Northwestern University Athletics
Men's Basketball Resumes Big Ten Play
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
January 26, 1999
Northwestern Wildcats (11-5, 3-3 Big Ten) vs. #14 Purdue Boilermakers (15-5, 3-3 Big Ten)
Wed., Jan. 27, 1999 -- 7 p.m. CST
Radio: WGN AM 720
TV: ESPN Regional (WJYS in Chicago)
Northwestern resumes Big Ten Conference play on Wednesday night as the Wildcats host 14th-ranked Purdue. NU is coming off a 76-47 victory versus Texas Pan-American on Saturday.
The Wildcats controlled the game throughout, leading by as much as 20 points in the first half (33-13) before taking a 37-21 lead into the locker room. The lead steadily increased throughout the second half, reaching as much as 32 points (76-44) with 2:33 remaining.
Evan Eschmeyer led the way with team highs of 18 points and eight rebounds. Sean Wink hit three three-pointers en route to an 11-point, four-assist performance. David Newman had nine points and four assists while Julian Bonner added eight points, four assists and tied his career-best with seven boards. The Wildcats also received excellent play from the bench, led by junior center Aron Molnar, who posted a season-best nine points in addition to four rebounds. Steve Lepore poured in eight points while Danny Allouche tied his season high of seven points in addition to three assists.
The 'Cats defense held UTPA's Brian Merriweather, who entered the game as the nation's leading scorer with 25.3 points per game, to just 14 points.
Northwestern-Purdue, The Series
This will be the 141st all-time meeting between the two schools, and the only time they will meet during the regular season. Purdue holds a 107-33 series lead.
Wildcat Probable Starters
Pos. No. Name (height, weight, class, hometown) ppg rpg F #33 Tavaras Hardy (6-8, 210, Fr., Joliet, Ill.) 8.1 4.9 C #42 Evan Eschmeyer (6-11, 255, Sr.-6, New Knoxville, Ohio) 20.3 10.9 G #4 Julian Bonner (6-1, 198, Sr., Detroit, Mich.) 4.2 2.6 G #22 Sean Wink (6-2, 176, So., Brea, Calif.) 10.0 2.1 G #24 David Newman (5-11, 165, Fr., Des Moines, Iowa) 8.7 2.1Head Coach Kevin O'NeillOff the bench F #5 Joe Harmsen (6-9, 248, Sr., Fond du Lac, Wis.) 0.9 1.8 G #10 Matt Kammrath (6-0, 185, Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) 0.0 0.3 F #11 Danny Allouche (6-5, 200, Sr., Omer, Israel) 3.1 2.0 F #14 Steve Lepore (6-5, 200, Fr., North Olmstead, Ohio) 5.1 3.7 G #31 Nate Pomeday (6-2, 201, Sr., Cedar Grove, Wis.) 1.4 0.9 G #32 Collier Drayton (6-1, 175, Fr., Lyons, N.Y.) 0.0 3.0 C #35 Aron Molnar (6-11, 242, Jr., Mississauga, Ontario) 2.3 2.4 G #44 Jeff Eschmeyer (6-2, 192, So., New Knoxville, Ohio) 0.0 0.3
Kevin O'Neill (McGill, 1979) is in his second season at the helm of the Wildcat basketball program. This is his 11th season as head coach at the Division I level and 13th overall as a collegiate head coach. He also has served as head coach at North Country CC (1980-82), Marycrest (1982-83), Marquette (1989-94) and Tennessee (1994-97).
O'Neill owns a 21-22 record at NU and a 161-142 record as a Division I head coach. Known as one of the best recruiters in the nation, O'Neill resurrected the Marquette and Tennessee programs, taking two teams which had not enjoyed recent success to postseason play.
Eschmeyer is Nation's Only 20-10 Player
According to the Jan. 19 NCAA stat rankings, Evan Eschmeyer is the only player in the country currently averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Overall, there are 36 players in Division I who are averaging 20.0 or more points per game and 14 players averaging 10.0 or more rebounds per game.
Best Big Ten Start Since 1967-68
The turnaround of the Wildcat program under head coach Kevin O'Neill is currently making a dent in the Wildcat history books.
This marks the first time since the 1967-68 season the Wildcats have started a Big Ten season at least 3-3. The '67-'68 squad opened the conference campaign 4-2.
Also, the 'Cats own a 11-5 overall mark for the first time since 1982-83. Since NU's last Big Ten title in 1932-33, only two Wildcat squads opened the year with a 12-5 record ('45-'46, '82-'83).
One of the Nation's Top Defenses
The biggest reason for Northwestern's good start has been the team's work on the defensive end of the floor. The 'Cats enter the Purdue game ranked first in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense and second in scoring defense, holding opponents to .360 from the field and just 55.5 points per game. In the Jan. 19 national stats, NU ranks sixth in field goal percentage defense and seventh in scoring defense.
Northwestern also leads the Big Ten in three-point field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just .283 from beyond the arc. Here's what NU has done to opposing offenses this season:
* Held Oakland, currently averaging 10.1 threes per game, to just three three-pointers.
* Held #21 Iowa (76 ppg entering the game) to just 52 points.
* Held #16 Minnesota (74 ppg entering game) to 55 points. Also held UM to .311 shooting (.486 entering game).
* Held St. Francis' Ray Minlend, currently second in the NCAA at 24.5 ppg, to just 11 points.
* Held UT-Pan Am's Brian Merriweather, who entered the game as the nation's leading scorer at 25.3 ppg, to just 14 points.
Best Team in the State of Illinois
The Wildcats currently own the best overall record and RPI rating among Division I teams in the state of Illinois at 11-5 overall and an RPI of 43. Illinois State is second with a 12-8 mark and an RPI of 50. DePaul is third at 9-8 overall and rated 69th in the country.
Schedule Change
ESPN has selected the Northwestern at Iowa men's basketball game as one of its "wildcard" selections. The game will now take place on Tue., Feb. 23, and will tipoff at 6:30 p.m. CST. ESPN will broadcast the game to a national audience. The contest originally was scheduled for 7 p.m. on February 24.
Eschmeyer Leads the Big Ten -- Times Three
Evan Eschmeyer currently stands atop the Big Ten in three statistical categories: rebounds (10.9 rpg), field goal percentage (.605) and double-doubles (10). He also is third in the Big Ten in scoring (20.3 ppg).
According to the latest NCAA stats, "Esch" ranks ninth in field goal pct., 10th in rebounding and is tied for 27th in scoring. He enters the Purdue game with 39 career double-doubles and has scored in double figures 57-straight games.
More on Eschmeyer
Evan Eschmeyer has scored 950 career points against Big Ten Conference competition. He is looking to become just the second Wildcat ever, and the 57th in conference history, to record 1,000 Big Ten points. Billy McKinney is the only NU player to accomplish the feat.
On December 29, he was named to the mid-season top 30 team for the John Wooden Award, which is presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club to the national player of the year. Eschmeyer was one of only two true centers to earn a spot on the list (Washington's Todd MacCulloch).
On January 13, he recorded just the second triple-double in program history with his 27-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance at Indiana. It also was the first-ever triple-double posted in IU's Assembly Hall.
He has been named Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season. On December 28, he was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after recording double-doubles in NU's games against Boston College (23p, 10r) and Long Beach State (16p, 13r). On January 11, he earned the honor again after leading NU to wins at 16th-ranked Minnesota (24p, 15r) and at Illinois (16p, 17r, 5a). Eschmeyer's 21 rebounds vs. Penn State on January 20 is the most in the Big Ten this season.
Eschmeyer's league-leading 10 double-doubles is twice as many as his closest Big Ten competitor. Indiana's William Gladness is second in the conference with five double-doubles.
Eschmeyer Nearing NU Rebound Record
Evan Eschmeyer is fast approaching the Northwestern career rebound record, entering the Purdue game with 877 career boards. He needs just nine rebounds to break the record of 885 held by Kevin Rankin. Within the next couple of weeks, "Esch" also could take over sole possession of second place in NU history in free throws, blocked shots and scoring. Here's where Eschmeyer currently ranks among NU's all-time career leaders:
Category Eschmeyer Next Up FG Pct. 1st - .600 --- FT Attempts 1st - 737 --- Rebounds 2nd - 877 Kevin Rankin (885) FT Made 2nd - 466 Cedric Neloms (494) Blocked Shots 3rd - 112 Jim Pitts (123) Field Goals 4th - 548 Kevin Rankin (553) Scoring 4th - 1,562 Kevin Rankin (1,575), Jim Stack (1,583)Wink Leads the Big Ten in Three-Pointers
Sophomore guard Sean Wink enters the week atop the Big Ten in three pointers made, averaging 2.81 per game. In his last 13 contests, Wink has hit 37-of-79 (.468) from three-point range. For his career, Wink is shooting .437 (131-300) from three-point range. His 131 career threes rank second in NU history. Todd Leslie holds the all-time Wildcat record with 203 treys.
Against Boston College, Wink hit 6-of-12 from three-point range, marking the fifth time in his brief NU career that he has hit six three-pointers. All five of those games have come at home. Wink also hit five three-pointers against Long Beach State and four at Minnesota, at Illinois and at Indiana. NU, as a team, is second in the Big Ten in three pointers, averaging 6.9 per game.
Quick Hits
NU has either been tied or led at halftime in 15 of 16 games this season. The only time the 'Cats have trailed at the break was Indiana.
NU's wins at Minnesota and Illinois marked the first time since 1993-94 that the 'Cats had won two-straight Big Ten road games. NU's win at No. 16 Minnesota was its first over a ranked team since 1993-94 (97-93 vs. No. 7 Michigan).
Home Court Advantage
In Kevin O'Neill's two seasons as head coach, the Wildcats have made Welsh-Ryan Arena a tough place to play. NU has a 19-9 (.679) home court record under O'Neill, which is a marked improvement considering that, in the three seasons prior to O'Neill's arrival in Evanston, NU won just 14 home games.
Big Ten Stat Leaders
Here's where the 'Cats rank among the Big Ten and NCAA stat leaders (Big Ten as of Jan. 25, NCAA as of Jan. 18):
Individual - All Games
Scoring: Evan Eschmeyer - 3rd Big Ten, t27th NCAA (20.3 ppg)
Rebounds: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st Big Ten, 10th NCAA (10.9 rpg)
FG Pct.: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st Big Ten, 9th NCAA (.605)
Double-Doubles: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st Big Ten (10)
Assists: David Newman - 10th (3.1 apg)
FT Pct.: David Newman - 4th (.816); Evan Eschmeyer - 12th (.735)
3pt Made: Sean Wink - 1st (2.81 tpg)
3pt Pct.: Sean Wink - 5th (.402)
Blocks: Evan Eschmeyer - 5th (1.75 bpg)
Offensive Rebs: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st (3.7 orpg)
Defensive Rebs: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st (7.2 drpg)
Team - All Games
3pt Pct. Defense: 1st (.283)
FG Pct. Defense: 1st Big Ten, 6th NCAA (.360)
3pt FG Made: 2nd (6.9 tpg)
Scoring Defense: 2nd Big Ten, 7th NCAA (55.5 ppg)
Rebound Margin: 2nd (+5.4 rpg)
Assists: 2nd (16.1 apg)
3pt Pct. Offense: 4th (.365)
Blocked Shots: 4th (3.8 bpg)
Scoring Margin: 5th (+7.9 ppg)
In Memoriam
The Wildcats will wear a patch on the left corner of their shorts for the remainder of the season bearing the initials "D.P." The patch is in memory of Don Pomeday, father of senior guard Nate Pomeday, who passed away on December 9.
Letter-of-Intent Signees
During the November early signing period, the Wildcats signed five players to National Letters of Intent to begin playing basketball at NU next season:
Winston Blake (F, 6-5, 180, Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) Brody Deren (F, 6-7, 223, Harlan, Iowa/Harlan Comm.) Aaron Jennings (C, 6-11, 200, Atkins, Iowa/Benton Comm.) Ben Johnson (G, 6-3, 180, Minneapolis, Minn./De La Salle) Adam Robinson (F, 6-10, 210, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls)Johnson (No. 60) and Blake (No. 95) are each ranked among the top 100 players in the country by Bob Gibbons. Deren was "Southwest Iowa Player of the Year" as a junior, while Jennings and Robinson were both named All-Americans this season by various publications.
Coaches vs. Cancer
Kevin O'Neill is one of several coaches across the country who have joined together to help the fight against cancer. Fans are asked to pledge a certain amount of money for each assist the Wildcats make throughout the 1998-99 season. O'Neill will personally donate $5 for every assist this season to Coaches vs. Cancer. Fans can pick up pledge forms and brochures in the Welsh-Ryan Arena lobby during all home games.
Ask the Coach
Fans have an opportunity to submit questions to Kevin O'Neill and have them answered either on his weekly television show on Fox Sports Chicago. Go to the Wildcat web site at NUSPORTS.COM and click on the "Ask the Coach" link.
Wildcats on the Air
Once again this season, WGN-AM 720 will be the radio home of Wildcat basketball. Dave Eanet handles the play-by-play chores while Joey Meyer will handle the color analysis. Every Wildcat game this season will be aired by WGN.
The Kevin O'Neill Show
Once again this season, Fox Sports Chicago will air "The Kevin O'Neill Show." Dave Eanet, play-by-play announcer for NU football and basketball on WGN radio, hosts the half-hour show. The next show airs Tue., Feb. 2, at 3:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. CST.
Wildcats on the Web
Complete statistics and releases on Wildcat basketball will be available throughout the season on Northwestern's official internet site. The web address is WWW.NUSPORTS.COM. Information on the Big Ten Conference is available on the conference web site at www.bigten.org.
Wildcat Season Bests
#4 Julian Bonner
Points: 8 four times,
last vs. UT-Pan Am. (1/23/99)
Rebounds: 7 vs. UT-Pan American (1/23/99)
Assists: 6 at Minnesota (1/6/99)
Steals: 4 vs. UT-Pan American (1/23/99)
#5 Joe Harmsen
Points: 2 five times,
last vs. Iowa (1/3/99)
Rebounds: 4 three times,
last at Seton Hall (12/19/98)
#10 Matt Kammrath
Points: none
Rebounds: 1 vs. UT-Pan American (1/23/99)
#11 Danny Allouche
Points: 7 vs. UW-Milwaukee (12/14/98)
and vs. UT-Pan American (1/23/99)
Rebounds: 5 vs. Long Beach State (12/27/98)
#14 Steve Lepore
Points: 13 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
Rebounds: 12 vs. St. Francis (11/25/98)
Assists: 5 vs. St. Francis (11/25/98) and
Furman (11/28/98)
Steals: 3 vs. Maine (11/17/98)
#22 Sean Wink
Points: 20 vs. Boston College (12/23/98)
Rebounds: 5 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
Assists: 4 at Seton Hall (12/19/98)
3pt. FG: 6 vs. Boston College (12/23/98)
#24 David Newman
Points: 22 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
Rebounds: 5 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
Assists: 8 vs. Maine (11/17/98)
3pt. FG: 5 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
#31 Nate Pomeday
Points: 6 vs. UW-Milwaukee (12/14/98)
Rebounds: 2 five times,
last vs. UT-Pan American (1/23/99)
3pt. FG: 2 vs. UW-Milwaukee (12/14/98)
#32 Collier Drayton
Points: none
Rebounds: 3 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
#33 Tavaras Hardy
Points: 18 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
Rebounds: 10 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
Assists: 5 vs. Boston College (12/23/98)
#35 Aron Molnar
Points: 9 vs. UT-Pan American (1/23/99)
Rebounds: 7 vs. Penn State (1/20/99)
#42 Evan Eschmeyer
Points: 28 vs. St. Francis (11/25/98) and
vs. Dayton (12/5/98)
Rebounds: 21 vs. Penn State (1/20/99)
Assists: 10 at Indiana (1/13/99)
Blocks: 4 vs. Penn State (1/20/99)
#44 Jeff Eschmeyer
Points: none
Rebounds: 1 vs. UW-Milwaukee (12/14/98)
Wildcat Career Bests
#4 Julian Bonner
Points: 23 vs. Siena (11/22/97)
Rebounds: 7 vs. DePaul (12/6/97) and
vs. Texas Pan-American (1/23/99)
Assists: 9 three times,
last vs. Michigan State (1/31/98)
Steals: 4 vs. Texas Pan-American (1/23/99)
#5 Joe Harmsen
Points: 21 at Wisconsin (1/29/97)
Rebounds: 10 vs. Chicago State (1/27/98) and
vs. Penn State (2/8/98)
#10 Matt Kammrath
Points: 4 vs. Central Michigan (11/26/96)
and Penn State (1/25/97)
Rebounds: 1 five times,
last vs. Texas Pan-Am. (1/23/99)
#11 Danny Allouche
Points: 20 vs. Kansas State (2/1/97)
Rebounds: 7 vs. Nebraska (1/22/97)
Assists: 4 vs. Oklahoma State (2/13/96)
* all were recorded during career at Missouri
#14 Steve Lepore
Points: 13 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
Rebounds: 12 vs. St. Francis (11/25/98)
Assists: 5 vs. St. Francis (11/25/98) and
Furman (11/28/98)
Steals: 3 vs. Maine (11/17/98)
#22 Sean Wink
Points: 24 vs. Ohio State (2/21/98)
Rebounds: 7 at Illinois (2/18/98)
Assists: 4 four times,
last vs. Texas Pan-Am. (1/23/99)
3pt. FG: 6 five times,
last vs. Boston College (12/23/98)
#24 David Newman
Points: 22 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
Rebounds: 5 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
Assists: 8 vs. Maine (11/17/98)
3pt. FG: 5 vs. Furman (11/28/98)
#31 Nate Pomeday
Points: 18 vs. Michigan State (2/19/97)
Rebounds: 6 vs. Md.-Eastern Shore (11/29/97)
3pt. FG: 4 five times,
last vs. Iowa (2/25/98)
#32 Collier Drayton
Points: none
Rebounds: 3 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
#33 Tavaras Hardy
Points: 18 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
Rebounds: 10 vs. Oakland (11/21/98)
Assists: 5 vs. Boston College (12/23/98)
#35 Aron Molnar
Points: 12 at Illinois (1/10/98)
Rebounds: 7 vs. Sam Houston State (11/26/97)
and vs. Penn State (1/20/99)
#42 Evan Eschmeyer
Points: 37 vs. Penn State (2/8/98)
Rebounds: 21 vs. Penn State (1/20/99)
Assists: 10 at Indiana (1/13/99)
Blocks: 5 at Indiana (2/22/97) and
at Seton Hall (12/9/95)
#44 Jeff Eschmeyer
Points: 2 vs. Minnesota (1/7/98)
Rebounds: 4 at Iowa (1/3/98)
#4 Julian Bonner - Has started the past nine games after coming off the bench in the first seven ... Started every game last season at point guard ... Hit the game-winning three pointer against St. Francis with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock ... Also hit a running jumper with 0.6 seconds left in overtime to defeat Penn State ... Ranks seventh in NU history with 252 career assists ... Ranks fifth in NU history with 95 career three pointers.
#5 Joe Harmsen - Reserve power forward/center ... Grabbed season-high four rebounds against Oakland, Dayton and Seton Hall.
#10 Matt Kammrath - Walk-on ... Saw game action vs. Oakland, UWM and UT-Pan Am this season ... Lone rebound came vs. UT-Pan Am.
#11 Danny Allouche - Tallied season-bests of seven points vs. UWM and UT-Pan Am ... Collected season-best five rebounds against Long Beach State ... Reserve forward ... Sat out last season after transferring from Missouri.
#14 Steve Lepore - Started the first seven games ... Hit three three-pointers at Minnesota and at Indiana ... Had six boards in the win at Illinois ... Is 9-of-18 (.500) from three-point range in NU's five Big Ten games ... Hit a running jumper with eight seconds left against Penn State to send the game into overtime.
#22 Sean Wink - NU's top three-point threat ... Has hit 131 career three pointers, second-most in NU history ... Hit six three-pointers against Boston College, tying his career best ... Also nailed five three-pointers against Long Beach State and four treys on four other occasions ... Is 16-of-33 (.485) from three-point range against Big Ten competition this year ... Set the NU single-season three-point mark (86) last season as a freshman.
#24 David Newman - Starting point guard as a true freshman ... Tallied a season-best 22 points and five rebounds against Furman ... Dished eight assists in his collegiate debut against Maine ... Has come through in several clutch situations this season, especially from the free throw line in the final minute.
#31 Nate Pomeday - Reserve shooting guard ... Plays with a lot of heart and emotion ... One of the team's most vocal leaders ... Hit at least one three pointer in four of his last nine games, all coming off the bench ... Will miss at least the next three weeks after suffering a sprained right knee in the first half against Texas Pan-American.
#32 Collier Drayton - Extremely quick athlete ... Is a stronger defensive player than offensive ... Grabbed three rebounds in seven minutes against Oakland.
#33 Tavaras Hardy - Scored in double figures three of his first five collegiate games ... Tallied first career double-double (18p, 10r) vs. Oakland ... Has a nice outside touch from about 15-feet ... Had 13 points at Indiana, his highest point total since the Oakland game ... Has recorded six or more rebounds in four of the last six games.
#35 Aron Molnar - Backup center ... Tied his career best with seven boards against Penn State ... Posted season-best nine points against UT-Pan Am ... Pulled down five rebounds in 15 minutes against Oakland and five boards in 10 minutes against Boston College ... Also had three boards in nine minutes against Dayton ... One of the most improved, if not the most improved, players on the team.
#42 Evan Eschmeyer - National Player of the Year candidate ... One of only two true centers on the mid-season top candidate list for the Wooden Award ... Ranks third in the country with 10 double-doubles this season, including a triple-double at Indiana ... Has scored 20-or-more points in eight games this season ... Is the only player in Division I averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game ... Also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in free throw percentage (12th, .735) ... Enters the Purdue game having scored in double-figures 57-straight games ... Has 39 career double-doubles.
#44 Jeff Eschmeyer - Younger brother of Evan Eschmeyer ... Walked onto the squad last season ... Saw action against Oakland, UWM and UT-Pan Am ... Lone rebound came vs. UWM.
