Northwestern Basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout loss to No. 12 Illinois

3. Northwestern has seen their offensive production drop over their last three outings – and need to fix it fast

Since Northwestern’s last win over Ohio State, the Wildcats have endured a dip in offensive production – in both points per possession and shooting percentages – and it has ailed the chances for a team that ranked in the top 100 in two-and-three-point shooting percentages.

Entering the tilt against Illinois, Northwestern ranked 99th in 2P% (52.4%) and 13th in 3P% (40.0%) – and the Wildcats rely heavily on the three-ball, where 34.0% (87th) of their point distribution has come from.  That is not even addressing their defensive stats, where they also rank in the top 100 in 3P% (31.3%, 98th) and 2P% (47.0%, 91st).

But the Wildcats have been faced with shooting woes throughout this losing streak, beginning with their match-up against Iowa.  They did not struggle mightily against the Hawkeyes – they averaged 1.06 points per possession and shot 44.0% from long-range – but their 2P% was down to 44.1% in the game.  Against Michigan, while their 2P% went back up to 46.7%, their points per possession and 3P% clips both decreased to 0.93 and 27.8%, respectively.

Against Illinois, those numbers hit drastic lows.  While the Illini recorded 1.16 points per possession on 57.1% 2PT and 40.7% 3PT clips, the Wildcats mustered 0.80 points per possession, going a woeful 34.3% (12-35) from inside the arc – while shooting just 30.0% (6-20) on three-point bombs.  Again, it was a tale of two halves – Northwestern averaged 1.12 points per possession in the opening stanza and an abysmal 0.35 in the second half.

Remedying Northwestern’s woes begins on the offensive end – and much of it begins with the Wildcats needing an offensive weapon.  That begins with Boo Buie, who needs to be effective as an offensive floor general – which, subsequently, allows for his teammates to also be effective as scorers.  The Wildcats will have nearly a week off before returning to the court – but they will need to fix those issues quickly, as they return to action with rematches against Ohio State (January 13th) and Iowa (January 17th).