Cats’ Corner: Your source for NU athletics

Northwestern men’s basketball will play at N.C. State on December 1 as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The time of the game and television information have not been determined, but the game will air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

The Wildcats are 3-7 in the 10 previous editions of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including last year’s 73-59 win over Florida State last year.

The Wolfpack posted a 16-14 record and went 6-10 in the ACC to finish in 10th place. They did not make a postseason tournament. N.C. State is 5-4 in ACC/Big Ten Challenges and is undefeated in four home games.

The Cats faced the Wolfpack in the 2002 challenge, losing in Raleigh, N.C., 74-49.

The ACC has won each of the 10 inter-conference competitions.

This year’s challenge is headlined by a national championship rematch between Michigan State and North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Dec. 1. Duke will also battle Wisconsin and Florida State will travel to Ohio State in matchups of NCAA Tournament teams.

SKOKIE — NU basketball recruit Drew Crawford scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two blocks in the Chicago High School Classic at Niles North High School on Friday.

The senior Naperville Central High School nine points at the half and finished shooting 6 of 10 from the floor, including one of four from beyond the arc.

His North Team was outscored 64-32 in the final 14 and a half minutes, falling to the South Team 149-138.

“It was a lot of fun,” Crawford said. “Just getting out there with a bunch of guys I play with. It’s all the best players in the state, so it’s a lot of fun to just go out there and show what I can do.”

The game featured three other players bound for Big Ten schools. Illinois Mr. Basketball Player of the Year Brandon Paul, who won the game’s slam dunk competition earlier in the night, scored 18 points. He is heading to Illinois next season.

Joe Bertrand, who will also be going to Champaign next season, added seven points for the North and Diamond Taylor, who is off to Wisconsin, scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the South.

Crawford also competed in the 3-point contest at the beginning of the night. He hit four of the five shots on his final rack, but scored only six points after going two for 10 to start the competition. He failed to advance to the semifinals.

The game, like most all star games, was an incredibly sloppy affair — with slow rotations, contested threes early in possessions and multiple failed alley-oop attempts.

It certainly was not the type of game Crawford seems to be suited for. He did not seem like the kind of guy who was going to steal the limelight from some of the other ballhandlers on the floor.

It is tough to judge anything out of an all star game. But having seen Crawford, here are some things I gleaned from his game:

-At 6-foot-5, Crawford is going to be bouncing between shooting guard and small forward. But his wingspan is incredibly long and he has some pretty good length. Look for him to be a disruptive force at the top of the Wildcats’ 1-3-1 zone next season.

Jeremy Nash did a real good job bothering defenders with his energy at the top of that zone this year. I can see Crawford doing the same with some energy and his massive wingspan. It will be interesting to see how coach Bill Carmody decides to use him defensively.

-The few times offensively he did look to score were quite impressive. Crawford more than once tried to dunk over his opponents, something NU fans will be excited to hear. In one possession he grabbed a rebound in traffic, dribbled up the floor through traffic and tried to throw it down on an unsuspecting opponent. He missed the jam, but earned a trip to the line.

His ability to finish around the rim also really impressed me. When he got the ballin a position to score, he did not miss. He had a nice up and under move around the basket in the first half and his final point of the night came off a pump fake and drive to the rim for a dunk.

I definitely felt he was taking a backseat in this game, but when he was agressive he was real good.

-Defensively, he is pretty active around the basket and does a pretty good job rebounding the basket. He pulled down six rebounds and was very effective even boxing out bigger players during the game. Yes, it is an all star game, but he did have some nice rebounds in traffic that started the break for his team.

-Now the bad. He shot only three of seven from the line. You have to be able to make your free throws, especially if you are going to be a slasher type player who can get to the basket.

Craig Moore reached the semifinals of the 21st Annual State Farm 3-Point Shootout on Thursday at the Palace in Auburn Hills, outside of Detroit, before bowing out of the contest.

Moore scored 19 and hit two of the 2-point Money Balls in the first round. The point total was good enough for fourth place and a spot in the semifinal round.

The senior tried to jump the start of his second-round and seemed to be trying to catch up the rest of the way, finishing with more than 10 seconds left in his round. His score of 13 points, including three money ball makes, was last out of the four competitors in the semifinal round.

Miami’s Jack McClinton defeated Oakland’s Erik Kangas in the finals to win the contest.

Incoming Northwestern men’s basketball recruit Drew Crawford will play in the Chicago High School Classic on Friday, April 3.

The 6-foot-5 forward from Naperville Central High School committed to the Wildcats in November and was ranked the No. 9 prospect in Illinois by ChicagoHoops.com. Crawford made the Chicago Tribune’s All-State second team while averaging 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

“Drew provides a combination of scoring and athleticism that we are thrilled to add to our program,” said coach Bill Carmody after signing the local star. “He is a very good three-point shooter who can also beat his man off the dribble. Drew had a remarkable summer with his AAU team, showing he can successfully compete with and against the best players in the country.”

Crawford will also compete in the all-star game’s 3-point competition before the all-star game begins.

The game starts at 8 p.m., with the 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest beginning at 7 p.m., at Niles North High School in Skokie. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $7 for high school students and $5 for children and senior citizens.