2011-2012 Northwestern Basketball Preview

2010-11 Results

Overall: 20-14
Big Ten: 7-11
Conference Tournament: Lost in the 2nd Round to Ohio State
Postseason: Lost in NIT Quarterfinals to Washington State

Bill Carmody lead the Wildcats to a 20 win season a year ago. Northwestern got off to a 9-1 start before stumbling to an eighth place finish in the Big Ten conference. Overall the Wildcats were 7-11 in Big Ten play and lost in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.

One improvement that the Wildcats will need to make this year is their play on the road. Northwestern was 12-4 at home but a meager 4-8 on the road. The team was even 5-4 at home during conference play. To take the next step and qualify for the NCAA tournament, the team will need to try to finish at least .500 on the road this season.

A year ago the Wildcats finished third in the Big Ten in scoring and eight in points allowed per game. They scored 71.8 points per game a year ago. The team controlled the ball well only turning it over 10 times a game. Northwestern was also above average from three point range shooting 37.1 percent from beyond the arch and shot 45 percent from the field.

Roster

Returning Starters
JerShon Cobb
Drew Crawford
John Shurna
Luka Mirkovic.

Other Returning Players
Alex Marcotullio

Newcomers
Tre Demps
Dave Sobolewski
Mike Turner

Coach
Bill Carmody

Key Losses

will not have an easy time replacing guard Juice Thompson. Thompson average 16.3 points a game last year and hit 39.3 percent of his three pointers. Not to mention that he went 36-for-36 from the free throw line over the final nine games of the season.

Schedule

http://www.nusports.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/nw-m-baskbl-sched.html

2011-12 Preview

Northwestern is aiming for a return to the NCAA tournament. Last season after a 9-1 start, the Wildcats were ready to make a run at an NCAA berth, when out of nowhere leading scorer John Shurna was injured. After that the team was not the same finishing 7-11 in Big Ten play.

From last season’s team seven of the top eight scorers return. Plus five players who played more than 23 minutes will be back to contribute once again. If Shurna can stay on the floor the Wildcats should have a special season this year.
Backcourt

Drew Crawford and JerShon Cobb will start and be the team’s top scoring threats. Freshman Dave Sobolewski has won the starting point guard job.

Crawford averaged 12.1 points a game a year ago and will need to step up to be the number two scoring option behind Shurna. Through two years in the program, he has struggled with consistency. He also needs to work on his three point shot after only making 32.7 percent from behind the arch last year.

JerShon Cobb was the team’s fifth leading scorer last year as a freshman averaging 7.4 points per game. He needs to work on his three point shot after only making 30.3 percent a year ago.

Dave Sobolewski will have a tough act to follow with the departure of Juice Williams but has the talent to be just as good down the road. He is an excellent free throw shooter that will make plays and create scoring opportunities for Crawford and Shurna. Look for their scoring average to increase with Sobolewski distributing the ball.

Marcotulio will once again come off the bench for Northwestern. He will likely produce similar numbers as last year coming off the bench. Last season he averaged 6.2 points per game and 2.5 rebounds.

Frontcourt

Luka Mirkovic will be faced with the task of guarding top Big Ten centers Jared Sullinger and Melsahn Basabe. Mirkovic isn’t a top offensive threat but he is an excellent three point shooter hitting 42.9 percent last year. After averaging 7.4 points a game a year ago, he will be asked to do more in the Wildcat offense.

John Shurna led the team in scoring a year averaging 16.6 points per game. He played well in non-conference play before an injury. This year coach Carmody will need him to step up and play big against Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue. Shurna shot 48.4 percent from field goal range a year ago and 43.4 percent from downtown.

Shurna and Mirkovic will be backed up by forward David Curletti. A year ago Curletti averaged 14.8 minutes per game and 4.0 points.

More Big Ten Basketball Predictions

Ohio State Buckeyes	Michigan State Spartans	Michigan Wolverines
Wisconsin Badgers	Indiana Hoosiers	Purdue Boilermakers
Northwestern Wildcats	Iowa Hawkeyes	Minnesota Golden Gophers
Illinois Fighting Illini	Nebraska Cornhuskers	Penn State Nittany Lions

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