Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Head to Champaign, Illini Country
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern men's basketball coach Bill Carmody is entering this weekend hoping that his team's ignorance of recent history does not lead to a repetition of it.
Just two short years ago, the Wildcats were making waves-after 13 Big Ten games, they were in relatively uncharted waters with a 7-6 record, and even more impressively they were 16-9 overall. Heading into a showdown with Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston -- on NU's Senior Day, in fact -- the talk went beyond the NIT and even began scraping toward the NCAA Tournament.
The Illini -- which went on to the Sweet Sixteen that year -- spoiled the festivities with an easy win, and sent the 'Cats into a tailspin from from which they could not escape. Road losses at Indiana and Minnesota sent NU to Indianapolis with a 16-12 mark and the seventh seed in the Big Ten Tournament, but in the first round the 'Cats were routed by 10th-seeded Michigan.
Just like that, NU's season was over. Never mind an NCAA bid; even the NIT did not make the call to offer an invitation that had seemed a certainty just four games prior.
Fast-forward to this weekend. The 'Cats are once again 7-6 in the Big Ten, tied for fourth place with Purdue and Iowa in a glutted middle of the pack, but there are some significant similarities and differences from two years ago.
On the plus side, NU's RPI is far superior to 2002 -- the 'Cats enter the weekend inside of 100, according to collegerpi.com, and off of a daunting schedule boast a fair number of impressive wins and fewer potholes.
By comparison, though, there is far less room for error. Whereas the 'Cats felt assured of a postseason bid at this point in 2002, this time they enter the weekend knowing that work still needs to be done. At 12-12 overall, Northwestern needs to go 2-1 in its last three games to head to the Big Ten Tournament -- in, you guessed it, Indianapolis -- guaranteed a .500 record and postseason eligibility. While the schedule in these final three games is favorable when compared to 2002, the road begins again with Illinois. This time, though, it is in Champaign-and on the Illini's Senior Day, no less. After this, NU is home against Iowa and Michigan.
"The only guy who was a major part of that 2002 team was Jitim Young," said Carmody, noting Vedran Vukusic was injured and Davor Duvancic was a bit player while the other regulars had not arrived in Evanston yet. "But I think our guys are eager to take on the challenge of getting a few more wins. I feel a little better at 7-6 this year than I did in 2002."
Today's game pits intrastate rivals who have been on an upward swing of late. The Wildcats actually lost three straight after beating the Illini in Evanston (70-60 on Jan. 14), but since then they have become one of the pleasant stories of the season in the conference by winning five of their last seven games. Illinois, meanwhile, is a superb 9-1 since that loss, with the only defeat coming at Wisconsin; the Illini have won seven in a row, with six of them coming by eight points or more.
GAME 25
Northwestern (12-12, 7-6 Big Ten) at #23/24 Illinois (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten)
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004 * 1:30 p.m. CST
Assembly Hall (16,500) * Champaign, Ill.
The Coaches
Northwestern: Bill Carmody, 4th season at NU (51-61); 8th season overall (143-86)
Illinois: Bruce Weber, 1st season at ILL (19-5); 6th season overall (122-59)
TV: ESPN Regional (Wayne Larrivee, play-by-play; Greg Kelser, analyst)
RADIO: WGN Radio 720 AM (Dave Eanet, play-by-play; Bob Hildebrand, analyst)
The Fun Fact
Wednesday's win over Indiana gave Northwestern a victory against seven of the other 10 Big Ten schools this season (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin). It marks the second time that has happened under head coach Bill Carmody (also 2002). The school record for most Big Ten teams beaten in one season is eight, set by the 1944 Wildcat squad.
NU vs. Illinois
* Today's game represents the 151st meeting between Illinois and Northwestern in men's basketball, with the Fighting Illini leading the series 116-34.
* Northwestern snapped an eight-game Illinois winning streak in the series on Jan. 14, defeating the Illini in Evanston 70-60; story and box score can be found on page 20 of these notes.
* NU's last win over the Illini here in Champaign came on Jan. 9, 1999 (59-46).
