PWB - do you really believe that changing lineups is a guaranteed way to change the outcome of a game? It’s what you imply every single time we lose, and more generally with your +/-. Do you really think that sitting Barnhizer and Martinelli (who were of course playing poorly) and leaving in Berry and Nicholson would have changed the outcome? Do you really think another coach could come in to NU and figure out a better mix of playing time and do materially better?
"PWB - do you really believe that changing lineups is a guaranteed way to change the outcome of a game?"
I believe lineups (specific 5 man groups) range from good to bad - all relative to the general abilities of the players on the roster.
In other words, your roster has a given amount of individual talent, strengths and weaknesses. The best coaches maximize the performance of the team by figuring out which lineups work best (in general) and deliberately relying on those groups. The top coaches can also make in-game adjustments to go
against the numbers by using lineups that don't normally work too well, but will work today - because of what the opponent is doing or who is playing for them. There ae many variables that occur during a game that require a coach to respond in real time. For what its worth, I think Coach Collins has gotten much better at that.
"Do you really think that sitting Barnhizer and Martinelli (who were of course playing poorly) and leaving in Berry and Nicholson would have changed the outcome?"
I never said that. I think it was a mistake to give up on the starters (collectively) so quickly. I also think it would have been helpful to give Ciaravino and Windham court time with Nicholson, Martinelli and Barnhizer - subbing them in for Leach or Berry - because that is how they will help the most going forward. Nicholson did not play with Windham at all in the Purdue game. Ciaravino played with the starters (Berry out) for 1:45 and we won that segment 4-2. Thats all we got as far as tweaking the starting lineup.
"Do you really think another coach could come in to NU and figure out a better mix of playing time and do materially better?"
If all the D1 coaches brought their staffs with them and took over the Cats with 3 months to prepare, they'd all do things differently. Some would do better, most would do worse.
