The Knight to Cats Blog

Friday, March 16, 2007

Coach we still want you

Coach, we saw your game last night, and we know its tough to lose like that.  I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure that Boston College cheated. 

We just wanted you to know that we still want you here in Evanston.  While at Texas Tech a first round loss my be dissapointing, at Northwestern it would be the best showing we ever had.

So come to Northwestern, the home of diminished expectations (except Women's Lacrosse we rule at that). 

Friday, March 09, 2007

Cats end season on a low note

I'd be lying if I said this was the most excited I've ever been for an NU hoops game.  But for some reason you always get a little more geeked for tourny time.  And of course for Smoove Timmy D (BHB10) and the boys, its the Big Ten Tourny, opening round style.

Seth felt optimistic before the game, even proclaiming that Izzo was in for a shocker.  He felt the upset in his bones.  Whether he was lying to himself or truly believed it, who knows, but I figured it would be an asswhooping.  We were both wrong.

The Spartans quickly showed why they are Michigan State and we are Northwestern with an early-first half freestyle beatdown.  It came from everyone.  Goran Sutan on the boards (can this guy really still be there?) and Drew Naught Neitzel from downtown.

By the way, I need to make a rant.  One of my biggest disgusts comes when a basketball announcer proclaims after someone makes a deep three, that he shot that one from (a well known area outside the stadium).  For example, "Whoa, Neitzel made that one from Michigan Ave."  Exageration is ok in announcing, but not when its annoying geography announing.  Enough already, we get it.

The Cats made it back to 9 at halftime, enough to make me interested to see how the second half played out.  And I gotta give it to the guys, they fought their way back.  Doyle dished no-lookers, Moore sank bombs, and Coble was simply Coble, Kevin Coble style.

But in the end it was a freshman who screwed things up.  Do we know why he was on the floor?  Jeremy Nash threw the ball away down 3 with 11 ticks left.  Maybe it was Moore's fault.  I don't know, I didn't watch a second of this game.

But I watched it sporadically on Gamecenter, and I think these days, really, thats all you need to do to get a feel for the game.

If we have it our way, that will be Carmody's last game as NU coach. And really this was his worst year, his worst talent level ever.  And when a program is slumping 7 years into your coaching resume, and the peak wasn't even an NIT birth, then its pretty clear you better pack your bags and move on.  Sorry coach. 

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Cats lose again

In addition to staying updated on the feverish excitement over the General on his march to Evanston, this should serve as an excellent forum to keep our loyal readers abreast of everything else: from NU basketball to funny TV commercials.  And a round of virtual applause for the incredible work Seth has done to get this site up so quickly. 

Saturday the Cats completed the Big Ten schedule with 2 thrilling victories, after another loss to Purdue.  Carl Landry, one half of the insufferable Landry brothers had a double-double.  Somehow, someway, the Cats didn't even score the lowest seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.  That honor belongs to one of the slayed NU opponents, the indomitable Penn State Crispin Lions. 

Timmy Doyle finished with a typical Timmy Doyle line: eight points, five assists and five rebounds.  This would be great if he were our third or fourth best player.  But he is our best, and we've been leaning on Timmy "Best Hair B10" for too long.  BH B10, spent three years here after a transfer from St. Johns, twirling and whirling and playing junk ball.  You have to commend the guy for his outstanding effort, but even he knows he's just playing hoops till he gets the fancy consulting job in June.  BH B10, if you need an assistant, let me know. 

The next and most likely last time we'll see this version of the Cats is Thursday against the MSU Spartans.  It should be a relatively uneventful end to the Cats season.  By the way, there are odd rumors eminating from Evanston, that the fabled Candlelight Bar is now the bar of choice for the kewl crowd at NU.  Apparently the Deuce has gotten too hot, and the overflow crowd has gone down Western Ave. to the Candlelight.  Can we get any confirmation on this?  I'm sure Coach Knight would like to know where to go to celebrate when we clinch the '08 Big Ten Title.