Three Storylines to Watch: Northwestern at Wooden Legacy
11/20/2018 2:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Seeking to extend their undefeated streak to start the year, NU is headed to Fullerton, California, to play in the Wooden Legacy Tournament. Here are some stories to watch...
BIG PLAY: Centers Dererk Pardon and Barret Benson have dominated this season, combining for three double-doubles in the first three games. Pardon is averaging 12 points and 12.7 rebounds for the 'Cats, not to mention his team-high three assists per game. Benson recorded his first career double-double on Friday vs. Binghamton and is averaging 4.3 points and 7 rebounds thus far. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins spoke on their play, saying, "It's a nice luxury to have a couple big guys that are veterans that can give you good minutes at that spot."
INSTANT IMPACT: Newcomers Ryan Greer, Miller Kopp, Pete Nance, A.J. Turner, and Ryan Taylor have all made a positive impact just three games into their respective Northwestern careers. All five have appeared in each contest so far, with Kopp, Turner, and Taylor all appearing in the starting lineup. In the season opener against New Orleans, Taylor led the team with 20 points including six made three-pointers. Greer played 24 minutes and stuffed the stat sheet against American with two points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in the second game of the campaign. In last Friday's victory over Binghamton, Nance came alive with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 21 minutes of action. Turner has been electric from the charity stripe, converting 16-of-18 (.889) while averaging 11.0 points per game.
DOMINANT DEFENSE: The 'Cats have held their three opponents to 52, 51, and 54 points respectively thus far. The NU defense kept New Orleans under the 30-point threshold in both halves of the season opener, and followed it up by holding American to just 34.0 percent shooting and 20 second-half points. In the most recent contest, Binghamton's 19 points and 21.9% percent shooting in the opening frame were both the lowest marks for a Northwestern opponent since NU's 96-31 victory over Chicago State last season. The three-game stretch marks the first time the Wildcats have held three-straight opponents to under 55 points since doing the same against Big Ten foes Illinois, Michigan State and Indiana in January 2014.
BIG PLAY: Centers Dererk Pardon and Barret Benson have dominated this season, combining for three double-doubles in the first three games. Pardon is averaging 12 points and 12.7 rebounds for the 'Cats, not to mention his team-high three assists per game. Benson recorded his first career double-double on Friday vs. Binghamton and is averaging 4.3 points and 7 rebounds thus far. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins spoke on their play, saying, "It's a nice luxury to have a couple big guys that are veterans that can give you good minutes at that spot."
INSTANT IMPACT: Newcomers Ryan Greer, Miller Kopp, Pete Nance, A.J. Turner, and Ryan Taylor have all made a positive impact just three games into their respective Northwestern careers. All five have appeared in each contest so far, with Kopp, Turner, and Taylor all appearing in the starting lineup. In the season opener against New Orleans, Taylor led the team with 20 points including six made three-pointers. Greer played 24 minutes and stuffed the stat sheet against American with two points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in the second game of the campaign. In last Friday's victory over Binghamton, Nance came alive with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 21 minutes of action. Turner has been electric from the charity stripe, converting 16-of-18 (.889) while averaging 11.0 points per game.
DOMINANT DEFENSE: The 'Cats have held their three opponents to 52, 51, and 54 points respectively thus far. The NU defense kept New Orleans under the 30-point threshold in both halves of the season opener, and followed it up by holding American to just 34.0 percent shooting and 20 second-half points. In the most recent contest, Binghamton's 19 points and 21.9% percent shooting in the opening frame were both the lowest marks for a Northwestern opponent since NU's 96-31 victory over Chicago State last season. The three-game stretch marks the first time the Wildcats have held three-straight opponents to under 55 points since doing the same against Big Ten foes Illinois, Michigan State and Indiana in January 2014.
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