Big Ten Basketball: Analyzing each team’s 2021-22 opening night matchup

Eastern Illinois at Northwestern

There is no guarantee that Northwestern comes away with a victory versus Eastern Illinois when they tip-off Tuesday at 8 pm. While last year’s Eastern Illinois team would have been an even better matchup, as they defeated Belmont twice and lost by10 at Wisconsin, this year’s team returns 29 percent of their scoring. For their part, Northwestern returns 78 percent of their scoring, yet does not project to challenge the top teams in the Big Ten.

Potential warning signs: Head coach Chris Collins and the Wildcats have not had a conference winning record since the 2016-17 season, so any victory is a reason to be happy. Such was the case with their 85-40 victory over Division II Lindenwood. The glaring stat coming from that game was the 35 fast breakpoints.

Granted, the 22 turnovers Lindenwood committed to some degree had to do with Northwestern’s defense, but it also had to do with being an inferior opponent. If Northwestern’s best offense is their defense creating fast break opportunities, it is much less promising than being able to score in the half-court, especially when fast breakpoints will be more scarce in Big Ten play.

For continued success: Last season Chase Audige averaged two more shots and two more points than Pete Nance per game, this season that has to change. Balanced scoring is always the goal for any offensive system, but if the Wildcats are going to have success this season, Pete Nance has to be the primary option on offense.

With Audige out for an undisclosed reason, Pete Nance had the opportunity to put up 14 shots and while he connected on just six, he did so in a variety of ways. Whether it was on jumpers, off the dribble, or on the boards Nance can score and needs to if Northwestern is to win.