It was the kind of news that made Northwestern fans grimace, but it couldn’t have surprised them. In a season that began so promisingly, yet another key contributor was forced to the bench.
The team’s leading rebounder, senior Jared Swopshire, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday, leaving head coach Bill Carmody with barely enough players to field a rotation.
Freshman center Alex Olah is also unavailable for Thursday’s game with the No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes, joining Swopshire and Drew Crawford on the bench. Rather unfortunate for the ‘Cats’ tournament hopes, more of the team’s original starters watch from the sideline than take the court.
In a year where the basketball gods seemingly kept challenging Carmody with injury after injury, he somehow found a way to spur Northwestern on to victories over ranked Illinois and Minnesota. Yet with the team’s injured frontcourt stuck closer to the Gatorade cooler than the rim, it is hard to imagine how the Wildcats can move past this blow.
Redshirt freshman Mike Turner, who is likely to replace Alex Olah in the starting lineup, brings a physical presence to the game on the defensive end. However, it’s often too much. Turner has been in serious foul trouble in more than a few games this year, finishing with four fouls in 25 minutes against Iowa Sunday.
Either senior guard Alex Marcotullio or freshman forward Kale Abrahamson will replace Swopshire. Though each of these players has his place in the offense, there is no question that this is a downgrade. Marcotullio provides great pressure at the top of the 1-3-1, but lacks the size to rebound like Swopshire. Likewise, Abrahamson brings a smooth shot but is often a defensive liability.
In a game against an eager Ohio State team, one that just lost to rival Michigan by two points in overtime and top-ranked Indiana by 13, weaknesses will likely be exploited. Forward Deshaun Thomas, a 6-foot-7 junior who averages 20 points per game, could very well wreak havoc. On a night when Carmody will have trouble finding players who are healthy enough to suit up, the Buckeyes will likely run over the ‘Cats in a blowout. Even a few early empty possessions for Northwestern could signify disaster, as the 'Cats don’t have enough offensive firepower to fight back. Still, if Billy Joel is “Keeping the Faith,” so must Northwestern fans. As the Wildcats prepare to head to Columbus, NBN looks at the keys to the game for each team.
Contain Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas
To put it simply, the Buckeyes just have too many weapons to be stopped.
Aaron Craft, a junior guard, is averaging 9.6 points and 4.4 assists a night. In the Buckeyes’ game against Michigan Feb. 5, Craft and Michigan standout Trey Burke traded shot for shot, buzzer-beater for buzzer-beater. Whoever is forced to match up against Craft will have his hands full all evening. Even when he’s not scoring, he paces the team’s offensive effort.
Meanwhile, Thomas complements Craft’s speed with a punishing force down low. Though Turner enjoys a slight height advantage over Thomas, the Buckeye has a 10-pound advantage. If Turner gets into foul trouble early, the Wildcats have little depth to turn to. Expect a productive night in the paint for the Buckeyes.
Freshmen in starring roles
Around the country, the top teams in college basketball have been bolstered by contributions from star freshman. For No. 4 Michigan, the team that beat the Buckeyes just a few days ago, sharp-shooting freshman Nik Stauskas has propelled the Wolverines to a 21-4 record thus far. However, Stauskas is playing because his coach has deemed him ready. Carmody does not have that luxury.
Tre Demps and Abrahamson are two players who need at least another year to develop and have instead been thrust into the meat grinder that is the Big Ten. While each has played well at times, with Demps averaging 8.7 points a game in Big Ten play, they haven’t made the same impact as Stauskas or other talented freshman across the country. It shouldn’t be a necessity, but if Northwestern is to pull off the upset, the freshmen need to make an impact.
Prediction: Ohio State 78, Northwestern 54
But wait! Northwestern takes on the Buckeyes on Valentine’s Day, so it’s time to show a little love for the 'Cats.
How Northwestern won't get its heart broken:
In a perfect world, a traffic jam outside Ohio State’s Value City Arena prevents fans from getting to the game on time. Meanwhile, a homework exchange program, in which Ohio State students take on Northwestern students’ homework load for the night, prevents Buckeye fans from even thinking about leaving that organic chemistry homework to watch their team play the Wildcats.
Once the game starts, the Buckeyes fail to take Northwestern seriously, as they are more concerned with guarding Swopshire and Crawford on the bench, rather than Abrahamson. Before the ref can explain to Buckeyes coach Thad Matta that yes, Northwestern really is that unlucky, Abrahamson drains four triples in a row to grab the early lead.
As the game progresses, Thomas is shocked to find that fouling is encouraged during this contest, and Turner takes full advantage. Every time Thomas touches the ball down low, Turner lays a hit that would make David Nwabuisi proud.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes do make a run. With just a few seconds left in the game, Ohio State knocks down two free throws to tie the game. But on the very next possession, as point guard Dave Sobolewski dribbles down court, Marcotullio glances into the crowd. There, in the third row up, is Gus Johnson. Marcotullio calls for the ball and, a la 2012, knocks down a three from the top of the arc. Jared Sullinger can only watch in agony from his TV set in Boston as the large Northwestern contingent in attendance storms the floor.