[NU Sports] Wildcats 68, Michigan 62

[Roy S. Lamberton]

As I understand the NU Offense, when we have the ball, the center plays out near the foul line, not in the lane. He is the outlet pass, and helps open the area under the basket or along the back line so he can toss the ball back to the PG, who makes the pass to the back door cut.

It doesn't hurt if he can also shoot 3 pointers from the top of the key.

On defense, the 1-3-1 requires a big guy under the basket who can both be physical AND move around.

Now, our two centers: Luka is the kind of guy who plays the offensive center role, and sometimes can use his height to work the defense. Rowley is more of the big guy under the basket on defense who is still trying to learn the offensive role - he's not perfect, but he seems to be getting it the more he plays.

One thing the center is supposed to do in Carmody's scheme is rebound. At times I've seen both centers get in position to grab a board, and Luka seems to get a lot of defensive rebounds too. 

All and all, I wish our center had Rowley's size with Luka's basketball instincts. Maybe we can bulk up Luka, and keep working with Rowley and have two of them - wow, a twin tower Princeton...

rsl 



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
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"Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball
Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
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-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Beamsley, Jeff
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 8:46 AM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Wildcats 68, Michigan 62

I understand that you are a "glass half empty" sort of person and in
that context your comments about shortcomings of our athletic teams make
sense.

The reality, though, is that in most sports including basketball, there
is more than one way to win.

The past game proved that Drew Crawford can be a dominant back court
player who can take over a game.

Thompson and Shurna also have that capability.

You're right when you say that NU doesn't have a dominant center.  The
Princeton offense, though, doesn't require a scoring center in order to
work. You have to be able to pass and set picks.  It also helps if you
have enough of an outside shot that in man defenses the center has to
come out and guard you.  Mirkovic satisfies those requirements.

The Illinois game demonstrated how a really good big man can break down
our zone.  On most nights, though, the center isn't going to go 9-11
from the free throw line.  On most nights, our offense also gives us an
opportunity to put the starting front court players in foul trouble.
That doesn't guarantee us a win, but it does give us options when our
center is overmatched.  

NU clearly doesn't have the talent this year to win a national
championship.  As our resident Eeyore, you're likely to continue to
remind us of that.  But please don't take offense that the rest of us
silly Pooh's aren't thinking about that.  Just getting an invitation to
the tournament this year will likely be all the excitement we can
handle.

Jeff  


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From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com]
On Behalf Of Dennis W. Brandt
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:54 PM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Wildcats 68, Michigan 62

I am one of those "badmouthers" who says that we have no center - if you
define "badmouthing" as identifying the obvious.  If only player A could
do this and player B could do that, we would be champions.  It's the
eternal optimist's answer to every problem and no answer at all.
Mircovic played the best game tonight I've ever seen him play, but it
was little more than what you should expect from a Big Ten center.  He
did it in no small part because Michigan does not have a big front line
and is a worse rebounding team than Northwestern.  We won tonight
because someone threw gasoline on Drew Crawford, lit a match, and he
gave Michigan third degree burns.  I believe we may have an
honest-to-God basketball player on our hands, but it's not at center.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Weinbaum, Willie" <Willie.Weinbaum at espn.com>
To: <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 8:19 PM
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Wildcats 68, Michigan 62


> Not to be lost amid the great game by Crawford and clutch play by 
> Thompson, Shurna and Nash is the key contribution by Mirkovic.  He
fought 
> and fought, got big rebounds and shots, played tough defense and
showed 
> more confidence.  He even hit a big three-pointer from the corner.
>
> Despite the badmouthing by some on this list - - who have said we have
"no 
> center" (and worse) - - Mirkovic is an important player and his
efforts 
> could be vital to the team's fortunes.  If he can get on a roll with
his 
> outside shot, which has not been the case yet this season (but he is 
> capable), the Cats will become a much more dangerous team.  Especially

> encouraging today was that he held his ground inside against a tough
big 
> man and didn't get discouraged by a couple of rocky moments on
offense.
>
> A crucial win, indeed.  Crawford's Big Ten coming out party and a
helluva 
> comeback - - with great tenacity (especially on defense) that overcame

> spotty play and first-half shooting woes.  A treat to watch Crawford
get 
> the Cats out of a big hole, inspire the whole team and display so much

> talent in another uplifting game to watch.
>>From Blackberry - please excuse typos
>
> W. Weinbaum
> Producer
> 212-916-9864 (24-hour voicemail)
> willie.weinbaum at espn.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com <nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com>
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
> Sent: Sun Jan 10 17:29:08 2010Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Wildcats 68, 
> Michigan 62
>
>
>
>   Big win for our court Cats.  We were listless on offnse and defense,
and 
> Crawford himself went on an 11-0 run; incredible stuff.  It was 31-14
with 
> 5:00 to go in the first half; as such, we outscored 'em 54-31 the last
25 
> minutes.  Carmedy went to a trap, 2,3 men to the ball and it REALLY
got 
> under Michigan's skin.
>   This may be superflous, but it may have been a "save the season"
kind of 
> win; 0-3 in conference with Wisconsin and Purdue coming up next isn't
a 
> good spot to be in.  We need to go, at the minimum, 3-6 in conference
and 
> make hay in the second half.
>
>         GO CATS!!!   Eric
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Abrahamson, Alan (NBC Universal) <Alan.Abrahamson at nbcsports.com>
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Sent: Sun, Jan 10, 2010 5:05 pm
> Subject: [NU Sports] Wildcats 68, Michigan 62
>
>
> Wildcats fell behind by 17, came back behind freshman Drew Crawford
(whose 
> NBA
> ef dad had called the Piston game the night before and was in the
stand at
> risler) to go up 10, win by 6.
> Go Wildcats!
> PS: I love beating Michigan. In anything.
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