Northwestern and UNLV will try to bounce back from different types of losses when they meet Friday in the third-place game of the Arizona Tip-Off at Tempe, Ariz.
Both teams need to win to avoid an 0-2 trip for this tournament, and whichever side can get cranked up on offense might emerge in a better place.
Northwestern (5-2) lost 71-69 to Butler on Thursday, unable to convert on a frantic final possession with a drive to the basket and a tip on a putback.
UNLV (4-2) was blown out 80-58 by No. 25 Mississippi State in Thursday’s late game. The Rebels had a three-game winning streak snapped.
This will be Northwestern’s final primer before a couple of Big Ten games next week. Production on offense needs to improve for the Wildcats, who are averaging 73.6 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, including 30.8 percent from 3-point range.
“The offense, just got to be more efficient,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. “Be more crisp. Our offensive efficiency is not where it needs to be as the competition levels up.”
Nick Martinelli, who averages 21.4 points per game for Northwestern, was held to seven points on 3-of-15 shooting by Butler.
The Wildcats continue to tinker with player rotations.
“I knew there was going to be a little bit of a rocky road here,” Collins said. “We’ve got to get some confidence. You’ve got to play great defense and win a game when you’re not shooting the ball great.”
UNLV was limited to a season-low point total against Mississippi State. With 13 points, Jailen Bedford led the Rebels in scoring for the first time this season.
With a second game in less than 24 hours, UNLV coach Kevin Kruger will look for toughness from his team. That could be more difficult for the Rebels with the status of center Jeremiah Cherry uncertain after he departed the second half Thursday with a back ailment.
A big concern for the Rebels is rebounding. Mississippi State tracked down 19 offensive rebounds.
“They out-toughed us,” UNLV’s Jalen Hill said. “Every loose ball was theirs. I think that was the major key.”
Second-chance points favored Mississippi State 30-3.