For the first few minutes of Northwestern’s matchup against No. 16 Michigan State, the Wildcats seemed to have broken their streak of slow offensive starts. Three consecutive buckets from junior forward Nick Martinelli and a dunk by graduate student center Matthew Nicholson ignited a string of scores.
With 13:12 remaining in the first half, though, the Spartans (14-2, 5-0 Big Ten) took control.
Michigan State’s 14-0 first-half scoring run in the first half dug the ’Cats (10-6, 1-4 Big Ten) into a hole that proved insurmountable en route to its 78-68 victory.
NU didn’t do itself any favors during this stretch.
The ’Cats missed eight consecutive shots during their scoring drought, six of which were from beyond the arc. Three consecutive turnovers on ensuing possessions didn’t help their cause.
The missed shots continued to be a trend, particularly from deep. In the loss, NU shot a season-low 35.6% from the field including 5-of-25 from three-point range.
Despite shooting 4-of-15 on three-pointers in the first half, the ’Cats kept trying from that range, shooting a less efficient 1-of-10 in the final twenty minutes.
Coach Chris Collins’ squad hasn’t taken many threes this season. Its 308 attempts are the second-fewest in the Big Ten. Additionally, NU’s 31.5% three-point shooting is the second-lowest season average in the conference. Collins said the Spartans’ defense forced them to shoot from beyond the arc.
“They really clog the paint on drives, and you have to kick the ball,” Collins said. “They were really flooding the ball on drives and on Nick’s penetration.”
Under pressure from a dominant Spartan defense, Martinelli opted to shoot a season-high six triple attempts, of which he made two.
“They were just playing off me all game,” Martinelli said. “It was really just, as for shot selection, what’s the best shot.”
Even when the ’Cats had open opportunities for a three-point shot, they weren’t falling.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was especially surprised by senior guard Brooks Barnhizer’s performance.
Barnhizer was held scoreless in the first half, finishing the game with a season-low four points. Barnhizer was also 0-of-6 from three-point range and 2-of-13 from the field.
“Trust me when I say this, we did a good job,” Izzo said. “(Barnhizer) missed some shots that I see him normally making.”
This trend wasn’t evident just for Barnhizer. Collins said there were other opportunities for good looks.
“I thought Ty (Berry) got a really good look coming off a screen. I thought Brooks had a couple of really wide-open looks,” Collins said. “We have to be able to shoot them when that’s what the game entails.”
The ’Cats have had similar woes in three-point shooting recently. Since their December victory over DePaul, when they shot 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, their three-point shooting form has steadily declined.
In the four games since, NU is 27-of-97 from the three.
With three straight losses under its belt, NU will now set its sights on an increasingly crucial matchup against Maryland Thursday. The Terrapins are shooting 49.7% from the field, the fourth-best total in the Big Ten. On the other hand, the ’Cats’ 44.2% from the field is second-lowest in the conference.
If the ’Cats hope to bounce back with a win Thursday, increasing their three-point production will be a major asset.
“If five guys are in the paint you have to be able to have a balance there,” Collins said. “You just can’t go 5-for-25.”
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