Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Battle USC Wednesday In Los Angeles
12/28/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - After 10 days off, the Wildcats travel to southern California to take on the Trojans of USC. NU is riding a three-game winning streak after defeating Western Carolina, 78-54, on Dec. 18. The win against the Catamounts marked the highest offensive output of the season for the 'Cats and was its largest margin of victory of the season. USC has had eight days off after defeating San Diego State, 87-54, on Monday, Dec. 20. The Trojans lead the all-time series vs. the Wildcats 5-2.
Date: Dec. 29, 1999/9:30 p.m. CT
Site/(Cap.): Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (15,509)
Television: Fox Sports Net
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Series vs. USC: USC leads 5-2
Last Meeting: USC 75, NU 63 (1965-66 at USC)
LAST NU WIN: NU 38, USC 35 (1948-49 at USC)
Scouting The Trojans
USC, which made its sixth postseason appearance of the 1990s when it played in the 1999 NIT, finished15-13 overall and 7-11 in the Pac-10 last season and returns four starters and six lettermen. Under fourth-year head coach Henry Bibby, the Trojans have won three of their last four games and defeated San Diego State, 87-54, on Dec. 20. Each of USC's starters average over thirty minutes per game and all five average in double figures. No other USC player averages more than 2.4 ppg. The Trojans are led in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 ppg) by Sam Clancy. Clancy and Wildcat Steve Lepore played together at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. USC senior reserve forward Jarvis Turner will miss the game due to a stress fracture in his foot. The Trojans average 11.4 steals per game.
Western Carolina Recap
Northwestern upped its record to 4-5 with a 78-54 victory over Western Carolina. The win was the Wildcats third in a row and amounted to their highest point total of the season. NU was hot from the floor, hitting 55 percent for the game. Led by a career-high 25 points (five three-pointers) from sophomore Steve Lepore, the Wildcats shot 75 percent in the first eight minutes to open a 20-point lead that would never fall below double digits the remainder of the game.
The Wildcats had three players score in double figures. Sophomore David Newman had a season-high 14 points, hitting four three-pointers,while sophomore Tavaras Hardy and freshman Ben Johnson chipped in 13 points each. Sophomore Collier Drayton played terrific defense holding Western Carolina's leading scorer Jarvis Hayes scoreless. Hayes came into the game averaging 18.1 ppg. Drayton was the 'Cats leading rebounder with eight boards and he also dished out six assists.
Last Game Notes
The 78 points vs. WCU was NU's most of the season ... NU shot 61% for the first half and 55% for the game both were season highs ... NU's 30 field goals, 10 three pointers, 23 assists and .667 three-point field goal percentage were also all season team highs ... NU's 12 fouls were a team-low for the year.
Head Coach Kevin O'Neill
Now in his third season at the helm of the Northwestern basketball program, Kevin O'Neill has brought his own brand of intensity, excitement and basketball talent to Evanston. In just two seasons, O'Neill has turned the Wildcats into postseason contenders. Northwestern made postseason play for the third time in the school's history last season when they were selected to play in the National Invitation Tournament. O'Neill's work was nothing short of miraculous considering the 'Cats started three freshmen and played in a conference that had seven teams ranked in the top 25 for most of last season. O'Neill owns a career record of 189-177 (.516) and is 29-36 in his tenure at NU.
O'Neill's intensity translates to the court as pressure defense, and the Wildcats proved last season to be one of the best in the country on that side of the floor. NU finished ranked third in the NCAA in field goal defense (.373) and sixth in the NCAA in scoring defense (57.1 ppg).
O'Neill, 42, knows what it takes to turn around a program. In 1994, he inherited a Tennessee program which won only five games the previous campaign, and took them to the NIT two seasons later.
At Marquette, the two-time Great Midwest Conference Coach of the Year took over a program which, like Tennessee, hadn't enjoyed a winning season in many years. In 1990-91, his first season, he guided the Golden Eagles to a 15-14 record and an appearance in the NIT. Three seasons later (1993-94), he directed Marquette to a 20-8 mark and a spot in the NCAA tournament. The next season, he coached the Golden Eagles back to their glory days by advancing to the Sweet 16 and finishing with a 24-9 record. He left Milwaukee with an impressive mark of four winning campaigns in five years and a Great Midwest Conference championship in 1994. Tabbed as one of the nation's top recruiters, O'Neill has already overhauled the Northwestern program in just two recruiting classes.
O'Neill Win Total
Head coach Kevin O'Neill begins his third season in Evanston. His 25 wins through his first two seasons at NU is second only to William Rohr, who won 28 from 1957-59. O'Neill needs 14 wins this season to have the best mark through the first three seasons at NU. Rohr also holds that mark with 39 wins.
O'Neill at Welsh-Ryan
In Kevin O'Neill's two plus seasons at NU, the Wildcats have made Welsh-Ryan Arena a tough place to play. NU has a 25-14 (.641) home court record under O'Neill. That is a marked improvement to the 14 home wins in the three seasons before O'Neill took over the program.
Lepore Named Big Ten Player of the Week
Sophomore Steve Lepore was named the Big Ten's Player of the Week for his play during the week of Dec. 13-19. Lepore helped NU run its win streak to three games with a pair of stellar outings last week. Against Jacksonville, he scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting (4-of-6 from three point land) as NU won, 67-59. In the 'Cats 78-54 win over Western Carolina, he scored a career-high 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting (5-of-6 from three-point) and added four boards and two assists. Lepore scored 19 of his 25 points against WCU in the first half when Northwestern set the tone for the victory. Overall, Lepore is averaging a team-high 14.4 points per game, has 35 rebounds and 11 assists.
Deren Breaks Elbow, Lost Four to Six Weeks
Freshman forward Brody Deren broke his left elbow in the Nicholls State game on Dec. 11. Deren suffered a radial head fracture of his left elbow in the first half. Deren will be put in a cast for a week and is expected to miss four to six weeks of action.
Age Before Beauty - 'Cats Are Youngest In The Nation
According to statistics compiled by Stats Inc., Northwestern is the youngest basketball team in Division I basketball. NU has the most minutes played by freshmen and sophomores in the country. Jeff Eschmeyer's two minutes are the only minutes played by an upperclassman.
NU is also the least experienced team in America. Stats Inc. rated all 319 Division I basketball teams experience based on eligibility of the athletes and the percentage of minutes played by each class. NU grades out at 1.549 (1.00 = freshmen have played 100% of minutes, 4.00 = seniors have played 100% of minutes). Michigan is fourth at 1.653, while Minnesota is 36th at 2.183. No other Big Ten team is in the top 50.
Johnson Stellar in First Year
Freshman guard Ben Johnson has lived up to his advance billing coming out of De La Salle High School in Minneapolis, Minn. Johnson has started every game as a true freshman and has led the 'Cats in scoring in four games this season.
At the Hoop and Quill Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, Johnson registered nine points against Evansville, 18 (career-high) vs. Nebraska, and 17 against Mississippi State. On Dec. 14 vs. Jacksonville, he equaled his career-high point total with 18 against the Dolphins. Johnson is second on the team in scoring at 11.7 ppg, is 29-of-36 from the line and is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game. In addition, he leads the team in minutes played averaging 32.4 minutes per game.
A Boy Named "T"
Sophomore forward Tavaras Hardy recorded the third double-double of his career on Dec. 14 vs. Jacksonville. He scored 13 points and grabbed 10 boards against the Dolphins. Earlier this season, Hardy scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss to Nebraska on Nov. 27. The next day against Mississippi State, He came within one rebound of his second straight double-double when he registered 16 points and nine rebounds. Hardy leads the team in rebounding averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.
Tough on 'D'
Last season, the 'Cats led the Big Ten and finished third in the country in field goal percentage defense (37.3%). NU was sixth in the nation in scoring defense (57.1 ppg). This season that trend continues. As of Dec. 20, the 'Cats are second in the conference in scoring defense (56.7 ppg) and 11th in the country.
O'Neill's teams have held opponents to 13 points or fewer in a half five times in the past two seasons: Michigan, 2-4-99, 12 points, Oakland, 11-21-98, 13 points, Wisconsin, Chicago State and Wofford, all in the 1997-98 season, 13 points.
Lepore From Way Downtown
According to the Big Ten stats as of Dec. 20, Steve Lepore is second in the conference in three-point field goals made with 30. He is averaging 3.33 per game, which is also second in the Big Ten.
Lepore set a career high with six three-pointers against Florida State. His six threes are the third most in a single game in NU history. He is tied with six other players. Todd Leslie holds the record with seven. Lepore's 13 three-point attempts against FSU is also third most in a single game in NU history. On his career, Lepore has hit 82 threes which places him sixth on the all-time list. Geno Carlisle is fifth with 103 three pointers. Lepore has led the team in scoring in four games this year.
Travelin' Man
Sophomore Steve Lepore spent the summer traveling the globe playing basketball. Lepore was a member of the United States team at the World Junior Championships in Portugal. The Americans won a silver medal and Lepore finished second on the team in scoring with a 10.5 ppg average. He started all eight games and was tops in the team in three pointers, shooting 18-36 for the tournament. Lepore also traveled to Austria with a Big Ten All-Star team in August. The Big Ten team finished 3-3, as Lepore averaged 6.5 ppg and shot 47% from the field.
Old Sophomores
David Newman and Tavaras Hardy started all 29 games as freshmen a year ago. In just his second season, Newman ranks 8th on the career three-pointers made list with 63. Hardy is second on the team in minutes played this season averaging 31.3 per game. He is third on the team in scoring at 9.7 ppg., and is ranked in the top 15 in the Big Ten in four categories - rebounding (12th), blocked shots (6th), offensive rebounds (10th), and defensive rebounds (13th).
NU Signs Young
Northwestern signed Jitim Young (guard, 6-2, 185, Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) to a National Letter of Intent to play basketball beginning in the fall of 2000. Young was the only player NU signed in the early signing period, the Wildcats have one scholarship remaining for this season.
"Jitim is a great get for our program," said O'Neill. "He will have a great senior year and come and make an immediate impact at Northwestern. We hope we can fill our other scholarship with as good a player as Jitim."
Young led Gordon Tech to a 22-8 record along with Catholic North and regional championships last season. He averaged 18.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game. Young was named all-state by the IBCA and all-area by both the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times. This past summer, Young was named the Most Valuable Player of the 5-Star Camp All-Star Game and was given the 5-Star Sportsmanship and Defensive Awards. He is invited to play in the Reebok Capital Classic in April. Young is a four-year honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. Young chose Northwestern over Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State and Marquette.
Wildcats on the Air
All Northwestern regular-season games can be heard on WGN-AM Radio 720. Once again this season, Dave Eanet will handle the play-by-play duties while former DePaul head coach Joey Meyer handles the color analysis. Coach O'Neill can be heard after every game on his postgame show. At home, fans can stay and listen to the show live over the Welsh-Ryan Arena sound system.
The Kevin O'Neill Show
Fox Sports Chicago is the home of the Kevin O'Neill Show. The half-hour show will appear 11 times during Northwestern's 1999-2000 season. The second show of the season will air Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m., before the Wildcats start the Big Ten Conference season at Iowa on Jan. 5.
Hosting the Kevin O'Neill show will be Dave Eanet. Eanet, sports director at WGN, has handled the play-by-play duties for WGN radio the past two seasons.
Again for the 1999-2000 season, fans can submit questions to Coach O'Neill via NUSPORTS.COM, the official internet site of Northwestern athletics. Three questions will be chosen weekly and answered on "The Kevin O'Neill Show." Every fan who has their question read on-air will receive a special gift pack courtesy of Ameritech.
Wildcat Probable Starters
| Pos. | No. | Name (Ht., Wt., Cl., Hometown) | PPG | RPG | |
| F | 32 | Collier Drayton (6-2, 189, So., Lyons, N.Y.) | 1.9 | 3.4 | |
| F | 14 | Steve Lepore (6-5, 200, So., North Olmstead, Ohio) | 14.4 | 3.9 | |
| C | 33 | Tavaras Hardy (6-8, 223, So., Joliet, Ill.) | 9.7 | 6.7 | |
| G | 5 | Ben Johnson (6-2, 180, Fr., Minneapolis, Minn.) | 11.7 | 4.0 | |
| G | 24 | David Newman (5-11, 191, So., Des Moines, Iowa) | 6.3 | 1.7 |
OFF THE BENCH
| Pos. | No. | Name (Ht., Wt., Cl., Hometown) | PPG | RPG |
| F | 3 | Winston Blake (6-5, 191, Fr., Plano Texas) | 5.1 | 1.9 |
| C | 55 | Aaron Jennings (6-11, 200, Fr., Atkins, Iowa) | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| G/F | 30 | Jason Burke (6-6, 189, Fr., Plano, Texas) | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| F | 41 | Adam Robinson (6-10, 210, Fr., Cedar Falls, Iowa) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| G | 44 | Jeff Eschmeyer (6-2, 192, Jr., New Knoxville, Ohio) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| G | 10 | Langston Hughes (5-11, 186, Fr., Waukegan, Ill.) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| C | 43 | Brody Deren (6-7, 242, Fr., Harlan, Iowa) injured | 3.5 | 3.8 |
Quoting KO
On the Western Carolina game:
"I'm really happy with the way our team played. I thought we were more consistent thoughout the game. I thought we've had a good week of basketball where at one time it could have been disasterous. But the bottom line is our guys are playing with a little more confidence and playing a little bit harder. I'm pleased that we now have a little bit of a break, that we can get together and get better as a group again. It always makes Christmas a lot easier when you win the day before you go on vacation."
On David Newman's play:
"It helps us immensely when David Newman plays like he did today. When he hits open shots and finds people and takes care of the ball it makes a big difference for our basketball team. When that happens people play well off of him."
On this year's freshmen class:
"Our freshman class, both on and off the court, may be one of the best groups I've ever recruited. They have to make an immediate impact. They have to give us leadership. They have to be prepared for a tough Big Ten schedule. Without question, these guys will be the cornerstone of our program as we build in the coming years."
On expectations for this year's team:
"We don't know how good this team will be because of its youth. We lost a lot of guys that had played a long time in this league, but what we lost in experience, we will make up for in athletic ability. We'll take our lumps, but we are excited about the athletes we have, and in time, we'll be a good basketball team."
Northwestern When ...
| At home | 4-2 |
| On the road | 0-0 |
| Neutral Site | 0-3 |
| vs. Big Ten | 0-0 |
| Home Big Ten | 0-0 |
| Away Big Ten | 0-0 |
| After a win | 2-1 |
| After a loss | 1-4 |
| Shooting 45% | 2-0 |
| Shooting less than 45% | 2-5 |
| Opp. shooting 45% | 0-2 |
| Opp. shooting less than 45% | 4-3 |
| Outrebounded opp. | 3-1 |
| Outrebounded | 1-3* |
| NU makes more 3s | 4-3 |
| NU has more TOs | 3-3 |
| Scoring 60+ pts. | 2-1 |
| Scoring less than 60 | 2-4 |
| Hold Opp. under 60 | 4-1 |
| Opp. scores more than 60 | 0-4 |
| Margin 1-5 pts. | 0-1 |
| Margin 6-10 | 3-1 |
| Margin 11-15 | 0-1 |
| Margin 16+ | 1-2 |
| Leading at the half | 3-1 |
| Trailing at the half | 0-4 |
| Tied at the half | 1-0 |
| In overtime | 0-0 |
| November | 1-3 |
| December | 3-2 |
| January | 0-0 |
| February | 0-0 |
| March | 0-0 |
| White Uniforms | 4-4 |
| Black Uniforms | 0-1 |
| Purple Uniforms | 0-0 |
| Leading w/5:00 left | 4-0 |
| Trailing w/5:00 left | 0-5 |
* NU vs. Miss. St. on Nov. 28 each team had 32 rebounds.
