The Daily Northwestern — Nov. 8, 2021

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The Daily Northwestern Monday, November 8, 2021

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 6 BASKETBALL/Hype

T i p o f f

22 reasons why you should be excited about Northwestern men’s and women’s basketball

Find us online @thedailynu 8 BASKETBALL/Burton

High 63 Low 46

How Veronica Burton became the face of WBBALL

Q&A: Interpretation of ASL at civic meetings Ryan Dollins talks accessibility at citysponsored events

By SAUL PINK

the daily northwestern @saulpink

Gabe Bider/The Daily Northwestern

Student protesters stormed Ryan Field during Saturday’s football game against Iowa. They demanded the University “divest from death” and “invest in life-giving institutions.”

Student activists protest at game

About nine protesters stormed the field, putting football on pause

By MADISON SMITH

daily senior staffer @madisonlorsmith

With less than a minute remaining in the first half,

NU COVID-19 positivity rate on the decline Northwestern’s COVID-19 positivity rate has continued to decline since its last spike three weeks ago.

With roughly the same number of tests taken as the previous week — about 6,000 — the universitywide positivity rate decreased to 0.43% this week. Of the 28 new positive cases, 57% came from nonundergraduate students, a decrease from the 75% metric from the last two weeks.

Of the remaining 13 positive tests, undergraduate students account for eight, staff for four and faculty for one.

The Universit y al so

» See COVID, page 14

about nine student protesters holding banners stormed Ryan Field during Saturday’s game against Iowa.

The protesters were members of multiple student activist groups, including NU

Community Not Cops, Students for Justice in Palestine, NU Dissenters, Fossil Free NU and Students Organizing for Labor Rights. The students stood for just over three minutes before being escorted off

the field. The banners they held read, “Board of Trustees meet with us now,” “Abolish NUPD invest in Black lives” and “Stop funding the war on Palestine,”

» See PROTEST, page 14

Evanston provides American Sign Language interpreters upon request at civic meetings and other city-sponsored events, but this service has rarely been used. Interpreters, who are part of the city’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, are available for residents who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing.

The city has received only three ADA service requests in 2021, none of which have been for interpretation, according to Communications Manager Patrick Deignan.

Ryan Dollins has been Evanston’s Special Recreation program coordinator for inclusion in the Parks, Recreation and Community Ser vices Department since 2018. Most ADA service requests, including those for interpreters, land on Dollins’ desk. The Daily spoke with Dollins about the process of getting an ASL interpreter, his responsibilities in processing accessibility

requests and the city’s upcoming ADA open house.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Daily: How often do you receive requests for interpreters?

Dollins: One has never come across my desk in my three years here. From a dayto-day perspective, all types of ADA requests are a very small part of my responsibilities. But when it does come across, it becomes a top priority of mine because it’s a 48-hour turnaround.

The Daily: What types of meetings does Evanston provide ASL interpreters for?

Dollins: It would be for all the meetings that we have here at the city for different programs. It’s done on a caseby-case basis, as long as it’s within the timeframe that we have written on our website.

We need two business days to process the request.

The Daily: What happens when an Evanston resident requests an interpreter at a city event?

Dollins: You would just have to (contact) 311, the city’s call center, and the process would go through there.

311 would take that request

» See INTERPRETERS, page 14

Mural symbolizes city’s intent for equity

Language derived from 2019 City Council resolution advocating for racial equity

By CHIARA KIM

the daily northwestern @chiarafkim

“Whereas, City of Evanston embraces, believes, recognizes, acknowledges, declares and affirms.”

These words, in large capital letters, stretch across two walls on the intersection of Washington Street and Chicago Avenue. They pull from the city resolution 58-R-19, Evanston’s “commitment to end structural racism and achieve racial equity,” which City Council unanimously adopted in June 2019.

Local artist Ben Blount is behind the project. He said the mural serves as a statement of Evanston’s purpose and vision to citizens and visitors alike.

“I’m echoing a resolution that was passed by City Council unanimously,” Blount said.

“So I’m … maybe reinforcing it, but also putting some energy and hope behind it.”

The resolution states Evanston must recognize its history of racial injustice and discriminatory policies, such as disinvestment in the Black community.

The Main-Dempster Mile, a community development

Chiara Kim/The Daily Northwestern

Ben Blount’s mural lies at the intersection of Washington Street and Chicago Avenue.

organization, sponsored the mural, which was installed Oct. 31.

“It seems to me that it is a piece of Evanston’s history,” Executive Director Katherine

Gotsick said. “Very recent,

» See MURAL, page 14

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

AROUND TOWN

Cookies for Compost makes composting accessible

By SHVETA SHAH

the daily northwestern @shvetashah17

Compost old food. Get new food — specifically, a cookie.

That’s the premise of Cookies for Compost, an initiative encouraging Evanston residents to start composting. Evanston Township High School senior Maia Roothaan created the project, which launched Saturday at the Robert Crown Community Center and will be held every week through mid-March.

“I was really surprised we reached 75 participants,” Roothaan said. “We had so many people interested to the point where we had to waitlist people.”

Cookies for Compost is partnering with Collective Resource Compost, a composting program in the Chicago area. The organization supplies

five-gallon buckets to participants who then bring their compost to the community center each Saturday. As a reward for their composting efforts, participants receive free cookies.

Roothaan said composting has always been a part of her life. Since her family has always had an interest in living sustainably, she was exposed to activities like composting, recycling and vegetarianism from a young age. So when she won a grant from the U.S. Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund to create a service project, starting a composting program seemed only natural.

ETHS sophomore Vivian Zhu creates graphics on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote the program.

“Cookies for Compost is a great opportunity for people to participate in composting, especially if they haven’t done it before,” Zhu said. “It’s a great introduction.”

Roothaan said she was inspired to start the program because she believes composting should

be accessible to everyone. She recognizes the privilege she has to be able to compost, especially since composting services in Evanston can be expensive, she said.

Composting services with Collective Resource normally cost around $300 per year.

Cookies for Compost would provide a free alternative to those who want to positively impact the environment but don’t have the means to do so.

“A lot of people think if you put things like banana peels into a landfill, then they will decompose, but that’s not actually what happens,” Roothaan said.

Roothaan’s environmental science teacher, Dr. Adriane Slaton, helped spark her interest in educating people about the importance of composting.

Slaton said she believes it is difficult to make a difference with individual actions when it comes to the environment, but

education and advocacy can spark bigger change.

“This is where we really see the multiplication and exponential impact of one individual,” Slaton said.

Cookies for Compost is fully funded by the grant Roothaan received. But she said she is already thinking about ways to fundraise so she can keep the program running, even after the service project is over.

Roothaan said she is excited about the program’s launch, and hopes it will inspire a wide range of Evanston residents to make a difference.

“Seeing how kids were excited as well as their parents was really cool,” Roothaan said.

“Cookies really make kids excited, but their parents also realized what they can do as a family to be more sustainable.”

shvetashah2025@u.northwestern.edu

Victoria Benefield/Daily Senior Staffer

Janis Post, left, and Maia Roothaan, right, are at the Robert Crown Community Center for the launch of the Cookies for Compost program on Sunday, Nov. 7. They receive free Insomnia cookies and a bucket for compost.

If they fill the bucket with compost, they can bring it back every Saturday between 2 and 4 p.m. in exchange for more cookies.

The Daily Northwestern & Northwestern University Political Union presents

A Conversation with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss Tues. Nov. 9th, 6pm, Harris 107 tinyurl.com/NUmayorconvo

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

3

ON CAMPUS

Parents happy kids can get vaccinated

www.dailynorthwestern.com

By FUMA UEDA

eic@dailynorthwestern.com

the daily northwestern @fumaueda0103

Many parents at Northwestern let out a sigh of relief after the Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

Yuhua Yu, a third-year psychology graduate student and a parent of two 7-year-olds and a 10-year-old, said she was grateful when she heard the news of the authorization. “‘Thank god,’ was my reaction,” Yu said.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

The FDA authorized the vaccine for emergency use on children on Oct. 29. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention backed this decision by publishing its own recommendation of vaccine authorization for the age group.

Despite these endorsements, however, Yu said she had some minor concerns about the vaccine’s effect on children. One such concern was the risk of myocarditis, a rare side-effect of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 involving heart inflammation, she said.

“Especially for young children, there isn’t enough data on the risk of myocarditis, and that’s why I want to wait a week or two before I get the appointment,” Yu said.

For economics Prof. Lori Beaman, the authorization meant a partial liberation from her concerns regarding the health and education of her two children.

While her children’s return to in-person education last winter was somewhat relieving, Beaman said it also became a source of anxiety as positive cases started popping up at school.

She hopes getting her children vaccinated will set her mind at ease and allow them to enjoy being around people again.

“For our family, we’re really excited that we can now have other kids over for playdates without worrying too much,” Beaman said.

“We have not eaten at a restaurant this whole

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Illustration by Olivia Abeyta

The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

time, but I think that’s something we’re ready to start talking about doing.”

Feinberg Prof. Jennifer Kusma, who works as an advanced general pediatric and primary care physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, said the vaccine is widely available in locations including local hospitals and pharmacies.

Kusma said she recommends parents vaccinate their eligible children as soon as possible.

“As far as the safety of this vaccine, it’s been very well-studied and it’s very safe,” Kusma said.

“We’re not seeing those short-term side effects that we expect with vaccines, so I would say that I have confidence in its safety.”

Doses for children have been diluted from

the concentration used for adults, making the vaccine safer for children while maintaining its efficacy, Kusma added.

Kusma acknowledged that some parents may still have concerns about the vaccine, but she said listening to scientists and doctors while having conversations to address those concerns is critical to ensuring everyone’s safety.

“As a pediatrician, my job is to talk with the families that I serve and answer their questions and concerns to the best of my ability,” Kusma said. “I really hope families with those concerns go to trusted sources of information to learn more.” fumaueda2025@u.northwestern.edu

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

OPINION

Join the online conversation at www.dailynorthwestern.com

Perry: College newsrooms should fix media literacy ALEX PERRY

OPINION EDITOR

Illinois’ recently-passed media literacy in education law does not apply to college newsrooms, but college-aged journalists can — and should — contribute to the media literacy of local communities by increasing transparency about our journalistic practices and the standards of our organizations.

Illinois became the first state to require news literacy courses at every high school, passing legislation mandating the curriculum in August. According to House Bill 234, media literacy is “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and communicate using a variety of forms.” It was passed in response to growing misinformation surrounding the pandemic and the 2020 election cycle, and is intended to arm students with the tools needed to discern what information is trustworthy.

While blueprints from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal’s news literacy projects are

helpful, molding them to fit the needs of college communities is paramount because of the unique relationships college journalists have with the communities we cover. For example, because of our proximity (and sometimes membership) in local communities, it’s easy for readers to assume personal experience spills into bias and conflict of interest.

However, there are internal bylaws that prevent this from happening — they’re just not publicized.

After engaging with The Wall Street Journal’s news literacy guide, I noticed content that could mitigate the aforementioned problem. Short videos on standards and ethics that explain the demarcation between opinions and news, as well as walkthroughs of how clearly labeled advertising doesn’t conflict with articles, all help consumers understand what goes behind the content they see.

For a college newsroom, walkthroughs of the editorial process — from pitching to factchecking to print layout — could iron out any confusion about content. In the past, we’ve taken some steps to address some of these problems through our “From the Newsroom” series, but there are still steps we can, and need, to take

to further this education of our reporting and publication processes for our readers.

A problem we face covering a hyperlocal area is that we must compete with word of mouth, in addition to social media. Although news travels fast, emphasizing transparency behind our fact-checking process may draw readers to us for deeper, more accurate reporting. It also offers us a chance to engage with the same strategies The New York Times has employed to fix media literacy: making reporters more accessible.

In partnership with The News Literacy Project, The New York Times hosts calls and classroom lessons with their own journalists to bridge the gap between journalists and community, something which college-aged journalists are almost too familiar with. College journalists can take advantage of this by acting as ambassadors of their publications and explaining the culture, and protocol when appropriate.

When The Wall Street Journal’s Chief Marketing and Membership Editor Suzi Watford discussed WSJ’s new literacy guide during an interview with The National Press Club’s Journalism Institute, she emphasized that not

all readers come with the same level of news judgment. As a result, she said the guides offer a baseline level of knowledge that is applicable and accessible. Not everybody thinks about the news constantly, and therefore, the ins-and-outs of our industry is often left to assumptions — and that’s a fact we, as journalists, must ingrain in ourselves.

The media literacy issue is a multifaceted problem that touches on trust, transparency and clarity. It is the responsibility of members of the media to do what we can to repair holes in the media literacy of the community we serve.

With media literacy initiatives, student publications can gain dedicated readers who value facts provided by trustworthy reporters.

Alex Perry is a sophomore studying economics and journalism. You can contact her at alexperry20@u. northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

Hiredesai: Disordered eating prevalence in athletes ANNIKA HIREDESAI

ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Content warning: This story includes mentions of eating disorders.

There are few bodies as subject to scrutiny as those of athletes. This constant gaze places immense pressure on athletes to live up to a certain image from a very young age. While sports can have a slew of positive effects, the increased risk for disordered relationships with food and compensatory exercise should not be ignored.

Disordered eating is a widespread problem in sports, from young athletes to professionals. Exact numbers vary, but a comprehensive study on athletes and eating habits estimated that 13.5% meet the criteria for an eating disorder compared to 9% of the general population as estimated by a second study.

If we break down these statistics further, reports also indicate disparities in prevalence by sex and sport.

Female athletes are at an increased risk, with the former study finding the prevalence of eating disorders to be 20.1% in this group. Athletes whose sports believe losing weight improves athletic performance, prioritize aesthetics and may use weight as competitive criteria are all at a higher risk of exhibiting disordered eating as well.

People often assume eating disorders are apparent upon first glance. However, there is no specific “look” of a person suffering from an eating disorder.

In fact, less than 6% of those diagnosed with an eating disorder are classified as medically underweight.

Failure to take these conditions seriously in those who don’t fit the stereotype has serious consequences: comorbidities of eating disorders include various nutritional deficiencies, cardiac irregularities, multiple organ failure and increased rate of death by suicide.

Discerning disordered eating in the athlete population is particularly difficult. Oftentimes,

disordered eating patterns are normalized and even encouraged for the sake of performance when there is a high prioritization of low weight and/or body fat percentage. Athletes who fit the ideal image of their sports and/or perform at high levels are likely to be overlooked when it comes to identification of disordered eating.

In female athletes who have a greater incidence of eating disorders, prolonged patterns of disordered eating can lead to “female athlete triad syndrome.” This is a condition characterized by amenorrhea, lower bone mineral density and low energy availability, all of which can have devastating consequences on health and performance now and in the long-term.

Given the prevalence of disordered eating and related psychopathologies in the athlete population, it is essential that sports programs, from the youth level to the professional, are well-equipped to support athletes.

In some NCAA schools, disordered eating educational programs have been instituted to

train athletes and staff to improve identification and referral skills. For sports where weight impacts eligibility for competition, such as wrestling, it is crucial to develop support systems and coaching that minimize the risk of abusing food and exercise while making sure athletes can compete.

A statement released by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association calls for an interdisciplinary approach to screening and treatment of disordered eating within the athletic community.

Given the far-reaching physical, emotional and social consequences of eating disorders, nothing less will do.

Annika Hiredesai is a Weinburg junior. She can be contacted at annikahiredesai2023@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

Ortiz: Trying to fight gravity with the presidential penalty STERLING ORTIZ

COLUMNIST

During my senior year of high school, my football team was incredible. We started the season 7-0 for the first time since the 1980s.

But we had yet to play our toughest game against The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens. To win, our coaches devised a strategy to contain Benjamin’s quarterback, Jordan Travis, and make him throw the ball long for touchdowns. It appeared that my team was on the verge of victory against a top team.

But Benjamin won that game, 48-3. Travis took our challenge and responded by completing 13 out of 20 passes, for 227 yards passing, 133 yards running and five touchdowns overall.

He beat us and embarrassed my team.

I write about this anecdote to make my point: sometimes, you are bound to fail in life.

You can resist, you can try, you can fight and sometimes, you lose anyways. In this case, Saint Andrews lost because Benjamin had a quarterback who could play elite college football — and currently does for Florida State University.

The Democratic Party felt this gravity last week during their drubbing in statewide and local elections.

In the United States, there is one particular occurrence I would like to discuss: the presidential penalty.

This occurrence lies in eerie wait during every presidency since the Great Depression. During the years between presidential elections, the party that controls the White House faces electoral penalties in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In 18 of the 21 midterm elections since 1932, the party in power has lost federal seats. The only strong

exceptions are 1933, during the start of the New Deal and in 2002, due to American support for George W. Bush skyrocketing, after the Sept. 11 attacks. Even during the New Deal era, with an incredibly popular Democratic Party, Franklin Roosevelt and the Democrats faced widespread defeat in the 1938 and 1942 midterms. These events were due to the presidential penalty, and voters wanting to put a check on the president.

In 2017, American voters reacted to Donald Trump’s presidency by electing Democrats in nearly every seat possible. One of my favorite examples was the leftist Democrat Christine Pellegrino. Pellegrino won a New York State Assembly seat on Long Island by 21 points, six months after Trump won that same seat by 23 points.

In Illinois, backlash to Republicans led to local results like J.B. Pritzker unseating Gov. Bruce Rauner by double digits, and state Democrats asserting their power in the Chicago suburbs on the federal and state levels. This newfound power manifested in many ways, including the legalization of marijuana and mandating all Illinois public universities accept the Common Application.

We see the opposite effect in 2021. American voters have reacted to Joe Biden’s presidency by electing Republicans in many seats.

As of Nov. 5, Republicans have swept all three Virginia statewide offices — governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general — and flipped the House of Delegates. Republicans also came much closer than expected to reversing the New Jersey governor’s seat and won many state legislative seats in the state.

Even state Senate President Steve Sweeney, lost to a Republican candidate who the New Jersey Globe reports spent “just $153 on his campaign” in a district Trump narrowly won in 2020.

Looking at that Election Day, I believe

the fundamental cause of Democratic losses relates to the presidential penalty. Some voters grew tired of Democrats in power federally, and took out their frustration on Democrats at all levels. When you look at the results, it wasn’t just Virginia and New Jersey swinging right, but also Pennsylvania in the state supreme court race and New York in City Council races and Nassau County elections. If you uniquely blame Terry McAuliffe and Virginia Democrats for a bad statewide campaign, then how do you explain similar rightward shifts across the country? These correlations are why I take stock in the presidential penalty theory, and why I relate this theory to gravity. A political campaign, I believe, can only change the vote margins by so much, just like a person will always come to earth after resisting gravity.

So, where do people go from here? Well, the margins that Democrats lost the Virginia and Pennsylvania statewide races are surmountable, and with different candidates or a better campaign, the results could be better.

Personally, I will take solace in the small leftwing wins last night, like Michelle Wu becoming the new Mayor of Boston and Richie Floyd of Saint Petersburg, Fla., poised to become the first elected socialist Floridian in about a century. I will maintain hope for continued excellent governance in New York City, especially with a bolstered socialist caucus.

At the same time, I will mourn losses such as the end of Democratic governance in Virginia, which was set to produce a $12 minimum wage and expansive voting laws, as well as, the missed opportunity to elect the socialist Felicia Singh in exurban Queens. There are a lot of lessons to learn from this week which the interpreters will relay with a frozen heart.

I will end with a quote from the philosopher Thomas Paine: “I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from

distress, and grow brave by reflection.”

Sterling Ortiz is a SESP fourth-year. You can contact him at sterlingortiz2022@u.northwestern.edu.

If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern Volume 143, Issue 21 Editor in Chief Isabelle Sarraf

Opinion Editor Alex Perry

Managing Editors Rebecca Aizin Samantha Boas Alex Chun Jacob Fulton Maia Spoto

Assistant Opinion Editor Annika Hiredesai Lily Nevo

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6

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

22 reAsonS for NU basKetBalL hype

A fun, drama filled deck will go here wow crazy stuff happening all over Need a reason to make it out to Welsh-Ryan Arena this season for men’s and women’s basketball? Today, The Daily’s reporters will give you 22 of them. Here’s why you should be excited for Northwestern basketball this winter, both on and off the court.

By DAILY NORTHWESTERN STAFF

the daily northwestern

Veronica Burton: America’s point guard Senior guard Veronica Burton is the two-time reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, helping her team make a run in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. During the offseason, Burton represented the red, white and blue, winning gold with the USA AmeriCup team in June. The Newton, Massachusetts, native comes from an NU family.

Her mother was an All-American and Big Ten swimmer at NU, and her dad served as quarterback for the Wildcats. But the lineage doesn’t stop there. Her grandfather is an NU and NCAA football Hall of Famer, and three of her uncles played for NU football. Read page TK for more on Veronica Burton. — Skye Swann

Men’s basketball looking to fantastic freshmen Men’s basketball has three freshmen guards joining the fray: Brooks Barnhizer, Julian Roper II and Casey Simmons. With the veteran core the team has now, they might not get much playing time, but Roper told the Daily they’re all excited to be a source of energy for the roster and to learn from this tight-knit group. Read page TK for more on the freshmen. — Gaby Carroll

Boo Buie and Talor Battle are joining forces Junior guard Boo Buie grew up watching another Big Ten team in Penn State. He had good reason: His brother, Talor Battle, was the Nittany Lions’ star from 2007-11 and a three-time All-Big Ten selection. A decade later, the two brothers’ respective teams clashed in 2020 and 2021, with Buie as the Cats’ starting guard and Battle as a Penn State assistant (Talor took two of three contests against Boo, for the record). But this summer, Battle made the move from Happy Valley to Evanston to join Chris Collins’ staff and team up with his brother. Read page 7 for more on the Buie-Battle connection. — John Riker

The return of the women’s basketball student section Welsh-Ryan Arena was packed on Feb. 29, 2020. An impressive student turnout showed up to see the women’s basketball squad face Illinois for the Big Ten title — so many that members of the men’s team had a hard time finding a seat in the lower bowl. The energy in the arena was electric. When the clock hit zero, and the scoreboard read 75-58 in NU’s favor, fans stormed the court and cheered with the team and coach Joe McKeown as purple-and-white streamers fell from the ceiling. Don’t miss out on these memorable moments — show up and support women’s basketball this season. — Haley Fuller

Wildcat women look to make next move Just two seasons ago, NU was poised to be a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament until the pandemic forced the cancellation of the postseason. Last year, the Cats made a run into the round of 32 and almost upset No. 2 Louisville.

Despite Lindsey Pulliam’s departure, core pieces return — including senior guard Veronica Burton and senior forward Courtney Shaw. Coach Joe McKeown signed a contract extension through the 2024-25 season, and Kate Popovec was promoted to associate head coach in August. The pieces are there for NU to show that its 2020 season was not a miracle run. Instead, it was a continuation of the Cats’ ascent toward Big Ten supremacy. Read page 5 for more on what to expect from the Cats. — Drew Schott

Ty Berry has high hopes for sophomore season Guard Ty Berry was the only freshman to see significant playing time for NU in 2021, and he

made the most of it as a valuable depth guard capable of providing instant offense off the bench. In 22 games — none of which he started — he averaged 5.1 points, reaching double figures against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Chicago State, Michigan State and Nebraska. Berry, a Kansas native, was a highly touted recruit whose minutes should only increase in 2022. Forged in his first year by a historically strong Big Ten, he’ll play an integral role if the Cats find any lasting success this season. Read page 7 for more on Berry’s sophomore campaign. — Patrick Andres

Northwestern giveaways Three winters ago, a young, impressionable freshman trudged through brutally cold temperatures on Jan. 22, 2019, for a chance at nabbing rare gothic gear at a men’s basketball game. After making the 30-minute trek from her dorm, she arrived at Ryan Field, only to find that it was already sold out. Devastated, she walked home sans sweatshirt. To this day, she wanders through the hallowed halls of campus yearning for a second chance at a gothic giveaway from NU Wildside. Rest assured, she’ll be in the stands cheering on the Cats in purple-and-white as she revels in the final basketball season of her undergraduate career. And hey, maybe one day she’ll finally get her hands on that sweatshirt.

— Isabelle Sarraf

Buzzer beaters (both ways) Shot clock turned off, game tied at 65-all, NU’s Nathan Taphorn inbounding the ball with 1.7 seconds remaining — Welsh-Ryan Arena held its breath as Taphorn heaved a cross-court throw over a Michigan player’s outstretched hands. Time slowed as Dererk Pardon elevated and snatched the Hail Mary pass, went up with a slight hesitation and banked in a layup as time expired.

Rumor has it Ann Arbor, Michigan, can still hear Welsh-Ryan Arena’s eruption as the 2017 NU men’s team beat Michigan 67-65. We can forget about Sam Haiby’s buzzer-beater that carried Nebraska to a 65-63 upset win over the then-No. 15 NU women’s basketball team last season. — Nicole Orejuela

Pete Nance looks to build off junioryear success The transfers of Miller Kopp and Anthony Gaines leave forward Pete Nance, the only remaining senior who started regularly last season, as the de facto leader of the men’s team. And that’s a great thing for the Cats, because he is poised to once again elevate his game to new heights. Nance posted career highs last season in nearly every statistical category,

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

get tha o u t ta h t ere!

averaging 11.1 points per game on .495/.364/.784 shooting splits. He also showcased his two-way potential by leading the team in rebounds and blocks. Look for Nance to increase his playmaking and scoring responsibilities as he battles the premier big men of the Big Ten. — Russell Leung

Celebrity sightings at WelshRyan Arena While basketball may not be a storied program in Evanston, its proximity to Chicago will sometimes provide opportunities for celebritysightings. During the 2019-20 season, the likes of former Bulls general manager Gar Forman and NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo graced the seats of Welsh-Ryan Arena. Who might we expect this year? Fresh off a run to the WNBA Championship, Chicago Sky star Candace Parker could make an appearance. Or maybe rookie Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will be missing some Big Ten basketball and come up to campus. Whoever it is, it’s sure to be unexpected. — Joshua Hoffman

Chick-fil-A coupons for six missed free throws A loud arena is essential to home basketball matchups, especially when it comes to forcing opponents to miss critical free throws. The last time students cheered on Wildcats basketball in Welsh-Ryan Arena was for the men’s takedown of then-No. 20 Penn State on March 7, 2020. And what incentivizes students to scream during other teams’ free throw attempts more than the prospect of free food? Nothing. The 2019-20 season brought the promise of coupons for free Chickfil-A sandwiches for everyone in attendance if the opposing team missed six free throws throughout the game. So students, come out to Welsh-Ryan Arena, get loud and get that chicken. — MaryKate Anderson

Joe McKeown dancing and women’s basketball’s TikTok legacy You may remember women’s basketball coach Joe McKeown’s celebratory dance circulating Twitter in March. Every win feels like a party, but the excitement behind the Cats cracking their way into the NCAA Tournament put a little extra pep in McKeown’s step — and the rest of the team’s, too. The squad finds a way to have immense amounts of fun both on the court and on the bench and, it seems, in the locker room as well. Sophomore forward Anna Morris shows the personalities (and dance moves) of the team’s phenom players fairly regularly on her TikTok account, @ annamo0o0. Look forward to more killer dance moves from McKeown, Morris and company this season. — MaryKate Anderson

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reel

The memes Even if you’re not well-versed in basketball, there’s still room to enjoy the sport through each season’s inevitable memes. By far, the most infamous meme is the “crying Northwestern kid” after a missed call led to the end of NU’s 2017 March Madness run. Other notable memes over the years include Chris Collins slapping the floor on all fours and Joe McKeown’s semi-coordinated happy dances. This season, keep your eyes peeled for meme-worthy moments and remember: you might just be NU’s next big basketball meme. — Natalie Wu

The Miller Kopp revenge game Feb. 8, 8 p.m. Be there. Miller Kopp will return to Welsh-Ryan Arena in those baggy, candy-cane-striped warmup pants. Kopp transferred to Indiana last spring after three years at NU. The Hoosiers shot 32.4% from 3-point range last season, and Kopp’s 98 made 3-pointers in his past two seasons boost their offensive output. But the Cats have some shooters of their own, including Boo Buie, Ty Berry and Chase Audige, with the trio all posting better percentages from deep than Kopp did last season. The former Wildcat told ESPN he’ll be “a different player” for Indiana, someone who is “more swagged up overall.” If those words aren’t bulletin-board material for Chris Collins and the team, I don’t know what is. — Alex Cervantes

Caitlin Clark among visiting superstars in Welsh-Ryan Arena Fans heading to Welsh-Ryan Arena will have plenty of opportunities to see the Cats show off against some of the country’s biggest stars.

Iowa guard phenomenon Caitlin Clark, who led the country in scoring last season, will headline Welsh-Ryan Arena Jan. 27 when the Cats take on the Hawkeyes. Clark dropped 20-plus points in all but three games last season, so expect a show. Men’s basketball will also compete against the country’s best, facing formidable foes like Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, who was a consensus 2020-21 secondteam All-American, in Evanston on Jan. 29, and Purdue guard Jaden Ivey, who put up an impressive 26 points in an NCAA Tournament game last season, when the Boilermakers visit Feb. 16. — Charlotte Varnes

Former Cats turned Ramblers gearing for November return Last time Abi Scheid was in action in WelshRyan Arena, the Cats scored a share of the Big Ten title in a blowout win against in-state rival Illinois, and Scheid was a star forward and the nation’s second-leading 3-point shooter. Scheid will return to her old stomping grounds Nov. 17, albeit on the opposing sidelines as the director of women’s basketball operations for NU’s North Side neighbor Loyola-Chicago.

The reunion will be a pivotal early-season

taking

flight

contest, and the Cats have to pray Scheid will stay on the sidelines (and off the 3-point line).

— John Riker

DJ Commando and his favorite song, Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” Fans know the sounds of football season well: the fight song, the “time to move the chains” chant, the smacking of football pads against each other. But basketball season also has its own iconic score — the song “The Box”

by Roddy Ricch, played dutifully (and often)

by DJ Commando in the student section. I’ve never heard this song played anywhere else, and I’ve never attended an NU basketball game without “The Box” getting airtime. I’m not complaining, either — it’s a hype song! Just thinking of this beat conjures memories of Robbie Beran warmup layups and pregame stretches. — John Riker

The tireless energy of Chase Audige From rim grazers, to nothing-but-net 3s and a few chest pounders after an and-one bucket, it’s safe to say that junior guard Chase Audige brings the energy to the crowd and his teammates. But let’s face it: every team needs a hype man, especially someone like the New York native who gets it done on both sides of the ball. Audige led the Cats in both points per game (12.6) and steals (37) last year, landing him on college basketball analyst Andy Katz’s preseason top-20 players in the Big Ten at No. 18. When you have a guy who can change the course of the game on both sides of the floor while also bringing an abundance of energy, it makes him that much more crucial to NU’s success. — Lawrence Price

The Many Wildcats of Northwestern test their mettle in the Legends Classic What is Thanksgiving if not a time to stuff your face with food while watching your favorite college basketball team play in a tropical tournament? NU will travel to scenic Newark, New Jersey for the Legends Classic, where the Cats will play Providence before turning their attention to either Georgia or Virginia.

If the destination seems familiar, it’s where the Cats announced themselves as potential NCAA Tournament fare in November 2016: NU shelled then-No. 22 Texas in the semifinals before falling to Notre Dame 70-66 in the final at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. — Patrick Andres

Men’s basketball’s annual 10-game losing streak The streak ends this year. Sure, Northwestern has had three consecutive seasons featuring a 10-game losing streak. I’m here to tell you: Not only will that annual misery end this season, but Collins and the Cats will also lock in

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a winning record. The Big Ten is as deep and loaded as ever, but the Cats return six of their top seven scorers from 2020-21, which is a reason for optimism. The group of players will remember last season’s woes, and hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself for a third time.

There are stretches in January and February 2022 when NU should face multiple top-25 opponents in consecutive matchups, so it goes without saying that that’s the test. But this year, the Cats are up to the challenge. I think. — Alex Cervantes

Women’s basketball’s youth movement In what ESPN believes to be head coach Joe McKeown’s deepest recruiting class yet, NU women’s basketball continues to cash in on and off the court. They lost leader and bucket getter Lindsay Pulliam to the WNBA draft, but the Cats may be able to fill the void with its 2021 recruiting class, ranked 10th in the nation. The group is headlined by Hailey Weaver, the No. 35 player out of high school, followed by No. 50 guard Jillian Brown, No. 56 forward Caileigh Walsh and two other four-star prospects in forward Mercy Ademusayo and guard Melannie Daley. The only Big Ten team ranked higher than NU was Maryland at No. 9. With returning seniors like guard Veronica Burton and wing Sydney Wood leading the ship, prepare for an exciting campaign for the Cats. — Lawrence Price

March Madness!

Well, reaching the actual NCAA Tournament might be a bit of a stretch, but by virtue of the Big Ten Tournament’s March schedule, both NU teams will play meaningful basketball in the sport’s best month. A win in the Big Ten Tournament is a boost of confidence for the men’s team and indicates Collins’ progress after back-to-back eliminations to Minnesota. The women’s team is coming off a March Madness appearance and was slated to host games in the 2020 tournament, so this program is no stranger to postseason play.

I’ll offer my prediction here — this will be a March to remember for NU basketball. — John Riker

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women’s basKetBalL THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

BurTon aImS higH for seniOr seAson How the ‘Backcourt Burglar’ became the face of NU women’s basketball

By SKYE SWANN

daily senior staffer @sswann301

When the game clock buzzer sounded at the end of the 2020 NCAA Tournament’s second round, Northwestern senior guard Veronica Burton’s disappointment was palpable.

In a contest in which the Wildcats led the majority of the game, she said they watched their postseason slip between the cracks — something she confirmed the squad doesn’t plan on letting happen this time around. The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has been one of the key pieces in the Northwestern women’s basketball program for the past three years, leading the team to a Big Ten Championship and a NCAA Tournament run.

With the “Backcourt Burglar” opening her senior season Sunday against Wisconsin-Parkside, Burton said she’s put in the work during the offseason and ready to showcase it on the court.

“I grew up around a bunch of athletes and I saw what it took to get to the next level,” Burton said. “I’m very motivated internally, so I think getting better is something I’m always willing to do.”

****

The Newton, Massachusetts, native has been playing basketball with her family since she was 5 years old.

Her grandfather, Ron Burton, played quarterback for the Cats while her mom,

Ginni Burton, was an All-American and Big Ten Champion swimmer for NU swim and dive.

But Burton’s NU legacy doesn’t stop there: three of her uncles played football for the Cats. Even before stepping foot on campus, Burton was destined to be a Wildcat and has made her mark on the women’s basketball team.

Burton was an exceptional high school athlete, graduating Newton South High School as its all-time leading scorer. She scored more than 1,200 career points through junior year and was named First-Team All-State. Her success as a Lion earned her honors as the Boston Globe Player of the Year, Boston Herald Dream Team honoree and Dual County League MVP. She was also crowned a Nike National Finalist twice in Washington, D.C. with her AAU team the Bay State Jaguars.

Stepping onto the court in Welsh-Ryan Arena as a freshman, Burton made an immediate impact, starting 31 out of the 36 scheduled games. Burton led the Cats with 113 assists and 81 steals that year, and even ranked first in the Big Ten for steals. Playing alongside NU greats — like guard Lindsey Pulliam and centers Abi Scheid and Abbie Wolf — she made a name for herself as one of the key players on the team.

Coach Joe McKeown said he spotted Burton’s talent early on, noting her AAU experience helped prepare Burton for the transition to Division I basketball.

In his 14th season as head coach, McKeown took notice of Burton’s greatness. According to McKeown, her mark of playing 31 games was well deserved, a rare feat for a freshman player in a Power Five conference.

“Veronica is a great example of an incoming freshman that played so much basketball and played at such a high level in the AAU world before they ever got to college,” McKeown said. “The transition for her was a little bit easier.”

****

Going into sophomore year, Burton improved throughout the season to receive her first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honor. Her dominance defending the backcourt contributed to the Cats winning a share of the 2020 Big Ten Championship — a program first since 1990.

Her junior year was yet another step forward, securing a second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award for 96 steals, first in the conference. Outside of her defensive prowess, Burton highlighted her offensive agility with 123 assists on the season and 117 field goals. Cocaptain and teammate senior guard Sydney Wood also emphasized Burton’s leadership as a valuable asset to the Cats.

“It’s very important for us to have her on the court because she creates a lot of opportunities in the paint,” Wood said. “Even when she’s not having her best game, she really contributes in a lot of other ways.”

U.S.A. and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley agreed, selecting Burton as a member of the U.S.A. Americup Team this past summer. One of 20 Division I athletes invited to tryout for the group, she made the cut to travel to Puerto Rico for the FIBA 2021 AmeriCup. Representing the red, white and blue in June, Burton won gold alongside Michigan forward Nazahrah Hillmon, Maryland guards Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller, all fellow Big Ten players.

Burton credits all of her success to her devotion to faith. She said her realization that she plays for a greater purpose grounded her and changed her mindset for how she trains, whether it’s the offseason or regular campaign.

****

Ahead of her senior season, the gold medalist will be one of the faces of the Cats’ program, being named captain for a consecutive season. Following

a conference-only 2020-21 schedule, NU will play a 31-game slate, one that includes Big Ten powerhouses Iowa, Maryland and Michigan along with nonconference competitors Oregon and DePaul.

Following the loss of Pulliam, Burton’s presence on the court will be essential for the Cats. Although known for her defensive mastery, this year she aspires to be an all-around asset. Burton said she felt ready for the task, praising the squad’s work in the summer and fall.

With the regular season opener Wednesday against Illinois-Chicago at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Burton said the squad has a chip on its shoulder from its loss to Louisville in the second round of March Madness. The goal for this season is to return to her sophomore-year success and bring home another Big Ten Championship.

Burton highlighted the brilliancy of the incoming freshman class, showing confidence in these young players in their first season for the Cats. A highly recruited lineup, she expressed extreme confidence about their careers with the program and looked forward to playing with them.

“They’re confident and just eager to learn,” Burton said. “They’re asking questions. They want to get in the film room and learn. ” Gearing up for the grand finale of her four years as a Wildcat, Burton has already made her mark as one of the best defensive players in the program. Her skill, teamwork and tenacity on the court has made her unstoppable and among the most accomplished guards to ever come through Evanston.

With a gold medal and a Big Ten Championship under her belt, Burton hopes to add one more feat to her resume — NCAA champion.

“I have one of the greatest college guards in women’s basketball in Veronica Burton,” McKeown said. skyeswann2024@u.northwestern.edu

21-22 women’s basKetBalL enTranCe surVeY Northwestern followed up a wildly successful 2019-20 with a March Madness appearance, knocking off 10 seed UCF before bowing out against Louisville. Though Lindsey Pulliam turned pro, Veronica Burton returns and is shaping up to be the de facto star of the Cats’ lineup. What should Wildcat fans expect with so much turnover? The Daily’s reporters may have the answer.

By DREW SCHOTT, SKYE SWANN AND CHARLOTTE VARNES

daily senior staffers @dschott328, sswann301, charvarnes11

1. The legend known as “Pull-up Pulliam” has now graduated from NU. Is a second consecutive March Madness appearance feasible for this program?

Skye Swann: NU’s dominance in its 2020-21 campaign showcased a unified, high-powered machine, with wins over conference foes Michigan and Iowa. Senior guard Veronica Burton, senior guard Sydney Wood and senior forward Courtney Shaw will play key roles in sending the squad to a second consecutive March Madness appearance. The three players were key pieces to NU’s 2021 March Madness run. Burton, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and one of the Cats’ 202122 captains, will arguably be the determining factor for NU’s success this season. If she steals the show on the court this year, the Cats have a strong chance to return to the NCAA tournament.

Drew Schott: Last year’s performance showed that NU’s 2019-20 season was not a one-off, epitomized by wins over Ohio State and Michigan and a near-upset of No. 2 Louisville in the NCAA Tournament. With key pieces such as Burton returning, coach Joe McKeown’s squad certainly has the talent to compete in the Big Ten. NU’s success in the league — which includes five teams

in the Associated Press Top 25 — will hinge on the Cats finding chemistry between the veterans in its lineup. If they can, a return trip to March Madness may be in store.

Charlotte Varnes: If NU can learn how to click without Pulliam, March Madness is certainly in the cards. Burton will play a central role in leading the team, supported by fellow seniors forward Courtney Shaw and senior guard Sydney Wood. The team’s success will also require underclassmen with little playing experience during the 2020-21 campaign to step up and make the most of greater playing opportunities this season. If NU’s big three veterans can continue to perform and also help underclassmen transition into bigger roles in the program, the Cats have a strong chance of making it to the Big Dance once again.

2. Veronica Burton aside, which Wildcat are you most excited to watch in the 2021-22 season?

Swann: Courtney Shaw concluded her junior season as one of NU’s key defensive leaders inside the paint.

Averaging 6.3 rebounds per game, Shaw led the team during the 2020-21 campaign despite being sidelined for a couple contests due to injury.

Heading into her senior season, Shaw will be one of the crucial members

of the backcourt alongside Burton and Wood to solidify the Wildcats’ strong defense. Each season, Shaw has improved in her defensive rebounds demonstrating her ability to grow and learn through the season. With a competitive 2021-22 campaign, this winter will be Shaw’s turn to be a standout.

Schott: Sydney Wood finished as NU’s third-leading scorer last season and is one of the team’s three captains heading into the 2021-22 campaign. Wood’s points and rebounds per game have increased in each of her three seasons and her veteran presence in the backcourt with Burton will be crucial to catalyzing the Wildcats’ offense.

Scoring double-digits in 12 straight contests last year demonstrated that Wood could flourish in a scoring role, which will be essential following Pulliam’s departure.

Her 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game also showcase her ability to distribute the ball and set up possessions.

Overall, this will be the year Wood proves she can be the second star alongside Burton for NU. Varnes: Senior forward Courtney Shaw is poised for a breakout season following an injury-laden campaign last year. Shaw missed nine of the Wildcats’ 25 games last season, hampering an otherwise strong showing from the Maryland native. When Shaw did appear, she was certainly an impactful player on both sides of the court.

She led the team in field goal percentage, going .536 from the field last season, and also totaled 100 rebounds in just 16 games. Should Shaw stay healthy this season, she’ll certainly play an important role in leading the Cats through challenging Big Ten play.

3. The Big Ten is loaded this season — which game on NU’s conference slate could reveal whether the Cats are contenders or pretenders?

Swann: NU’s season will be one of the most competitive slates the program will face following the

pandemic. But the two contests that will make or break the Cats’ season are Big Ten foes Maryland and Michigan. Last season, NU faced two nail-biting blows by the powerhouse Terrapins. Traveling to College Park, Md., this time around, a win from the Cats over one of the top teams in the conference will be a monumental statement for the program. With these contests taking place in late January and February, these regular season victories will put the Cats in good position for the postseason.

Schott: NU is playing in arguably the country’s best conference this year, but two of the games that will define the Wildcats’ season are against non-conference opponents.

The Cats fell in a close matchup to a ranked DePaul team in 2019 and will get their shot at vengeance in November. No. 10 Oregon comes to Welsh-Ryan Arena a month later. Victories against these squads will provide momentum for a Big Ten slate that doesn’t include a ranked opponent — No. 9 Iowa — until January.

Games against the Hawkeyes and Michigan, who roster the conference’s two best players in Caitlin Clark and Naz Hillmon, will reveal the ceiling of this NU team.

Varnes: The Cats are playing a mixed group of mostly non-conference, unranked opponents up until early January, when they will face both No. 9 Iowa and No. 17 Ohio State within the span of a few days. NU defeated the Hawkeyes twice last year and the Buckeyes once, but those were the days of Lindsey Pulliam. Playing such talented teams back-to-back will certainly prove a significant test. If the Cats can pull off a win against even just one of these programs, it will set the tone for success throughout the rest of the Cats’ conference play and show how the program has reset and reloaded without Pulliam. drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu, skyeswann2024@u.northwestern.edu, charlottevarnes2024@u.northwestern.edu

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

9

schedule G Lauren Satterwhite

G Veronica Burton

5’7” grad student Avondale, Arizona

5’9” senior Newton, Massachusetts

G/F Sydney Wood 5’11” senior Olney, Maryland

Head Coach Joe McKeown Assoc. Head Coach Kate Popovec

F Paige Mott

6’1” sophomore Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Assistants Preston Reid Tangela Smith

F Courtney Shaw 6’0” senior Perry Hall, Maryland

Forwards Mercy Ademusayo Anna Morris Caileigh Walsh

Guards Jillian Brown Melannie Daley Laya Hartman Jasmine McWilliams Kaylah Rainey Jess Sancataldo Hailey Weaver

11/10 IUC 11/14 UC Santa Barbara 11/17 Loyola-Chicago 11/21 DePaul 11/25 South Dakota 11/26 Pittsburgh 11/27 Texas A&M 12/2 Clemson 12/5 Wisconsin 12/11 Delaware 12/14 Milwaukee 12/17 Temple 12/21 Oregon 12/31 Minnesota 1/3 Michigan State 1/6 Iowa 1/9 Ohio State 1/13 Illinois 1/16 Michigan State 1/20 Penn State 1/23 Maryland 1/27 Iowa 1/30 Illinois 2/3 Purdue 2/6 Penn State 2/10 Rutgers 2/13 Michigan 2/17 Indiana 2/24 Purdue 2/27 Nebraska Note: Home games are bolded.

WILdCATs BEaT PARkSIDE IN EXhIBITIoN

By MARYKATE ANDERSON

the daily northwestern @mkeileen

Northwestern returned to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday to win its exhibition matchup against UW-Parkside — the Wildcats’ first game with fans cheering in the stands since clinching the Big Ten Title on Feb. 29, 2020.

The Rangers were unrelenting through the first half, sticking within striking range for most of the game and even showing a boost of energy coming out of halftime. But NU’s offense overwhelmed the Rangers in the middle of the third quarter with a 14-5 scoring run, and Parkside struggled to respond. From there, the Cats’ momentum carried them through the rest of the game.

Coach Joe McKeown’s NU squad ultimately took

down the Rangers 70-58, led by a team-wide offensive effort. Seven of the 10 Cats who participated in the matchup scored at least eight points, with three netting at least 10.

Despite these numbers, the team struggled behind the three-point line overall. NU went a combined 5-18 (.278) on three-pointers compared to the Rangers’ 12-28 (.429).

Senior guard Veronica Burton led the team in scoring with 14 points, but the two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year also showed her skills on the other side of the ball. Burton finished the game with six steals, three blocks and two turnovers.

Behind Burton, the Cats’ defense basked in the spotlight during Sunday’s matchup. While the team was able to execute — putting up 19 turnovers, 12 steals and seven blocks — Burton said there was still room for improvement.

“I feel like this game shows a lot of areas we need to improve on,” Burton said. “We talked about communicating a lot on defense. We put a big emphasis on our defense, and that’s something that definitely got exploited a little bit today.”

The game also proved to be a prime opportunity for freshman guard Jillian Brown to show off in her first appearance with NU. Brown finished off the

game with 10 points, eight of which came in the second half, along with six rebounds and five turnovers.

With five first-years on the roster going into the regular season, the young players should prove to be an essential part of the Cats’ success.

This was NU’s first competition since its 62-53 loss to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA tournament. After losing two key players in Lindsey Pulliam and Jordan Hamilton last year, the Cats hope the addition of Brown and other talented freshmen can help them crack their way into the tournament again.

“A lot of teams, a lot of people, the media think we’re going to have a huge dropoff after losing the players that we did last year,” Burton said. “But I think we have a chip on our shoulder, and we want to get back to the tournament.”

Burton said the presence of fans can provide a strong energy boost to athletes and change the flow of the game, as has been the case with many other sports returning to campus.

Women’s basketball fans were present in WelshRyan Arena for the first time in 617 days after COVID-19 protocols restricted fan access to athletic events during the 2020-21 season. Alongside the return of fans, game day festivities have returned

to the arena as well — which Burton said energizes the team.

“We love the band, cheerleaders, the students, the student athletes, everyone that comes out and supports us means a lot to us and it just makes the game a lot more fun,” Burton said.

NU will return to Welsh-Ryan Arena Wednesday to take on the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames for its first regular season matchup of the 2021-22 season. marykateanderson2023@u.northwestern.edu

ScHOTt: 21-22 wilL be defininG YeAR

By DREW SCHOTT

daily senior staffer @dschott328

After the past two seasons, Northwestern women’s basketball has demonstrated that playing in the postseason is now the expectation.

In 2020, the Wildcats won a share of the Big Ten regular season title for the first time since 1990. They were poised for a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament before its cancellation.

A year later, NU made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament and nearly upset No. 2 Louisville as a seven-seed in March Madness.

The past two seasons show an upward trend for the Cats under coach Joe McKeown, who signed a contract extension this fall, extending his stay through the 2024-25 campaign. With assistant Kate Popevec — a former player for the purple and white — elevated to associate head

coach, NU is locking down its coaching staff and showcasing stability on the way to bigger goals.

But can the Cats reach them? The Big Ten is one of the best conferences in college basketball, with five teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, including four in the top 11. NU faces No. 10 Oregon — a No. 6 seed in last year’s Big Dance — and DePaul, which earned 17 straight March Madness appearances from 2003-19.

The pressure is on for NU to show that its Big Ten championship season was not a one-off. That the second round of the NCAA Tournament is not their pinnacle. That the team can maintain momentum without 2,000-point scorer Lindsey Pulliam, who was selected in the 2021 WNBA Draft.

Both the Big Ten’s coaches and media did not select the Cats to finish among the conference’s top five teams. If NU has any hopes of cracking this top echelon, last year’s three upset losses to unranked Nebraska and Rutgers can’t repeat

themselves. Blowing a 13-point third quarter lead — which happened last January against No. 16 Indiana — can’t happen either.

Currently, the Hoosiers are ranked No. 8.

Maryland, who has beaten the Cats in three of four games across two seasons, is the No. 4 team in the country. Michigan, who spoiled NU’s quest for a Big Ten Tournament championship in 2020, is No. 11.

The margin for error is slim this season. So, NU’s returning pieces need to step up.

Senior guard Veronica Burton is back. The Preseason All-Big Ten Team member and reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year will likely lead the scoring charge after averaging 16.2 points per game last year.

Top rebounder and senior forward Courtney Shaw returns, along with sophomore forwards Anna Morris and Paige Mott, who are poised for larger roles in the frontcourt. Double-digit scorer and senior guard Sydney Wood will provide

experience alongside Burton in the backcourt.

NU’s 14th-year head coach also brought in the No. 10 recruiting class in the country and the second-best group in the Big Ten. ESPN wrote it could be McKeown’s “deepest class ever.”

With the tip-off of the upcoming season just days away, the excitement is palpable for a Cats program seeking more than the Round of 32.

However, questions still remain: Will the Cats contend for a conference regular season title? A Big Ten tournament title? An NCAA Tournament bid?

NU has the players and the experience to do so, yet the squad’s success will come down to how it performs on the court against both top opposition and average opponents.

It will make the difference as to whether the Cats can continue their climb into the national spotlight or fall back into the middle tier of the Big Ten. drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu

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men’s basKetBalL

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

21-22 men’s basKetBalL enTranCe surVeY Northwestern’s 2020-21 men’s basketball season saw the team ranked as high as 19th in the nation, but the season ended with a thud in the Big Ten Tournament. Eight months later, there are changes aplenty — sharpshooter Miller Kopp is out, while three exciting freshmen are in — and the Wildcats are preparing for what looks to be a pivotal winter for coach Chris Collins. Today, The Daily’s reporters give their thoughts on what to look for from NU this season.

By PATRICK ANDRES, GABRIELA CARROLL AND JOHN RIKER

daily senior staffers @john__riker, pandres2001, gablcarroll

1. NU finished 6-13 in Big Ten play and 12th out of 14 teams in the conference for the 2020-21 season before bowing out in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

What would constitute a successful winter for the Cats, and should there be an ultimatum for Chris Collins?

another season if this one doesn’t pan out — the athletic department is in transition, and his recruiting has been strong as of late. But forward Pete Nance is a senior, and his eventual departure will close out the Cats’ first post-March Madness recruiting cycle. It’s been one characterized by double-digit losing streaks and late-game fumbles.

While six conference wins was technically double the previous season’s tally, NU’s standard should be higher. A conference tourney win and a .500 record in conference play should be the standard in Evanston this winter.

2. Which Wildcat player’s progression will be most crucial to NU Patrick Andres: Chris Collins has emphasized making major strides and factorNU’s youth ad nauseam for two seasons. Now, ing into the Big Ten postseason it’s time to see some results: the Cats should aim picture? for a top-10 finish in the conference. It’s doable.

Wisconsin lost a lot of talent, Minnesota and Penn State are breaking in new coaches and Nebraska (despite recruiting well this offseason) was awful in 2021. NU’s current freshman class was in eighth grade during the 2017 NCAA Tournament run. If Collins’ veteran squad can’t take advantage of all this turnover and a pretty light nonconference schedule, it’s time for some hard conversations.

Gabriela Carroll: This roster is old now. It’s time for Collins’ rebuild to lead to significant progress.

This team has a lot of solid players with a lot of Big Ten experience. It shouldn’t be playing in the 11-14 or 12-13 matchups on Big Ten Tournament weekend. Winning 10 conference games — four more than the six it won last year — would be a solid sign of improvement and could put it in the mix for the NCAA Tournament if some things fall its way.

John Riker: I could see Collins returning for

Andres: It’s hard to believe guard Boo Buie is a junior, isn’t it? His comically consistent numbers year after year (10.3 points per game in both 2020 and 2021, 2.1 rebounds per game in 2020 and 2.3 last season, a 37.6 and 36.9 fieldgoal percentage) have hidden some streaky tendencies.

That streakiness peaked in a 2-for-29 shooting slump across four games from Dec. 29 to Jan. 13 of last season; NU lost all four games to kickstart its 13-game losing streak.

Buie is this

team’s bellwether, and if he raises his game in Year Three, so too will the Wildcats.

Carroll: Junior guard Chase Audige showed flashes of absolute brilliance last year in his first season with the Cats. Last year against Indiana on Dec. 23, Audige scored 17 points in the second half to single-handedly win them the game. He was capable of being the best player on the floor, but on other nights he got careless and in foul trouble.

He’s not a consistent scorer — he’ll get you 15 points one night and then four the next. NU has a lot of solid players, but Audige is one of only a few who can take over a game. If he can become that player night in and night out, the Cats are going to be scarier than people think.

Riker: A key theme with NU this year is the transition from being one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten to one of the most experienced, and Chris Collins is banking that the wealth of game experience will translate to on-court results.

Junior center Ryan Young might be the Cats’ best example of this trend. Young was thrown into the fire against NBA-caliber talents like Iowa’s Luka Garza, Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn and Maryland’s Jalen Smith in his first year and held his own, but Young has yet to be a staple of the starting lineup entering Year Three. Now with Young in his third year of playing for the team, it’s time for him to emerge as the force NU needs down low.

3. Which game should Northwestern fans circle on their calendars for this season?

Andres: Dec. 18 will be the wrist on which Chicagoland college basketball fans take their collective pulse. Both DePaul and NU have spent recent years living in Loyola-Chicago’s shadow, but former

coach Porter Moser has left for Oklahoma. The Blue Demons and Wildcats’ meeting a week before Christmas at Welsh-Ryan Arena will act as a nice recruiting coup for the winning coach and a bitter pill for the losing coach. The two teams last played on Dec. 21, 2019, in Chicago, when DePaul shook off 25 Boo Buie points to score a hard-fought 83-78 victory.

Carroll: The Big Ten opener against No. 21 Maryland. NU is playing a very light non-conference schedule this year, with its most formidable opponents being Wake Forest and whichever one of Georgia or Virginia it’ll face in the Legends Classic.

Maryland’s starting the year ranked and is likely to finish in the top half of the conference. As we learned last year, you can’t base everything off of a one-game sample, but the match will be the first indicator of how much the team has improved and whether it can hang with the class of the Big Ten. Riker: On Feb. 8, the Indiana Hoosiers will roll into Evanston in a rematch of last year’s epic 79-76 contest, in which the Cats blew leads late in the second half, in overtime and in double overtime.

NU had a strange performance to say the least — backup junior guard Ryan Greer even fouled out — and junior sharpshooter Miller Kopp’s 2-8 performance, including a 2-5 clip from 3-point land, was emblematic of a tumultuous season. Oh right, Kopp’s a Hoosier now. Kopp deserves an ovation from the home crowd for his efforts on a rebuilding Cats team, but NU will be motivated to change the script this time around. johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu, patrickandres2023@u.northwestern.edu, gabycarroll2023@u.northwestern.edu

BerRy reAdy to soAr in sopHomore yEar

By PATRICK ANDRES

daily senior staffer @pandres2001

Early in the first half of Northwestern’s Feb. 10 home date with Indiana, sophomore guard Boo Buie checked in for the Wildcats.

He flashed his usual penchant for big plays, rebounding a missed free throw and collecting redshirt sophomore guard Chase Audige’s miss on the next possession. But Buie played the Cats’ double-overtime loss in a different jersey than his familiar No. 0. He wore freshman guard Ty Berry’s No. 3, a sign of support after Berry’s father’s sudden death that spoke to the strength of their relationship.

“I think of Boo as an older brother,” Berry said. “He always has had my back and shown me the ropes since I got here … for him to do that was big time and it meant a lot to me.”

Berry is entering his second season with NU, and teammates and coaches are excited about his

potential. Originally from Newton, Kan., Berry averaged just 14.5 minutes per game his freshman year, but appears poised to step into a bigger role as a sophomore.

In the Cats’ Thursday night exhibition win over Lindenwood, he was everywhere, blitzing the Lions for 17 points, five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. As the offseason comes to a close, Buie said Berry is ready and excited to showcase his growth as a player.

“My biggest development (this offseason) has been working on the defensive end, and knowing exactly where I need to be not only on the ball, but off the ball,” Berry said. “I feel like I’ve improved in that area, and just letting the game slow down.”

*** NU won the contest for Berry’s services on Oct. 9, 2019, when he committed to the Cats over Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas State, Wichita State and several other high-major schools.

At the time, he was a month away from starting his senior season at Sunrise Christian Academy in the Wichita suburbs, the school that produced Oklahoma legend and current Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield. Berry, a three-star prospect, was ranked by 247Sports as the Sunflower State’s top recruit in the class of 2020.

His senior year of high school, however, was disrupted by COVID-19, as was his freshman year of college. Instead of raucous Big Ten crowds in cities like Bloomington, Ann Arbor and West Lafayette, Berry was greeted with silence at Welsh-Ryan Arena and across the Midwest. He

will play in front of home fans for his first time as a collegiate athlete on Tuesday against Eastern Illinois.

“We’ve been kind of kidding with him because he’s never played in front of a crowd,” coach Chris Collins said. “I’m a little bit worried about how nuts he’s gonna go in these places that are packed, because he’s so enthusiastic.”

Even without the energy of fans in the building, Berry made an instant impact for NU in 2021. In the Cats’ first two games, he made 10 of his 18 shot attempts, registering 15 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 14 against Chicago State.

His fingerprints were all over NU’s biggest win of the season: its 79-65 upset of No. 4 Michigan State on Dec. 20, 2020. During that game, Berry made four of five field goals off the bench, including three 3-pointers. “Ty Berry. Buy stock now,” national CBS Sports pundit Jon Rothstein tweeted the evening of the upset.

But gradually, the Cats’ fortunes waned. Berry fell into a three-for-15 shooting slump over a four-game span from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, during which NU began its 13-game losing streak. His minutes trended downward as the Cats ventured further into conference play.

Then, tragedy struck Berry and his family. His father, Tony Berry, died suddenly on Feb. 10 at the age of 56. An avid athlete, coach and fan, Tony and his lessons continue to influence Ty as he prepares for his first full season without his father.

Berry missed two games — losses to the Hoosiers and Rutgers — and returned to play four minutes at No. 5 Illinois. Collins said Berry’s “tough hardship” set him back somewhat, but his talent and leadership put him on the right track.

“The biggest lesson that my pops taught me was to never take anything for granted,” Berry said. “Every time I go out on the floor to play with a passion and be excited for the opportunity I have. That means a lot to me.”

*** Berry has modeled elements of his game after Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, two players who are — in his words — “not only really good shooters, but good all-around.” Berry shares a statistical quirk with Booker in particular: neither started a game in their freshman season.

That appears likely to change in year two.

Forward Miller Kopp is gone, having taken his shooting abilities to Indiana. On what is suddenly a veteran NU team, Berry forms an important bridge between upperclassmen like Buie and the team’s three freshmen — guards Brooks Barnhizer, Julian Roper II and Casey Simmons.

“I was in (the freshmen’s) shoes last year, and it’s hard anywhere,” Berry said. “I’ve just been trying to help the young guys, as their development continues, just telling them where they need to be, helping them, and being kind of a mentor to them.”

It’s the Cats’ mix of veterans and newcomers, according to Berry, that will make them one of the Big Ten’s most improved teams in 2022.

“We have a lot of veterans and they know so much about the game,” Berry said. “Just practicing with them every day, I can see how special our team is going to be this year.” patrickandres2023@u.northwestern.edu

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

11

schedule G Chase Audige

G Boo Blue

6’4” junior Coram, New York

6’2” junior Albany, New York

F Robbie Beran 6’9” junior Richmond, Virginia

Head Coach Chris Collins

C Ryan Young

6’10” junior Stewartsville, New Jersey

Assistants Talor Battle Jon Borovich Brian James

F Pete Nance 6’10” senior Akron, Ohio

Centers Matthew Nicholson Forwards Elyjah Williams

Guards Brooks Barnhizer Ty Berry, Roy Dixon III Ryan Greer Julian Roper Dylan Sandhu Casey Simmons

11/9 Eastern Illinois 11/12 High Point 11/16 New Orleans 11/18 Fairleigh Dickinson 11/22 Providence 11/23 Georgia/Virginia 11/30 Wake Forest 12/5 Maryland 12/12 NJIT 12/18 DePaul 12/20 Illinois-Springfield 12/30 Prairie View A&M 1/2 Michigan State 1/5 Penn State 1/9 Ohio State 1/12 Maryland 1/15 Michigan State 1/18 Wisconsin 1/23 Purdue 1/26 Michigan 1/29 Illinois 2/1 Rutgers 2/5 Nebraska 2/8 Indiana 2/13 Illinois 2/16 Purdue 2/19 Minnesota 2/22 Nebraska 2/25 Penn State 2/28 Iowa 3/6 Minnesota Note: Home games are bolded.

FirSt-yEarS loOk to make imPacT

By GABRIELA CARROLL

daily senior staffer @gablcarroll

For the past two seasons, Northwestern has put a lot of responsibility on its young players.

In the early days of what coach Chris Collins regards as a rebuild in the 2019-20 season, three freshmen saw significant time for the Wildcats: guard Boo Buie, forward Robbie Beran and center Ryan Young.

With NU’s young core growing up and gaining experience, the expectations on last year’s freshmen, guard Ty Berry and center Matt Nicholson, lessened.

Berry averaged just 14.5 minutes per game, and Nicholson played in just nine games, averaging under three minutes of playing time.

This year, Collins brings in three new freshmen: guards Casey Simmons, Julian Roper II and Brooks Barnhizer. Each brings something different to the table.

“Casey and Julian give you athletes on the wing

that can slash, defend,” Collins said. “They’re two way guys, they give us some ability to force turnovers and get out in the open court. Brooks gives you that heady IQ guy. He’s 6 feet 6 inches (tall), he’s got a real strong build and he can really score.”

In Thursday’s exhibition game, Barnhizer scored 10 points in 11 minutes of game action, tied for the fourth-highest total on the team, and by far the highest point-per-minute total. Barnhizer hit all five from the free throw line, went 1-for-2 from behind the arc and had three steals.

Roper scored just five points, but played 21 minutes — the highest of all the first years. Simmons started the game, and while he didn’t score any points, he showed the physicality that assistant coach Bryant McIntosh said the coaching staff are so excited about.

Simmons, Roper and Barnhizer came to campus this summer, joining a veteran roster that has played together for a long time. Roper said the time over the summer helped the group bond and helped the freshmen build chemistry.

Newly minted captains senior guard Ryan Greer and senior forward Pete Nance provided support as the freshmen adjusted to a college campus, according to Simmons.

“Whether it’s on the court (if) we mess up, they help us, take us aside, tell us what we did and explain what Coach says, because during practice we’re running some drills I’ve never heard before,” Simmons said.

The Cats’ new freshmen are looking for ways to impact the team, no matter how much playing time they get.

“It’s different coming out of high school, always having the ball,” Roper said. “We’re learning how to play off the older guys, and learning what they do and learning from their mistakes. And then learning how we get in, how to play off of them, what they like to do, or how to get to our spots and get shots out of what they like to do.”

Last year, the Cats played nine players consistently in their rotation, and seven return this year. Collins

wouldn’t divulge how deep he expects the team’s rotation to be this year, but he did say the 2021-22 NU roster is the deepest team he’s had in a while.

Barnhizer said the freshmen are all looking to be “energy guys.” He added they are hoping to be “solid” in the defensive end and be players Collins can rely on to get stops.

“You’re there to fill in the voids, wherever we need, and just do whatever the coaches ask us,” Barnhizer said. “That’s all we can expect as freshmen, so we’ve got to go maximize it.” gabrielacarroll2023@u.northwestern.edu

BrOThERs REuNITE WITh BATtLE’S ARrIVAL

By JOHN RIKER

daily senior staffer @john__riker

When Talor Battle was an assistant coach at Penn State, he had the unique position of facing his young brother, Northwestern junior guard Boo Buie, in conference play.

Battle’s Nittany Lions had the upper hand in the matchup in Buie’s two seasons, winning two of three games against the Wildcats.

“We wanted to win the game, but I was rooting for him at the same time,” Battle said of Buie, who is 11 years his junior. “Now, I get to concentrate on tr y ing to focus on us

winning games and him playing well, so it’s all together.”

NU is entering a pivotal season with its core now comprised of juniors and seniors. Coach Chris Collins sent youngsters like Buie, senior forward Pete Nance, junior forward Robbie Beran and junior center Ryan Young into Big Ten action almost as soon as they stepped on campus. The result? A squad that has an abundance of game experience.

And after doubling their conference win total in 2020-21, the Cats are hoping hiring Battle in the spring can help this squad — his brother included — take the next step into Big Ten contention.

“I’ve known these guys for a couple years now because, obviously including my brother Boo, I built relationships with all these guys,” Battle said. “I’m just really looking forward to just helping as much as I can and being part of something successful.”

For Collins, Battle’s experience as a standout player at Penn State is one of his most valuable assets.

Battle starred for the Nittany Lions from 2007-11, finishing his career as a two-time AllBig Ten selection and the program’s all-time

leading scorer. Battle’s teams also tasted postseason glory, winning the NIT in 2009 and reaching the NCAA tournament in 2011.

“He’s young, he’s energetic and he was a great player in this league,” Collins said. “So there’s a lot of things that he can impart on our guys, playing in this league, succeeding in this league.”

Buie had a front-row seat for Battle’s action at the Bryce Jordan Center. Now a three-year starter and point guard himself, Buie says he is still learning from his brother’s example.

“He has a lot of knowledge, so he just teaches me and shows me things,” Buie said. “I don’t always handle what he says right, but he’s a big brother and he just wants the best for me and he wants the best for everyone on the team.”

That connection will be crucial in the upcoming season, with Buie aiming at a breakout campaign as a junior. He has flashed the potential to be a big-time scorer throughout his NU basketball career, scoring 25 or more points four times and leading the Cats in three-point shooting last season. But Buie has struggled with shooting slumps in his first two years in Evanston.

According to Collins, building that consistency has been a point of emphasis through the preseason.

“That’s such an important position, and Boo has shown signs of being a top-tier point guard in this league, and we need him to be there on a consistent level,” Collins said. “I think (Talor) will be able to really help with that as well.”

Battle called the experience of teaming up with his brother “a blessing” — the two have enjoyed dinners together from time to time — but he has also been working on the rest of the Cats’ development. A decade removed from his glory days at Penn State, Battle has even been able to “get out there and show it” on the basketball court during practice, according to Collins.

With accomplished careers both playing and coaching in the Big Ten, Battle knows full well the task at hand in transforming NU into a postseason threat in one of the nation’s toughest conferences. It’s a challenge he’s embracing as the season nears.

“The Big Ten is always one of the best leagues in the country and last year was probably the best it’s ever been,” Battle said. “I’m not sure it will be as crazy as that, but each and every night you’re going to get the best from everyone in this league.” johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu

12

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

Joshua Hoffman/Daily Senior Staffer

FEARLESS FORECASTERS PROJECTIONS

John Riker

10th in B1G

Isabelle Sarraf

12th in B1G

Lawrence Price Gabriela Carroll Drew Schott Charlotte Varnes Joshua Hoffman Patrick Andres Skye Swann

8-12

5-15

PROJECTIONS

MEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS “I’m trying to manifest another modest step forward for the Cats. There’s good reason to expect a jump up.”

12-6 6th in B1G

12-6

“These Cats are not the Jellicle Choice”

5th in B1G

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS “Veronica Burton will have herself another strong season, but Pulliam’s absence will be felt.”

“This is a Veronica Burton fan club”

11th in B1G

“I see the Cats’ winning around this number or a little above, but it could be the last dance for Coach Chris Collins”

5th in B1G

10-10

“Fingers crossed for no more 13 game losing streaks!”

12-6

“The Blizzard’s coming to Chicago in more ways than one.

13-5

“Burton and Co. will lead Northwestern to a top-five spot in the conference and possibly, a second straight berth in the NCAA Tournament.

12-6

“This will be a season of resetting and reloading for the Cats and they’re certainly up to the task.”

13-5

“Lindsey Pulliam graduating is a tough loss for this team, but with NCAA tournament experience on the roster, the Wildcats fight their way toward the top.”

7-13

11-7

5th in B1G

8th in B1G

9-11 10th in B1G

7-13 11th in B1G

5-15 12th in B1G

“Northwestern increases its win total with a talented roster, but in a difficult Big Ten, the Wildcats rise only slightly towards the middle of the conference. “ “The leadership of returners Boo Buie, Chase Audige and Pete Nance might be enough to bump the Wildcats up in the standings from last year’s 12th place finish.”

“It’s an indictment of the program’s post-2017 free fall that this would be considered progress.”

7-13

“Going off of the past two seasons, Northwestern Men’s Basketball is still rebuilding and finding their connection and this will show on the court this season.”

11th in B1G

Tipoff Editor John Riker

4th in B1G

“The young ‘Cats are learning, guided by Nance and Greer, as Collins fights against a tough Big Ten slate.”

8-12

11th in B1G

4th in B1G

Writers

5th in B1G

10-8 6th in B1G

8-10

6th in B1G

TIPOFF

Patrick Andres MaryKate Anderson Gabriela Carroll Alex Cervantes Haley Fuller Joshua Hoffman Russell Leung

Writers

Nicole Orejuela Lawrence Price Isabelle Sarraf Drew Schott Skye Swann Charlotte Varnes Natalie Wu

“The losses of Pulliam and Hamilton will be big, but the Veronica Burton led group will still be solid: 5th in conference”

“Another March, another tournament for the university’s most reliable revenue team.”

“Northwestern Women’s basketball will face tough competition from Maryland, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, and Indiana during the season that will cause them to drop a few games in the season.”

Designers

Jonah Elkowitz Angeli Mittal Meher Yeda

Tipoff is a publication of Students Publishing Co. All material is © 2021 Students Publishing Co. Questions or comments should be sent c/o Tipoff Editor John Riker, 1999 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208.

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

SWIM INTO SHANLEY Vertigo Productions’ fall play, “Centerville, New Jersey Has a Problem with Trout” premiered in Shanley Pavilion Friday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Written by Communication

senior Juliet Huneke, the show follows three high school students taking initiative to clean their city’s riverbank.

— Joanne Haner

Joanne Haner/The Daily Northwestern

The Daily

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13

14

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

PROTEST

INTERPRETERS

organizer, who asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns.

NUCNC organizers listed their demands on social media as protesters stood on the field. The demands included a commitment to “divest from death” and “invest in life-giving institutions,” as well as facilitating meetings between the Board of Trustees and students at least twice a year.

The activist groups hope senior administrators will provide concrete deadlines to meet their set of demands.

In light of recent allegations of druggings at fraternity houses and other nearby residencies, the protesters also stood in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault on campus. In their demands, they urged the University to build better protections for and systems that center and support survivors of sexual violence.

“We know that police have not been able to stop the druggings that are happening on campus,” the NUCNC organizer said. “Police do not keep us safe.”

Coach Pat Fitzgerald said he reacted to the demonstration out of “care and concern” by trying to keep his players away from the protesters.

“My first focus is the health, safety and wellbeing of our student athletes,” Fitzgerald said during a news conference following the game. “You never know what may happen.”

As protesters stood on the field, the crowd booed. The NUCNC organizer said Iowa fans became violent as the student activists walked off the field. Some spectators threw objects in the direction of protesters and yelled slurs.

While protesters demonstrated, one Iowa fan ran onto the field and attempted to grab the banners, pulling one protester to the ground.

According to the organizer, protesters only left the field once they were threatened with arrest. University spokesperson Jon Yates said no arrests were made. The matter is under investigation by University Police, he added.

It has been 521 days since Black student activists demanded in a widely circulated petition that NU divest from police and invest in life-giving institutions. Last fall, NUCNC led daily protests calling for the abolition of University Police and Evanston Police Department. Their last major protest in March was met with a large police presence.

The coalition of student advocacy groups is planning on hosting an orientation meeting for new members soon, according to the NUCNC organizer.

“We disrupted the game because Northwestern cares more about football than they do about our demands,” the NUCNC organizer said. “There’s more to come.”

and then give it to the appropriate person. It would be either myself or facilities management. I would work through trying to find somebody and get somebody at the meeting. If that doesn’t work out, then we would definitely talk about doing some type of closed captioning so people can access that as well. A lot of the meetings recently have been online. So if there was a request, we would make sure that

From page 1

From page 1

madisonsmith2023@u.northwestern.edu

COVID

From page 1

concluded its final week of mandated staggered testing for undergraduates.

In national news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director endorsed the

MURAL

From page 1

obviously, but hopefully an inflection point and a starting point for the future.”

The Main-Dempster Mile first began working with Blount when they purchased posters from him in an effort to support Evanston’s Black community. The organization distributed the posters, which said “Black Lives Love& Strive& Hope& Struggle& Matter,” to any of the stores along the Mile that wanted them.

Along with selling his art in local stores, Blount has designed banners to hang from neighborhood light-poles.

“Ben was already at the very front of our mind,” Gotsick said. “He already had a very solid recognition in our district.”

closed captioning was taken care of.

The Daily: Is there a certain place you would go to find a qualified ASL interpreter?

Dollins: There are a few places that I would look. There’s the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, where there is a listing of certified interpreters. We have a language hotline that we could contact as well.

The Daily: What’s the most important thing Evanston residents should know about accessing meetings for residents who are hard of hearing?

Dollins: We are planning our first ADA open

house for the city’s ADA Transition Plan. There’s a community open house that’s on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Levy Senior Center. We want to provide information about the plan and gather feedback from the community.

Go to evanstonaccessibility.com, which outlines a lot of the things that are going to be going on throughout the ADA Transition Plan, including a couple of open houses so that we can get input from the community.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday. Scientists are saying this expanded authorization proves crucial amid the Delta variant, especially after the influx of positive cases seen across this population over the summer.

Pfizer released data Friday regarding its trials

on a potential COVID-19 treatment, a pill under the brand name Paxlovid. The company reported a 89% risk reduction in hospitalization or death in high-risk patients who took the medication within three days of the onset of symptoms.

The mural was approved by Evanston’s Arts Council and by the 9th and 3rd Ward alderpeople, as the mural rests on a ward border.

Gotsick highlighted that Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th), a co-author of the 2019 resolution, along with Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd) were both very supportive of the mural.

Main-Dempster Mile also received a $1,000 grant from the city through the Neighborhood Arts Grant Program to support the installment of the mural.

Classy Closet’s manager, Sophie Malecki, said the mural shows active reflection on social justice. She added that it is valuable to see that these issues are on the minds of people within the town government.

“I hope that people will walk by and feel seen in some way,” Malecki said. “(The mural) can

help spark a little bit of joy, and I think that, in and of itself, helps.”

Gotsick said the Main-Dempster Mile is also in the process of commissioning a plaque which explains the story of the mural.

Without the context of the resolution, Blount said residents may be curious about the mural, as they may not know exactly what message it’s affirming.

“Those words might resonate and you might be able to understand that it is about bigger things,” Blount asserted. “Whether it’s about race or whether it’s about gender or sexual orientation or just difference, the idea (is) that Evanston is a place that could see you however you show up.”

saulpink2025@u.northwestern.edu

— Angeli Mittal

chiarakim2025@u.northwestern.edu

Meher Yeda/Daily Senior Staffer

Evanston provides American Sign Language interpreters upon request at civic meetings and other city-sponsored events, but this service has rarely been used.

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DAILY CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Fictional hero raised by apes 7 URL letters after two slashes 10 Prefix meaning “huge” 14 Single-celled creature 15 “So I was right all along” 16 Pizza cooker 17 *Swing from the get-go 20 Bonuses for the waitstaff 21 Whitewater ride 22 Mookie of the Dodgers 23 *Well-made 25 Make amends 29 Wallach or Whitney 30 *Early pudginess usually lost by one’s teens 33 Go out, as the tide 35 Econ. yardstick 38 Timeworn phrase 39 In the same family 41 Dined 42 Can metal 43 *Continue to avoid, as alcohol 44 Pigs out (on), briefly 46 Bird homes 47 *“Don’t go yet” 54 Lou Grant portrayer Ed 55 __-Rooter 56 Worker protection org.

60 Bumping into someone, say ... and what the end of each answer to a starred clue can have?

63 Clark at the Daily Planet 64 NW corner key 65 __ versus nurture 66 Valuable rocks 67 5G __: mobile standard 68 Eats into DOWN 1 Diplomat’s asset 2 Mine, in Metz 3 Blowout victory

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

By Jerry Edelstein

4 Pizzazz quartet 5 Blood-typing letters 6 Tiny Pacific republic near the equator 7 Pancake cousin 8 Wood shavers 9 What happy tails do 10 Roadside overnight stop 11 Broadway role played by Madonna in film 12 Restroom label 13 Common teen phase 18 Mai __ 19 “His Dark Materials” channel 23 Are suited for 24 Dalai Lama’s land 25 Palindromic “SOS” pop group 26 Sharp-tasting 27 Bassoon relative 28 “Miracle” NL team of 1969, on scoreboards 31 Farewell to Felipe 32 Most easily chewed, as meat

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34 Not at all spicy 35 Sporty Pontiacs 36 Nimble-fingered 37 Some emailed files 40 Sailor’s yes 45 Wall-mounted light 47 Amusingly eccentric 48 Son of Jacob 49 Silly

11/8/21

50 Campers’ shelters 51 Joan of __ 52 Not Rx 53 “... said __ ever” 56 Aware of, as a plot 57 Kind of poker 58 “__ we go again!”

59 Greek war god 61 Electric fish 62 Former EgyptSyria confed.

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

15

Field Museum showcases Indigenous beadwork

By IRIS SWARTHOUT

the daily northwestern @swarthout_iris

The Field Museum kicked off National Native American Heritage Month with a Friday demonstration of traditional beadwork technique.

The showcase is the first in a series of Native American heritage events throughout the month of November. Michelle Brownlee, a member of the Ojibwe Tribe, and J. Kae Good Bear, a member of the Navajo Nation, Mandan and Hidatsa tribes, teamed up to bring indigenous beadwork artifacts to the public eye, according to the museum’s public relations director, Bridgette Russell.

“It’s really important for folks to know that we’re celebrating the whole month,” Russell said. “We are so excited that J. Kae and Michelle are here to share their expertise about Indigenous culture.”

Friday’s demonstration was part of the museum’s weekly “Meet a Scientist” presentation series. Brownlee, who is the Field Museum’s collections assistant, said the presentation was an attempt to make existing programming fit Native American Heritage Month’s theme.

While there are about 770,000 items in the Field Museum’s Native American collection, she said less than 1% of them are displayed.

“Being able to provide access for folks who normally do not have access to these items is really important,” Brownlee said. “I’m thankful that I have a department that’s supportive of that.”

Although Indigenous artifact collections and presentations get better every year, Brownlee said the process of conservation takes time and energy. However, the deep cultural representation of Native heritage makes it all worth it.

Good Bear, the Field Museum’s conservation technician, said traditional Native American beadwork styles and designs differ between tribes. She added that half the items at the presentation table corresponded to plains-style beadwork and the other to woodland-style. “(Woodland-style beadwork) can see more organic shapes … and things with leaves because you live in the woods … and that’s

Iris Swarthout/The Daily Northwestern

Beaded Dakota vest. It showcases a combination of the woodlands and prairie indigenous beading techniques.

what you saw around you,” Good Bear said.

“Versus the plains, where you don’t have the tree coverage, is where you can see more of a geometric pattern.”

While many of the artifacts presented were small fabric samples and moccasins, a large vest in the middle of the two sections represented a combination of the plains and woodland beadwork styles, Good Bear said.

She said the vest is traced to the Dakota Tribe. Brownlee added that while her tribe is located deeper within the woodlands of northern Minnesota, the Dakota tribe is closer to the plains, leaving room for cross-tribal influence.

“We are trying to also emphasize that Native

American tribes are not isolated and they’re not stagnant,” Brownlee said. “This intermingling and cross cultural exchange has been going on for millennia.”

The distinctions between different tribal beadwork styles is also revealed through stitching patterns, according to Good Bear. She said woodland floral stitches are more flowy and closer to embroidery, while plains designs are more parametric in shape.

Good Bear, who is multitribal in descent, said her connection to the artifacts at the Field Museum represents an unbroken lineage to her ancestors.

“I know the significance of … every little bit of fabrication,” Good Bear said. “These are some of my favorite items because it’s just kind of a

touchstone that reminds me of that connection.”

Brownlee said the museum has made Indigneous representation as accurate as possible by naming displayed items in Ojibwe, Navajo and Cherokee syllabary.

Accessibility is at the forefront of the Field Museum’s events, Brownlee said, and the Indigenous beads exhibit caters to museum visitors of all ages.

“Most of the time it’s just folks walking by and wandering,” Brownlee said. “It’s just a cool sort of artistic medium that anybody could be interested in.” irisswarthout2023@u.northwestern.edu

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SPORTS

Monday, November 8, 2021

@DailyNU_Sports

MEN’S SOCCER

Northwestern stuns Maryland in penalty shootout

By ALEX CERVANTES

the daily northwestern @cervantespalex

Nearly a month ago, Northwestern lost to Maryland 3-1 in College Park. But the postseason is a fresh start, and the Wildcats took that mindset to heart on Sunday,

stunning the No. 2 Terrapins in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

The game was dominated by stout defenses and excellent goalkeeping, ending 0-0 after two 45-minute periods and a pair of 10-minute overtime periods. No one shined on the pitch more than graduate student goalkeeper Miha Miskovic. He

Kelsey Carroll/Daily Senior Staffer

made 10 saves in the match against Maryland, with each successive save better than the last.

When Maryland pushed numbers into the final third, it was the NU goalie who kept them at bay in the second period, making six crucial saves. When a penalty was awarded to the Terrapins in the 80th minute, it was Miskovic who leapt to his right and palmed Terrapin forward Jacen Russell-Rowe’s effort away. Just minutes later, the Serbia native made two consecutive stops to stifle Maryland.

The Terrapins had their share of opportunities to put the game away and had not come away with a score, so when it came to the shootout, Miskovic was confident.

“I felt the goal was super small,” Miskovic said. “They were nervous. They thought the game was gonna be over in regulation, and I just knew we got it.”

The two teams traded makes and misses in the shootout, but Miskovic’s second save, which came on Maryland’s fourth penalty, kept the score level at 2-2.

Sophomore midfielder Rom Brown was then tasked with the all-important fifth penalty: convert and the pressure is on

FOOTBALL

the Terrapins to score; miss and NU’s No. 1 would have to come up with another save.

Brown had stymied the Maryland attack all night, making numerous full stretch tackles and interceptions. He was a part of the group that blanketed Terrapin midfielder Ben Bender, the Big Ten’s points leader. Brown played all 110 minutes for the Cats, so when he stepped up to the spot for the team’s fifth penalty, he wasn’t worried about the spotlight.

“I took the PK imagining how I’m going to hit the corner so that the keeper doesn’t have any chance,” Brown said. “And when it went in, I was very happy.”

With Brown putting NU ahead 3-2, the pressure turned to Maryland forward Brayan Padilla. Padilla’s approach sent Miskovic the wrong way, but he pushed the penalty just wide, hitting the post. The missed shot sealed the upset win for the visiting Cats.

The victory is NU’s first against the Terrapins since September 2019. It also marks coach Russell Payne’s first win against his mentor and former coach Sasho Cirovski.

But Payne — who is in his first year at

the helm — said this game is not about him. Instead, he pointed to his team’s complete effort in what is a marquee victory against Maryland.

“This one is about a group of guys who just believed that they could beat anybody,” Payne said. “And it took them 110 minutes and penalty kicks to get to the point where they tipped the scales in their favor and that’s what it’s all about.”

Up next, the Cats will face No. 3 seed Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. on Wednesday in the semifinals. The Hoosiers beat NU 2-1 in a September contest at Martin Stadium.

The Cats’ backline will be tested once again by a prolific offense — the Indiana attack has netted 33 goals this season. And while Miskovic and the rest of the team will celebrate Sunday’s victory, all eyes will soon turn to the Hoosiers.

“We’re definitely excited,” Miskovic said. “This is another team we played in the regular season and we were up and let the lead slip away from us, but now there’s a chance to get it back.” alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

FOOTBALL

Wildcats fall to No. NU can’t beat offensive struggles 22 Iowa in 17-12 loss

By DREW SCHOTT

By JOHN RIKER

daily senior staffer @john__riker

Playing in Ryan Field for the last time in the 2021 season, Northwestern had opportunities to steal its first Big Ten West win in comeback fashion against No. 22 Iowa.

A pair of highlight-reel 31-yard gains by sophomore running back Evan Hull spearheaded a fourth quarter touchdown drive, pulling the Wildcats within a single possession with just over two minutes remaining. After a defensive stop, senior quarterback Andrew Marty and the Cats offense had one last chance to score a goahead touchdown.

Instead, Marty recovered a fumbled snap, then lobbed an ill-advised throw to the left sideline, which Hawkeye defensive back Dane Belton picked off for a gamesealing turnover and Marty’s third interception of the night. Iowa (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) survived he late surge to win 17-12 and prevent the Cats (3-6, 1-5) from taking their first division win of the season.

“There’s a reason they were ranked No. 2 in the country a couple weeks ago,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We put together a really good game plan and had ample opportunities to win the game.”

The Hawkeyes entered the weekend in freefall, scoring a combined 14 points in losses to Purdue and No. 21 Wisconsin after peaking at No. 2 in the country in October. The trend continued through the first quarter, as Iowa’s first three drives culminated in punts.

That changed on the Hawkeyes’ fourth drive, when Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz pivoted from longtime starter Spencer Petras to backup Alex Padilla. The sophomore — a second-team cornerback during the Hawkeyes’ spring practice — rewarded Ferentz’s decision with two straight touchdown drives.

“We had an idea that they might do some things if things sputtered a little bit and maybe make a change,” Fitzgerald said.

“It pretty much stayed the same from our perspective.”

Padilla’s spark, along with a 100-yard first-half performance from running back Tyler Goodson, helped Iowa take control early . The Cats, starting Marty for the first time since Nov. 2019, struggled to find any answers or resolve their own quarterback situation.

After Marty broke loose for a couple of first down scrambles on NU’s second

drive, Iowa’s defense stifled the Cats’ rushing attack. The Hawkeyes took Marty’s running abilities out of the equation with only 14 yards on 13 carries and slowed down Hull, NU’s lead back.

The run game’s stagnation, along with the return of leading receiver Stephon Robinson Jr., led Fitzgerald and the Cats to test the Hawkeye secondary. Marty finished the night with 44 passing attempts, and while his 270 yards were nearly a season-high for NU, he completed just 56.8 percent of his passes and threw three interceptions, each on deep passes.

“I’m confident in Steph and (junior wide receiver) Malik (Washington) and all these guys have the ability to win downfield, which is fun,” Marty said. “It’s something that we specialize in and continue to move forward with.”

Though the Cats’ offense failed to find the end zone the first three quarters, the NU defense tightened up against Padilla and Goodson and kept the Cats’ hopes alive. Iowa converted just two of 14 thirddown conversions and punted on nine of its drives.

Even when Marty’s second interception gave the Hawkeyes the chance to put the game away, NU defense stiffened after midfield and forced a punt. Hull’s heroics — the sophomore finished the game with 89 receiving yards and a touchdown — cut the deficit to five points and Iowa took up just 24 seconds of game clock in a threeand-out on their next possession.

But the Cats’ two weaknesses — turnovers and missed opportunities — came back to haunt them on Marty’s gameending interception.

“We came into the game saying if we eliminate turnovers, we would have won that game,” Marty said. “And we still gave ourselves the opportunity to win that game, that’s what hurts the most.”

Marty was one of the players honored during the Cats’ Senior Day festivities pregame, with the primetime match marking the final Ryan Field game for the senior class. With three games left on the schedule, that group plans on bringing a single-minded focus and energy each week.

“I was blessed to call my last game at Ryan Field an absolute dogfight,” senior defensive tackle Joe Spivak said. “That’s what I’m thinking about, battling these last three games. I can think of quote unquote ‘legacy’ when I’m 45.” johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu

daily senior staffer @dschott328

Tory Taylor took a second too long.

Right when the Iowa punter swung his leg up, the hands of Raymond Niro III came flying forward to deflect the kick.

With the ball rolling towards the Hawkeyes’ end zone, the junior wide receiver got off the ground, sprinted to pick up the loose ball and raced to Iowa’s nineyard line. Within seconds, Niro III put Northwestern’s offense back in business.

Through six drives, the Wildcats ran 35 plays for only 91 yards and no points.

Two possessions earlier, senior quarterback Andrew Marty threw an interception. Now, NU had a prime opportunity to cut into a two touchdown deficit.

They eventually did. With a field goal.

“We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds down in the red zone,” sophomore running back Evan Hull said. “That’s a thing we just can’t have in those crucial situations.”

The two short runs and incomplete pass on that drive didn’t crush NU’s (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) comeback bid on Senior Night against No. 22 Iowa (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten). However, the Cats’ inability to finish possessions and find the end zone defined their 17-12 loss.

Of NU’s 13 possessions, just three ended across midfield. Two of those drives concluded in field goals, including the possession following Niro III’s blocked punt. Even though the Cats finally found the end zone late in the fourth quarter, the score came on a 31-yard screen pass from Marty to Hull.

Despite crossing more than 300 yards of offense for the first time in three games and holding Iowa to 361 total yards, it was not enough, as NU dropped its third straight conference game.

“At the end of the day, we got to score touchdowns, not field goals,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Good job on (senior kicker) Charlie (Kuhbander) for turning those opportunities into points for us and giving us a chance to stay in the game. But we can’t turn the ball over in the scoring zone.”

The Cats’ offense received a huge boost before kickoff with the return of leading receiver Stephon Robinson Jr. The graduate provided an early spark with a run of 24 yards in the first quarter, but it wasn’t enough as the Cats punted on their first four drives.

On the fifth, Marty — who earned the starting nod over sophomore Ryan

Hilinski — sent a deep shot to the Kansas transfer, but it was intercepted by Hawkeyes safety Dane Belton.

After Iowa quarterback Alex Padilla led two touchdown drives in relief of starter Spencer Petras, NU finally found a scoring chance when Niro III got his hands on Taylor’s punt.

However, NU gained just five yards following runs from Hull and Marty and an incomplete pass. Facing fourthand-four from the Hawkeyes’ four-yard line, Fitzgerald elected to trust the leg of Kuhbander — who nailed a 22-yard field goal — instead of trying to make it a onescore game.

“In my mindset, I just felt like we really psychologically needed points,” Fitzgerald said. “That was kind of on the edge of what I was comfortable with. Fourth-andthree… Fourth-and-two, I would have gone for it. Fourth-and-one, I would have gone for it.”

NU’s next scoring chance came in the middle of the third quarter. Down 17-3, Marty orchestrated a 94-yard drive to face first-and-goal from the Iowa six-yard line.

As Robinson Jr. found space in the end zone, Marty rifled a pass that fell incomplete. In reaction to what he felt was a missed pass interference call, a frustrated Fitzgerald put his head into his hands.

Inadvertently, he stepped onto the field.

The Cats’ 16th-year head coach was quickly penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, pushing his team outside the red zone. Marty then completed two passes for nine yards, forcing Kuhbander to come back out. His ensuing 30-yard try split the uprights.

In the fourth quarter, NU’s defense forced four consecutive punts. With just

under 11 minutes remaining, it looked like Marty would finally lead the offense into the end zone after he hit junior wide receiver Malik Washington for a 16-yard gain deep in Hawkeyes territory. However, his throw to senior wide receiver JJ Jefferson was picked off for a touchback on the ensuing play.

“Obviously, today did not go the way I wanted it to,” Marty said. “I hold responsibility for a lot of the mistakes that happened and that’s something I’m gonna learn from.”

Following his only touchdown pass and another defensive stop, Marty had another chance to catalyze a scoring drive in the final two minutes. But when receiving the snap on own 24-yard line, the ball slipped out of his hands.

Even though he picked up the fumble and dropped back to his left, his long pass was underthrown and Belton reeled in the ball for a game-clinching interception and Marty’s third of the night.

The Cats’ offense still put up 363 yards. Marty threw for a career-high 270 yards and Hull reeled in a careerhigh 89 receiving yards. Washington and Robinson Jr. brought in 75 and 64 yards, respectively.

Despite this success, it took too long to find the end zone. With three games remaining in the 2021 season, NU will likely need to win out to earn bowl eligibility.

The key to earning it may rest with whether the Cats can cross the goal line.

“That’s something I’m going to learn from,” Marty said. “Just come ready for next week.” drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu

Alyce Brown/The Daily Northwestern

Andrew Marty stands in the pocket. The senior quarterback threw for a career-high 270 yards, but tossed three interceptions in a 17-12 loss to No. 22 Iowa.