Evanston was the town that outlawed spitting.
They forbade bowling alleys, too. I guess that kept the riff-raff out.
But they also invented Not Drinking. And for that, Dionysus smote them mightily, saddling the city with the world’s crappiest basketball team.
But recently, The Mildcats have grown wild. Head Coach Bill Carmody, the first disciple of Princeton’s Pete Carill, has begun to attract players with qualities other than high SATs.
Illini assistant Jay Price, who has the scouting duties for both of this week’s teams, says NU has three Big Ten caliber players.
That’s new for them. Northwestern has an occasional Shon Morris or Evan Eschmeyer, but Wildcat all-stars are generally surrounded by future physicians and investment bankers.
Forward Kevin Coble, and guards Craig Moore and Michael Thompson average 15, 15, and 10 points per game. And they can all shoot from the outside.
Northwestern is one of those “Princeton Offense” teams who tend to stymie, and freak out undisciplined groups of superior athletes, right around the third week of March.
But the Princeton system doesn’t require pencil necked suburban kids. In fact, when superior athletes combine with a superior system and superior coaching, you get a Final Four team. Princeton disciple John Thompson III and his Georgetown Hoyas were still playing in April 2007. And you know what that means.
Northwestern can beat Illinois. There’s no question. And they might. In Wednesday’s practice, Illini coach Bruce Weber reminded the lads that this game is about attitude. He chided their exuberance following last Sunday’s victory.
“You’re 2–and–2 in the last four games,” harped Weber.
“That’s your string right now. You win one, and then you lose one. That’s your reputation.
“Now, let’s see if we can win two in a row.”