Indiana v. Northwestern PREGAME Thread; 12:00 EST; ESPN 2; 1/23/16

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

I know, it's way too early for a pregame thread with another game in the middle. So, just ignore this until you feel like using it ya' know?

 

I just can't believe we're playing Kanye West's kid.

 

 

Prediction League:

https://btownbanners.com/topic/9059-prediction-league-game-20-week-11-iu-vs-northwestern-012316/

 

Pick'ems:

https://btownbanners.com/topic/9099-iubb-pickems-game-20-vs-northwestern/#entry234888

 

Numbers (Pre-Illinois):

[attachment=3238:5.PNG]

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Look at those turnover and steal matchups against NW's defense. Can a team totally unable to force turnovers even handle IU's brand of unforced turnover?

[Parakeet Jones 3,774]

This game terrifies me. We should win. We should win every game against Northwestern. However, we have had our struggles against them recently. The game at home against them two years ago and last year's game up there still agitate me. To me this just feels like "one of those games" we have seen too much of over the past couple of years. I do think we will win, but it has me nervous.

[HoosierCoop 3,932]

Northwestern and Iowa really scare me in the B1G.

 

Don't underestimate either one of them or you will see a big fat L.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

https://btownbanners.com/topic/9099-iubb-pickems-game-20-vs-northwestern/

 

Pick'ems

 

Updated match-up numbers (after Northwestern's other games)

 

[attachment=3263:6.PNG]

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Wow, look at those offensive and defensive jumps for Northwestern. They look like us at the start of Big Ten play. Up nearly 40 spots on D and down almost 20 on O.

 

I think, and the numbers bear it out, that this game is all about pace. If Northwestern can make us play at their speed, then we'll probably lose. We held on against Wisco but, can we do another slow game? Or can we force them to speed up?

 

I'm most nervous about this game for one reason: My daughter has soccer practice and I can't watch it live (let's stop with the 9 am games OK? I literally scheduled the early practice to never miss a game because these were still TBA and here I am). Why does that make me nervous? I've missed two IU v. NW games over the last few years. Last year @NW (listened on the radio driving home from the Washington Bar Exam because even rushing through the second part I couldn't get home in time for tipoff) and at home the year before. 

 

I don't know if we've beaten Northwestern while I wasn't watching in the past decade. Hope we break the streak this year.

[djsalway 4,161]

Added the pick'ems thread to the OP

 

https://btownbanners.com/topic/9099-iubb-pickems-game-20-vs-northwestern/#entry234888

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

[attachment=3265:ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1453403892.129778.jpg]

Domesticate the Cats.

[TheWatShot 14,126]

Crean is 5-7 against Northwestern. 

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Crean is 5-7 against Northwestern. 

And if you're someone who discounts the first 3 years, he is 4-2. Improving, but two losses against Northwestern is still pretty embarrassing.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

And if you're someone who discounts the first 3 years, he is 4-2. Improving, but two losses against Northwestern is still pretty embarrassing.

Went to the game 2 years back. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.

[AKHoosier 6,961]

Northwestern definitely needs a big win for their tournament hopes, especially after coming so close against Maryland this week.

 

This game worries me a lot, I feel like we're due for a loss at some point against a team we SHOULD beat, and that usually comes against Northwestern.

 

I'll be happy with a 1 point win, especially given how this season is going.

[chitown hoosier 743]

I personally don't think it will be close. 10+ easy victory IMO. Of course I can possibly eat crow later but I just think Indiana matches up better against them this year and I don't think they'll be able to keep up with this team.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,036]

Seeing multiple tweets that the game has been moved to ESPN2.

[chitown hoosier 743]

It has been moved. Had to reset the dvr

[hyzy 300]

Man you guys are too fast for me, thought I was going to break the news that the game moved to ESPN 2, but some old fart beat me to it!   :yes:  

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Thanks for letting us know about the move guys, changed the topic title.

 

What's most striking about this game for me? The very nature of saying "The basketball game against Northwestern makes me nervous". This is a team which has never played in the tourney. Can you even imagine saying such a thing while on a 11-game winning streak at home like, 4 or 5 years ago? It's insane what Chris Colins and Jim Phillips have been doing at Northwestern. I hope we crush them so hard that McIntosh is turned into applesauce, but mad respect. I'm pulling for them anytime they aren't playing us.

 

I was going to say something like "It's what OSU and MSU fans must think when they say they're nervous about our football team" but it isn't even. At least we have been good at football for tiny windows in the recentish past. Northwestern has never been good at basketball.

[Brass Cannon 24,872]

Our football team is the leader in losses. Their basketball team is light years ahead of our football team.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

Our football team is the leader in losses. Their basketball team is light years ahead of our football team.

No way. I mean, only if number of losses is a meaningful statistic. We played for 128 years, of course we have more losses than UNLV. By percentage we're slightly better (not even bottom-10). Beyond that, there are far fewer FBS teams than college basketball teams, Northwestern Basketball has a lower win percentage than Indiana football. They are 40.5% in their existence compared to 42.4%. 

 

And I'd moderately prefer to have the most losses in college football and have been to a Rose Bowl (and other bowls) than have fewer losses than some other teams but only ever make the NIT.

 

Edit: According to Winsipedia, we're the 92nd ranked program in terms of wins, winning percentage, bowl game records, and a bunch of other stuff:

 

http://www.winsipedia.com/ranking

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

Another National TV audience and a chance to shine and move up the rankings!  We must come out focused and with intensity in this one as Northwestern just took Maryland to the wire a few nights ago.  Let's go Hoosiers!