Norfolk State @ Northwestern preview

Northwestern tries to bounce back from a home loss when it hosts Norfolk State for a non-conference contest on Friday. The Wildcats fell to Radford 67-56 on Tuesday, while the Spartans dropped a road contest to Bradley 69-57 on the same night.

Norfolk State has been scoring plenty this season, averaging 83.6 points, with Jermaine Bishop leading the way with 14.4 points. Joe Bryant Jr. is right behind Bishop, averaging 14.2 points, while Devante Carter is the team's third double-figure scorer, scoring 11.8 points off the bench. Pete Nance is averaging a double-double (14.7 points, 10.0 rebounds) to lead the Wildcats in both scoring and rebounding this season. Miller Kopp is the only other double-figure scorer for coach Chris Collins, averaging 12 points per game.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT NORFOLK STATE (3-2): While the Spartans' offense draws the headlines, it's been their defense that has confounded some opponents this season, with coach Robert Jones having his team switch defenses often to slow down opposing offenses. It worked for a while in their last game at Bradley, as the Spartans held the Braves to 30 percent shooting from the floor for much of the first half and were down just four points at the break. Opponents are shooting just 37.9 percent from the field against Norfolk State, including 25 percent from 3-point range, as the Spartans' defense is keeping teams from running their sets cleanly.

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (1-2): A lot of teams are struggling with the new distance of the 3-point line this season, but the Wildcats are taking it to a new level, connecting on just 22.6 percent of their attempts beyond the arc. That percentage is tied for 344th out of 350 Division I teams this season, and not exactly what Collins is looking for from his team. Northwestern hit 31.3 percent from beyond the arc last season, averaging 23.3 3-point attempts per game, while this season, the Wildcats are averaging 17.7 attempts.

TIP-INS

1. Bryant leads Norfolk State with 50 percent shooting from 3-point range.

2. Nance is first in the Big Ten with 8.3 defensive rebounds per game and ranks fourth in overall rebounding.

3. Northwestern G Pat Spencer recorded a career-high six assists in the loss to Radford.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 68, Norfolk State 60