By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Chris Collins was right. It was goal-tending all the way.
The Northwestern coach was also wrong. At the worst time possible.
After not getting the call, Collins stomped onto the court and drew a technical foul with 4:54 left in Saturday's game, sucking life out of a frenetic comeback that fell short in a 79-73 loss to top-seeded Gonzaga.
What a strange, heartbreaking way to close out the school's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Adding to the awkwardness: The NCAA released a statement acknowledging the call was missed, and Collins was sitting at the postgame news conference when he learned about it for the first time.
"I appreciate the apology," Collins said, the venom practically dripping off his tongue. "It makes me feel great."
Nigel Williams-Goss finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists to power Gonzaga (34-1), which led by as many as 22 points in the first half, then saw the lead dwindle to five with a little more than 5 minutes left.
The arena, drenched in purple, was rocking, and all the momentum was in Northwestern's corner.
The eighth-seeded Wildcats (24-12) got the ball down to Dererk Pardon for a point-blank shot that was on its way in. Gonzaga 7-footer Zach Collins reached up through the net and deflected the ball out. No whistle blew. Gonzaga got the rebound and started down court. Collins ran onto the court, charged toward the referee and gestured as if he were knocking a ball out of the hoop from the bottom.
An automatic "T." The NCAA's postgame statement also said Collins was hit with the technical for violating "bench decorum" rules by stepping onto the court with the ball in play.
On the other end, Williams-Goss made both free throws. Northwestern never got closer after that.
Regrets? If the coach had any, they weren't apparent in the aftermath.
"If I see a guy from another team put his hand through the rim and block a shot, I'm going to react to it if the play isn't called," Collins said. "I think all of you would. Of course. That cuts it to three. We're all emotional. We're coming back from 20 down."
What a comeback it was. Bryant McIntosh scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half and Vic Law had 15 of his 18, as Northwestern finally found an answer for Gonzaga's quick guards and smooth-as-can-be ball movement.
Law dunked an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to 63-58, and on the other end, Scottie Lindsey swatted Williams-Goss down low to give Northwestern the ball with a chance to draw within a 3-pointer.
Pardon took a pass from McIntosh and went up strong against Zach Collins for what should have been two points. After the game, the Gonzaga center was still unclear about what, exactly, happened.
"I thought I blocked the shot and they thought it was a foul," he said. "We weren't really worried about (that). I honestly can't really remember."
Zags coach Mark Few wasn't pinning Gonzaga's win on that single turn of events. But he more than understood the emotion of the moment.
"You guys feel it and see it when it comes to these games," he said. "You lose, your season's over. You win, in Northwestern's case, it's probably the best thing they've done in the history of the school. You react spontaneously and stuff happens."
Gonzaga is onto its third straight Sweet 16, in search of the program's first trip to the Final Four.
Painful as the late sequence was for the Wildcats, chances are it won't be the only thing about this magical season that they remember.
"To me, the second half is who that group was," Chris Collins said.
But losing, especially that way?
"It stinks. That's the part of the tournament that's really hard," he said.
BIG MAN SHUFFLE: The Wildcats had more trouble stopping 7-foot-1 Przemek Karnowski's backup than Karnowski himself. The senior missed his first three shots and never got into much of a groove on the way to nine points. His backup, Collins, had 14 points, including back-to-back three-point plays that pushed Gonzaga's lead back to 19 in the second half after it had briefly dropped to 12.
NO ENCORE: For the second straight game, McIntosh had a memorable second half, but it was the first half that made the difference. He shot only 3 for 9 in the first half, part of a 30 percent shooting effort by the Wildcats, who made only 1 of 11 from 3-point range over the first 20 minutes.
FOUL TROUBLE: Adding to their coach's frustration: The Wildcats finished the game with 26 fouls. Pardon fouled out and three players, Lindsey, Barret Benson and Gavin Skelly, finished with four each.
NEXT UP: Gonzaga faces fourth-seeded West Virginia in the West Regional semifinal Thursday in San Jose, California.
Showing posts with label Northwestern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northwestern. Show all posts
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Friday, March 17, 2017
With 2 gift FTs, Northwestern prevails 68-66 over Vandy
By EDDIE PELLS
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — At Northwestern, the party goes on.
At Vanderbilt, there is only one question: What was he thinking?
Northwestern's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, 68-66 over Vanderbilt, came after Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis inexplicably grabbed Bryant McIntosh of the Wildcats on purpose, sending McIntosh to the free throw line for the go-ahead points with 14.6 seconds left.
"I actually thought we were down one," Fisher-Davis explained after Thursday's heartbreaker in the West region. "Coach ... pointed at him, but he was just telling me that was my matchup. I took it as (I should) foul."
And though Fisher-Davis scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half to help ninth-seeded Vandy (19-16) rally from 15 points down, his mistake was the main takeaway from this game — maybe not as bad as Chris Webber calling a timeout that Michigan didn't have or Georgetown's Fred Brown throwing the pass to James Worthy of North Carolina in the final, but certainly not one for the "One Shining Moment" video, either.
"An honest mistake," Northwestern coach Chris Collins called it. "You feel bad for players. He was tremendous today. Certainly, I was surprised."
The sequence was set up after Riley LaChance made a layup with 17.8 seconds remaining to put the Commodores up by one.
But seconds after the in-bounds pass, Fisher-Davis reached out and grabbed McIntosh around the waist wBy EDDIE PELLS
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — At Northwestern, the party goes on.
At Vanderbilt, there is only one question: What was he thinking?
Northwestern's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, 68-66 over Vanderbilt, came after Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis inexplicably grabbed Bryant McIntosh of the Wildcats on purpose, sending McIntosh to the free throw line for the go-ahead points with 14.6 seconds left.
"I actually thought we were down one," Fisher-Davis explained after Thursday's heartbreaker in the West region. "Coach ... pointed at him, but he was just telling me that was my matchup. I took it as (I should) foul."
And though Fisher-Davis scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half to help ninth-seeded Vandy (19-16) rally from 15 points down, his mistake was the main takeaway from this game — maybe not as bad as Chris Webber calling a timeout that Michigan didn't have or Georgetown's Fred Brown throwing the pass to James Worthy of North Carolina in the final, but certainly not one for the "One Shining Moment" video, either.
"An honest mistake," Northwestern coach Chris Collins called it. "You feel bad for players. He was tremendous today. Certainly, I was surprised."
The sequence was set up after Riley LaChance made a layup with 17.8 seconds remaining to put the Commodores up by one.
But seconds after the in-bounds pass, Fisher-Davis reached out and grabbed McIntosh around the waist while the Northwestern guard was dribbling up the backcourt. That put eighth-seeded Northwestern in the double bonus, and McIntosh went to the line and calmly swished the free throws with 14.6 seconds left for a 67-66 lead.
"When he grabbed me, I had thought we were down one, and I'm thinking maybe I made a mistake," he said. "I had to put my mind on making the free throws at the end."
Northwestern forced LaChance to miss a 3 on the next possession and the Wildcats made (24-11) another free throw.
Fisher-Davis heaved a desperation shot at the buzzer, but it missed, and he sunk his head and reached down to his shoes in despair before heading to the sideline where his teammates hugged him.
While the Wildcats doused Collins with water to celebrate a win that extends the program's first trip to March Madness by at least one more game, there were red eyes in the Vanderbilt locker room. But Fisher-Davis' teammates had his back.
"He's the type of person (who's going to) feel some blame," forward Luke Kornet said. "But in the second half, we have no chance if he doesn't make the shots that he made. We're with him no matter what."
Coach Bryce Drew, who enjoyed a much different moment decades ago as a player , said certainly he and his star guard would talk more in the near future. His message in the aftermath was simple: "From Day 1, we teach our guys that we're a team and one play at the end ... doesn't win or lose the game."
Fisher-Davis, a junior who led the SEC in 3-point shooting last season, tried to keep it in perspective.
"We all love each other like brothers," he said. "They know I didn't do that on purpose, obviously. We had a great season. Nothing to be ashamed of."
MCINTOSH MOMENT: McIntosh said he, like most players, has always dreamed about scoring the winning points in March Madness. Just not quite that way. "You don't imagine yourself down one and being fouled. You envision yourself hitting the game-winner. But to be able to do that at the free throw line was relaxing." The junior led the Wildcats with 25 points.
FISHER-DAVIS SCORES: Fisher-Davis hit two 3-pointers during a 12-0 run that kept Vanderbilt in it after falling behind by 15 with 13 minutes left. He also had back-to-back buckets and made all three free throws after being fouled on a 3 to pull Vandy within 59-58 at the 2:40 mark.
ON HAND: Collins called the pro-Wildcats crowd one of the best he's seen at the tournament. He played at Duke. "When you dream about these games, you don't dream about losing them. You don't dream about playing scared. You don't dream about being timid. You dream about playing with confidence, and you dream about winning," he said.
UP NEXT: Northwestern will play top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the West Region on Saturday.hile the Northwestern guard was dribbling up the backcourt. That put eighth-seeded Northwestern in the double bonus, and McIntosh went to the line and calmly swished the free throws with 14.6 seconds left for a 67-66 lead.
"When he grabbed me, I had thought we were down one, and I'm thinking maybe I made a mistake," he said. "I had to put my mind on making the free throws at the end."
Northwestern forced LaChance to miss a 3 on the next possession and the Wildcats made (24-11) another free throw.
Fisher-Davis heaved a desperation shot at the buzzer, but it missed, and he sunk his head and reached down to his shoes in despair before heading to the sideline where his teammates hugged him.
While the Wildcats doused Collins with water to celebrate a win that extends the program's first trip to March Madness by at least one more game, there were red eyes in the Vanderbilt locker room. But Fisher-Davis' teammates had his back.
"He's the type of person (who's going to) feel some blame," forward Luke Kornet said. "But in the second half, we have no chance if he doesn't make the shots that he made. We're with him no matter what."
Coach Bryce Drew, who enjoyed a much different moment decades ago as a player , said certainly he and his star guard would talk more in the near future. His message in the aftermath was simple: "From Day 1, we teach our guys that we're a team and one play at the end ... doesn't win or lose the game."
Fisher-Davis, a junior who led the SEC in 3-point shooting last season, tried to keep it in perspective.
"We all love each other like brothers," he said. "They know I didn't do that on purpose, obviously. We had a great season. Nothing to be ashamed of."
MCINTOSH MOMENT: McIntosh said he, like most players, has always dreamed about scoring the winning points in March Madness. Just not quite that way. "You don't imagine yourself down one and being fouled. You envision yourself hitting the game-winner. But to be able to do that at the free throw line was relaxing." The junior led the Wildcats with 25 points.
FISHER-DAVIS SCORES: Fisher-Davis hit two 3-pointers during a 12-0 run that kept Vanderbilt in it after falling behind by 15 with 13 minutes left. He also had back-to-back buckets and made all three free throws after being fouled on a 3 to pull Vandy within 59-58 at the 2:40 mark.
ON HAND: Collins called the pro-Wildcats crowd one of the best he's seen at the tournament. He played at Duke. "When you dream about these games, you don't dream about losing them. You don't dream about playing scared. You don't dream about being timid. You dream about playing with confidence, and you dream about winning," he said.
UP NEXT: Northwestern will play top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the West Region on Saturday.
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — At Northwestern, the party goes on.
At Vanderbilt, there is only one question: What was he thinking?
Northwestern's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, 68-66 over Vanderbilt, came after Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis inexplicably grabbed Bryant McIntosh of the Wildcats on purpose, sending McIntosh to the free throw line for the go-ahead points with 14.6 seconds left.
"I actually thought we were down one," Fisher-Davis explained after Thursday's heartbreaker in the West region. "Coach ... pointed at him, but he was just telling me that was my matchup. I took it as (I should) foul."
And though Fisher-Davis scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half to help ninth-seeded Vandy (19-16) rally from 15 points down, his mistake was the main takeaway from this game — maybe not as bad as Chris Webber calling a timeout that Michigan didn't have or Georgetown's Fred Brown throwing the pass to James Worthy of North Carolina in the final, but certainly not one for the "One Shining Moment" video, either.
"An honest mistake," Northwestern coach Chris Collins called it. "You feel bad for players. He was tremendous today. Certainly, I was surprised."
The sequence was set up after Riley LaChance made a layup with 17.8 seconds remaining to put the Commodores up by one.
But seconds after the in-bounds pass, Fisher-Davis reached out and grabbed McIntosh around the waist wBy EDDIE PELLS
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — At Northwestern, the party goes on.
At Vanderbilt, there is only one question: What was he thinking?
Northwestern's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, 68-66 over Vanderbilt, came after Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis inexplicably grabbed Bryant McIntosh of the Wildcats on purpose, sending McIntosh to the free throw line for the go-ahead points with 14.6 seconds left.
"I actually thought we were down one," Fisher-Davis explained after Thursday's heartbreaker in the West region. "Coach ... pointed at him, but he was just telling me that was my matchup. I took it as (I should) foul."
And though Fisher-Davis scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half to help ninth-seeded Vandy (19-16) rally from 15 points down, his mistake was the main takeaway from this game — maybe not as bad as Chris Webber calling a timeout that Michigan didn't have or Georgetown's Fred Brown throwing the pass to James Worthy of North Carolina in the final, but certainly not one for the "One Shining Moment" video, either.
"An honest mistake," Northwestern coach Chris Collins called it. "You feel bad for players. He was tremendous today. Certainly, I was surprised."
The sequence was set up after Riley LaChance made a layup with 17.8 seconds remaining to put the Commodores up by one.
But seconds after the in-bounds pass, Fisher-Davis reached out and grabbed McIntosh around the waist while the Northwestern guard was dribbling up the backcourt. That put eighth-seeded Northwestern in the double bonus, and McIntosh went to the line and calmly swished the free throws with 14.6 seconds left for a 67-66 lead.
"When he grabbed me, I had thought we were down one, and I'm thinking maybe I made a mistake," he said. "I had to put my mind on making the free throws at the end."
Northwestern forced LaChance to miss a 3 on the next possession and the Wildcats made (24-11) another free throw.
Fisher-Davis heaved a desperation shot at the buzzer, but it missed, and he sunk his head and reached down to his shoes in despair before heading to the sideline where his teammates hugged him.
While the Wildcats doused Collins with water to celebrate a win that extends the program's first trip to March Madness by at least one more game, there were red eyes in the Vanderbilt locker room. But Fisher-Davis' teammates had his back.
"He's the type of person (who's going to) feel some blame," forward Luke Kornet said. "But in the second half, we have no chance if he doesn't make the shots that he made. We're with him no matter what."
Coach Bryce Drew, who enjoyed a much different moment decades ago as a player , said certainly he and his star guard would talk more in the near future. His message in the aftermath was simple: "From Day 1, we teach our guys that we're a team and one play at the end ... doesn't win or lose the game."
Fisher-Davis, a junior who led the SEC in 3-point shooting last season, tried to keep it in perspective.
"We all love each other like brothers," he said. "They know I didn't do that on purpose, obviously. We had a great season. Nothing to be ashamed of."
MCINTOSH MOMENT: McIntosh said he, like most players, has always dreamed about scoring the winning points in March Madness. Just not quite that way. "You don't imagine yourself down one and being fouled. You envision yourself hitting the game-winner. But to be able to do that at the free throw line was relaxing." The junior led the Wildcats with 25 points.
FISHER-DAVIS SCORES: Fisher-Davis hit two 3-pointers during a 12-0 run that kept Vanderbilt in it after falling behind by 15 with 13 minutes left. He also had back-to-back buckets and made all three free throws after being fouled on a 3 to pull Vandy within 59-58 at the 2:40 mark.
ON HAND: Collins called the pro-Wildcats crowd one of the best he's seen at the tournament. He played at Duke. "When you dream about these games, you don't dream about losing them. You don't dream about playing scared. You don't dream about being timid. You dream about playing with confidence, and you dream about winning," he said.
UP NEXT: Northwestern will play top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the West Region on Saturday.hile the Northwestern guard was dribbling up the backcourt. That put eighth-seeded Northwestern in the double bonus, and McIntosh went to the line and calmly swished the free throws with 14.6 seconds left for a 67-66 lead.
"When he grabbed me, I had thought we were down one, and I'm thinking maybe I made a mistake," he said. "I had to put my mind on making the free throws at the end."
Northwestern forced LaChance to miss a 3 on the next possession and the Wildcats made (24-11) another free throw.
Fisher-Davis heaved a desperation shot at the buzzer, but it missed, and he sunk his head and reached down to his shoes in despair before heading to the sideline where his teammates hugged him.
While the Wildcats doused Collins with water to celebrate a win that extends the program's first trip to March Madness by at least one more game, there were red eyes in the Vanderbilt locker room. But Fisher-Davis' teammates had his back.
"He's the type of person (who's going to) feel some blame," forward Luke Kornet said. "But in the second half, we have no chance if he doesn't make the shots that he made. We're with him no matter what."
Coach Bryce Drew, who enjoyed a much different moment decades ago as a player , said certainly he and his star guard would talk more in the near future. His message in the aftermath was simple: "From Day 1, we teach our guys that we're a team and one play at the end ... doesn't win or lose the game."
Fisher-Davis, a junior who led the SEC in 3-point shooting last season, tried to keep it in perspective.
"We all love each other like brothers," he said. "They know I didn't do that on purpose, obviously. We had a great season. Nothing to be ashamed of."
MCINTOSH MOMENT: McIntosh said he, like most players, has always dreamed about scoring the winning points in March Madness. Just not quite that way. "You don't imagine yourself down one and being fouled. You envision yourself hitting the game-winner. But to be able to do that at the free throw line was relaxing." The junior led the Wildcats with 25 points.
FISHER-DAVIS SCORES: Fisher-Davis hit two 3-pointers during a 12-0 run that kept Vanderbilt in it after falling behind by 15 with 13 minutes left. He also had back-to-back buckets and made all three free throws after being fouled on a 3 to pull Vandy within 59-58 at the 2:40 mark.
ON HAND: Collins called the pro-Wildcats crowd one of the best he's seen at the tournament. He played at Duke. "When you dream about these games, you don't dream about losing them. You don't dream about playing scared. You don't dream about being timid. You dream about playing with confidence, and you dream about winning," he said.
UP NEXT: Northwestern will play top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the West Region on Saturday.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Vanderbilt-Northwestern Preview
Stats, LLC
SALT LAKE CITY — Making history is quickly becoming second nature to sports teams from Illinois.
Only a few months after the Chicago Cubs snapped a 108-year drought to claim a World Series title, Northwestern ended its own ignominious streak that dogged its basketball program for decades. The Wildcats finally broke through and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.
Eighth-seeded Northwestern will open tournament play against No. 9 seed Vanderbilt on Thursday afternoon. The winner faces a potential matchup with top-seeded Gonzaga.
The rise from the Big Ten cellar dweller to a contender is no fluke for Northwestern. The Wildcats (23-11) used tenacious defense and smart offense to finish with a winning record in league play for the first time since 1968 and capped it off by advancing to the Big Ten tournament semifinal round.
“You don’t get many chances in life, in anything, to be a part of something historical — things that have never ever been done,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters on Sunday. “To be a part of this is something that they can never ever take away from us.”
The Wildcats are capable of doing much more than providing a feel-good moment. Northwestern has all the necessary tools to make a Cinderella run beyond the first weekend and disrupt more than a few brackets along the way.
It all starts with point guard Bryant McIntosh. The junior leads the team in both points (14.4) and assists (5.3) per game. McIntosh has scored 20-plus points 10 times this season and dished out six-plus assists 12 times.
With McIntosh running the offense, Northwestern averages just 10.5 turnovers — a mark which ranks 16th nationally among NCAA teams — and churns out 15.8 assists per contest.
Vanderbilt will offer a tough test for the Wildcats in its NCAA Tournament debut. The Commodores made a little bit of history themselves after becoming the first team to earn an at-large bid with 15 losses.
A brutal schedule and a strong finish put Vanderbilt over the top. The Commodores (19-15) played the toughest non-conference schedule nationally and won seven of their last nine down the stretch to lock up a second straight NCAA at-large bid.
They sealed the bid, in part, by beating No. 4 seed Florida three times this season, with the third victory propelling them into the SEC tournament semifinals.
“From where we started the season to where we are now is just a remarkable turnaround on all fronts,” Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew told reporters on Sunday.
A balanced offensive attack has helped the Commodores find success. Four players average double figures in scoring, led by Matthew Fisher-Davis (13.2 ppg). Luke Kornet is a force around the paint with averages of 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
Vanderbilt will be looking to reverse some recent struggles in the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores have won just one game in their last five tournament appearances — a 79-70 victory over 12th-seeded Harvard in 2012.
SALT LAKE CITY — Making history is quickly becoming second nature to sports teams from Illinois.
Only a few months after the Chicago Cubs snapped a 108-year drought to claim a World Series title, Northwestern ended its own ignominious streak that dogged its basketball program for decades. The Wildcats finally broke through and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid.
Eighth-seeded Northwestern will open tournament play against No. 9 seed Vanderbilt on Thursday afternoon. The winner faces a potential matchup with top-seeded Gonzaga.
The rise from the Big Ten cellar dweller to a contender is no fluke for Northwestern. The Wildcats (23-11) used tenacious defense and smart offense to finish with a winning record in league play for the first time since 1968 and capped it off by advancing to the Big Ten tournament semifinal round.
“You don’t get many chances in life, in anything, to be a part of something historical — things that have never ever been done,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters on Sunday. “To be a part of this is something that they can never ever take away from us.”
The Wildcats are capable of doing much more than providing a feel-good moment. Northwestern has all the necessary tools to make a Cinderella run beyond the first weekend and disrupt more than a few brackets along the way.
It all starts with point guard Bryant McIntosh. The junior leads the team in both points (14.4) and assists (5.3) per game. McIntosh has scored 20-plus points 10 times this season and dished out six-plus assists 12 times.
With McIntosh running the offense, Northwestern averages just 10.5 turnovers — a mark which ranks 16th nationally among NCAA teams — and churns out 15.8 assists per contest.
Vanderbilt will offer a tough test for the Wildcats in its NCAA Tournament debut. The Commodores made a little bit of history themselves after becoming the first team to earn an at-large bid with 15 losses.
A brutal schedule and a strong finish put Vanderbilt over the top. The Commodores (19-15) played the toughest non-conference schedule nationally and won seven of their last nine down the stretch to lock up a second straight NCAA at-large bid.
They sealed the bid, in part, by beating No. 4 seed Florida three times this season, with the third victory propelling them into the SEC tournament semifinals.
“From where we started the season to where we are now is just a remarkable turnaround on all fronts,” Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew told reporters on Sunday.
A balanced offensive attack has helped the Commodores find success. Four players average double figures in scoring, led by Matthew Fisher-Davis (13.2 ppg). Luke Kornet is a force around the paint with averages of 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
Vanderbilt will be looking to reverse some recent struggles in the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores have won just one game in their last five tournament appearances — a 79-70 victory over 12th-seeded Harvard in 2012.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Jackson powers Northwestern past Pitt in Pinstripe Bowl
By DAN GELATIN
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Jackson has the last name made for the bright lights at Yankee Stadium.
He had the kind of postseason game worthy of the setting.
"Big city. Big stage," he said. "We walked into Yankee Stadium and everything kind of really hit us."
Jackson made his case in the home of the Yankees to become Northwestern's Mr. December.
Unlike Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson, the Wildcats' stud running back did his damage one step at a time instead of one swing. Jackson ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns to power Northwestern to only its third bowl victory, 31-24 over No. 22 Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday night.
"Justin's day will go down as one of the great performances by a Northwestern running back," coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
Jackson was the straw that stirred Northwestern's offense in the Bronx and helped etch this performance alongside the 1948 Rose Bowl and 2012 Gator Bowl victories in the program's oft-futile history.
Jackson, the game's MVP , was awed by the lights and monuments at the stadium. But it was a more discreet spot in the locker room Northwestern borrowed from the Yankees that really bowled over Jackson.
"Like, Derek Jeter has peed in that urinal," he said.
Jackson had TD runs of 8 and 16 yards in the second quarter, then went deep on a 40-yard burst in the third that left one defender face down on the turf following a fantastic fake and gave the Wildcats (7-6) a 21-17 lead.
Rallying without injured quarterback Nathan Peterman and running back James Conner, Pitt yanked the lead away in the fourth on a short TD pass before it collapsed the rest of the quarter.
The Wildcats turned a fourth-and-1 into a 21-yard play-action TD pass that made it 28-24 and a hit late field goal for a seven-point lead.
The Panthers (8-5), who had wins over No. 2 Clemson and Big Ten champion Penn State, still had time to spoil Northwestern's upset bid with a late drive for the tying score. Scott Orndoff failed to hang on to backup quarterback Ben DiNucci's strike in the end zone on third down. DiNucci had his fourth-down pass picked off by Jared McGee, who helped bust up the previous pass play, to clinch the win for the Wildcats.
Northwestern's defense made the stops late. Jackson carried the Wildcats to a celebration on a purple-glittered baseball field .
"We didn't tackle a really good tailback," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said.
Jackson stiff-armed one defender, then bowled over a second for a 16-yard score that helped Northwestern take a 14-10 lead into halftime.
After some confusion over his final rushing total, Jackson fell just shy of setting the Pinstripe Bowl mark of 227 yards by Indiana's Devine Redding.
"We'll go over every yard," Fitzgerald said.
Peterman, who threw for 253 yards, gave Pitt a 17-14 lead on a 5-yard scamper in the third. Peterman's solid outing ended late in the quarter when he was sandwiched between two defenders and his head slammed the turf.
DiNucci was picked on Pitt's final drive with 30 seconds left in the game and the Wildcats would get their kicks from storming the field in a frenzy.
Conner, who capped a triumphant return from Hodgkin lymphoma, suffered a brutal helmet-to-helmet blow to the head late in the first half and did not return. Unlike some draft prospects, Conner played the bowl game even though he decided to skip his senior season and declare for the NFL draft. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Conner, who had 1,060 yards rushing and 20 total touchdowns entering the game, was far from a sure-fire early NFL pick.
"One of the defenders turned around and went for him, I guess, instead of going for the ball. Kind of interesting," Narduzzi said.
Conner was stuffed when he tried to go over the top on a failed fourth-down try in the first quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Northwestern: The Wildcats were stout all around. Clayton Thorson was 23 of 36 for 214 yards passing and had the winning TD pass. Garrett Dickerson caught the go-ahead TD and had five catches for 46 yards. The Wildcats can chalk this one up to a fantastic four: 4 for 4 on fourth-down conversions.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers may have pulled out a victory had their offensive stalwarts not been sidelined late with injuries. Losing to a 6-6 Big Ten definitely ends the year on a down note.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Pitt will fall out of the Top 25 and failed to finish the season ranked and with nine wins for the first time since 2009.
UP NEXT
Northwestern can only hope Jackson's latest breakout game in the national spotlight will propel the program to great heights in the loaded Big Ten.
Jackson led the Big Ten with 1,300 yards rushing and became the first Wildcat to rush for 1,000-plus yards in three straight seasons. He said he would return for his senior season. "You don't come here and not get a degree," he said.
Fitzgerald cracked: "There's no way. Your dad will kill you."
Pitt has to replace Conner in the backfield and find a new offensive coordinator. Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada called the shots for the final time before packing up for the same position at LSU.
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Jackson has the last name made for the bright lights at Yankee Stadium.
He had the kind of postseason game worthy of the setting.
"Big city. Big stage," he said. "We walked into Yankee Stadium and everything kind of really hit us."
Jackson made his case in the home of the Yankees to become Northwestern's Mr. December.
Unlike Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson, the Wildcats' stud running back did his damage one step at a time instead of one swing. Jackson ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns to power Northwestern to only its third bowl victory, 31-24 over No. 22 Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday night.
"Justin's day will go down as one of the great performances by a Northwestern running back," coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
Jackson was the straw that stirred Northwestern's offense in the Bronx and helped etch this performance alongside the 1948 Rose Bowl and 2012 Gator Bowl victories in the program's oft-futile history.
Jackson, the game's MVP , was awed by the lights and monuments at the stadium. But it was a more discreet spot in the locker room Northwestern borrowed from the Yankees that really bowled over Jackson.
"Like, Derek Jeter has peed in that urinal," he said.
Jackson had TD runs of 8 and 16 yards in the second quarter, then went deep on a 40-yard burst in the third that left one defender face down on the turf following a fantastic fake and gave the Wildcats (7-6) a 21-17 lead.
Rallying without injured quarterback Nathan Peterman and running back James Conner, Pitt yanked the lead away in the fourth on a short TD pass before it collapsed the rest of the quarter.
The Wildcats turned a fourth-and-1 into a 21-yard play-action TD pass that made it 28-24 and a hit late field goal for a seven-point lead.
The Panthers (8-5), who had wins over No. 2 Clemson and Big Ten champion Penn State, still had time to spoil Northwestern's upset bid with a late drive for the tying score. Scott Orndoff failed to hang on to backup quarterback Ben DiNucci's strike in the end zone on third down. DiNucci had his fourth-down pass picked off by Jared McGee, who helped bust up the previous pass play, to clinch the win for the Wildcats.
Northwestern's defense made the stops late. Jackson carried the Wildcats to a celebration on a purple-glittered baseball field .
"We didn't tackle a really good tailback," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said.
Jackson stiff-armed one defender, then bowled over a second for a 16-yard score that helped Northwestern take a 14-10 lead into halftime.
After some confusion over his final rushing total, Jackson fell just shy of setting the Pinstripe Bowl mark of 227 yards by Indiana's Devine Redding.
"We'll go over every yard," Fitzgerald said.
Peterman, who threw for 253 yards, gave Pitt a 17-14 lead on a 5-yard scamper in the third. Peterman's solid outing ended late in the quarter when he was sandwiched between two defenders and his head slammed the turf.
DiNucci was picked on Pitt's final drive with 30 seconds left in the game and the Wildcats would get their kicks from storming the field in a frenzy.
Conner, who capped a triumphant return from Hodgkin lymphoma, suffered a brutal helmet-to-helmet blow to the head late in the first half and did not return. Unlike some draft prospects, Conner played the bowl game even though he decided to skip his senior season and declare for the NFL draft. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Conner, who had 1,060 yards rushing and 20 total touchdowns entering the game, was far from a sure-fire early NFL pick.
"One of the defenders turned around and went for him, I guess, instead of going for the ball. Kind of interesting," Narduzzi said.
Conner was stuffed when he tried to go over the top on a failed fourth-down try in the first quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Northwestern: The Wildcats were stout all around. Clayton Thorson was 23 of 36 for 214 yards passing and had the winning TD pass. Garrett Dickerson caught the go-ahead TD and had five catches for 46 yards. The Wildcats can chalk this one up to a fantastic four: 4 for 4 on fourth-down conversions.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers may have pulled out a victory had their offensive stalwarts not been sidelined late with injuries. Losing to a 6-6 Big Ten definitely ends the year on a down note.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Pitt will fall out of the Top 25 and failed to finish the season ranked and with nine wins for the first time since 2009.
UP NEXT
Northwestern can only hope Jackson's latest breakout game in the national spotlight will propel the program to great heights in the loaded Big Ten.
Jackson led the Big Ten with 1,300 yards rushing and became the first Wildcat to rush for 1,000-plus yards in three straight seasons. He said he would return for his senior season. "You don't come here and not get a degree," he said.
Fitzgerald cracked: "There's no way. Your dad will kill you."
Pitt has to replace Conner in the backfield and find a new offensive coordinator. Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada called the shots for the final time before packing up for the same position at LSU.
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