Northwestern head coach Chris Collins is without end on the hunt for wing gamers who can match the abilities and athleticism of different wings within the Massive Ten.

Collins believes he has discovered a keeper in William & Mary switch Chase Audige, who delivered 16 factors and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes when Northwestern crunched Arkansas-Pine Bluff 92-49 Wednesday night time in its season opener.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Audige, who averaged 9.6 factors and earned a spot on the Colonial Athletic Affiliation’s All-Rookie staff earlier than deciding to check himself within the Massive Ten, makes his second look in purple when Northwestern (1-0) hosts Chicago State (0-4) on Saturday.

“Chase had not performed a recreation in additional than a 12 months, since he was at William & Mary,” Collins mentioned. “He was champing on the bit. He is an aggressive, hungry participant. He can get his personal shot. He can get out in transition and get to the basket. He shoots threes. He can get fouled. Once you play within the Massive Ten towards actually good defenses, you want guys that may create when issues break down.”

Audige hit 6 of 12 photographs towards Arkansas-Pine Bluff, together with Three of Eight from 3-point vary. He wasn’t the one newcomer to excel in Northwestern’s backcourt. After the Wildcats constructed a 61-35 lead, freshman taking pictures guard Ty Berry proceeded to reel off 15 factors over the ultimate 13 minutes.

Berry drilled three of his 4 makes an attempt from lengthy vary — one thing Northwestern desperately wants after hitting simply 31.Three % of its long-range tries over the previous two years. Led by junior ahead Miller Kopp, who went Four of seven on Wednesday, the Wildcats canned 14 of 29 of their 3-point makes an attempt.

“Ty Berry is one other man who’s an actual weapon on the market,” Collins mentioned. “I believe one of many stuff you guys are seeing is the improved taking pictures this 12 months. I really feel like we now have much more weapons. Offensively, I believe we will area the ground higher.”

Northwestern will not essentially should depend on its 3-point contact towards Chicago State. The Cougars have dropped their first 4 video games by a mean of 33.5 factors, and so they’re permitting opponents to shoot 60.Three % contained in the arc.

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Nevertheless it’s not solely the protection that has prevented Chicago State from holding a lead for the reason that opening 5:26 of the season — when its 9-7 edge over Ohio on Nov. 25 was washed away.

The Cougars are canning simply 33 % of their very own photographs. That helps to elucidate the staff’s inverted assist-to-turnover ratio of 35 assists vs. 69 turnovers. Nonetheless, affiliate head coach Rodell Davis noticed progress Thursday throughout a 78-56 loss at Jap Illinois.

“As we proceed to develop as teammates, we’ll reduce our turnovers down,” Davis mentioned. “You noticed that within the second half. We had 15 within the first half and wound up with 18 for the sport.”

Davis takes over on recreation days for head coach Lance Irvin, a two-time most cancers survivor who has requested to remain off the sideline to guard his well being. Junior swingman Jordan Polynice, nephew of long-time NBA large man Olden Polynice, paces Chicago State with 8.5 factors per recreation.

–Area Stage Media