Daily Archives: February 16, 2011

>Iowa vs. Northwestern

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>What once seemed like such a promising season for the Wildcats has turned to be the complete opposite. By losing five of their last six games, they have more than likely played their way out of an NCAA bid.  They have allowed at least 49 percent shooting against in their last six games. They are getting out rebounded by almost eight in Big Ten Games. They allow conference opponents to shoot 50 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent on three-point attempts.

 I know it seems as if nothing can go right for the ‘Cats, but that is far from the truth.  John Shurna, Drew Crawford and Michael Thompson are still the leaders of this team and when the shots are falling, NU is hard to beat.  Four of the next five games (Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Penn State) are winnable and if the Cats can get close to that .500 mark and win a game in the conference tourney, that streak of never making it into the NCAA’s might end.  But they will need Shurna (17 ppg), Thompson (14 ppg) and Crawford (12 ppg) to do what they do best: score.

Iowa is 10-15, 3-10. They sit just one game behind NU in the conference standings. The Hawkeyes own big three of Matt Gatens, Bryce Cartright and Melsahn Basabe aren’t as explosive as the triumvirate at Northwester, but are more than capable of getting the job done.
    
Basabe averages 10.5 PPG and his 7.0 rebounds per game rank sixth in the conference. He is also fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage. Cartright ranks third in the Big Ten is assists and averages 11.0 PPG. Gatens leads the conference making over 90 percent of his free throw attempts. At 12.5 PPG, he is the Hawkeyes leading scorer.  Prediction: Northwestern wins huge 80-65

>Minnesota vs. Penn State

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>Two weeks ago, Minnesota was looking pretty ranked in the top 20 at 16-4.  Fast forward two weeks and the Gophers may ow be on the bubble after losing four of five and dropping to 17-8. 

Trevor Mbakwe scored a season-high 24 points in Sunday’s win over Iowa and the Gophers will need more of this to help Minnesota get back on track.  They are going to have get their frontcourt to lead the way, as the health of point guard Blake Hoffarber will be in question as soreness and pain in a knee doesn’t just go away like that.  Ralph Sampson III, the other main clog in the middle, is coming off of his worst game of the year, one which saw him score only two points, will be looking to get back to the form that saw him score in double digits in the seven games prior to that.

Penn State, in its own right, might be playing for an NCAA bid.  It’s record (13-10) isn’t too flashy, but if the Nittany Lions manage to win two or three of their remaining five games, possibly upset Wisconsin or Ohio State and win a game in the conference tourney, who knows what might happen?  As they have been all year, Penn State is led by Talor Battle, who is still averaging over 20 ppg.  Prediction: The Nittany Lions are 16-4 at home, but lose a squeaker, 75-73