De-fense. (Thump, thump). De-fense.
The fans were calling for it at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday night, but the Northwestern men’s basketball team apparently didn’t hear them.
The Wildcats beat the Northwest Sports All-Stars 80-78, but they gave up the most points to a non-conference opponent since Southern California dropped 85 on the Cats in 1999. And Wednesday’s defensive lapse came against a team that lost to Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis — a team that was No. 194 in the RPI last year — by a score of 96-66.
“(The All-Stars) just stand outside and shoot three pointers, that’s all they do,” NU head coach Bill Carmody said. “I tell (the players) that, but nothing happens. It’s like I’m talking to myself out there.”
Former Atlanta Hawks guard Ed Gray paced the All-Stars from the outside, draining 8 of 10 three pointers. Overall, the All-Stars went 12-for-26 from beyond the arc.
“We never stopped them, and they don’t have a single guy on the team that can get by you,” Carmody said. “And they don’t have any inside presence. If they had a center or a slasher, then what are they going to do then? I’m very disappointed.”
The All-Stars were able to spread the Cats’ 2-3 zone defense throughout the game and create open shots at will.
“We gotta keep it packed in, so when they pass it around the key we’re there, we’re not running around,” center Aaron Jennings said.
To further NU’s troubles, starting forward Vedran Vukusic reaggravated a recurring shoulder injury. Vukusic had surgery to correct the problem in the offseason, but midway through the second half the sophomore went up for a rebound and came down clutching his right side. He was immediately escorted off the floor and into the locker room. Vukusic said he felt his arm pop, but it didn’t hurt after the game.
Jennings’ preseason injury, on the other hand, improved enough for him to see some minutes against the All-Stars. Jennings spent the Cats’ first exhibition game in street clothes due to shin splints, and he sat through the first half of Wednesday’s game before coming off the bench to start the second.
The senior — who after the game said his legs felt fine — had eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in just 18 minutes of play.
“A.J. knows the center position in our offense, so he was able to get us some good looks,” guard T.J. Parker said.
His presence spurred the Cats to 45 second-half points.
Leading the offensive onslaught was NU’s guard play. After taking just three shots in the Cats’ first exhibition, Parker exploded for 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting Wednesday night. The freshman added three assists and just one turnover in his 38 minutes.
Parker was responsible for drawing the biggest cheer on Wednesday night when he banked in a half-court shot to beat the clock and tie the game at 35-35 going into the half.
Junior Jitim Young tallied 25 points of his own in the backcourt-dominated effort. Carmody’s two starting guards accounted for 60 percent of NU’s offensive output.
“With T.J. here, I have less responsibility with bringing the ball up,” Young said. “I can get out to the wing and look to score more.
“T.J. playing with a veteran like myself keeps him calm and confident out there. He looked great today.”
Parker also contributed five rebounds to the battle of the boards, which the Cats won 41-25. But Carmody downplayed this success, noting that the All-Stars’ tallest player was 6-foot-8.
Senior Jason Burke was challenged by Carmody after NU’s first exhibition to hit the glass, and he responded by pulling in eight rebounds to lead the team.
Forward Winston Blake continued to struggle from three-point range, going 1-for-5. But the senior notched a team-high five assists to go along with his nine points.
Carmody, though, was still unhappy with the play of his veterans, delving nine deep into his bench. At the end of the first half, three freshmen — Parker, Jimmy Maley and Mohamed Hachad — ran the offense with Burke and sophomore Davor Duvancic.
“I was going to try and work them in anyway, but you might as well keep playing them when you’re getting that kind of game out of the other guys,” Carmody said.
Carmody was also displeased with NU’s 16 turnovers.
“Against a team that’s picking you up at 18 feet and not pressing you at all, you should have four or five turnovers,” Carmody said.
But, more than anything else, Young said the Cats must listen to their coach and solve the problems on defense.
“We gotta take coach’s criticism positively,” he said. “Defense is where the game begins and ends. We need improvement there, just improving on the basic things we learn everyday.”
And for Carmody’s sake, NU better do it quickly.
“I just told them all, ‘start coming along kids, start coming along,’ because I just can’t watch that,” Carmody said.
