Black Shoe Diaries - Basketball: Northwestern vs Penn StateDOMINATE THE STATEhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47529/blackshoediaries_fave.png2013-03-07T21:54:19-05:00http://www.blackshoediaries.com/rss/stream/36276612013-03-07T21:54:19-05:002013-03-07T21:54:19-05:00Penn State Ends Road Losing Streak at Northwestern
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<figcaption>Substitutions are for losers. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Once again, these two teams provided a suck-fest that resulted in Pat Chambers first Big Ten road win.</p> <p>The streak is finally over.</p>
<p>It lasted until the final road game of the coach's 2nd season, but Patrick Chambers has experienced a Big Ten road win. His Lions were out-sucked by Northwestern, 66-59.</p>
<p>It wasn't without struggle, however, as Penn State coughed up a 12-0 lead and a 44-32 lead before outlasting the Wildcats on their senior night. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall" class="sbn-auto-link">Jermaine Marshall</a> and DJ Newbill led the way with 18 points a piece, but they weren't without their share of frustrating moments (10 combined turnovers). <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99916/sasa-borovnjak" class="sbn-auto-link">Sasa Borovnjak</a> also had his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but he had 4 rather stupid fouls and missed an easy putback down the stretch.</p>
<p>The Nits rebounded nicely after a poor shooting display at Minnesota. They regained their recent three-point shooting prowess, converting 7 of 17 attempts (41.2%). When this team is making perimeter jumpers, they are a fairly efficient unit. Penn State scored a respectable 1.02 PPP despite all of their turnover miscues (24.4% TO%).</p>
<p>Northwestern simply was worse in all areas. They had moments when they figured out Penn State's 2-3 zone, but they inexplicably ignored <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99911/alex-marcotullio" class="sbn-auto-link">Alex Marcotullio</a> (22 points, 6 3PM) down the stretch after gaining the lead. They also struggled against Penn State's pressed and committed 14 turnovers. Their shot selection and committed fouls were worse than Penn State's down the stretch, and the Lions escaped with the win.</p>
<p>All that matters is Penn State got the win. Even if Pat Chambers didn't make one second half substitution. Or if Penn State turned it over 16 times against one of the league's worst defenses. Of if Penn State didn't get one point off the bench.</p>
<p>The Lions still have the 12-seed wrapped up for the Big Ten tournament next week, but hey, they've won 2 out of their last 3 games. Last regular season games is slated for this Sunday at 12:00pm versus Bo Ryan and Wisconsin.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/3/7/4077366/penn-state-northwestern-basketball-final-scoreejg50682013-03-07T18:45:03-05:002013-03-07T18:45:03-05:00YAY HOOPS: Penn State at Northwestern
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<p>Who sucks more? That's about the only way to describe this contest.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/3/7/4076878/game-29-northwestern-live-game-threadejg50682013-03-07T11:00:10-05:002013-03-07T11:00:10-05:00Hoops Preview - at Northwestern
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Seven days ago this seemed like a good chance to grab another Big Ten win. After Saturday's fiasco, maybe not so much.</p> <table width="350" border="1"><tbody>
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<td><b>Who:</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a></td>
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<td><b>When:</b></td>
<td>Thursday, 7:00pm</td>
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<td><b>Where:</b></td>
<td>Welsh-Ryan Arena</td>
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<td><b>TV:</b></td>
<td>ESPNU</td>
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</tbody></table>
<p>Well then. In the last week, Penn State has experienced their highest high and lowest low, beating a top-5 Michigan team at the BJC and subsequently getting their asses handed to them at The Barn three days later (<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln802eosZd1qbuptc.gif" target="_blank">highlights here</a>, please remove your sunglasses before viewing). The Lions shot a measly 27% against Minnesota, throwing away weeks of offensive improvement in the build-up to the upset of the season. They'll have a good a chance to right the ship against a Northwestern team that has been exceedingly poor since <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52438/jared-swopshire" class="sbn-auto-link">Jared Swopshire</a> went down with a season-ending knee injury.</p>
<p>It seemed like everything would be alright in the wake of Drew Crawford's own season-ending injury. The senior led the team in scoring at 13.5 ppg in ten games before the injury, but Northwestern was able to regroup and pull off some nice wins without Crawford. They went to Illinois' Assembly Hall and shocked the Illini 68-54, and a week later they beat a then 12th-ranked Minnesota 55-48. They managed to wrangle one more win against Purdue before the Swopshire injury, and from there it's been nothing but beatdowns for Bill Carmody's crew.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99912/reggie-hearn" class="sbn-auto-link">Reggie Hearn</a> has been Northwestern's best offensive threat all season. The senior guard averages 13.5 ppg, leading a decrepit attack that hasn't reached the 60-point plateau in the last six games. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145863/dave-sobolewski" class="sbn-auto-link">Dave Sobolewski</a> posts 10.3 ppg and 3.9 apg, and <a href="http://www.tredemps.com/" target="_blank">Tre Demps dot com</a> (7.4 ppg) is capable of getting hot, but the Wildcats don't really feature any other players who can take over a game like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/126257/d-j-newbill" class="sbn-auto-link">D.J. Newbill</a> or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall" class="sbn-auto-link">Jermaine Marshall</a>. Depth is also an issue for the 'Cats--they're down to just seven scholarship players, giving Penn State an edge in that department for the first time this season.</p>
<p>The best thing Pat Chambers could have done in preparation for tonight's game would have been to hit everyone over the head with a 2x4 in the hopes of inducing short-term amnesia. I was unable to watch the Minnesota game, and thank science for that, because just seeing that box score--[shudders].</p>
<p>A letdown was to be expected after playing so well against Michigan, but 27% shooting from the field was worse than anyone could've anticipated. Newbill led the Lions with 15 points on 2-16 shooting (egads). The team went scoreless for an entire quarter of the game, registering their first points at the 8:42 mark in the first half. Hopefully, the four days of rest will enable Penn State to play closer to their pre-'Sota levels.</p>
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https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/3/7/4073864/penn-state-basketball-northwestern-previewChad Markulics2013-01-11T00:21:41-05:002013-01-11T00:21:41-05:00Northwestern Makes Swift Work Of Penn State
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Welp drive: engaged.</p> <p>It's still too early in the season to start judging the state of the program, but a loss like this certainly makes you question some things. Northwestern, without star Drew Crawford is, by all accounts, a team that should be "beatable," especially considering the game was in State College. In the Big Ten, road games are as treacherous as they come.</p>
<p>But the Wildcats maneuvered the hazard and then some, embarrassing the Nittany Lions 70-54 in the BJC. Bill Carmody's club featured four scorers in double digits, and was led by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145863/dave-sobolewski" class="sbn-auto-link">Dave Sobolewski's</a> 18 points. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/126257/d-j-newbill" class="sbn-auto-link">D.J. Newbill</a> led the way for the Lions with 20 points, on just 6-19 shooting. Penn State allowed yet another team to play the three-point lottery, a strategy that hasn't paid off very often and certainly not tonight, as Northwestern shot 41% (9-22) from beyond the arc. Against a team that turns the ball over as infrequently as NW does, it's tough to win a game when your opponent takes advantage of the majority of its possessions.</p>
<p>The bigger issue, the issue that will haunt Penn State the rest of the season if it isn't corrected, is the offense. It's not even one specific facet of the offense: the sets looked choppy, the screens were sloppy, and worst of all, the shots didn't droppy. The effort was there, as always, but nothing clicked until it was too late and Northwestern had the game well in hand.</p>
<p>Pat Chambers was <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Jones88/status/289576089028808704" target="_blank">understandably upset</a> in the <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Jones88/status/289578188282134528" target="_blank">post-game presser</a>--and you would be too if your team shot 31% from the field and 3-15 from three. The Nits got to the line 18 times, a big improvement over their first two conference games, but too many free throws came with the game already out of reach. Penn State rebounded well--albeit not well enough to live up to their reputation as one of the top rebounding teams in the nation--but rebounds alone don't win games.</p>
<p>This was a difficult one to swallow for sure, but Penn State won't have too much time to sit and digest this one. The Lions travel to West Lafayette to face Purdue on Sunday, and even though the Boilers are having a down season (they'll come in just 7-8), Mackey Arena is still a difficult venue for any team to visit --just ask Illinois.</p>
<p>There was one saving grace to this game, though--any broadcast that gives us this can't be all bad: <a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1386859/715792162.jpg"><img alt="715792162_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1386859/715792162_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1386573/715792162.jpg">cdn0.sbnation.com</a></p>
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https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/11/3864232/game-15-northwestern-recapChad Markulics2013-01-10T19:45:01-05:002013-01-10T19:45:01-05:00vs Northwestern Live Game Thread
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<p>Without DeChellis here, who knows what will happen. Penn State was swept by the Wildcats last year, but both teams come in without their best player. </p>
<p>Typical open thread rules apply (and please, let's not troll Sippin' On Purple this time, you guys). Let's go State!</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/10/3863676/northwestern-vs-penn-state-live-game-threadejg50682013-01-10T08:04:57-05:002013-01-10T08:04:57-05:00Hoops Preview - Northwestern Wildcats
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<figcaption>Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Two teams that have predictably struggled against top-tier opposition face off to prove which team has more without their all-conference performer.</p> <table width="350" border="1"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Who:</b></td>
<td>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/northwestern-wildcats">Northwestern Wildcats</a> (9-6, 0-2)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>When:</b></td>
<td>Thursday 8:00PM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Where:</b></td>
<td>Bryce Jordan Center</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>TV:</b></td>
<td>ESPNU</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>Penn State and Northwestern are not so different. Both teams were considered plausible candidates to reach some form of postseason tournament in a loaded conference. Both teams lost their consensus best player to season-ending injuries early during the non-conference slate. And now, both teams are struggling to find their way in the best conference in America. So it's fitting that the first win for one of these teams will come against its B1G doppelganger.</p>
<p>This was supposed to be the year for Northwestern, the year they finally broke their duck and made it into the NCAA Tournament. Sure, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52360/john-shurna">John Shurna</a> graduated from last year's supposed-to-be-the-year team, a team that beat Penn State twice in the same season for the first time since Jan Jagla and Marlon Smith were leading the Lions. But third team all-B1G performer Drew Crawford (16.1 ppg last season) returned alongside a solid supporting cast, including senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99912/reggie-hearn">Reggie Hearn</a>, junior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124077/jershon-cobb">JerShon Cobb</a>, Louisville graduate transfer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52438/jared-swopshire">Jared Swopshire</a>, and point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145863/dave-sobolewski">Dave Sobolewski</a>, who, if you recall, torched Penn State for a then-career best 20 points in only his second conference game.</p>
<p>Alas, even the best laid plans of mice and Bill Carmody <strike>often</strike> always go awry. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2012/9/21/3370182/jershon-cobb-suspension-northwestern-wildcats-basketball">Cobb was suspended</a> for the entire 2012-13 season for a violation of team rules, and 10 games into the season <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2012/12/14/3767854/drew-crawford-to-undergo-shoulder-surgery-will-miss-2012-13-season/in/3532015">Crawford was shut down</a> after he was diagnosed with a torn labrum. Northwestern's bubble hopes were well alive with a record of 7-3, which included an impressive win at Baylor just 10 days before it was announced the Wildcats would be without their top player for the remainder of the year. Carmody and crew were forced to press on, but it's looking like they'll be joining Penn State on the "wait til next year" brigade near the bottom of the conference table.</p>
<p>Northwestern has struggled against their first two Big Ten opponents, but considering those opponents were #2 Michigan and #10 Minnesota, it's hard to gauge where this team really is without Crawford. Hearn has filled the role of leading scorer effectively thus far, averaging 14.2 ppg on 52% shooting and 42% from three. Sobolewski is good for 10 points and four assists a game while setting the table for Carmody's Princeton offense, which as a team is difficult to turn over. The Wildcats only turn it over on 17.6% of their possessions.</p>
<p>Penn State has had as much success as Northwestern in conference play thus far, which is to say none at all. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/7/3849004/indiana-penn-state-basketball-cody-zeller-christian-watford-ross-travis">Indiana schooled the Nits</a> in just about every facet of the game on Monday night, so the team's confidence may be an issue. Pat Chambers gave his men the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/9/3856184/pat-chambers-hates-losing-go-figure">"day off" on Tuesday</a>, keeping the Lions away from the court in favor of an extended film session.</p>
<p>On the court, PSU will have to focus on getting to the free throw line more often than they have over the past two games. As seen against Indiana, they struggle to keep up offensively in high-tempo games; doubling their free throw attempt total through two B1G contests (12) should result in a much more efficient attack. Keeping Brandon Taylor out of foul trouble and on the floor will be key--the freshman is too important of a cog to only play 13 minutes like he did against Indiana.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/126257/d-j-newbill">D.J. Newbill</a> could face some issues against Northwestern's famed 1-3-1 zone that piles pressure on ball handlers in the halfcourt, so it'll be up to guys like Taylor and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99913/jermaine-marshall">Jermaine Marshall</a> to find the gaps on the perimeter (especially near he corners) and knock down threes. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99916/sasa-borovnjak">Sasa Borovnjak</a> might have another difficult matchup against skilled freshman center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175083/alex-olah">Alex Olah</a>. The 7-footer has slotted right into Carmody's system, posting a 1.6:1 A/TO ratio in addition to averaging seven points and four rebounds.</p>
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https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/1/10/3858736/penn-state-basketball-game-15-northwestern-wildcatsChad Markulics