January 22, 1999
Northwestern plays its final nonconference game of the season on Saturday night as the 'Cats host Texas Pan-American. NU is coming off a thrilling, 62-60 overtime win against Penn State on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats led nearly the entire first half, leading by nine points (27-18) after David Newman hit a three-pointer with 2:45 remaining. PSU closed the gap to four points at halftime, 29-25. The Nittany Lions slowly took control in the second half, leading 51-46 with 4:17 left in the period. The Wildcat defense stiffened, allowing only two points the remainder of the half. Steve Lepore's running jumper with :08 left tied the score at 53-53 and sent the game into overtime.
The 'Cats took control in the extra period, opening the overtime on a 7-0 run to take a 60-53 lead with 1:51 remaining. Penn State answered with a 7-0 run of their own, tying the game at 60-60 with just six seconds left. Julian Bonner hit a running jumper in the lane with :0.6 seconds left to give NU the victory.
Evan Eschmeyer dominated the boards, notching his Big Ten-leading 10th double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-best 21 rebounds. Newman hit three three-pointers en route to a 15-point effort. Aron Molnar had six points and tied his career-best with seven rebounds off the bench. NU outrebounded Penn State, 47-26.
Northwestern Wildcats (10-5, 3-3 Big Ten) vs. Texas Pan-American Broncs (3-15)
Sat., Jan. 23, 1999 -- 7 p.m. CST
Radio: WGN AM 720
TV: None
Wildcat Probable Starters
Pos. No. Name (height, weight, class, hometown) ppg rpg F #33 Tavaras Hardy (6-8, 210, Fr., Joliet, Ill.) 8.3 4.8 C #42 Evan Eschmeyer (6-11, 255, Sr.-6, New Knoxville, Ohio) 20.5 11.1 G #4 Julian Bonner (6-1, 198, Sr., Detroit, Mich.) 3.9 2.1 G #22 Sean Wink (6-2, 176, So., Brea, Calif.) 9.9 2.1 G #24 David Newman (5-11, 165, Fr., Des Moines, Iowa) 8.7 2.2Off the bench
F #5 Joe Harmsen (6-9, 248, Sr., Fond du Lac, Wis.) 1.0 1.9 G #10 Matt Kammrath (6-0, 185, Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) 0.0 0.0 F #11 Danny Allouche (6-5, 200, Sr., Omer, Israel) 2.8 2.0 F #14 Steve Lepore (6-5, 200, Fr., North Olmstead, Ohio) 4.9 3.9 G #31 Nate Pomeday (6-2, 201, Sr., Cedar Grove, Wis.) 1.5 0.8 G #32 Collier Drayton (6-1, 175, Fr., Lyons, N.Y.) 0.0 3.0 C #35 Aron Molnar (6-11, 242, Jr., Mississauga, Ontario) 1.9 2.3 G #44 Jeff Eschmeyer (6-2, 192, So., New Knoxville, Ohio) 0.0 0.5Northwestern-UTPA, The Series
This will be the first-ever meeting on the basketball court between Northwestern and Texas Pan-American.
Head Coach Kevin O'Neill
Kevin O'Neill (McGill, 1979) is in his second season at the helm of the Wildcat basketball program. This is his 11th season as head coach at the Division I level and 13th overall as a collegiate head coach. He also has served as head coach at North Country CC (1980-82), Marycrest (1982-83), Marquette (1989-94) and Tennessee (1994-97).
O'Neill owns a 20-22 record at NU and a 160-142 record as a Division I head coach. Known as one of the best recruiters in the nation, O'Neill resurrected the Marquette and Tennessee programs, taking two teams which had not enjoyed recent success to postseason play.
Eschmeyer is Nation's Only 20-10 Player
According to the latest NCAA stat rankings, Evan Eschmeyer is the only player in the country currently averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Overall, there are 36 players in Division I who are averaging 20.0 or more points per game and 14 players averaging 10.0 or more rebounds per game.
Best Big Ten Start Since 1967-68
The turnaround of the Wildcat program under head coach Kevin O'Neill is currently making a dent in the Wildcat history books.
This marks the first time since the 1967-68 season the Wildcats have started a Big Ten season at least 3-3. The '67-'68 squad opened the conference campaign 4-2.
Also, the 'Cats own a 10-5 overall mark for the first time since 1982-83. Since NU's last Big Ten title in 1932-33, only three Wildcat squads have opened the year with an 11-5 record ('45-'46, '58-'59, '82-'83).
One of the Nation's Top Defenses
The biggest reason for Northwestern's good start has been the team's work on the defensive end of the floor. The Wildcats have adopted a "blue collar" approach to defense, diving after loose balls and making the hustle plays necessary to win games.
The 'Cats enter the UTPA game ranked second in the Big Ten in both field goal percentage defense and scoring defense, holding opponents to .367 from the field and just 56.1 points per game. Nationally, NU ranks sixth in field goal percentage defense and seventh in scoring defense.
Northwestern also leads the Big Ten in three-point field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just .283 from beyond the arc. Here's what NU has done to opposing offenses this season:
Quick Hits
NU has either been tied or led at halftime in 14 of 15 games this season. The only time the 'Cats have trailed at the break was Indiana.
NU's wins at Minnesota and Illinois marked the first time since 1993-94 that the 'Cats had won two-straight Big Ten road games.
NU's win at No. 16 Minnesota was its first over a ranked team since 1993-94 (97-93 vs. No. 7 Michigan).
A win over Texas Pan-American on Saturday would be an early birthday present for head coach Kevin O'Neill, who turns 42 on Sunday.
Eschmeyer Leads the Big Ten -- Times Three
Evan Eschmeyer currently stands atop the Big Ten in three statistical categories: rebounds (11.1 rpg), field goal percentage (.600) and double-doubles (10). He also is third in the Big Ten in scoring (20.6 ppg).
Nationally, "Esch" ranks tied for third in double-doubles, ninth in field goal pct., 10th in rebounding and tied for 27th in scoring. Eschmeyer enters the Texas Pan-American game with 39 career double-doubles and has scored in double figures 56-straight games.
More on Eschmeyer
Evan Eschmeyer has scored 950 career points against Big Ten Conference competition. He is looking to become just the second Wildcat ever, and the 57th in conference history, to record 1,000 Big Ten points. Billy McKinney is the only NU player to accomplish the feat.
On December 29, he was named to the mid-season top 30 team for the John Wooden Award, which is presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club to the national player of the year. Eschmeyer was one of only two true centers to earn a spot on the list (Washington's Todd MacCulloch).
On January 13, he recorded just the second triple-double in program history with his 27-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance at Indiana. It also was the first-ever triple-double posted in IU's Assembly Hall.
He has been named Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season. On December 28, he was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after recording double-doubles in NU's games against Boston College (23p, 10r) and Long Beach State (16p, 13r). On January 11, he earned the honor again after leading NU to wins at 16th-ranked Minnesota (24p, 15r) and at Illinois (16p, 17r, 5a). Eschmeyer's 21 rebounds vs. Penn State on January 20 is the most in the Big Ten this season.
Eschmeyer's league-leading 10 double-doubles is tied for third in the country and is twice as many as his closest Big Ten competitor. Michael Ruffin (Tulsa) and Derek Hood (Arkansas) lead the NCAA with 11 double-doubles. However, Ruffin has played 19 games and Hood has played 18 games compared to Eschmeyer's 15 games.
Eschmeyer Nearing NU Rebound Record
Evan Eschmeyer is fast approaching the Northwestern career rebound record, entering Saturday's game with 869 career boards. The record of 885 is held by Kevin Rankin. Within the next couple of weeks, "Esch" also could take over sole possession of second place in NU history in free throws, blocked shots and scoring. Here's where Eschmeyer currently ranks among NU's all-time career leaders:
Category Eschmeyer Next Up FG Pct. 1st - .600 --- FT Attempts 1st - 729 --- Rebounds 2nd - 869 Kevin Rankin (885) FT Made t2nd - 458 Kevin Rankin (458), Cedric Neloms (494) Blocked Shots 3rd - 110 Jim Pitts (123) Field Goals 4th - 543 Kevin Rankin (553) Scoring 4th - 1,544 Kevin Rankin (1,575), Jim Stack (1,583)Wink Among Big Ten Three-Point Leaders
Sophomore guard Sean Wink currently ranks third in the Big Ten in three pointers made, averaging 2.80 per game. In his last 12 contests, Wink has hit 34-of-72 (.472) from three-point range. For his career, Wink is shooting .437 (128-293) from three-point range. His 128 career threes rank second in NU history. Todd Leslie holds the all-time Wildcat record with 203 treys.
Against Boston College, Wink hit 6-of-12 from three-point range, marking the fifth time in his brief NU career that he has hit six three-pointers. All five of those games have come at home. Wink also hit five three-pointers against Long Beach State and four at Minnesota, at Illinois and at Indiana. NU, as a team, is second in the Big Ten in three pointers, averaging 6.8 per game.
Big Ten Stat Leaders
Here's where the 'Cats rank among the Big Ten and NCAA stat leaders (Big Ten as of Jan. 22, NCAA as of Jan. 18):
Individual - All Games
Scoring: Evan Eschmeyer - 3rd Big Ten, t27th NCAA (20.5 ppg)Rebounds: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st Big Ten, 10th NCAA (11.1 rpg)
FG Pct.: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st Big Ten, 9th NCAA (.600)
Double-Doubles: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st Big Ten, t3rd NCAA (10)
Assists: David Newman - 10th (3.1 apg); Evan Eschmeyer - 15th (2.5 apg)
FT Pct.: Evan Eschmeyer - 12th (.720)
3pt Made: Sean Wink - 3rd (2.80 tpg)
3pt Pct.: Sean Wink - 5th (.400)
Blocks: Evan Eschmeyer - 5th (1.7 bpg)
Offensive Rebs: Evan Eschmeyer - 1st (3.9 orpg)
Defensive Rebs: Evan Eschmeyer - 2nd (7.2 drpg)
Team - All Games
3pt Pct. Defense: 1st (.283)3pt FG Made: 2nd (6.8 tpg)
Scoring Defense: 2nd Big Ten, 7th NCAA (56.1 ppg)
FG Pct. Defense: 2nd Big Ten, 6th NCAA (.367)
Rebound Margin: 2nd (+5.1 rpg)
Blocked Shots: 4th (3.8 bpg)
Assists: 5th (15.8 apg)
Home Court Advantage
In Kevin O'Neill's two seasons as head coach, the Wildcats have made Welsh-Ryan Arena a tough place to play. NU has a 18-9 (.667) home court record under O'Neill, which is a marked improvement considering that, in the three seasons prior to O'Neill's arrival in Evanston, NU won just 14 home games.
In Memoriam
The Wildcats will wear a patch on the left corner of their shorts for the remainder of the season bearing the initials "D.P." The patch is in memory of Don Pomeday, father of senior guard Nate Pomeday, who passed away on December 9.
Letter-of-Intent Signees
During the November early signing period, the Wildcats signed five players to National Letters of Intent to begin playing basketball at NU next season:
Winston Blake (F, 6-5, 180, Plano, Texas/Plano Senior)
Brody Deren (F, 6-7, 223, Harlan, Iowa/Harlan Comm.)
Aaron Jennings (C, 6-11, 200, Atkins, Iowa/Benton Comm.)
Ben Johnson (G, 6-3, 180, Minneapolis, Minn./De La Salle)
Adam Robinson (F, 6-10, 210, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls)
Johnson (No. 60) and Blake (No. 95) are each ranked among the top 100 players in the country by Bob Gibbons. Deren was "Southwest Iowa Player of the Year" as a junior, while Jennings and Robinson were both named All-Americans this season by various publications.
NCAA Recognizes Wildcat Greats
In its recently-released book "Men's Basketball Finest," the NCAA recognized three former Wildcat players and two former NU coaches. Wildcat All-Americans Otto Graham, Max Morris and Joe Reiff were among the 396 players chosen while Dutch Lonborg and Harold Olsen were among the 119 coaches to earn a place among the best in NCAA history.
Coaches vs. Cancer
Head coach Kevin O'Neill is one of several coaches across the country who have joined together to help the fight against cancer. Fans are asked to pledge a certain amount of money for each assist the Wildcats make throughout the 1998-99 season. O'Neill will personally donate $5 for every assist this season to Coaches vs. Cancer. Fans can pick up pledge forms and brochures in the Welsh-Ryan Arena lobby during all home games.
Ask the Coach
Fans have an opportunity to submit questions to Kevin O'Neill and have them answered either on his weekly television show on Fox Sports Chicago or following games on WGN radio. Go to the Wildcat web site at NUSPORTS.COM and click on the special "Ask the Coach" link.
Wildcats on the Air
Once again this season, WGN-AM 720 will be the radio home of Wildcat basketball. Dave Eanet handles the play-by-play chores while Joey Meyer will handle the color analysis. Every Wildcat game this season will be aired by WGN.
The Kevin O'Neill Show
Once again this season, Fox Sports Chicago will air "The Kevin O'Neill Show." Dave Eanet, play-by-play announcer for NU football and basketball on WGN radio, hosts the half-hour show. The next show will air Tue., Jan. 26, at 3:30 p.m. CST and replayed that night at 1 a.m. CST.
Player Updates
#4 Julian Bonner - Has started the past eight games after coming off the bench in the first seven ... Started every game last season at point guard ... Hit the game-winning three pointer against St. Francis with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock ... Also hit a running jumper with 0.6 seconds left in overtime to defeat Penn State ... Ranks seventh in NU history with 248 career assists ... Ranks fifth in NU history with 93 career three pointers.#5 Joe Harmsen - Reserve power forward/center ... Grabbed season-high four rebounds against Oakland, Dayton and Seton Hall.
#10 Matt Kammrath - Walk-on ... Saw game action vs. Oakland and UW-Milwaukee this season.
#11 Danny Allouche - Tallied season-bests of seven points vs. UWM and five rebounds against Long Beach State ... Reserve forward ... Sat out last season after transferring from Missouri.
#14 Steve Lepore - Started the first seven games ... Crashes the boards hard ... Excellent all-around game ... Hit three three-pointers at Minnesota and at Indiana ... Had six boards in the win at Illinois ... Is 9-of-18 (.500) from three-point range in NU's five Big Ten games.
#22 Sean Wink - NU's top three-point threat ... Has hit 128 career three pointers, second-most in NU history ... Hit six three-pointers against Boston College, tying his career best ... Also nailed five three-pointers against Long Beach State and four treys on four other occasions ... Is 16-of-33 (.485) from three-point range against Big Ten competition this year ... Set the NU single-season three-point mark (86) last season as a freshman.
#24 David Newman - Starting point guard as a true freshman ... Tallied a season-best 22 points and five rebounds against Furman ... Dished eight assists in his collegiate debut against Maine ... Has come through in several clutch situations this season, especially from the free throw line in the final minute.
#31 Nate Pomeday - Reserve shooting guard ... Plays with a lot of heart and emotion ... One of the team's most vocal leaders ... Has hit at least one three pointer in four of the last nine games, all coming off the bench.
#32 Collier Drayton - Extremely quick athlete ... Is a stronger defensive player than offensive ... Grabbed three rebounds in seven minutes against Oakland.
#33 Tavaras Hardy - Scored in double figures three of his first five collegiate games ... Tallied first career double-double (18p, 10r) vs. Oakland ... Has a nice outside touch from about 15-feet ... Had 13 points at Indiana, his highest point total since the Oakland game.
#35 Aron Molnar - Backup center ... Tied his career best with seven boards against Penn State ... Pulled down five rebounds in 15 minutes against Oakland and five boards in 10 minutes against Boston College ... Also had three boards in nine minutes against Dayton ... One of the most improved, if not the most improved, players on the team.
#42 Evan Eschmeyer - National Player of the Year candidate ... One of only two true centers on the mid-season top candidate list for the Wooden Award ... Ranks third in the country with 10 double-doubles this season, including a triple-double at Indiana ... Within the next couple of weeks, should move into first or second in Wildcat history in seven different categories ... Has scored 20-or-more points in eight of 15 games this season ... Is the only player in Division I averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game ... Also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in free throw percentage (12th, .720) and assists (15th, 2.5 apg).
#44 Jeff Eschmeyer - Younger brother of Evan Eschmeyer ... Walked onto the squad last season ... Saw action against Oakland and UWM ... Lone rebound came vs. UWM.