Hello from breezy Bloomington, Ind., where Northwestern is taking on Indiana. The Wildcats (15-10, 5-9 Big Ten) were last in action about 48 hours ago, when they edged Iowa 73-70 in Evanston. Meanwhile the Hoosiers (12-14, 3-10) have had the week off after falling to Michigan last weekend in Ann Arbor. Bill Carmody said after Thursday’s game that he wouldn’t let his team use fatigue as an excuse tonight, but that’s definitely something to look out for.
The last time these two teams met, Northwesten went off for 93 points in a 93-81 win. Junior forward John Shurna led the Cats with 24 points while junior center Luka Mirkovic poured in 20 points and collected 12 rebounds.
With a win, the Cats are basically guaranteed at least a ninth place finish in the Big Ten. A victory would give NU six conference triumphs, three ahead of Indiana and Iowa. The Cats have beaten the Hawkeyes twice, and the Hoosiers have a brutal schedule to finish the year, taking on each of the conference’s top four squads. Indiana, who has won one Big Ten road game in three years under Tom Crean, travels to Ohio State next Sunday and Illinois in two weeks.
