Rebounding and a 35-year-old quest for a winning conference record are at the forefront of Northwestern men’s basketball team’s attention as it kicks off the Big Ten season tonight against Iowa.
The Wildcats (8-3) start their efforts to improve on last year’s 7-9 Big Ten record, putting them at or above .500 for the first time since 1968.
“I like to say there’s two different seasons,” senior Winston Blake said. “We’re entering a new one now and everything means more.”
The Cats tip off conference play against the Hawkeyes (8-3) at 7 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
“You get a different feeling (from Big Ten play),” Blake said. “It’s harder and it means more, so everyone takes a little more pride in it.”
As opponents start to get tougher, the players the Cats match up with certainly will be bigger. NU will consistently give up inches and pounds in the paint for the rest of the season.
“Coach has been harping on us to rebound,” senior Jason Burke said. “It will take five of us to rebound. Every man is going to make it a priority.”
NU has a rebounding deficit of 1.8 boards per game, a 3.7 rebound per game improvement over last year. But in NU’s three losses, the team has been out-rebounded by an average of 12.6 per game.
Tonight’s matchup against Iowa will be a trial by fire as far as keeping pace on the boards. The Hawkeyes have out rebounded opponents by 6.6 boards per game, good for second in the conference. Iowa’s frontcourt includes two of the top seven rebounders in the Big Ten.
“We’ve really just been emphasizing getting to the ball,” Carmody said. “Run guys over, whatever, just get to the ball.”
Jared Reiner, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound center, leads Iowa’s glass-cleaning duo with 8.8 boards per contest despite limited minutes.
The Cats also will have to key in on Reiner on defense. The junior’s jump hook will have to be denied, Blake said.
“They want to get it down low to that post presence,” Blake said. “We have to make sure our wings are discouraging passes down low, and that when it does get down there we’re doubling and making them kick it out.”
Injuries have thinned NU’s frontcourt throughout the Cats’ nonconference schedule, and Carmody said there’s not much relief in sight.
Center Aaron Jennings is still hampered by shin splints. Freshman Ivan Tolic’s knee has kept him from running full court in practice, and the back-up center won’t be making his collegiate debut anytime soon, Carmody said.
To combat the size mismatch, Carmody said all his players must continue to get on the glass.
The Cats have out-rebounded their last three opponents in a three-game win streak, with the team-rebounding movement highlighted by 6-foot-2 guard Jitim Young’s 13-rebound performance Saturday against Long Island.
The order will be taller tonight, but Carmody said his team is up to the challenge.
“You have to play aggressively, play hard,” Carmody said. “The veterans know what they’re doing, if you play hard, usually things work out.”
