Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Hit Road to Battle Buffs
11/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2004
NU Game Notes in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern men's basketball team came into the 2004-05 season with expectations higher than they have been in the Bill Carmody era -- or several eras before him, for that matter.
Northwestern vs. Colorado
Sunday, Nov. 28 * 2 p.m. MST (3 p.m. Central)
TV: Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain (FSN Chicago will pick up the broadcast live)
Radio: WGN will not broadcast this game
An 8-8 record in the Big Ten last year, and the return of all but one letterwinner from that outfit, had most every preseason pollster predicting a first-division conference finish for the 'Cats. Beyond that, some were even saying this is the year that they shake the distinction of never making the NCAA Tournament.
However, what NU learned in three games at last weekend's Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska, was that it is one thing to have a reputation, and quite another to keep it.
The Wildcats went 1-2 in Fairbanks, beating Portland at the buzzer but losing to both New Mexico State and Utah State in games during which they never led. In fact, going back through the last 100 minutes of play, NU has led a grand total of 16 seconds.
"We did not play particularly well in our win or either of our losses," said Carmody. "There are a lot of things we still need to work on. There is nothing tricky or unusual going on--we just need to get better."
Among the concerns that Northwestern has had a week to address:
Offense: NU shot just 42 percent from the field in Alaska, including 29.1 percent (23-of-79) from three-point land, and was 19-of-32 (59.4 percent) from the foul line, with a number of misses coming at critical times in the losses.
Defense: Last year the `Cats set a school record with 238 steals and held teams to 45-percent shooting from the field. NU had 14 steals in Alaska, but allowed New Mexico State and Utah State to shoot better than 51 percent.
Quick Starts: In the loss to New Mexico NU fell behind 11-0; against Utah State, the 'Cats started in a 7-0 hole that went to double digits early.
Some Notes Heading Into Boulder...
NU Probable Starters
G - T.J. Parker (#1), 6-2, 185
G - Mohamed Hachad (#14), 6-4, 200
F - Tim Doyle (#00), 6-5, 215
F - Vedran Vukusic (#11), 6-8, 245
C - Davor Duvancic (#31), 6-8, 235
• Sunday's game represents the ninth meeting between Northwestern and Colorado, with the Buffaloes leading the series 5-3.
• This is the fourth meeting of the teams in Boulder -- four others came in Evanston, and one was played at Chicago Stadium -- and the Buffs have won the previous three.
• This is the Wildcats' first visit to Boulder since Dec. 20, 1967 (a 73-68 CU win).
• The last time NU began the season with four games away from Evanston was 1915-16; this game at Colorado comes on the heels of three neutral-site games the Wildcats played at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
* The Wildcats enter Sunday's game with a 13-23 all-time record against the schools that play in the Big 12 Conference. NU is 2-1 under Bill Carmody against the conference -- in addition to last year's loss to Colorado, the 'Cats have defeated Kansas State twice.
