We really don’t need to get into what happened in the final minute of Thursday’s game. Instead, I present some numbers to you (which, after all, is the whole point of this article.) Over 18 SEC games, Vanderbilt had an effective field goal percentage of 53.7%; on Thursday, Vanderbilt had an effective field goal percentage of 46.4%. Over 18 Big Ten games, Northwestern had an effective field goal percentage of 47.1%; on Thursday, Northwestern had an effective field goal percentage of 54.7%.
This wasn’t a game in which we were getting outhustled, or the other team was getting every 50-50 ball; the rebounding and turnovers don’t suggest that.