Hey folks,
Here's the Northwestern preview I've been touting for so long. It's a little early, but I'm visiting family, so I had to do it when I had the time. Enjoy, and make sure you check back tomorrow after the game for a wrap-up. Happy New Year.
What: IU (7-5, 0-0) vs. Northwestern (4-9, 0-1)
Where: Evanston, Ill.
When: 3 p.m., New Year's Eve
Previous Meetings: IU took the only meeting between the two schools last year, winning 83-59 in Bloomington.
Key IU stats -Averaging 66.7 points per game for, 64 points per game against -Players to watch: Jamie Braun, Soph., Guard - 13.7 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game; Whitney Thomas, Junior, Forward - 11.6 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game -IU is currently on a three-game win streak, highlighted by a 79-66 victory over then-No. 13 West Virginia at Assembly Hall on Dec. 22. -IU has four players averaging double figures in scoring.
Key Northwestern stats -Averaging 55.1 points per game for, 63.5 points per game against -Key players: Amy Jaeschke, Fresh. Center - 14 points per game, six rebounds per game (only played in four games, all starts); Nadia Bibbs, Senior, Guard - 9.5 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game (all team highs for players with 10 or more games; transferred from Boston) -Northwestern lost their Big Ten opener to rival Illinois 58-44, and currently has the worst overall record in the Big Ten -Northwestern is 1-1 versus mutual opponents this season, having defeated Dayton in overtime in their first game and then lost to Wake Forest by 15 in late November.
Story of the game This is an interesting opening contest for IU. Northwestern was a consensus pick to finish last in the Big Ten at Big Ten Media Day - they went 9-22 last year, and suffered through an 18-game losing streak through the middle of the season - and their record to date is the worst in the conference. The play of freshman center Amy Jaeschke has been a positive, as the Wilmette, Ill., native has averaged 14 points and six rebounds in all four games she's played so far this season.
Northwestern lost their first game of the Big Ten season to Illinois last Thursday. Their only wins so far this season came against Dayton, Loyola-Chicago, Central Michigan and Marquette, and at first glance, Northwestern is not that imposing. However, the Wildcats are surrendering less points than IU is scoring, and if Jaeschke continues to score like she did against Illinois - she recorded her first career double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds - the 6-foot-5 center could cause IU problems.
Overall, this appears a good first test in conference for a team that has just four players with experience in Big Ten play. IU should be a favorite, but they will have to overcome a hostile crowd in Evanston to notch a conference win in their first Big Ten game of the season.
Coincidentally, this is also the last Big Ten conference game of 2007, as it will be the second of two games played in-conference on New Year's Eve.
