NU sinks school record 15 3s
For years, Bill Carmody has watched purported sharpshooters come to Northwestern and swish 3-pointers at will during 4 p.m. practices in an empty arena.
Finally, Carmody is seeing those same shots fall a little later in the day -- when it counts.
Northwestern is nowhere near a finished product, but Carmody has seen one encouraging trend develop this season. The Wildcats have been decent from 3-point range, and with the offense they run and the limitations they have, long-range success makes a dramatic difference.
A sparse crowd at Welsh-Ryan Arena saw why Monday night, as NU swished a school-record 15 3-pointers in a 88-68 victory over Arkansas State.
After digging out of an 11-1 hole, the Wildcats (3-4) were unstoppable from distance, swishing 12 of their final 17 attempts from 3-point range.
"It was unreal," Arkansas State coach Dickey Nutt said.
Four players hit multiple 3-pointers, and five scored in double figures. NU broke the previous team record of 14 3s set in 2000.
"You look like you know what you're doing," Carmody said.
The Wildcats looked lost at the start, failing to make shots or defend Arkansas State's Ryan Wedel (23 points). NU trailed by double digits for most of the first half.
The shift came with three minutes left. Jason Okrsesik hit a 3-pointer, and freshman center Nikola Baran (12 points) followed with just his second 3 of the season.
Guard Craig Moore hit a 3 just before the halftime buzzer to tie the score at 34-34 and cap a 13-2 burst.
NU continued to sizzle, opening the second half with a 15-0 run. Moore, who struggled with his shot last season, made 6 of 8 from 3-point range and finished with 20 points and 5 assists.
The junior is shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range, one of three NU players (Okrzesik and Juice Thompson are the others) who make more than 40 percent.
"You can't feel anything -- it's a good feeling," Moore said. "I don't even remember the shots. My guys were just getting me the ball in great position.
"I did the easy part."
Arkansas State (2-5) played without its leading scorer, guard Adrian Banks (21.7 ppg), who was suspended following his arrest early Sunday for firing a gun within the Jonesboro, Ark., city limits. Banks told police he found the gun at a nightclub and was emptying the chamber because he "didn't want anyone to get shot."
NU has only two more games before Big Ten play, when it could get a major boost with the return of star forward Kevin Coble.
Said Carmody: "I expect that he'll be back for next semester."