The Knight to Cats Blog
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The National Media loves us!
I am pleased to announce perhaps the greatest victory our site has achieved in its short lifespan. Today we were mention on Deadspin.com
Not only will this bring our message to an even greater audience, but it is also a true honor to be linked from Deadspin, a great influence of ours.
..seth
Cats Snubbed for 69th Straight Year
For the 69th consecutive year the Northwestern Wildcats Men's Basketball team will not appear in the NCAA Tournament. But this was not just another year, not just another snub. This stuck in the gut. And yet, I didn’t hear Dickie V on ESPN whining for us like he did “those poor kids at Syracuse.” Please they won a National Title 4 years ago. Nobody there is poor. Let's break down the Cats resume:
1. Non-Conference Schedule- The Cats got off to a blazing 10-3 start. Their most dramatic victory of the season came in a 41-39 thriller against a Division III White Christian school called Wheaton. It was also probably their most impressive win, and one that I thought would have swayed the committee to include the Cats. Their defense was superior throughout the early season, holding 3 Non-Con opponents to under 40 points.
He was no Fiddler on the Roof, but Michael Fiddler almost led Division III Wheaton to the win over a Big Ten 'House
2. Big Ten Performance- 2-14 is just one way to look at the Cats Big Ten performance. But I'm more of a numbers guy, not a W-L guy. The near upset of Wisconsin was a historic performance by the Cats. If it weren't for one of the insufferable Landry brothers picking a fight with Vincanity Scott, I think they would have finished the Badgers off. What's also not to be overlooked is their 1 Conference road win at Minnesota, basically on par with Illinois who somehow made the tournament.
3. RPI- I just scanned the RPI, and thought we came in at a stunning 169. But then I realized that was actually Northwestern State (who we pounded by the way). We slid down to 178, just ahead of American University, who I had no idea had a basketball team. But most people don't know NU fields a squad anymore either. Either way, the Cats still almost make the top half of the country.
Let's take a look at how the Cats did against NCAA Tourney teams.
Stanford- basically beat them
Wisconsin- I tell people they beat them
Illinois- they are terrible
Michigan State- one pass away
Ohio State- didn't play them
Purdue- never heard of them
Indiana- way, way overrated
This is the resume of a Champ, or at least a team deserving a write-up about their latest snub.
KevinMonday, March 12, 2007
The People Have Spoken!
A real movement is a foot by the lake, and people are talking. From today's Chicago Sun Times:
GENERAL NEEDS: Cats fans petition Knight move Desperate times apparently call for desperate measures.
Although the Northwestern basketball program probably evokes more exasperation than desperation.
Whatever the case, for those seeking a coaching change, there is an Internet site—Knighttocats.com—that has a petition to sign in an effort to replace Bill Carmody with a familiar face to Big Ten fans: Texas Tech's Bob Knight, the former Indiana coach.
It is clear that we are at the start of something big. A journey that will only end with the arrival of Bobby Knight in Evanston.
This mention in the paper has the people united, and signing the petition.
Don writes:
I am fed up with the lack of commitment from the athletic department. This is one bad era we are going through. The team is BAD in all aspect of the game and it is only going to get worse. It is time to stop using SAT scores as an excuse. Air Force has very high standards and the recruit must commit 4-5 years to the military, yet they find players and win 20+ games a year. I long for the days of Bill Foster. Please, please fire Bill Carmody!
and Jerry says:
I'm tired of hoping to finish .500 in the Big Ten! If Carmody is back next year I won't be!
Please go sign the petition and tell us how you feel.
..sethFriday, 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.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Jean-Marc Melchior
Since most normal people have no idea that Luxembourg exists, let alone is its own country, let alone is part of a triumvirate known as The Benelux, it was shocking to see we had plucked a hoopster from this seemingly made up place.
In Luxembourg Melchoir was a straight killer. He drilled daggers for a living, averaging almost 20 per in his high school days for Luxembourg's BBC Black Star Mersch club team.
At 6-6 Melchoir gave the Cats some much needed size during the 05-06 season and logged 7 minutes in a win over Northern Colorado, and swooshed 2 points over DePauw.
Only a sophomore we haven't given up on Melchoir contributing to Coach Knight's team next year. If he can reach back to his days of stardom in The Lux, and forget about his incredible, indescribable inability to get game action, we think Melchoir has a sweet shooting stroke ready to bust out at a moment's notice. Though at least 50% of us over here at knighttocats.com put money on this guy being the first to be slapped by The General next year.
KevinIvan Tolic
The third of the famed "Split Trio" to arrive in Evanston, Ivan Tolic quickly distinguished himself as a player capable of sitting on the bench for long periods of time without any ill effects. He achieved DNP status
for his first season due to injuries (a feat that he would repeat in his junior season). After that he went on to average a solid 9.1 minutes 1.6 points 1.3 rebounds per game for his career.
Tolic is really noteworthy for his staying power (5 seasons at the U) and a total inability to stay on the court (both a serious lack of basketball skills and old man knees contributed to this). Ivan will always have a special place in our hearts as a true gentle giant. Doubtless the Cats will miss his front court play next season (only the 3rd of the decade that Tolic was not on the team for)
..sethSunday, 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.
KevinCollier Drayton
Collier Drayton was born a natural leader. Our favorite personality on the average teams of the early decade, we grew to love Collier's antics on and off the court.
You all know what happened on the court: suffocating defense, a court vision in dishing the ball nobody at NU has ever had, and a desire to win we've only seen matched by the Great Jitim Young. Maybe my old age is getting to me, but I remember Collier putting that punk Rick Rickert into his place with a raised fist. We know Collier is a pacifist, but sometimes the hammer had to come out…
Rickert, a highly touted recruit, was never the same, and currently has one foot off the ledge playing for the Colorado 14ers.
Off the court, Drayton was untouchable. He brought the NU student body to life like no athlete besides Sam Simmons ever has. I was fortunate enough to once be at a party with Collier one summer. As the evening wore on, and people departed, a hearty group of 5 of us settled around a half-finished Keg. With true grit and determination Collier locked the door to the apartment, and wouldn't allow anyone to leave until this here keg was finished. Charging onto the battlefield, Collier led our weary crew to a complete hand-slapping victory. Unfortunately, and to no fault his own, there were too few hand-slappers on the court in Collier's day. But he leaves a blueprint for what an NU point guard should and better be.
KevinSaturday, March 03, 2007
Jitim Young
This site isn't all about bad news. As much fun as we have in our player profiles, we would also like to take the time to praise those who actually put together great careers at NU. So, the first entry in our
Northwestern Legends section, Jitim Young.
Before Jitim even came to Northwestern he was already a local hero. He starred at Gordon Tech in Chicago where he arveraged 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.
Arriving at NU in 2000, Jitim became the best player on the team almost right away. He was the only freshman in the Big Ten to be a starter that season. As a junior and senior he led the team in every statistical category, quite a feat for a guy who was short even for a guard. Young was so good as a senior that he was named First Team All Big Ten.
While the numbers are impressive (sixth on Northwestern's all-time scoring list with 1,521 points, all-time leader in games started (117), and ranks second in minutes played (3,849), second in steals (215), tied for second in games played (117), fifth in field goals made (548), sixth in three-point field goals made (108), and tenth in free throws made (317)) they are nothing compared to the level of energy and desire that Young played with.
We will always recall our meetings with him fondly. One on the court after his "shot heard round the world" against Penn State, and one at the homecoming football game a couple of years back. Jitim was there hanging out with knighttocats.com favorite and NU graduate Mike Wilbon, and we were heard to proclaim "this is so exciting, our favorite two Northwestern alums in one place".
..sethThomas Soltau
Part of Coach Carmody's international movement, Thomas "the Danish Sensation" Soltau, is proof that European basketball has not come as far as some of us would like to believe. Soltau's career is really only distinguised by is length.
Feeling that he had nothing left to learn in the Big Ten, Soltau made "the leap" to pro ball (in Denmark) after his sophomore season. Amazingly, other Wildcat players (TJ Parker) would later follow his lead.
Who could blame him really. He showed he could dominate over here (8 games 26 minutes) so what was left to prove?
The pressure of cracking the rotation with inside forces like Aaron Jennings and Ivan Tolic (profiled later) probably hurt him as well. Thomas looks very happy in the included picture, so we are happy for him.
..seth