-64-58-for-first-win-over-no-1-opponent-ever">with a 64-58 victory against then-ranked No. 1 Purdue in Evanston Sunday</a>. While the win was massive for Northwestern’s NCAA Tournament resume, it also marked the first time in program history that the ‘Cats had knocked off the top dog, if you will.</p>
<p id="ZWrWEC">The victory sets up a colossal matchup with Indiana (18-7, 9-5 Big Ten) Wednesday night, a nearly impossible game<a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/1/29/23576215/with-methodical-execution-northwesterns-home-court-atmosphere-is-as-strong-as-ever"> to get into, </a>let alone catch a glimpse of from the upper deck of Welsh-Ryan Arena, as the winner moves into second place in conference play. That got us thinking, ‘Where does this win rank all-time in Northwestern men’s basketball history?’ </p>
<p id="wOZ7VA">Even though NU (18-7, 9-5 Big Ten) does not have the richest basketball history or a pattern of consistency, it should be noted that the Wildcats have had their handful of program-defining wins that have shaped the direction that the team hopes to reach eventually – contending for and winning a national title.</p>
<p id="6FcJur">Here are six games that have taken place across 60 years and have seen NU come out as the rightful winner when the chips were down.</p>
<h1 id="PDo4PK"><strong>6. Northwestern upsets No. 4 Michigan State – December 2020</strong></h1>
<p id="4YwWtg">Despite no fans in the building due to COVID-19, the Wildcats took on a Michigan State team primed for a run at the Final Four. Northwestern, which entered the game 4-1, was destined for an early-season upset. The game was far from competitive, as the Wildcats dominated the likes of Joey Hauser, Rocket Watts and Aaron Henry, as Pete Nance’s 15 points led the Wildcats to a 79-65 upset victory.</p>
<h1 id="VcazHR"><strong>5. Northwestern slays the dragon – January 2023</strong></h1>
<p id="0SIKWe">Northwestern got off to a hot start to begin the 2022-23 campaign, which included an upset against the Spartans. But where the season took a turn toward destiny was what took place on Jan. 4, as the Wildcats welcomed Illinois into Welsh-Ryan Arena. In a stunning turn of events, the Wildcats controlled the tempo from the opening tip, as the Illini gave up 15 turnovers and Boo Buie scored 21 points in a 13-point upset. It was the first victory against Illinois for the senior class and marked a small turning point for how Northwestern’s season is currently playing out.</p>
<h1 id="yIA7bO"><strong>4. Northwestern undoes “The Fab Five” – March 1994</strong></h1>
<p id="ZZQGBS">As noted above, the Wildcats have not had many happy moments for their fanbase to cheer about. Still, a regular-season finale win against the Michigan Wolverines propelled the Wildcats and prevented Michigan, led by “The Fab Five,” from a chance at a conference title. Although Michigan consistently made the tournament in the '90s, the Wildcats got the last laugh that year, winning 97-93 in an overtime thriller.</p>
<h1 id="gY2Rif"><strong>3. Derek Pardon sends Northwestern to the NCAA Tournament — March 2017</strong></h1>
<p id="tItsw4">Michigan appears twice on this list, and it’s for a good reason. The 2016-17 season was a whirlwind of epic proportions for Northwestern, and it all culminated with a matchup against the Wolverines, both of which were fighting for tournament positioning. A back-and-forth affair saw the 'Cats with the ball last and ended with Nathan Taphorn making a quarterback-style pass to Derek Pardon that won the game at the buzzer in what would be the last court-storm at Welsh-Ryan Arena, as NU prevailed 67-65. </p>
<h1 id="WRA06j"><strong>2. Northwestern upsets No. 1 Purdue – February 2023</strong></h1>
<p id="BbL2G4"><strong> </strong>This one goes without saying. A court-storm for the ages ensued at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Super Bowl Sunday after Chase Audige hit a late-game three-pointer to give the Wildcats the lead for good, as Zach Edey & Co. were dashed from college basketball’s top spot while also giving ‘Cats Nation hope that yes, maybe yes, this Wildcats team is something special and can make a run in March.</p>
<h1 id="UG6jGU"><strong>1. Northwestern wins its first NCAA Tournament game – March 2017</strong></h1>
<p id="5b7nsh">The Wildcats finally had the monkey come off their back as they knocked off Vanderbilt 68-66 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to earn the program’s first modern-day postseason victory. The game was a slugfest, as Bryant McIntosh carried the ‘Cats with 25 points while going head-to-head with Matthew Fisher-Davis of the Commodores, as the game was won in the final seconds.</p>
<p id="4t4JfP">So, there’s a little backstory ahead of arguably the biggest game in new Welsh-Ryan Arena history. Will the 2022-23 Hoosiers get added to this list? We’ll soon find out.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2023/2/15/23601137/where-does-northwesterns-win-over-purdue-rank-all-time-in-program-historyZain Bando2023-02-02T13:04:17-06:002023-02-02T13:04:17-06:00Throwback Thursday: Dererk Pardon lifts Northwestern to NCAA tourney berth
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<figcaption>Rachel Dubner / The Daily Northwestern</figcaption>
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<p>Dererk Pardon, thank you for making history!</p> <p id="ovZFVW">It has been six years since the Northwestern Wildcats appeared in March Madness. As of a week ago <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2023/1/28/23575211/northwestern-chris-collins-chase-audige-boo-buie-ncaa-tournament">Saturday</a>, NU is as high as a No. 10 seed or one of the last four teams in the field, according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and CBS’s Jerry Palm, respectively.</p>
<p id="PBJSPE">So far in 2023, NU (15-6, 6-4 Big Ten) <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/2/1/23581351/northwestern-is-far-from-flawless-yet-still-very-much-alive">will look to do the same again</a> as it sits in fourth place behind Rutgers, Illinois and Purdue, and looks for win number 16 Thursday night against Michigan (11-10, 5-5 Big Ten).</p>
<p id="BMdggf">But how the Wildcats clinched their last postseason ticket will be talked about for years to come, as those same Wolverines were the victims of the best NU win in recent memory.</p>
<p id="7LLHHI">Going back to 2017, the Wildcats were led by a cast of characters who loved relishing in the underdog role, especially Dererk Pardon. The game was a track meet, almost like a mini-heavyweight fight, if you will.</p>
<p id="RBxFff">Northwestern entered the game searching for its 10th conference win, coming off a 2015-16 season where the team failed to win 10 games in league play. Meanwhile, Michigan was also fighting for its NCAA Tournament hopes, making the game critical for the “bubble watch” crowd.</p>
<p id="T4LkNG">The contest did not disappoint in the slightest. Both teams traded huge buckets in an epic, knock-down, drag-out war that Bryant McIntosh led against the Wolverines’ Derrick Walton Jr. Both players combined for 28 points in front of a jam-packed crowd at the old Welsh-Ryan Arena. </p>
<p id="MnGqJg">With the score tied at 65 apiece and Michigan having clawed its way back to make the game an instant classic, a little over a second stood between both Big Ten foes heading to the most critical overtime period of the season... or so everyone thought.</p>
<p id="goKVU9">In a rarely executed play, if ever completed, Nathan Taphorn was assigned to throw in the inbounds pass and make something happen. That something, six years later, still resonates with Wildcats fans everywhere.</p>
<p id="tFthVP">While football season had not arrived just yet, Taphorn delivered his best Clayton Thorson impression and hauled the pass as far as possible to the other end of the floor, perfectly placed to Pardon, who, with the season up for grabs, laid it up and in.</p>
<p id="QDShbu">Pandemonium ensued, literally. Students rushed to the floor. Chris Collins, who was in his fourth year as head coach at the time, was mobbed by reporters who were just as amazed as everyone else. Better yet, after 49 long-winded years, it felt like a monkey was finally off Northwestern’s back.</p>
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<p id="AbwffE">“You know, we needed to win this game, Pardon told Big Ten Network’s Stephen Bardo afterward. “We told ourselves, ‘We’re gonna die before lose this game.’” </p>
<p id="rAfWhQ">NU went on to lose in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, earning a spot in March Madness and advancing to the second round before having its Cinderella season end at the hands of Gonzaga, as the Wildcats finished the season 24-12 with a 10-8 record in league play. However, years later, the final play and game as a whole serves as the peak of positive emotion in Northwestern fandom, and a reminder of what the program can be.</p>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2023/2/2/23582842/throwback-thursday-dererk-pardon-lifts-northwestern-to-ncaa-tourney-berthZain Bando2023-01-27T13:39:26-06:002023-01-27T13:39:26-06:00Op-Ed: Northwestern is the most disrespected team in the Big Ten
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<figcaption>Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The ‘Cats are continuing to shock the world with each win. Minnesota is up next.</p> <p id="0H2RYK">Wednesday’s 76-63 road win against Nebraska meant a culmination of preseason predictions meant absolutely nothing. Well, at least this season. </p>
<p id="0vXSAx">The Wildcats now find themselves on a quest to have their best season since the Cinderella 2016-17 campaign, where Northwestern stunned the nation and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance. Names like Vic Law, Bryant McIntosh and Dererk Pardon packed the old Welsh-Ryan Arena on a nightly basis to witness the next history-making moment, upset win, or to make the NU fanbase proud of their institution.</p>
<p id="4nczN5">Six years later, something is brewing in Evanston that has not been seen since. I’ll admit that I was dead wrong <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2022/11/3/23435572/roundtable-northwestern-mens-basketball-season-predictions">in my season preview for men’s basketball,</a> and thankfully, I am grateful that the current Wildcats squad is making me eat my words as January winds down.</p>
<p id="ZyHbv9">The ‘Cats currently sit in third place in a crowded Big Ten league that has seen many surprises, but the biggest has to be the sudden turnaround of Northwestern and <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2023/1/26/23572176/just-48-hours-removed-from-an-ankle-injury-ty-berry-personifies-northwesterns-resilience">its never-say-die approach to basketball.</a> Let’s look at the last month for a broader perspective on where this team is headed.</p>
<p id="S5A91c">The Wildcats welcomed an Illinois team that had been the class of the Big Ten for the last several seasons, including winning the regular season’s conference title in the spring of 2022. If you were to ask me just four months ago if Northwestern had any chance of upsetting the “Goliath” of the Big Ten, I would have replied, “no way.” And boom, a stunner ensued. When the buzzer sounded, the final score read 73-60 — the first win against the Illini for the senior class and only the second win against its in-state rivals since the new WRA was built. Little did anyone know what would come next, and a re-invention of the modern-day “Cardiac Cats” was born.</p>
<p id="gNT3kR">Fast-forward about a week or so later. Northwestern travelled to then-ranked Indiana for a weekend showdown in Bloomington. Again, experts gave the Wildcats little to no respect whatsoever, but a nail-biting 84-83 win sent a message to the rest of the Big Ten that maybe, yes, just maybe, “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” could hang with the best.</p>
<p id="8gOI4r">Close losses to Michigan and Rutgers followed, but ever since, NU has found a critical formula to string together some key wins as the home stretch of Big Ten play draws closer to fruition. It seems that the team has jelled well. None of them are headline-printing superstars (except on Inside NU, of course), but the leadership of Buie, Chase Audige, Robbie Beran and Ty Berry has been the glue that has kept this team together. </p>
<p id="bmaLMb">Back-to-back wins against Wisconsin and the Cornhuskers have set up NU for what could be a potentially memorable month of February, all culminating with a Super Bowl weekend tilt against No. 1 Purdue. There’s a great chance that 19-20 wins get you into the dance and a high seed in the Big Ten Tournament come March.</p>
<p id="IDCQnK">For now, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, because the ‘Cats are coming.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2023/1/27/23574343/op-ed-northwestern-is-the-most-disrespected-team-in-the-big-tenZain Bando2022-12-20T22:14:01-06:002022-12-20T22:14:01-06:00Rapid Reaction: Northwestern sweeps Chicago play, beats UIC 92-54
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<figcaption>NUMensBball on Twitter</figcaption>
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<p>Chicago’s Team is now 4-0 in local play.</p> <p id="QPMHgg">For the first time since the 2016-17 season, Northwestern is 9-2.</p>
<p id="NsjbQ9">The ‘Cats made it look easy in Welsh-Ryan Arena Tuesday night, as the Wildcats routed the UIC Flames 92-54 to head into the Christmas dead period on a four-game winning streak. It was the eighth game in which the Wildcats held its opponents to under 60 points; the most Northwestern has had in a season since 2018-19.</p>
<p id="1tZmQL">Like Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats controlled the contest for 38 of 40 minutes, improving to 4-0 against Chicago-area opponents.</p>
<p id="1pxqHG">Chase Audige led the Wildcats with 19 points and four rebounds and was joined by another star-studded performance from Boo Buie, with 16 points. But the game's story came in the form of sophomore Brooks Barnhizer, who contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, including 6-of-8 from the field, showcasing the potential he could produce in the seasons to come.</p>
<p id="FljDm3">The Wildcats dominated defense and it paid off mainly in the turnover battle. Northwestern forced 21 takeaways while only losing nine itself. The ‘Cats also held the Flames to just a 38.6% shooting clip and nearly doubled their opponents in rebounds, 44-23.</p>
<p id="acVatp">UIC’s leading scorer, Toby Okani, contributed six points early as the Flames failed to match the Wildcats basket-for-basket. Despite the Flames’ efforts to keep the game close, the Wildcats created an 11-2 scoring run to increase their lead to 28-16 at the 7:29 mark of the half. The run continued for nearly five minutes as the Wildcats extended the UIC deficit to as much as 21. UIC gave up 15 NU points off turnovers, which entirely changed the game's momentum. These included heroics from Boo Buie and Matt Nicholson, as Nicholson found his footing with a flawless first half, finishing with six points and seven for the entire game.</p>
<p id="xUrAfx">The Wildcats entered the break with their largest halftime lead of the season, doubling up the Flames with a 42-21 cushion. The Flames couldn’t find the bottom of the net in the final three minutes of the frame, as the ‘Cats finished on a 25-7 run.</p>
<p id="r5OHwe">The second half told a similar story: the Wildcats continued to control the paint and saw Ty Berry deliver a highlight-reel tip-in dunk to get the Wildcats to the 50-point mark. Audige continued to impress, fresh off his 26-point outing against DePaul, as he and Buie combined for 35 of the ‘Cats’ 92 points. Buie did not commit a single turnover throughout the game, as he shot over 55% from field goal range in another masterful performance from the NU fan favorite.</p>
<p id="HOVgA2">UIC’s ball control woes continued, as the Wildcats’ defensive pressure forced the Flames into uneven matchups that they failed to break through. Minus a few three-pointers, including a heater from Tre Anderson, the Flames could not capitalize on any comeback bid, as they could not get within a 15-point deficit for the rest of the game. The Wildcats forced 21 total turnovers while scoring 31 of their 92 points off of defensive efficiency and their tenacious effort off the ball.</p>
<p id="cismFx">Northwestern will have over a week off before hosting Brown on Dec. 29 and then jumping back into Big Ten play against Ohio State on New Year’s Day.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2022/12/20/23520042/rapid-reaction-northwestern-sweeps-chicago-play-beats-uic-92-54Zain Bando2022-12-15T11:35:00-06:002022-12-15T11:35:00-06:00Northwestern in the NFL: Checking in on the pros as playoff picture takes shape
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<img alt="Minnesota Vikings v Detroit Lions" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i008Z1P-QfKWZlY6gByRRj-kYs4=/0x0:3829x2553/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71753974/1448640949.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Will Justin Jackson and his Detroit Lions make an improbable playoff push?</p> <p id="3zZiOI">With the seasons changing and the new year vastly approaching, so does the NFL playoff picture. That also means it’s time to find out how the Northwestern Wildcats of the past performed around the league in Week 14.</p>
<h1 id="IxwFFM"><strong>Justin Jackson RB, Detroit Lions</strong></h1>
<p id="PpF6Nq">It would be remiss to not mention the contributions of one of Northwestern’s favorite pro running backs. Jackson signed with the Detroit Lions to begin the 2022 season and has slowly but surely found his footing in the Motor City. After plummeting to the bottom of the NFC North and the league, the Lions have made strides to remain in the division title and playoff race as the season’s conclusion draws closer.</p>
<p id="NDmNfw">Sunday’s 34-23 upset against the Minnesota Vikings prevented Minnesota from clinching the NFC North. The Lions have taken full-advantage of their newfound consistency, stringing together wins in five of their last six contests. While he has seen limited action, Jackson managed to find paydirt on Sunday with a 15-yard touchdown run, in which he dashed past cornerback Cameron Dantzler toward the left sideline and dove just far enough to hit the pilon for the score.</p>
<p id="vlSDMH">In all, Jackson contributed with 19 yards on four carries, as his time was split between Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift. He also caught a pass for 12 yards. The victory improved the Lions’ record to 6-7 and kept hope alive for another week. </p>
<p id="J3ALxG"><strong>Week 15 Matchup: </strong>at New York Jets (Sunday, 12:00 p.m. CT)</p>
<h1 id="E2aVKh"><strong>Ben Skowronek: WR, Los Angeles Rams</strong></h1>
<p id="WCavdl">Despite not finding the end zone, Ben Skowronek has continued to remain productive for the L.A. Rams in 2022. Entering Week 14, the Rams were in a win-or-go-home scenario as they took on their rivals from Las Vegas, the Raiders. </p>
<p id="8zuKU5">The good news is that the Rams hosted the game and tend to feed off the energy of a pro-L.A. crowd. Skowronek did just that, as he saw eight targets come his way from his new recent free agent signee, Baker Mayfield. He took full advantage of that attention to rack up a career-high seven receptions and 89 yards, leading the Rams in both categories.</p>
<p id="Q1dDZY">To put the cherry on top, Skoworonek played a crucial role in helping Mayfield, who had only been on the team for 48 hours, lead a game-winning drive that capped off a rally from a 16-3 fourth-quarter deficit. It featured a highlight-reel catch from the former Wildcat down the right sideline.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIG BEN SKOWRONEK<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVvsLAR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVvsLAR</a> on Prime Video<br>Also available on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/m65o43ZLpv">https://t.co/m65o43ZLpv</a> <a href="https://t.co/0RRRc8cKRa">pic.twitter.com/0RRRc8cKRa</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1601067393001746433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a>
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<p id="Pqec4A">The Rams will look to keep their playoff hopes alive with a Monday Night Football game in one of the oldest NFL stadiums and against a team with a storied history, the Green Bay Packers. One more loss and the season is on ice.</p>
<p id="FU9I91"><strong>Week 15 Matchup: </strong>at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 7:25 p.m. CT)</p>
<h1 id="RTuoGX"><strong>Mike Kafka: OC, New York Giants</strong></h1>
<p id="91xNVD">While he is not a current player, Mike Kafka might be the one that helps lead the Giants to the playoffs for the first time in over six years. His offense’s numbers are staggeringly higher than the years before his arrival, as the team ranks sixth in rushing and averages over two touchdowns per game. Although it’s not flashy, It goes to show that having the same level of consistency, no matter where someone ends up, is the key to a successful rebuild.</p>
<p id="TJ1ssA">Although the Giants should realistically make the playoffs, it’s no secret that the NFL is a different beast and that anything can happen. However, the resurgence of the Giants toward past glory is something to take note of moving forward. A critical NFC East tilt on national television awaits New York in Week 15, which could define the season.</p>
<p id="8ysQMv"><strong>Week 15 Matchup: </strong>at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 7:20 p.m. CT)</p>
<h1 id="beWQqj"><strong>Godwin Igwebuike: RB, Seattle Seahawks</strong></h1>
<p id="B5Jbfo">Due to Kenneth Walker III's injury that kept him out of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, the Seahawks elevated Igwebuike from their practice squad for the first time all season. Igwebuike didn't contribute on the ground against the Panthers, but he was a force in the return game. He returned three kicks for 104 yards, 50 of which came on a return late in the second quarter that helped Seattle score a touchdown to close out the first half. It was a career-long return for the NU alum on just his second return all season.</p>
<p id="3QdHzH">He immediately followed that up with a 35-yard return to open the third quarter. Although the Seahawks fell by a score of 30-24, Igwebuike made a significant impact on special teams in his first game of the season. However, with Walker returning, Igwebuike will be back on the practice squad for Thursday night's crucial divisional showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.</p>
<p id="2FLKs2"><strong>Week 15 Matchup: </strong>vs. San Francisco 49ers (Thursday, 7:15 p.m. CT)</p>
<p id="RsVDaX"><strong>Injured Wildcats: </strong>OT Rashawn Slater (Chargers), LB Anthony Walker Jr. (Browns)</p>
<p id="Eit2EF"><strong>Other Wildcats in the NFL:</strong></p>
<p id="x6qD2R">CB Greg Newsome II (Browns), DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (Colts), DL Earnest Brown IV (Rams), DL Joe Gaziano (Chargers), OL Blake Hance (Jaguars), LB Joe Jones (Titans), WR Kyric McGowan (Commanders), DE Dean Lowry (Packers)</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2022/12/15/23510485/northwestern-in-the-nfl-checking-in-on-the-pros-as-playoff-picture-takes-shapeZain Bando2022-11-26T18:03:42-06:002022-11-26T18:03:42-06:00Rapid Reaction: Illinois defeats Northwestern 41-3 to end the season
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Illinois at Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uMwxKGYgaw6Zm7WFBwcEFdMjClk=/296x0:4438x2761/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71677089/usa_today_19509048.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Somehow, they saved their worst for last. </p> <p id="MfdDOD">EVANSTON, Ill. — A fitting end to say the least. </p>
<p id="MAMIYX">Northwestern (1-11, 1-8 B1G) and Illinois (8-4, 5-4 B1G) met for the Land of Lincoln trophy in the final week of this desolate regular season. The Wildcats, losers of 10-straight, were looking to avoid their worst record in 33 years and pull off a colossal Big Ten upset. Unfortunately for Northwestern, the magic never came, as it fell to the division title-seeking Illini 41-3 and the HAT returned to Champaign for the second-straight season. The win also clinched the Illini's best regular season finish since 2007, back when they finished 9-3 ahead of a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/rose-bowl">Rose Bowl</a> berth.</p>
<p id="4ddoTs">Illinois entered the game on a three-game losing skid, needing a win in Evanston and an upset in Bloomington from the <a href="https://www.crimsonquarry.com">Indiana Hoosiers</a> to clinch a Big Ten championship berth. It wasn’t a prolific offensive day from Bret Bielema’s squad, as DeVito only threw for 136 yards and the team’s 156 rushing yards were short of previous highs from this season, but a stellar defensive showing and five Wildcat turnovers were all the orange and blue needed for the blowout victory. </p>
<p id="pr74nB">After punts on the opening possessions for both teams, Illinois went to work with its bread and butter of ground-and-pound football. After Chase Brown was taken out of the game to examine his ankle, Reggie Love III took full advantage of a newfound opportunity to shine in Evanston today. A 10-play, 70-yard drive gave the Illini its first lead of the game, capped off by Love’s 2-yard touchdown run. </p>
<p id="lcLTT8">Ultimately, the story of the game was the visiting defense. Illinois came into the game ranked in the top five in several defensive categories across the FBS, and turnovers soon began to pile up for the Wildcats. Three interceptions, including two from DeVon Witherspoon and one from Sydney Brown, frustrated the Northwestern passing attack throughout the entire first half. This led to a 17-0 cushion entering the break, as Cole Freeman and Co. failed to produce much of anything offensively. In his second start, it was an absolutely dreadful day from Freeman, as the sophomore quarterback finished 12-22 for a mere 93 yards to go along with four backbreaking interceptions.</p>
<p id="fWjK5A">The second half didn’t fare much better for the Wildcats, as it quickly turned disastrous when a mishandled snap led to a Brown 50-yard scoop-and-score touchdown to put Illinois up 27-0 midway through the third. That would only be followed by another Freeman-to-Brown interception on the next series, which was of course returned for another touchdown, making the deficit 34-0, and sucking any air that remained in Ryan Field straight out of the building.</p>
<p id="FKlF59">The Illini made few mistakes, but the Wildcats defense gave the home crowd something to cheer about late with a Rod Heard interception that set up the ‘Cats and newly inserted QB Jack Lausch in scoring position. </p>
<p id="8bh1a2">Although the game was well out of reach, an Adam Stage field goal gave the ‘Cats their first points of the game with 12:17 left in regulation, but another long Illinois touchdown drive made it a 41-3 result that was exactly what the final score made it out to be, allowing Illinois to retain the HAT for another year as Bielema moved to 2-0 against Pat Fitzgerald in the intrastate rivalry. </p>
<p id="5KUzDA">Northwestern’s 2022 season (obviously) has come to its conclusion, as the ‘Cats won’t take the field again until September 2, 2023, when they travel to Piscataway for a season-opening clash against <a href="https://www.onthebanks.com">Rutgers</a>. </p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2022/11/26/23479379/rapid-reaction-illinois-defeats-northwestern-41-3-to-end-the-seasonZain Bando2022-11-23T12:12:34-06:002022-11-23T12:12:34-06:00Where are we Wednesday: Records don’t matter in Week 13
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Northwestern at Purdue" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xG6tMesF8lAV5HXWrsJlCshl2qo=/0x0:8256x5504/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71666904/usa_today_19464095.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It’s Rivalry Week!</p> <p id="HkSXNG">While the Northwestern football season will be looked at as forgettable, there is one thing to always remember — Week 13 means more. This year, it’s no different. Northwestern will return home after two dreadful road losses to Minnesota and Purdue, two games in which the Wildcats only scored 12 total points and never led in either game.</p>
<p id="3MYOBT">Northwestern’s opponent is a long-time familiar foe in the Illinois Fighting Illini (7-4, 4-4 B1G), who enter Saturday’s matchup with the Wildcats as a two-touchdown favorite and losers of three-straight close losses, all but eliminating any hope of a Big Ten West title and an appearance in the Big Ten Championship game a week from Saturday in Indianapolis.</p>
<p id="KoposU">As mentioned earlier this week, the Wildcats will have to contain the nation’s best running back, Chase Brown, along with finding a way to break through one of the FBS’s best defenses. Easier said than done when your offense can’t compliment you on the other side, right?</p>
<p id="1xuhmy">On the bright side, however, Northwestern has dominated the rivalry for the better part of a decade-plus, including winning eight of 12 meetings since the start of the 2010s. </p>
<p id="G1yI62">Minus 2016 and 2021, the Wildcats have been ranked every year for the Land of Lincoln Trophy since 2015, making the game pivotal for bowl positioning. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, a bowl won’t be in their sights this year, but an upset over the Illini would complete one of the most stunning late-season collapses in recent memory. It would also open the door for Purdue or Iowa to win the western division, pending other results on Friday and Saturday.</p>
<p id="jXEo8E">Northwestern lost last year’s rivalry tilt in blowout fashion at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, as the Illini buzz-sawed their way to a 47-14 win over their Evanston rivals.</p>
<p id="3apMp2">Even though records do matter in college football, head coach Pat Fitzgerald still embraces the challenge of <a href="https://www.insidenu.com/2022/11/22/23473115/illinois-game-week-press-conference-notes">finishing the season on the right foot.</a></p>
<p id="kO3UL7">“Probably every coach in the country talks about the rivalry game in the offseason,” Fitzgerald said at his Monday press conference. “They talk about it in training camp. You kind of put it away until you get to Sunday. Obviously, you debrief on the game, and then you start putting your focus into the upcoming rivalry game.”</p>
<p id="6g8IEm">Fitzgerald making it a teachable moment for his players also remains a priority.</p>
<p id="F1XENM">“You’ll definitely go through the history. You’ll go through a lot of different ways we won this game, learn some lessons from when we’ve ended up on the short end,” he said. “At the end of the day, make sure we do what we can control, and that’s prepare the right way, celebrate our seniors and then hopefully play a very clean, physical game on Saturday that gives ourselves a chance to win.”</p>
<p id="AjsTe3">The Wildcats enter the game having not won on U.S. soil and look to finish the season with their second win, as the team currently sits at 1-10 (1-7 B1G).</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2022/11/23/23475172/where-are-we-wednesday-records-dont-matter-in-week-13Zain Bando2022-11-21T12:29:30-06:002022-11-21T12:29:30-06:00Five things we learned from Northwestern’s close loss to Purdue
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<figcaption>Noe Padilla / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>Hello, 1-11?!</p> <p id="8dIgPb">The Northwestern Wildcats still haven’t won in the United States during this calendar year, and that’s saying something. With a myriad of issues offensively, the Wildcats have struggled to score points, maintain a healthy quarterback and capitalize on forced turnovers. More of those same struggles continued Saturday in West Lafayette, as the Wildcats lost to Purdue 17-9.</p>
<h1 id="kVvoNU"><strong>Northwestern is one loss away from being 1-11</strong></h1>
<p id="qZ4lI5">What was almost unimaginable just three months ago is 60 minutes away from being true next Saturday. The Wildcats had looked to rebound after missing a bowl game in 2021 and felt they had an answer at quarterback in Ryan Hilinski. Unfortunately, nothing went according to plan, as the Wildcats stumbled out of the gate with close home losses to Duke, Miami (OH) and Southern Illinois. Northwestern never recovered in time to steer the ship in the right direction, as fans were fed up after a homecoming disaster against Wisconsin in which the Wildcats gave up 42 points. Ever since then, the downward spiral has gotten worse and it could end in an 11th consecutive loss on Thanksgiving weekend.</p>
<h1 id="BstD3X"><strong>The quarterback saga can’t end fast enough</strong></h1>
<p id="vUdeAw">Saturday’s loss to Purdue brought a new signal-caller to the controls, as Northwestern has seen Ryan Hilinski and Brendan Sullivan sit under center at various points during the season. With the team’s fate sealed and injuries piling up, the team turned to its third-string quarterback, a sophomore named Cole Freeman, who produced under 100 passing yards on the day and failed to find the end zone throughout. It’s hard to judge a player based on his first game, but it’s clear that the coaching staff didn’t put him in the best position to win his first start. Short passes, scrambles for little yardage and throw-aways were just a few of the consistent themes presented in the game.</p>
<p id="NMO2HU">By the time 2023 rolls around, the Wildcats will need an answer at the sport’s most important position or next season will be virtually identical.</p>
<h1 id="lIXmrc"><strong>Evan Hull continues to do his thing</strong></h1>
<p id="C4zhBO">Though the record doesn’t indicate it, Evan Hull has continued to showcase himself as the Wildcats’ best player offensively. For the fifth game this season, Hull rushed for over 100 yards and gave the offense hope that maybe it could give the Boilermakers a scare to their Big Ten West title hopes. Nonetheless, the Minnesota native has been an intricate part of the program for the last three seasons and can always usher in a good performance, even if it means that his team might not always win week in and week out. </p>
<h1 id="AsDfJU"><strong>It’s time for a regime change</strong></h1>
<p id="cbzYDX">Every week, head coach Pat Fitzgerald continues to praise his players for how good of a job they do in practice or what glimpses of hope the team has during games. The fact of the matter is that it is a collective effort amongst every person on the team. It ultimately falls on the coaching staff, especially defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil. It’s time for O’Neil to see the door, if you will.</p>
<h1 id="UA8oed"><strong>There’s always next season </strong></h1>
<p id="IRBaha">Even though it’s Senior Day for the ‘Cats and Illinois is in town, it is unlikely that a 12.5-point underdog would give its in-state rival a game for the ages. Therefore, Northwestern should treat this game to see where it’s at holistically and what changes will need to be made in the off-season, so that come Aug. 2023, things will steadily improve. For now, though, all Northwestern fans can do is hope.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2022/11/21/23470980/five-things-we-learned-from-northwesterns-close-loss-to-purdueZain Bando