Nov. 5, 2008
NU Game Notes vs. Robert Morris (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern tips off its 2008-09 men's basketball season Thursday evening as it hosts local foe Robert Morris (Ill.) College in an exhibition game at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Live streaming video of the contest is available at BigTenNetwork.com.
Tickets are just $10 for the contest and can be purchased online at NUsports.com, by calling 847-491-CATS or at the arena the night of the game. As is the case all season long, admission is free for Northwestern full-time undergraduate students with a valid WildCARD.
Junior forward Kevin Coble, who has led the team in scoring and rebounding each of his first two seasons in a Wildcat uniform, paced the team with averages of 15.9 points and 5.4 rebounds a year ago. Senior guard Craig Moore, who joined Coble as an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last season, is back after posting a norm of 13.4 points per game.
Northwestern notched a 84-76 win over the University of Chicago in its lone exhibition game last season. Mike Capocci paced the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds while Sterling Williams added 16 points and eight boards. NU led by as many as 19 in the second half before the Maroons rallied late to make the outcome more respectable.
Scouting Robert Morris
The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Division I preseason national poll after finishing the 2007-08 season with a 28-4 record and reaching the Elite Eight of the national tournament. The program reached the Final Four the previous three years.
Robert Morris dropped a 65-57 decision in an exhibition contest at Loyola University Chicago on Saturday evening with the Ramblers finishing the game on a 9-2 run. Junior forward Reggie Bunch led the Eagles with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Indiana University transfer DeAndre Thomas added 14 points.
Andre White is Robert Morris' returning leading scorer, averaging 15.3 points per game a year ago while earning All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference honors.
Al Bruehl is in his 12th season as the head coach of the Eagles and has an impressive 245-72 record over that span.
All Five Starters, 11 Letterwinners Return
Northwestern welcomes back 11 letterwinners from a season ago, including all five starters. The Wildcats return 84.5 percent of their scoring and 88.3 percent of their rebounding. NU, Penn State and Purdue are the only three Big Ten teams to return all five of their starters from 2007-08. Only Wisconsin (12) welcomes back more letterwinners than the 'Cats.
Up Next...
The Wildcats open their 2008-09 season Sunday, Nov. 16 when they host Central Arkansas at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.