CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • BEARS
  • BULLS
  • BLACKHAWKS
  • CUBS
  • WHITE SOX
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • Get In Touch
  • Join Our Group
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • REPORT: Jaylon Johnson Makes Bold Statement About Extension Talks
  • Do the Bears have any other choice but to go all in and trade for Tee Higgins?
  • Chicago Bears expected to be aggressive in pursuit of offensive line
  • Former Bears Head Coach Has No Doubt Bears’ Justin Fields Will Play in Super Bowl
  • Justin Fields jersey is a best-seller in this surprising state
  • REPORT: Former Bears safety a Texans defensive coordinator candidate
  • Chicago Bears should look to sign both of the top defensive tackles in free agency
  • Jay Cutler apparently didn’t care for Brandon Marshall’s wedding
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – FansCHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • BEARS

    REPORT: Jaylon Johnson Makes Bold Statement About Extension Talks

    February 8, 2023

    Do the Bears have any other choice but to go all in and trade for Tee Higgins?

    February 8, 2023

    Chicago Bears expected to be aggressive in pursuit of offensive line

    February 8, 2023

    Former Bears Head Coach Has No Doubt Bears’ Justin Fields Will Play in Super Bowl

    February 7, 2023

    Justin Fields jersey is a best-seller in this surprising state

    February 7, 2023
  • BULLS

    REPORT: Chicago Bulls working for major trade deal with important player before the deadline

    February 6, 2023

    Did the Dallas Mavericks win the Kyrie Irving Trade?

    February 5, 2023

    Chicago Bulls are on the way to the top this 2023

    January 26, 2023

    3 possible trade targets for the Chicago Bulls

    January 19, 2023

    Air Jordan 11 ‘DMP’ to get Holiday 2023 release?

    January 19, 2023
  • BLACKHAWKS

    Comparing the Dynamic of Two Rebuilding Clubs

    January 25, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    Blackhawks’ Sam Lafferty returns to line-up vs. Jets

    December 9, 2022

    Blackhawks recall Lukas Reichel from Rockford

    December 6, 2022

    Phillip Danault: A Player Extraordinaire

    November 29, 2022
  • CUBS

    Chicago Cubs still sculpting their bullpen

    January 17, 2023

    Chicago Cubs 2023 prospect watch: Matt Mervis

    January 15, 2023

    Cubs add three shortstops through International Prospect signing day

    January 15, 2023

    Cubs and Trey Mancini agree to a two-year deal

    January 14, 2023

    Cubs hot stove: With Nick Madrigal as the odd man out, could the Cubs trade him?

    January 13, 2023
  • WHITE SOX

    Chicago White Sox 2023 prospect watch: outfielder Oscar Colas

    January 18, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    MLB analyst pitches insane White Sox Yankees trade

    December 22, 2022

    Outfielder Andrew Benintendi signs with White Sox

    December 16, 2022

    Analyst Reveals Poor Grade For White Sox Offseason So Far

    December 12, 2022
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Facebook Twitter Instagram
CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
Home»Uncategorized»Northwestern overcomes three late turnovers to stun Illinois
Uncategorized

Northwestern overcomes three late turnovers to stun Illinois

Z PBy Z PJanuary 13, 20144 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
redeye life in big ten basketball northwestern 001
redeye life in big ten basketball northwestern 001
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

redeye-life-in-big-ten-basketball-northwestern-001

Illinois was in desperate need of a statement game to validate their No. 23 ranking after suffering a 95-70 drubbing at Wisconsin earlier in the week.

Driving a couple of hours over to Evanston to face the 7-9 Northwestern Wildcats, the Illini were expected to do just that—but once again, the Illini didn’t live up to their expectations.

After trailing by ten earlier in the second half, Illinois freshman Kendrick Nunn made a corner three pointer to tie the game up at 34 a piece with 7:05 left in the game.

Northwestern sophomore Tre Demps answered Nunn’s three pointer, making three straight three-pointers of his own to give to give the Wildcats a 43-36 lead with 3:32 left in the contest.

Down nine with under two minutes left, the Fighting Illini made a fiery comeback.

After Illinois stole the inbounds, senior Joseph Bertrand absorbed contact and finished a bucket with a whistle—unfortunately for the Illini, the whistle went the other way as Bertrand was called for a charge.

The play could’ve cut it to a 45-43 game with 56 seconds left.

The Wildcats almost seemed determined to let the Illini back in the game one way or another.

Moments later Illinois forced another turn over after they double-teamed Northwestern senior Drew Crawford.

Averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game entering the contest, Crawford struggled all night, finishing with 13 points on 2-8 shooting.

Transfer junior Rayvonte Rice missed a layup and Jon Ekey and Nnanna Egwu failed to finish their tip in attempts.

“You can’t miss layups and tip dunks, you gotta convert some of those,” Illinois coach John Groce said. “We didn’t convert nearly enough of those. Offensively we gotta be better. We gotta step up and make some plays.”

Illinois would amazingly get another chance to cut into their deficient after Northwestern managed to turn the ball on the next play. This time Rice drained a three pointer to bring the Illini within two with 15 seconds left.

It was too little too late for Illinois as Crawford put the icing on the cake draining both of his free throws to make it a 47-43 Northwestern lead. The Wildcats would hold off the Illini, 49-43.

“We let one get away,” Egwu said. “We came out slow and couldn’t make shots. Give them credit, they play defense, they guard us for 40 minutes. We just couldn’t get a groove and make one really big run.”

The win gave Northwestern their first Big Ten win of the season after losing their first three conference games by an average of 25.3 points.

The Wildcats shot 37.2% from the field, 7-21 from downtown, and 10-17 at the line.

They were without their starting point guard Dave Sobolewski, who missed the game with a concussion.

The Illini couldn’t hit a shot, missing 33 of their first 40 shots from the field. Illinois also started 0-11 from downtown.

“We gotta have everybody out there playing their role and aggressiveness and assertiveness about them,” Groce said. “I just didn’t think that we had that. But give them credit.”

Illinois was held scoreless for four and half minutes in the first half.

In one sequence, Kendrick Nunn missed a layup and Ekey missed a tip in at point blank range.

On the next possession, Rice missed a layup and Ekey once again missed the tip in dunk.

Sequences like this were all too common for the Illini.

“I think it’s mental,” Egwu said. “We just gotta stay aggressive, we can’t get passive and not wanna take any shots because they’re not falling in.”

Entering the game leading the team in scoring, Rice and Bertrand combined for only 12 points on 4-22 shooting.

It’s been a tough week for Illinois, but junior guard Tracy Abrams, who finished with a team-high 13 points and five assists, remains confident.

“Adversity is gonna come,” Abrams said. “It’s just all about your response. I think we’ll be straight come Wednesday.”

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Arik Wonsover big ten FEATURED Illinois John Groce Joseph Bertrand Northwestern
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
The Worst Things Bart Simpson Has Ever Done Ranked
Z P
  • Twitter

Chicago sports.

Related Posts

Uncategorized January 25, 2023

Commanders insider has good news about potential Chicago Bears free agent target

Uncategorized January 23, 2023

Why Is Full Spectrum CBD Gaining Popularity Among The Youth?

Bears January 12, 2023

Chicago Bears NFL draft scouting report: Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski

Chicago Bulls Rumors December 20, 2022

Report: Zach Lavine and the Bulls franchise “not seeing eye to eye”

Bears December 18, 2022

Breaking: Bears list QB, 2 WRs on inactive list against Eagles

Big Ten Football December 8, 2022

College football awards finalists include Illinois and Northwestern

Leave A Reply

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Team Message Boards

bears TP
bulls TP
cubs TP
sox TP
hawks TP
we want you to write
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
© 2023 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.