March 17, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. --
Northwestern makes it fourth postseason and NIT appearance in school history Wednesday as it travels to Tulsa for a first-round matchup. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. The game is being televised live on ESPNU and ESPNUHD with Clay Matvick and Dickey Simpkins on the call. The winner of the contest faces the winner of the matchup between top-seeded Auburn and Tennessee-Martin.
The contest can be heard on WGN (720 AM) and online at wgnradio.com with Dave Eanet and Shon Morris as well as on WNUR (89.3 FM) and online at sports.wnur.org with Andrew Gothelf and Kyle Whitehead.
Tickets are on sale now through the University of Tulsa and are available online at www.tulsahurricane.com or by calling 918-631-GoTU (4688). Ticket prices are $10, $15, $20 and $25. The Northwestern bench will be in front of Section 106. Please feel free to contact the Wildcat Ticket Office at 847.491.CATS or cat-tix@northwestern.edu with any questions.
The Wildcats are making their first trip to the NIT since 1999. The program has also participated in the tournament in 1983 and 1994. The 'Cats hold a 2-3 record in the event.
The teams have three common opponents this season. Both teams defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at home with NU winning 66-48 and the Golden Hurricane earning a 66-43 victory. Tulsa lost to Illinois 48-44 at a neutral site in South Padre, Texas, while the Wildcats fell to the Fighting Illini at Welsh-Ryan Arena 60-59. Northwestern topped SMU 66-55 at home and Tulsa beat the Mustangs 64-55 at home and 74-64 in Dallas.
NU is one win shy of matching its school-record win total of 18 set in 1982-83. The 'Cats saw their bid for an NCAA tournament berth end in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament, falling 66-53 to Minnesota. Northwestern overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to take a 49-47 lead, but was out-scored 19-4 to end the game. Kevin Coble scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the first half for the Wildcats.
Tulsa is making its ninth NIT appearance in school history and won the title in 1981 and again in 2001. A year ago, the Golden Hurricane claimed the inaugural College Basketball Invitational (CBI) crown.
Northwestern ranks first in the Big Ten and in the top 25 nationally with a .386 3-point field goal percentage. Individually, Michael Thompson ranks third (.421) Craig Moore is fifth (.404), and Kevin Coble is seventh (.397). Meanwhile, Tulsa ranks first in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to connect on just 26.8 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Moore, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, plays a large role in determining Northwestern's success this season. In games the Wildcats win, Moore is shooting 48.9 percent (66-135) from 3-point range. In NU's losses, he is shooting just 31.2 percent (39-125).
Series History: First meeting
Scouting Tulsa
The Golden Hurricane (24-10, 12-4) finished second in Conference USA during the regular season and fell to Memphis 64-39 Saturday in the conference tournament championship game.
Junior guard Ben Uzoh and junior center Jerome Jordan lead Tulsa with averages of 14.0 points per game apiece. Jordan also leads the squad with a norm of 8.6 rebounds per contest.
Doug Wojick, a former assistant coach at Michigan State, is in his fourth season as the head coach at Tulsa where he has an 80-52 record.
Northwestern fans who can't make the trip to Tulsa still have a variety of options for cheering on the Wildcats on Wednesday in Evanston and Chicago:
Stanley's 1960 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago (Lincoln & Armitage)
All you can eat pasta and pizza - $6.95
Goose Island Clybourn (1800 N. Clybourn, Chicago) and Goose Island Wrigleyville (3535 N. Clark Street, Chicago)
If you are wearing purple, let the wait staff know you are supporting the 'Cats, and you will receive 20% of your bill. Offer valid ONLY DURING GAME TIME.
The Globe 1710 Orrington Avenue, Evanston (located in the Hotel Orrington)
Discounts available during the NU Basketball game.