The Wildcats are still searching for their first road victory of the season.
Grit.
Northwestern has grit. That’s what the win against USC showed. Losing Brooks Barnhizer for the season was a big blow to this team. That was multiplied by Jalen Leach going down in the USC game. But the ‘Cats still found a way to win. Somehow. There’s still a glimmer of hope for tournament aspirations, but it’s better to look at things one game at a time. That’s what NC State did last season and look where it ended.
Now on a west coast trip, Northwestern is looking to shock the world with its back up against the wall. Washington is capable of losing at home, and that’s where NU heads next.
Here are three keys for the Wildcats as they take on the Huskies:
Why not us?
College basketball is unpredictable. A team could be undefeated all year just to lose in the first game of its conference tournament. Every game matters, especially later in the season. So why not us? That should be what Chris Collins is drilling into the minds of his players. Nick Martinelli has been arguably the team’s best player even when everyone has been healthy this season, so he’s still going to get his. It’s now about the others on the team. Ty Berry has had an up-and-down season, but that doesn’t mean the rest of it will be a down. Why not us? Justin Mullins was a DNP a few times this season but was a huge part of the win against USC. Why not us? Just like the “We Believe” Warriors, Northwestern can become the “We Believe” Wildcats.
Justin Mullins
Justin Mullins has had a strange season to say the least. He started out the season as the hustle guy, was benched in the middle of the season and now has surged back into big minutes. This was highlighted by Mullins shooting an unprecedented 4-of-5 from three against USC. Prior to that match, he was shooting only 20% from beyond the arc on the season. The last two years have shown ‘Cats fans what a midseason breakout is all about. First it was Barnhizer two years ago, last year it was Martinelli and Mullins may be the guy to elevate his game this season. With Leach now injured, Mullins will most likely see a big minutes jump it would be huge for Northwestern if he can continue the momentum he had from USC onto the road trip out west. Martinelli is going to draw the double a lot without Leach on the floor, so it’s up to the “others” to make plays when Martinelli is being pestered.
Keenan Fitzmorris
Despite being his first year with Northwestern, Keenan Fitzmorris embodies the role of the hype man. Even a little play (not necessarily by him either) has him pumping up his teammates and the crowd. With Barnhizer done for the season and Leach now injured as well, this team needs energy. Not to mention Fitzmorris has been playing much better lately. His rebounding still isn’t where it could or should be, but he seems to have the hook shot from beyond the right-side block down to a science. With clear struggles for Northwestern on offense after Leach went down, maybe the Wildcat version of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot is something this offense could benefit from.