[NU Sports] Tourney thoughts

[Beamsley, Jeff]

Didn't see all of the games this weekend, but the ones that I saw were great entertainment.
 
Started me thinking 'bout whether NU belonged in the dance this year.  In all honestly, I have to say no.  
 
The reason why is that the other teams in the BT that made it into the dance appeared to have second gear.  Purdue is playing incredible basketball right now.  So is Michigan State.  Even Michigan played a great game against OK.  
 
I'm not sure that NU has developed a second gear yet.
 
That was particularly obvious down the stretch in conference and BT tourney play.  As other teams found themselves, we appeared to lose our focus.  Now that could be because teams figured out how to better defend our offense and better attack our defense.  But every team in the BT has that advantage at the end of a long home-home season.
 
As much as I hate to admit it, it is in the tournament when the stars come out and talent really shines.  I had a very difficult time, for example, even imagining NU playing OK as well as an overmatched Michigan did.  Since you have to be able to dream it before you can do it, I guess I'll have to work harder on my dreams for NU basketball.
 
Jeff
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