Career day for Northwestern center Curletti

MADISON, Wis. — It’s no secret Northwestern has been desperately seeking more production from its centers.

Juniors Luka Mirkovic and Davide Curletti entered Sunday’s visit to Wisconsin combining for 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in Big Ten play.

That meant Curletti’s career day served as perhaps the brightest spot in Northwestern’s 78-63 loss at Kohl Center.

Curletti had never scored more than 12 points or played more than 22 minutes, but he delivered 18 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench.

“I did well,” Curletti said. “But I would have rather played less and maybe scored less and still got the win. That’s just how I feel and I think a lot of guys on our team don’t really care how much they get, as long as we get the win.”

Curletti played the game’s final 17 minutes, 48 seconds after Mirkovic nearly picked up a technical after stamping his feet several times upon being called for a foul.

While Mirkovic didn’t score or grab a rebound in 12 minutes, Curletti nailed 6 of 7 shots from the field and all 5 of his free throws. He also provided more quickness defensively against Wisconsin’s mobile Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil.

“Curletti certainly gave us a boost,” said NU coach Bill Carmody. “He could stay in front of those guys a little bit better than Luka.”

Might Curletti, who bumped his scoring average to 4.1 ppg and his rebounding to 1.9 rpg, get his first start since his freshman year when Northwestern wraps up its regular season Wednesday against Minnesota?

“Well, I didn’t think Davide had been playing that well anyway,” Carmody said. “If he had been playing that well before this, I would have thrown him in. But he played well tonight.

“We’ll just see. I think both those guys will play. Whoever’s playing well, I’ll give more minutes to.”