The Valparaiso Beacons travel to Chicago for a challenging matchup against the 6–4 Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern boasts impressive depth, regularly going ten players deep, and is led by standout forward Nick Martinelli, a 6’7” senior averaging 21.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Arrinten Page, a 6’11” junior center, adds 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, while junior guard Jayden Reid contributes 11.5 points and 5.5 assists to round out their trio of double-digit scorers. With Northwestern’s relatively small starting lineup, Valpo should match up well in terms of size and physicality. The Wildcats have dominated non-Power Five opponents this season, regularly beating them by 30 or more including a 110–63 rout of Cleveland State in November, with all four of their losses coming against Power Five programs. Defensively, Northwestern is pretty good, ranking among the nation’s best in blocks and steals while holding opponents to just 28% from three-point range and under 50% inside the arc. Offensively, they shoot 58% on two-point attempts and 34% from deep, though they don’t rely heavily on the three as they rank near the bottom in attempts. For Valpo to compete, they’ll need to slow the pace, keep the game in the 60s or lower, and attack inside while crashing the offensive glass—one of Northwestern’s few weaknesses. Rim protection and forcing the Wildcats to settle for outer perimeter shots will be critical. If the Beacons can play their brand of basketball, stay disciplined, and knock down open threes early when playing out of the post, they have a chance to pull off a statement win against a Big Ten opponent. Kenpom has this one at a 79-64 loss giving the Beacons just a 10% chance of winning. Let's prove them wrong.
The Valparaiso Beacons travel to Chicago for a challenging matchup against the 6–4 Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern boasts impressive depth, regularly going ten players deep, and is led by standout forward Nick Martinelli, a 6’7” senior averaging 21.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Arrinten Page, a 6’11” junior center, adds 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, while junior guard Jayden Reid contributes 11.5 points and 5.5 assists to round out their trio of double-digit scorers. With Northwestern’s relatively small starting lineup, Valpo should match up well in terms of size and physicality. The Wildcats have dominated non-Power Five opponents this season, regularly beating them by 30 or more including a 110–63 rout of Cleveland State in November, with all four of their losses coming against Power Five programs. Defensively, Northwestern is pretty good, ranking among the nation’s best in blocks and steals while holding opponents to just 28% from three-point range and under 50% inside the arc. Offensively, they shoot 58% on two-point attempts and 34% from deep, though they don’t rely heavily on the three as they rank near the bottom in attempts. For Valpo to compete, they’ll need to slow the pace, keep the game in the 60s or lower, and attack inside while crashing the offensive glass—one of Northwestern’s few weaknesses. Rim protection and forcing the Wildcats to settle for outer perimeter shots will be critical. If the Beacons can play their brand of basketball, stay disciplined, and knock down open threes early when playing out of the post, they have a chance to pull off a statement win against a Big Ten opponent. Kenpom has this one at a 79-64 loss giving the Beacons just a 10% chance of winning. Let's prove them wrong.
Thanks again, Bryan. All great pregame info. One issue I see is what I first bolded. Slowing the pace is not too compatible with playing “fast, free and fun.” And we are asking a lot of our perimeter shooters who, so far, have a pretty low %age beyond the arc. NU’s 58% from the floor is scary.
You can still play fast while slowing down the game. It mostly involved keeping a quick offensive scheme while still taking care to drain out the shot clock and look for high % shots.
The Valparaiso Beacons travel to Chicago for a challenging matchup against the 6–4 Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern boasts impressive depth, regularly going ten players deep, and is led by standout forward Nick Martinelli, a 6’7” senior averaging 21.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Arrinten Page, a 6’11” junior center, adds 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, while junior guard Jayden Reid contributes 11.5 points and 5.5 assists to round out their trio of double-digit scorers. With Northwestern’s relatively small starting lineup, Valpo should match up well in terms of size and physicality. The Wildcats have dominated non-Power Five opponents this season, regularly beating them by 30 or more including a 110–63 rout of Cleveland State in November, with all four of their losses coming against Power Five programs. Defensively, Northwestern is pretty good, ranking among the nation’s best in blocks and steals while holding opponents to just 28% from three-point range and under 50% inside the arc. Offensively, they shoot 58% on two-point attempts and 34% from deep, though they don’t rely heavily on the three as they rank near the bottom in attempts. For Valpo to compete, they’ll need to slow the pace, keep the game in the 60s or lower, and attack inside while crashing the offensive glass—one of Northwestern’s few weaknesses. Rim protection and forcing the Wildcats to settle for outer perimeter shots will be critical. If the Beacons can play their brand of basketball, stay disciplined, and knock down open threes early when playing out of the post, they have a chance to pull off a statement win against a Big Ten opponent. Kenpom has this one at a 79-64 loss giving the Beacons just a 10% chance of winning. Let's prove them wrong.
Thanks again, Bryan. All great pregame info. One issue I see is what I first bolded. Slowing the pace is not too compatible with playing “fast, free and fun.” And we are asking a lot of our perimeter shooters who, so far, have a pretty low %age beyond the arc. NU’s 58% from the floor is scary.
@vulb62 Thank you, and good observations to discuss for sure. I haven't heard Roger say Fun, Fast, and Free since the first few games, I don't know if that fits today's team compared to coming into the season. I almost think he is preferring a slower tempo this year as the schedule moves forward. Valpo is currently 288th in tempo this year so we have so far been a bottom third D1 team in that department. It could be a change due to his focus on getting bigger and more physical. No doubt though, if the transition opportunity is presented, we don't shy away from it and shouldn't. As far as "knocking down open threes early" I should have preference this with early in the game not early in the clock. Valpo plays better and will hang around longer with Northwestern if we can start hot and be consistent throughout the game, this is where the Beacons best opportunity is IMO (We could say this for every game though). Valpo needs to see what's inside, work the offensive set to see if a good shot presents itself and look for the cutter/flasher if available (not that we have shot great at all this year in any department) because those are higher percentage shots, your right our 3pt % is bad 311th in the nation at 29.3%. However, if an open 3 presents itself at any point in the process we cannot pass that opportunity up and have to knock them down to stay in this game specifically. I keep thinking that any game now our shooting is going to break out but thus far consistency between multiple players hasn't borne out as well as I would have hoped. It will be an uphill battle, but I have an optimistic perspective we can be competitive Tuesday, some would say I'm a believer to my own detriment when it comes to Valpo hoops. 
Our HS bball coach took us to see VU play Northwestern at McGaw Hall in 1971.
VU smoked 'em and it wasn't particularly close. (I just looked it up and the score was 73-55).
Paul
@78crusader That's pretty cool, some more Northwestern Valparaiso connections exist with our Assistant Coach Baldwin. He was a star player at Northwestern; he still holds some records there from my understanding.
The Line is 17.5 I think Cats cover, but late. Game is close until final 10 minutes. They have much better guard play. Question is due we run with the Cats or skulk in a half court slow down? Even if we control the tempo.......too much talent on their side and the refs will assist. Hope I'm wrong on all this.
Northwestern head coach Chris Collins and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer were legendary at a Chicago north suburban HS not far from Welsh Ryan arena.
It’s half, when valpo forces them to shoot a 3 good things have been happening. Need to keep them out of the paint for sure, keep the fouls down and go on a run. The offensive sets stalled at times in the first half forcing bad outside shots.
Well the wheels have fallen off…
Ouch, well the guys never gave up!
Basically senior big ten leading scorer in Martinelli vs freshman Pettigrew just tough to overcome... we stood tall but our freshman play alot of minutes... Id love to see this crew grow together for a year or 3 but well thats not our world. We will be very competitive in Valley play. No shame in this loss. Am bothered by a few uncalled for turnovers that gave them some layups... take that out who knows maybe its tight last 5 minutes. As Belicheck says "on to cincinnati" in this case on to murray (at the ARC) 
