Northwestern needs this game more than Ohio State does to get them into the NCAA Tournament. With the way OSU has been playing lately, I smell an upset at Evanston. I hope I'm dead wrong.

Wont' be easy for OSU unless they have their heads screwed on straight. Yes, NW playing for their life (NCAA). But the Wisky loss might have OSU focused...hopefully. Man for man, this is a complete mismatch. OSU absolutely dismantled NW earlier. But this is not the same OSU team. I hope they show up to play. Going to be interesting game.

Mental toughness check for OSU.

Prescott;1097382 wrote:Mental toughness check for OSU.

Which is scarey because I think that is the biggest weakness of this game.

I honestly thought the MSU loss was going to be the refocus game, but I was wrong. I am not going to make a prediction, but with NW at home, playing for their first ever NCAA bid, with Shurna and Crawford playing as well as they ever have, let's just say I'm not very optimistic. I just don't see any chemistry with this team as I did earlier on, and I don't know how they get it back. Craft is playing harder than ever, and Thomas and Buford are giving there all. Smith, Jr. has been non-existent as of late, and Sully just looks tired, frustrated, and apathetic. However, maybe they'll surprise the hell out of me and make a nice run. We'll see.

Luckily it's a weekday game so Buford may actually show up. However the team will probably shoot 30% from the line that doesn't change in distance and you get to shoot unguarded shots from.

Buford was OK yesterday. 15 points on 11 shots and 9 rebounds isn't bad against a team that limits possessions.

So anyone have any insight to the locker room problems that have been hinted at by Craft and others?

Mental toughness check for OSU

Is Northwestern, an anglo-saxon team that averages just 69 points per game, also one of the least fun teams to watch in America? I sure hope not for Ohio State's sake, as the Buckeyes don't seem to match up all that well with teams that are boring (Wisconsin, Illinois..) Maybe they could get the Wildcats to dress up as clowns to make it more amusing.

Personally, I think Northwestern is a very entertaining team to watch with John Shurna at the wheel. He's an uncanny scorer with in-the-gym range and a spindly Maravich frame. If Shurna walks into a delirious Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday and sees a basket the size of a hula hoop, the Buckeyes could be in serious trouble. I'm expecting one hell of a game with the Wildcats fighting for their tournament lives.

Northwestern is a fun team to watch, imo. Though not when it is versus your team.

Wisconsin is a painful team to watch, all the time. I cant stand their style. I appreciate it for what it is, and Weber gets it done year in year out. But it is awful. I am actively rooting for ANYTHING other than a 5 seed for IU and 4 seed for Wisconsin lol. I dont want to be put through that game again (should IU beat Nebraska or whoever is 12).

don't seem to match up all that well with teams that are boring (Wisconsin, Illinois..)

Actually they defeated both of those teams, one of them(Illinois) rather handily and the 83-67 final was not an indication of the dominance displayed by OSU. I also think that Brandon Paul's performance against OSU in the first was entertaining as hell.Yea, OSU lost, but the game was entertaining.

Is Northwestern, an anglo-saxon team that averages just 69 points per game, also one of the least fun teams to watch in America?

Absolutely.!!! NW grinds and that is not entertaining basketball.I like athletes Joe Alexander. He put on a great show March 22, 2008.

I like athletes Joe Alexander. He put on a great show March 22, 2008.

Where is that athletic wunderkind who averaged a Corie Blount-like .5 points per game for the Bulls in 2010 now? Hint: It's not on U.S. soil.

http://wvupros.com/2012/02/21/tracking-down-joe-alexander-in-russia/

I guess in Russia, basketball eats you!!

How can you not think NW is entertaining to watch?

For Big 10 bball, they're like the NBA all-star team (in terms of excitement, scoring).

Where is that athletic wunderkind who averaged a Corie Blount-like .5 points per game for the Bulls in 2010 now?

He isn't a great basketball player. But, on March 22, 2008 his athleticism was on full display.

NW is only 6th in scoring offense in the B1G. I think they are entertaining, because the switch up defenses, and play a style of offense that frustrates the hell out of you but is still entertaining. They take 3s, and back cut. Its fun, but it sucks when your team is in the game.

Wisconsin on the other hand is just...fuck. They are awful.

Laley23;1097748 wrote:NW is only 6th in scoring offense in the B1G. I think they are entertaining, because the switch up defenses, and play a style of offense that frustrates the hell out of you but is still entertaining. They take 3s, and back cut. Its fun, but it sucks when your team is in the game.

Wisconsin on the other hand is just...fuck. They are awful.

I just mean their style is fun to watch..didn't necessarily mean to say they score more than any other B1G team.

Laley23;1097748 wrote:NW is only 6th in scoring offense in the B1G. I think they are entertaining, because the switch up defenses, and play a style of offense that frustrates the hell out of you but is still entertaining. They take 3s, and back cut. Its fun, but it sucks when your team is in the game.

Wisconsin on the other hand is just...****. They are awful.

Odd how you say you like one, but hate the other. When in reality, they are very similar in terms of possession basketball. Different offenses obviously. And Wisky plays primarily a MM defense that, is VERY solid. NW defense not quite as good as Wisky, but as you mentioned, they mix it up. But reality is, they are in fact VERY similar in terms of how they play to limit the possessions in a game. I SO appreciate Wisky in terms of how well they execute. They set so many screens, are so physical and I love their pick in role in terms of always having a big man being able to pop out and shoot the 3. They are so sound in the half court, you make a mistake, you pay.
You have to be VERY disciplined defensively and VERY patient playing both teams.

centralbucksfan wrote:I SO appreciate Wisky in terms of how well they execute. They set so many screens, are so physical and I love their pick in role in terms of always having a big man being able to pop out and shoot the 3. They are so sound in the half court, you make a mistake, you pay.

I tend to agree with this. While as I've before I enjoy more up-tempo basketball -- I've been hoping for a long time that Paul Westhead would get back into the college men's game and give Loyola Ball another go -- there is just something pure about the way Wisconsin plays. Whether you hate it or love it, it's simply good basketball. And, like we used to see with Pete Carril's teams at Princeton, there is absolutely nothing more beautiful than a big man who can effortlessly make the three. Bo Ryan recruits that player as well as anyone.

centralbucksfan;1097847 wrote:Odd how you say you like one, but hate the other. When in reality, they are very similar in terms of possession basketball. Different offenses obviously. And Wisky plays primarily a MM defense that, is VERY solid. NW defense not quite as good as Wisky, but as you mentioned, they mix it up. But reality is, they are in fact VERY similar in terms of how they play to limit the possessions in a game. I SO appreciate Wisky in terms of how well they execute. They set so many screens, are so physical and I love their pick in role in terms of always having a big man being able to pop out and shoot the 3. They are so sound in the half court, you make a mistake, you pay.
You have to be VERY disciplined defensively and VERY patient playing both teams.

I dont really think its odd. They are similar because they slow the game down, thats about it. Northwestern runs a more appealing offense to fans. Im not saying I dont appreciate Wisconsin, I said I do. But they are very tough to watch when watching just to watch.

I think it also has to do with the fact that when I watch Northwestern I can almost always actively cheer for them. When its Wisconsin, its 50-50 if I want them or the opponent to win. The underdog pull can go a long way to a teams perception.

Prettttttttttty sure Bo Ryan has a growhouse in his basement that has 6'9 or taller 3 point shooting white boys that grow on magical wisconsin trees.

I'm convinced he doesn't recruit these players, just says to himself in the offseason "I need 2.." and goes downstairs with a mad scientist and just picks whom he wants.

It's not fair

Big game for the Bucks. If Northwestern wins most projections say this win would get them in their 1st NCAA Tourney!

Like how Sully wears black shoes and everyone else wears white.

God I love Gus

Any live streams out there?

OSU lookin' like the team we saw in December, thus far.