{"id":5159,"date":"2023-01-08T15:29:24","date_gmt":"2023-01-08T15:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bloomingtonnews.online\/?p=5159"},"modified":"2023-01-18T22:45:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T22:45:20","slug":"preview-iuwbb-vs-northwestern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomingtonnews.online\/?p=5159","title":{"rendered":"Preview: IUWBB vs Northwestern"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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3pm on Sunday afternoon, #6 Indiana (13-1\/ 3-1) will tip off against Northwestern (6-8 \/ 0-4) at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Plus Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wildcats are still in search of their first Big Ten victory this season, after falling to Illinois, Michigan St, Michigan, and Ohio State. Northwestern will be hungry for a conference win, and have talent on both sides of the court. They average 38 rebounds a game, limiting their opponents to very few second chance points, while the Wildcats themselves, are shooting nearly 40% from the field this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players to watch for Northwestern include Caileigh Walsh, a 6\u20193\u201d Sophomore Forward, averaging nearly 13 points per game, and Graduate Guard Sydney Wood, also averaging double figures, with an effective perimeter shooting game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northwestern offers several different defensive looks, including the 2-2-1 press and what they call their \u201cBlizzard Zone.\u201d Indiana will need to work the ball both inside and out, establishing early effectiveness from beyond the arc. Points off of transition play will also be important for the Hoosiers in dictating the pace of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indiana is coming off of two incredibly tight conference games, their first loss was on the road against Michigan State, and it took overtime to defeat Nebraska at Assembly Hall. The Spartans were successful in slowing down the pace through a full-game full-court press, along with a double-team of All-American Forward Mackenzie Holmes in the paint. Indiana subsequently turned the ball over 21 times, resulting in 28 Spartan points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Senior Forward Mackenzie Holmes boards the plane for Illinois to take on Northwestern. (Photo courtesy of IU Athletics)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know anytime you turn it over 21 times you’re going to have a difficult time and we didn’t shoot it great,\u201d said Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren on the team\u2019s first loss. \u201cI thought we handled ourselves better against Nebraska and did a lot of good things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Moren also said that Holmes will continue to see a double team, moving forward. \u201cShe warrants that cuz she’s really good, and I think everybody in the country knows she’s really good.\u201d Coach added, \u201cIt’s very difficult to guard her just with one person and Mack just has to continue to get better and stay patient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next up, the Hoosier will host #13 Maryland (13-3 \/ 4-1), Thursday, January 12th<\/sup> at 6:30pm. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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