Tm Doyle is third in the Big Ten with 5.9 assists per game. He tallied a career-best with nine in the win over Northwestern State.Tm Doyle is third in the Big Ten with 5.9 assists per game. He tallied a career-best with nine in the win over Northwestern State.

Big Ten Play Tips Off Wednesday at Penn State on ESPNU

Jan. 2, 2007

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Jan. 3, 2007 -- 7 p.m./6 p.m. CT
Northwestern (10-3, 0-0) vs. at Penn State (9-4, 0-0)

Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)
University Park, Pa.

Radio -- WGN 720 AM (Dave Eanet and Bob Hildebrand)

Television -- ESPNU (Mike Gleason and Shon Morris)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats (10-3) will take their winning ways into University Park, Pa., when they open up conference play at 6 p.m. CT Wednesday at Penn State (9-4). The game can be heard on WGN 720 AM and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

Northwestern enjoyed one of its finer non conference seasons in program history, winning 10 games before the start of Big Ten play for the first time and picking up big wins against the likes of DePaul, Miami (Fla.) and Utah. Freshman Kevin Coble has had the hot hand of late, averaging 18.2 ppg over the last seven contests and shooting just under 70 percent from the field in the last four.

Penn State was a thorn in Northwestern's side last season, getting the best of the 'Cats three times. This Lions went 9-4 in the non conference, winning their last game 129-111 over VMI -- setting a school scoring record in the process. They are led by junior Geary Claxton's 18.2 ppg.

'Cats Enjoy Best Non Conference in 13 Years
The 10-3 (.769) mark through the first two months of the season is the best winning percentage since the Wildcats went 9-0 to open the season in 1993-94. That year the Wildcats advanced to the NIT where they defeated DePaul in the opening round before falling to Xavier in the second round -- giving them a 10-1 (.909) record that year in the non conference. This year Northwestern has one more non conference regular-season game remaining with Texas-Pan American on Feb. 21.

Seven Straight
The win over Northwestern State on New Year's Eve improved the Wildcats to 10-3, marking the seventh-straight year the Wildcats have reached double-digits in the win column. Northwestern has won at least 11 games in all of Carmody's seasons, a program first, and marks the first time the 'Cats have reached double-figures in the win column seven straight seasons since 1938.

Last Time Out: NU 85, NW State 59
The Wildcats won their fourth straight by virtue of its 85-59 win over the Northwestern State Demons on Sunday. Kevin Coble scored 19 on 9-of-10 from the field, followed by 13 from Craig Moore and Jason Okrzesik. Tim Doyle tallied a career-high nine assists. The Wildcats dominated from the get-go, opening up a 13-point lead midway through the first half on a 3-pointer by Sterling Williams. From there, Northwestern went on a 14-2 run over the next five minutes, capped off by an Okrzesik 3-pointer, to take a 23-point lead with 6:45 left and never looking back. The Demons had no counter for Northwestern's offense. Northwestern State, who shot just 36 percent in the game, turned the ball over 11 times in the first half and allowed 36 points in the paint in the first 20 minutes. The Wildcats burned the Demons all game with backdoor cuts and layups, outscoring Northwestern State 54-22 in the paint.

Noting the Win Over the Demons

  • This is the best start to a season after 13 games since 1982-83 when the 'Cats started 11-2.
  • The 85 points is the most scored this season and ties for the most points in head coach Bill Carmody's tenure as head coach.
  • The 53 points is the most scored in the first half in the Carmody era and the most in a half overall since Wildcats scored 61 in the second half against Indiana in 1991.
  • The Wildcats shot a blazing 73.3 percent in the first half and 63.0 percent for the game. In the last three games the 'Cats have shot 69.0 (Utah), 51.2 (Loyola) and 63.0 (NW State) percent, respectively.
  • The 34 made field goals in the most in the Carmody era.
  • The Wildcats outscored the Demons 54-22 in the paint.
  • Tim Doyle recorded a career high with 9 assists.
  • Kevin Coble, who was 9-of-10 from the field, is shooting 69.0 percent (29-of-42) from the field in the last four games.
  • Jason Okrzesik was 5-of-6 from the field for a career-best 13 points.
  • Vince Scott turned in another solid all-around game with a career-high seven assists to go with seven rebounds and six points in 25 minutes.
  • The Wildcats led by as much as 34 points on Jason Okrzesik's 3-pointer at the 11:52 mark of the second half.

    • About The Lions

  • The Lions are led by junior Geary Claxton's 18.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore Jamelle Cornley, the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is second on the team with 14.3 points and 7.7 boards. Claxton, this week's Big Ten Player of the Week, and Cornley are first and second, respectively, in the Big Ten in rebounding. As a team they are second with 37.9 boards per game.
  • Penn State earned its first postseason bid in five years with an NIT berth, hosting and falling to Rutgers in the first round 76-71.
  • Head coach Ed DeChellis is in his fourth season in State College. He enters Wednesday's game with a 40-61 mark at Penn State.

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