Northwestern University opened its NCAA Tournament matchup Sunday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with a 13-point deficit against the top overall seed, the University of Connecticut.
It’s something the Wildcats are used to for Bou Bouye, who is in his fifth year as a point guard at Northwestern and the school’s all-time leading scorer.
“You could call us the underdogs,” Bouie said Saturday. “I’ve been here five years. I don’t remember a time when we weren’t the underdogs. It’s nothing new. We just go out, we’re the underdogs. ”
one year ago. Coach Chris Collins’ team defeated Boise State in the first round, then played second-seeded UCLA, which held on to a close lead against the Bruins but came late.
After the tournament, Bouye initially declared for the NBA Draft, but decided to return to Evanston for one more season.
And this year, the Wildcats faced stiff competition in games against Purdue (then No. 1 in the nation) and Illinois.
“I think it was a great preparation,” said Bouie, who scored 22 points in Northwestern’s overtime win over FAU in the first round. “We played great teams all year. So to play against No. 1 just…he’s played against No. 1 before. I mean, ‘I’ve been there. It’s like, “I did that.”
Still, what they saw is no match for defending champion UConn.
“Look, they’re the best team in the country,” Collins said. “They earned it. Do they have better talent than us from top to bottom? Probably so. But the great thing about the NCAA Tournament is it’s one game. I think if you have to play them in the No. 7 game, you can’t win a series. That’s just the reality. They’re a better team overall. But it doesn’t happen overnight. That doesn’t mean it can’t be assembled.
“Can we put together 40 minutes on a night and be able to dial in and execute and make some shots and slow down their huge offense some? That’s the challenge. It’s one game. ”
A lot of that will depend on Bouye’s performance.
In an era of transfer windows and players bouncing back and forth from school to school, the Albany native spent all five seasons at Northwestern, earning a reputation for his willingness to shoot from long range with impunity. has been built.
“I keep thinking, ‘If you open me up, I’ll shoot you,'” Bouie said. “But if it’s too far away, it probably won’t shoot. It also depends on whether I get a few hits, because if I get a few hits, I could shoot from anywhere. .”
