Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Opens San Juan Shootout Against Tennessee Tech Tuesday
12/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2006
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Dec. 19, 2006 -- 11 a.m. CT
Northwestern (6-2) vs. Tennessee Tech (4-4)
Mario Morales Coliseum -- Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Radio -- WNUR 89.3 FM (Ray Garcia, Guy Benson and Ryan Morton)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats will escape the cold and spend a week in the sun next week when they travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the 2006 San Juan Shootout Dec. 19-21. Northwestern (6-2) will face Tennessee Tech (4-4) out of the Ohio Valley Conference in the first round at 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday and either Vanderbilt or UPR-Mayaguez on Wednesday.
The 'Cats enter the tournament winners of five-straight and will be looking to match its longest winning streak since 2001-02, Bill Carmody's second season as head coach. NU last won nine in a row during the 1993-94 season.
TTU comes into the tournament with a 4-4 mark. They have recorded wins over Bluefield College, UW-Milwaukee, Bradley and against Southeast Missouri on Dec. 9. Anthony Fisher and Belton Rivers each average over 18 points per game and have hit 47 3-pointers combined.
A Northwestern Win Would ...
The Series
This is the second meeting between the two schools. NU and TTU last met on Nov. 30, 1996, a 72-60 TTU victory in Evanston.
About The Golden Eagles
'Cats Making Second San Juan Appearance
The Wildcats also participated in the Shootout back in December of 2000, head coach Bill Carmody's first season in Evanston. NU posted a 2-1 record at the Shootout that year, dropping its opening round game to Kent State before closing out the tournament with wins over Iona and Evansville.
Moore Heating Up
After a school record-tying performance in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge win over Miami (Fla.), sophomore Craig Moore followed that up the very next game with a career-high 26 points in the 77-75 overtime win over Western Michigan. Moore was 8-of-11 from the field, hit 6-of-9 from 3-point range and 4-of-5 from the stripe. He also had a game-high three steals in 41 minutes of action.
Moore, who tied the school record for 3's in a game with seven against the Hurricanes, has scored 60 points in the last three games (20.0 ppg). He is 20-of-28 (71 percent) from the field and 15-of-22 (68 percent) from long range--compare that to the first five games of the season when Moore was averaging just 6.0 ppg and shooting 23 percent (6-of-26) from long range.
He leads the Wildcats this season with 21 3-pointers and 11.3 ppg. He is fourth in the Big Ten with 2.63 3FG per game and ninth in 3FG percentage (.438).
Moore Best Over Two-Game Stretch
Craig Moore's 13 makes from behind the arc in the Miami and Western Michigan games is the best mark over a two-game stretch in Northwestern's history. The previous mark was 12 set by Geno Carlisle in 1996 and again by Sean Wink in 1997. Carlisle hit 17 in a three-game span and 22 over a four-game--both in 1996--and both school records.
Youngsters Key Five-Game Streak
Over the current five-game win streak, the Wildcats have received big contributions from a freshman and sophomore. Second-year man Craig Moore leads the 'Cats with 14.4 ppg over the last five games and is shooting 55 percent from the field and 53 percent behind the arc (18-of-34). Freshman Kevin Coble, meanwhile, is averaging 12.2 ppg and shooting 52 percent (23-of-44) from the field in that same stretch. More impressively, the duo is a combined 19-of-23 (.826) from the FT line.
Nail Biters
If the non conference portion of the schedule is any indication, the Wildcats are in for one heart-pounding season. Six of the eight games this year have been decided by five points or less, with the Wildcats winning their last four games by a total of seven points. They dropped a 64-61 decision to Cornell to open the season as Craig Moore's three to tie it at the end rimmed out. The other defeat was at Stanford when the Wildcats had the Cardinal on the ropes, tying the game at 53-all with under two minutes to go.
Northwestern In The NCAA Ranks
According to the latest NCAA Division I statistical report released Dec. 12, Northwestern ranks No. 2 nationally in fewest turnovers per game (10.6) and is eighth in scoring defense, giving up just 53.4 ppg. They also are 17th with only 15.1 personal fouls per contest.
The Wildcats turned the ball over a season-low five times in the win over cross-town rival DePaul--with two of those coming on shot clock violations. They also kept the TO's in the single digits against Miami (Fla.) with only nine miscues and seven against Wheaton (Ill.).
Individually, Tim Doyle is 13th in the nation with 6.14 assists per game while Craig Moore is 66th in 3-point FG percentage.
Northwestern In The Big Ten
Big Ten stats as of Dec. 15: The Wildcats are the top defensive team in the Big Ten, giving up a league-low just 51.6 ppg. They also rank third in steals (8.13 spg) and fourth in field goal defense (.389). They have the best assist/turnover ratio in the league (+1.49) and the best turnover margin (+5.75).
Individually, Craig Moore ranks 21st in scoring (11.3 ppg) and fourth in 3FG made per game (2.63). Tim Doyle leads the league in minutes played (37.0) and assist/turnover ratio (+2.78), is third in assists per game (6.25), 25th in scoring (10.0) and 11th in FT percentage (.706). Vince Scott is fifth in assist/turnover ratio (+2.40) and 13th in blocked shots (1.13).
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