Nov. 27, 2002
IUPUI Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern is playing its third game in five days, but the Wildcats have nothing on tonight's opponent, IUPUI.
The Jaguars participated in the Guardians Classic, and as a result are playing their third road game in three nights. On Monday and Tuesday, the Jags lost to Creighton (99-52) and Furman (70-62) in Kansas City to close out Guardians Classic play. Add to that a home game last Saturday against St. Joseph's (Ind.), and that makes it four games in five days for IUPUI.
"Both teams have played a lot lately," said head coach Bill Carmody. "We probably have the advantage in being at home for our games. But it is no different than when we were in Raleigh last year -- if you are playing well it is a good thing, and if you are struggling it can be a tough stretch."
Carmody is wary of a Jaguar team that boasts a number of transfers and is far more dangerous than its 2-3 mark may indicate.
"They run a lot of different defenses, and they look to force turnovers and get their offense from that," he said. "We cannot afford to be careless."
Tonight's game will especially be a good early test for point guard T.J. Parker. The freshman had six assists and no turnovers vs. New Hampshire Monday, but Carmody expects IUPUI to ratchet up the pressure several notches.
At the same time, he is confident Parker will weather the storm.
"T.J. seems ahead of the game at this point in his career-coming from a basketball family, he understands some of the finer points of the game at an earlier age. He makes the players around him better."
GAME 3 -- NORTHWESTERN (2-0) vs. IUPUI (2-3)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002/7 p.m. CST
Site: Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston)
Capacity: 8,117
Television: None
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Dave Eanet, play-by-play; David Kaplan, analyst)
(also on wgnradio.com)