Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Will Battle Buckeyes Saturday
1/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2003
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody was talking about Jitim Young's first half against Wisconsin in the postgame press conference Wednesday night, but his statement could have been made anywhere at any time in the last few weeks.
"What do you want from one guy?" said Carmody, noting the junior guard had 14 of NU's 25 first-half points against the Badgers while no one else had more than three. "Doesn't somebody else have to do something?"
Balance is a staple in the Northwestern system; the offense lends itself to that type of play. However, balance has been lacking recently, and as a result the Wildcats are struggling to keep up in the Big Ten.
Consider the last three games. Against Michigan, Young and T.J. Parker combined for 40 points, but six other players combined for just 30. At Minnesota, Aaron Jennings had 16 points but no other Wildcat had more than nine. On Wednesday, Young got help from Jennings in the second half (Young ended the game with 17 points, while Jennings had 13), but NU's third-leading scorer was Parker with five points.
If it seems like substitutions are coming more often in the NU lineup, it is not an illusion. Carmody is looking for a combination that will work and is disappointed that, with February now here, he has not found it yet.
"What is most frustrating is that we have not played well all season," he said. "Even before Big Ten play, I can only think of a few games in which we played well."
GAME 18 -- Northwestern (8-9, 0-6) at Ohio State (9-9, 2-5)
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003/12:15 p.m. EST
Site: Value City Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
Capacity: 19,200
Television: ESPN Plus (Wayne Larrivee, PBP; Bill Hosket, analyst)
(WCIU in Chicago)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Dave Eanet, PBP)
(also on wgnradio.com)
The Fun Fact
NU senior Winston Blake has been struggling of late, but perhaps Value City Arena will be the cure for what ails him. The forward has scored 47 total points in his last two appearances here (22 in 2001, career-high 25 last year) and is 8-of-12 beyond the arc in those two games.
