Top Five Reasons To Believe ‘Cats Can Upset #1 Michigan

We’re going to kickoff today with a positive vibe post as Northwestern heads to Ann Arbor to face newly crowned #1 Michigan tonight (5:30 pm ct, BTN). You can be sure to add yours to the list as well.  Away we go….

#5 – Way We’ve Played Recently Vs #1 or #2 – Sure, the past usually has little bearing on predicting outcomes, but Northwestern will be facing the #1 ranked team for the 18th time in school history tonight. When you consider NU gave Indiana a scare in our recent 8-point loss, that was a 5-point game with two minutes to go AND the fact we faced then #1 Ohio State twice in 2011 and a)lost at the buzzer at home and then b)lost in OT in the Big Ten Tournament, we’ve had a more than competitive fight against the teams in bright lights.

#4 – Crisler = Close – This is cut and paste from the NU basketball game notes, but it does a great job highlighting how ridiculously close our recent games against Michigan have been in their arena.  Granted, none of them were THIS team, but you get the gist:

Feb. 13, 2008–NU 62, Michigan 60 ‘Cats start game on 16-2 run, hold on behind Craig Moore’s eight 3-pointers

Jan. 24, 2009–Michigan 68, NU 59 Wolverines lead by nine at half and hold off Wildcats’ second-half run

Jan. 10, 2010–NU 68, Michigan 62 NU rallies back from 17-point first-half deficit behind Drew Crawford’s 25 points

Feb. 9, 2011–Michigan 75, NU 66 ‘Cats use late 14-0 run to cut deficit to one, but Michigan scores last 8 points to hold on

Jan. 11, 2012–Michigan 66, NU 64 (OT) NU leads throughout, but misses opportunities at the end of regulation and OT

#3  – Reggie Hearn Is Playing – Sure, the last game on January 3 was a complete blowout at home to Michigan (94-66). However, our leading scorer and gutsy, crafty man, Reggie Hearn was a DNP with a bad ankle. Obviously, it may not have made a nearly 30-point difference, but we are a completely different team with Hearn playing.

#2 – Jordan Morgan Is Likely Out – Michigan’s starting center, 6-8 Jordan Morgan is likely going to sit this one out with a bad ankle that you can read about here at MLive.com.  However, caveat, a Michigan starter was supposed to be out the last time we played them and managed to play nearly the whole game.  Plus, the Wolverines have a ton of depth down low.

#1 – ‘Cats Like To Play Up - Northwestern’s loss to Nebraska on Saturday was painful for numerous reasons, but one reason was it came within a week of knocking off then two Top 25 teams.  The ‘Cats aren’t intimidated against anyone, but we are indeed an inconsistent team and you never know what kind of night we’re going to have. Here’s to it being a great one!

NYC/CT Area Watch Party

Playing a #1 team at any time in the schedule is special.  So is the thought with NYC area alums as there is a Northwestern basketball watch party tonight in Stamford, Connecticut. Here are the details:

Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Buffalo Wild Wings Bar & Grill, 208 Summer St. (at Broad St.), Stamford, CT
Parking: available beyond the movie theaters or in the parking deck
R.S.V.P: to Ken Monroe at kmonroe@dls.net if you are coming