Before our thoughts turn to the inevitable renewal of Women’s Lacrosse dominance and the tantalizing taste of football’s return, let’s raise a (non-alcoholic) glass to the most successful season in Northwestern basketball history by taking a romp through the top 10 moments of the 2010-2011 season.
10. November 12th: Opening blowout of Northern Illinois:
John Shurna matched his career-high with 31 points in a season-opening win that left fans asking, “Who needs Kevin Coble?”
9. January 9th: Drew Crawford block and fast-break 3-pointer helps end Northwestern losing streak
After losing 3 straight to start off Big Ten play, Drew Crawford’s intense effort on both sides of the ball helped key the Wildcats to a huge home win against Indiana and renew the team’s tournament aspirations.
8. March 23rd: Abe Lodwick’s missed free throws in Pullman
The Wildcats’ heartbreaking loss in the NIT quarterfinals was the embodiment of the “Cardiac ‘Cats” moniker, but before the darkness of the brutal overtime period, there was the miraculous choke-job by Washington State’s Abe Lodwick to momentarily save the season. For one brief, shining moment, we Northwestern fans were permitted to believe that fate would finally be on our side.
7. November 30th: Alex Marcotullio’s 4-point play in marquee non-conference win
Facing one of their only truly imposing non-conference foes, the Wildcats made an impressive statement early, beating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 91-71, in part thanks to the emergence of Alex Marcotullio as a vital backcourt asset.
6. December 20th: John Shurna announces his presence to the nation in his Madison Square Garden debut
In a blow-out 92-61 romp over St. Francis under the bright lights of the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” John Shurna’s dunk and 26 points established him as one of the conference’s stars before an ankle injury began to hamper his play.
5. January 18th: John Shurna’s 19 points in the first 15 minutes against Michigan
Shurna struggled mightily at times this season, but at his best he was still simply un-guardable, as illustrated by his ferocious first-half performance to help beat a very strong Michigan team, 74-60.
4. March 10th: Juice Thompson’s record-breaking night
With a berth in the NIT still in the balance, Juice Thompson put the Wildcats on his back, using his record-setting 35-point performance to spur Northwestern on to the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
3. March 2nd: Juice Thompson goes out on top
In his final game at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Juice Thompson scored 18 points and received a standing ovation in recognition for his historic career as a Wildcat.
2. March 19th: Shurna’s “Jackhammer Jam” highlights a huge NIT upset
John Shurna was an Illinois high school dunk champion just a few years ago, a skill he gleefully showed off against Boston College on a fast break to solidify the lead in a double-digit upset of the top-seeded Golden Eagles in the NIT.
1. January 23rd: Juice’s clutch 3-pointers against Illinois
The senior’s 23 points, with 15 coming on 3-point shots, helped Northwestern gut out its biggest win of the season, once again proving that Thompson will be impossible to replace.