Northwestern University Athletics
Drew's Views
1/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2010
Hello Wildcat Fans,
We are coming off of a huge win this past Sunday at Michigan. After trailing by 17 points, we came back and won the game 68-62. They took an early lead and it felt like we could be on our way to our third Big Ten loss, but at the end of the first half we were able to gain some momentum and fight our way back. In the second half, we put pressure on their guards by picking up our energy on defense. Basketball is a game of making runs, and after we came back to take the lead, Michigan made another run to go up late in the second half. Our strong defense and discipline on offense helped us make the final push in the end to win the game.
Winning a game at home is a great feeling, especially when the stadium is packed and the crowd is cheering for us. Playing on the road is a much different experience. The other team's students look online to find information about us to use as chants. The arena erupts in cheers when the opposing team makes a big shot. We can't hear Juice calling the play because of the noise in the building. The home team does everything it can to make it a difficult atmosphere to play in. To win on the road a team needs composure; we have to be able to stay under control when we can't hear Coach Carmody. We have to stay confident when the opposing team gets the crowd going, and we need to run our offense like we do in practice everyday.
There is no better feeling than silencing 10,000 people cheering against you by hitting a game-changing 3-pointer. It is amazing how quickly a stadium can go from an eruption of cheers and excitement to complete silence as the ball goes through the net. The other great feeling is the point in the game when you realize you have won. It is the moment when all of the fans stand up out of their seats and begin to file out of the arena. I don't like to disappoint people, but I can make an exception for winning a game on the road and seeing the fans' upset faces.
Sunday's game was a big win for us, but we have two more tough games coming up this week. We play Wisconsin at home on Wednesday and Purdue at home on Saturday. With the strength of the conference this year, every game is important and we have to come out every night ready to play. We have hopes of making the NCAA tournament this year, and we need a good Big Ten performance to achieve our goal. That means that we are going to need your support this week to make Welsh-Ryan Arena a difficult place to play for our opponents. We love to have you there cheering for us, and we will do our best to make your game experience worthwhile!
Playing college basketball is an unbelievable blessing. As a kid I watched many college games and it was my dream to be able to play on that level. Now that I have realized my dream, playing Division I basketball at a great school, sometimes I step back to look at what I've achieved. I am so thankful for the position I'm in, and I am doing my best to make my experience successful and unforgettable. I hope that as we continue this season, you will continue to support us and help us make this a memorable season!
Until Next Time!
