Ohio @ Northern Illinois Preview/Game Thread
by Mike Breese on Jan 27, 2010 8:55 AM CST
in Basketball
93 comments
Ohio Bobcats at Northern Illinois Huskies, Jan 27, 2010 7:00 PM CST
Your Northern Illinois Huskies (8-9, 4-1) vs. the Ohio Bobcats (10-9, 1-4)
The Convocation Center, Dekalb, IL
7:00 P.M. (CST) Wednesday
Spread: Bobcats -1, All-time Series: 26-12 Ohio
TV: ChannelSurfing, Radio: WSCR / WXTQ
The west was won (kinda) by the NIU Huskies achieving a 4-1 record with their only loss a tough-fought road game against Central Michigan. Now comes the real meat of the schedule. Everybody knows that the MAC East has historically been the better division, but how good really are they this year? The first test comes in the form of Ohio, who has been sliding ever since conference play opened. Their only win is over a Buffalo team that is turning out to be a very terrible road team.
For some reason in the MAC, half-empty arenas are very intimidating to visiting opponents. As will be the case today for the Bobcats.
Ohio is very similar to Central Michigan in that the Bobcats are aggressive on defense and are very good at forcing turnovers (2nd in the MAC). This isn't good, because the Huskies have dropped all the way down to 300th in the nation in turning the ball over.
The biggest advantage that NIU has in this game is going to be in the paint. The Huskies rank 80th in offensive rebounding and the Bobcats rank 243rd. Rebounding on the defensive end, they're only 189th in the country. In fact their best offensive rebounder in 6'8" DeVaughn Washington will be suspended for this game because of violation of team rules. That leaves 6'10 Senior Kenneth van Kempen to fend pretty much all by himself under the basket.
With the frontcourt mess that Ohio has, look for our big men to take control in this game. I'm looking at Michael Fakuade & Sean Kowal to have a pair of breakout games. Fakuade especially needs to break out of his mini-slump. Even a guy like Tyler Storm can make an impact in this one.
You've already met D.J. Cooper, but Ohio's other offensive threat is Armon Bassett, a transfer from Indiana who scores 13.5 ppg. Also watch out for Tommy Freeman, who is a threat from the outside shooting 43% from three.
Ohio and NIU are the #1 and #3 fastest-playing teams in the MAC so expect a lot of fireworks. Also, the Huskies don't want to get into a free throw shooting contest, because the Bobcats shoot 75.3%, which is 12th best in the nation.
Huskies 91, Bobcats 89
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Great preview once again by Mr. Breese
I would love to see a 91-89 game tonight! My prediction is a lot lower though:
Huskies 70-62 Bobcats
ChannelSurfing.net is up and running.
Can’t believe I couldn’t make it to this game, shame the weather kind of sucks, could have been a decent crowd. Sounds like this team is finally getting some support on campus.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 7:01 PM CST reply actions
Silas killing here
Looks like we have some size on them.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 7:12 PM CST reply actions
40-38 Bobcats at halftime
2nd half’s gonna be crazy
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
by Mike Breese on Jan 27, 2010 7:56 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Biggest advantage that Ohio has
Is that they’re shooting 6 of 12 from beyond the arc. They’re also winning the turnover battle 4 to 6.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Individual stats
Silas has 19 pts and 4 boards.
Kowal has 6 pts 7 boards and 3 blocks
Jake has 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
DiNunno 1-5 from three.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Lee Fisher DUNK
DiNunno needs to shoot more 2-pointers
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
You still there Grinder in Training?
I always seem to miss the 1st half of these games lol
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
I get it now
DiNunno’s three-point shots are actually passes to our big men
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
hello
I made it home from class. DiNunno blows.
Hey
Another DiNunno three point pass…this time to Fakuade.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Jake always shifts to the background
And racks up a million rebounds and assists (5 of each now)
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
He needs to start shooting blindfolded halfcourt shots
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
How many And-1's are they going to get?
This is HuskieFan84 btw.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:34 PM CST reply actions
Likely
Keith Smith wouldn’t have played otherwise. And he hasn’t played in this game.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Ohio’s 6’10" Dutchman has 4 fouls. Once he’s out of the game its over.
All we do is give up AND ONES
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Rudy really having a typical MD game, painful to watch.
I guess with Patton apparently hurt or.. in prison or something there aren’t many options, but fuck, can’t Anderson run the point?
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:39 PM CST reply actions
He should be able to
We are severely lacking in the backcourt. Who else do we have?
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
I'd rather go 4 on 5..
At least then we won’t have DiNunno shooting relentlessly.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:40 PM CST up reply actions
Is there a stat on how many front ends are missed by teams?
Think of how many second shots we never even attempt……
ha ha..
I guess that’s one way to stop them Jake.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:43 PM CST reply actions
Jake needs to pull a CMU and just take over.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:45 PM CST reply actions
All right Huskies
Get both these big men to foul out in the next minute or so
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
That's what i'm talking about.
DiNunno deferring even better.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:46 PM CST reply actions
Cooper stats b4 this FT
STARTERS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
D.J. Cooper, G 9-16 5-11 2-2 0 2 6 1 0 0 2 25
If you want to listen to a great podcast about db cooper, go to Matt’s Today In History on iTunes. Great podcast about history.
Thanks for the suggestion
I’ll have to check that out
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
I think what this does show..
Is how much better Michael Patton is. I’m sure Cooper puts up some numbers against him, but DiNunno just got raped in this game.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:54 PM CST reply actions
Need guards...
Bryan Hall & Mike Patton need to get healthy fast.
Mike D needs to start shooting more 2-pointers.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
no.. Mike DiNunno needs to sit.
But yes if he is in the game, two pointers would be nice.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 8:57 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks for chatting fellas
I’m calling the Score tomorrow.
This is a tourney team for sure.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Space void with Rudy's face on it
or rudy getting sucked into a void perhaps..
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 9:06 PM CST up reply actions
Isn't there a guards-R-us superstore anywhere?
We need some bodies in the backcourt that aren’t Keith Smith-sized.
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
By the way
Does Keith Smith buy his clothes from Babies-R-Us?
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Time to vote on the player of the game
DJ(B) Copper…will RABA be making a contribution to the scholarship fund?
I'll start donating more $$$
Once DiNunno stops shooting
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Ohio gives it to DiNunno
Letting DJ Cooper have such a monster game on the offensive end b/c he didn’t have to waste any energy on defense.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 9:06 PM CST reply actions
I'll see how well the phone app. works from the convo. for Saturday's game.
Hopefully next time things go better. And by that I mean hopefully Bryan Hall or Michael Patton are healthy.
by Grinder in Training on Jan 27, 2010 9:08 PM CST reply actions
Good times
Following NIU basketball is like surfing on a tsunami
Red and Black Attack - Northern Illinois Pride
Bad Game
DJ Cooper destroyed everyone that tried to guard him tonight. We need someone to step up besides Silas. Silas played great but he just can’t do it himself. Anderson comes out slow everygame and DiNunno just isn’t gettin it done.
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