With Valentine’s Day love in the air, it’s easy to look at all the positives of Northwestern’s 77-74 overtime win: the comeback from 13 points down, the balanced scoring distribution, the 10 steals and six blocks.

But to do so would be seeing the game through rose-tinted glasses.

I love the way the Wildcats were able to mount a comeback in the final minutes of the game. But they got themselves in that situation through what coach Bill Carmody called “lethargic” play. It was as if they were still recovering from the shock of losing to Iowa, when they should have been playing as if their NCAA Tournament life depended on it.

I love that four of five starters scored in double figures, including 40 points from the combination of sophomore John Shurna and freshman Drew Crawford. Yet NU jacked up 36 3-point attempts, and more than half of its made field goals came from beyond the arc. That looks like a great strategy when the shots are falling down, but the balanced attack the Cats desperately need was nowhere to be seen Sunday.

I love how NU forced turnovers, and even better, converted them into points on the offensive end. The Cats had 21 points off turnovers to the Gophers’ 12. Nothing negative about that.

Let’s face it, the romantic, comeback overtime win should not have been necessary. NU is supposed to be a superior team, playing at home with its season on the line. There is no excuse for trailing by 13 points more than three-quarters of the way through the game.If NU still has any desire to make the NCAA Tournament, it has to be mentally strong and prepared for the road ahead. The Cats’ path is straightforward-win the rest of their regular-season contests, and take a game or two in the Big Ten Tournament.

It’s a tough task. And fans struck by Cupid’s arrows might think it can happen. But I don’t. This team lacks the consistency necessary to go on a winning streak in the Big Ten. The Cats have yet to put together more than two consecutive victories in conference play this season.

The Cats lack the mental toughness necessary to win on the road. They have one conference win away from home, and the loss at Iowa casts doubt on winning at Penn State and Indiana-not to mention Wisconsin next weekend.

NU lacks a true go-to scorer when it needs a basket. Crawford and Shurna stuff the points column of the box score, but those baskets come at various times and from beyond the arc. In the closing seconds of regulation Sunday, the best the Cats could come up with was a running floater from junior Michael Thompson.

Am I being too hard on a squad that tied the NU record for regular season wins? No, I’m being fair and realistic. The victory keeps the Cats’ NCAA Tournament chances alive. NU lives to play another game, but it still has a ways to go.

The Cats should dance this Valentine’s Day while they have the chance. Because come March, they might get left out of the Big Dance, having their hearts broken for the 71st time.

Sports Editor Brian Chappatta is a Medill junior. He can be reached at [email protected].