CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Northwestern’s worst fear could be seen on the court before Wednesday’s game at Assembly Hall.
It wasn’t All-American guard Dee Brown. It wasn’t coaching whiz Bruce Weber, who entered the game with an 83-13 record at Illinois. It wasn’t even the deafening Orange Krush student section, which stands so close to the court it might as well be on the roster.
It was the sight of Vedran Vukusic – the Wildcats’ heart, soul, body, mind, everything – sitting on the bench in street clothes. Without their go-to scorer, the Cats did not make a basket in the final eight minutes of a 63-47 loss to the No. 14 Fighting Illini (21-4, 7-4 Big Ten).
Vukusic sat out Monday’s practice with back pain and was a game-time decision against Illinois. Coach Bill Carmody said the senior forward did not suffer the injury on the court and will see a doctor today. Vukusic was not made available to the media during Tuesday’s practice or Wednesday’s postgame.
“Anybody who’s had back problems knows it just comes and goes,” Carmody said. “I expected him to be here and be ready to play, but it just didn’t happen.”
Vukusic, who has scored a league-high 34 percent of his team’s points this season, did not start for the first time in 82 games. Without his Big Ten-leading 20.2 points per game, the Cats put together a spirited effort that had them trailing by only three with 8:04 remaining.
But while NU started to show signs of fatigue, the Illini clamped down defensively and scored 13 unanswered points. Forward Brian Randle provided the exclamation point with a mid-air put-back dunk off a missed shot by Brown. Two possessions later, center James Augustine deflated any comeback hopes when he stole a pass at mid-court and raced to the other end for an uncontested dunk and 14-point lead.
The Cats’ only points in the final eight minutes came when Mohamed Hachad hit two free throws with 1:32 left and NU down by 16. The complete offensive collapse spoiled a solid performance by the Vukusic-less Cats. The team rallied to erase double-digit deficits in both halves.
“That took a lot of energy from us, and we just ran out,” senior guard Evan Seacat said.
NU (12-11, 4-7) appeared to be headed for a long night when Illinois – fresh off two straight losses – jumped out to an early 15-3 lead. On the first play of the game, Randle drove through the middle of the Cats’ defense for an emphatic tomahawk slam.
Junior guard Rich McBride had a field day with NU’s zone defense in the first half, nailing 3 of 4 from the 3-point line and scoring 12 of his 17 points. The flurry prompted Carmody to substitute three bench players only five minutes into the game.
“They really stormed us and jumped out on us,” Carmody said. “But then we settled down into a little rhythm. I thought the guys hung in there in a tough situation.”
Hachad ignited the team with back-to-back 3-pointers on his way to 11 first-half points. The senior guard finished with a team-high 17 points and four rebounds.
“We did what we could tonight,” Hachad said. “I think it just came down to a couple plays, and Dee Brown making shots.”
Brown was one of four Illinois players who scored in double figures. The reigning Big Ten player of the year tallied 16 points and four assists. Brown sparked a 15-2 run when the Cats tied the score at 29 three minutes into the second half.
In a span of 45 seconds, Illinois’ speedy point guard hit a 3-pointer, forced a tough shot and converted a four-point play. Meanwhile, NU’s best player watched from the sidelines.
“Obviously we needed (Vukusic’s) contribution and offense,” Hachad said. “He’s been a great scorer for us.”
Reach Gerald Tang at [email protected].
