Insanity. DUKE and Manny Diaz are spending big bucks to put together a winner.

Just thought this was justified, based on his play. He does so many things right. Though he's certainly gifted athletically, his basketball IQ really stands out for me.

Dude sings like an angel. And best Hanukah wishes for others And best seasonal wishes for others.

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It’s one official visitor down, and two to go for Northwestern basketball this month.

The Wildcats hosted Missouri point guard Cameron Carr last weekend for his official visit. This weekend, California point guard Parker Strauss will be in Evanston for his official. Then, next weekend, wing Blake Barkley from West Virginia will arrive for his OV.

By the end of the month, the Wildcats hope to have a class to join point guard Jordan Clayton, who committed to the program in August. The goal is to bring in three guards and a wing, so if NU can land all three visitors this month, their work will be done for the class.

At this point, it is not known whether guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige will return for their free COVID year next season. Either way, the Wildcats will be fine with numbers: there are only 10 scholarship players on the current roster.

That scholarship situation gives you an idea of where head coach Chris Collins and the Wildcats are as a program. He is trying to reboot after five straight losing seasons and getting a “win or else”-type of message from his athletic director after last year’s disappointing finish. You can just imagine how difficult that has made recruiting in this cycle.

Our attempts to reach Carr to get his thoughts on his official visit experience have been unsuccessful. But sources say that all went well and the NU staff feels pretty good about its chances to land the 6-foot-5 guard.

It looks like Kansas State will be the primary competition for Carr, who grew up in Manhattan, Kan. His father, former NBA player Chris Carr, was on the women’s basketball staff at K-State, and his sister, Chrissy, played for the Wildcats. But Chris is no longer with the program and Chrissy transferred to Syracuse, so the family ties to KSU are no longer there.

Northwestern has got to be the overwhelming favorite to land Strauss. He announced a Top 6 in early August of Northwestern, Fordham, Colorado State, Wyoming, Southern Utah and Lehigh. The Wildcats are the only Power Six program on the list, and also the best academic school. This will be Strauss’ first official visit.

Barkley, a 6-foot-8 wing who will play in the NEPSAC this season, is another prospect without another high-major offer. He will take an official visit to Akron this weekend before making the trip to Evanston at the end of the month.

Northwestern's staff feels like they've unearthed some "diamonds in the rough" in this class, sleepers who flew under the radar but will be valuable contributors for the Wildcats in the future. However, it's telling that of the 44 combined offers for their three remaining targets -- Carr has 12, Strauss 13 and Barkley 19 -- just one comes from a Power Six program.

Collin Campbell picks up an NU offer. The first P4 offer for the 6’7” 268 lb OT out of Gilbert HS (AZ).

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Nfm

Lou, this kid in your backyard. Is he a power school prospect, or low major at best? Any interest from NU?

Memphis DB An'Darius Coffey committed to Northwestern out of the transfer portal, following in the footsteps of Luke Walerius, who was Memphis' recruiting director in 2023 before taking on the role as Northwestern's GM last offseason. I talked to Coffey about his connection to Walerius, his decision to commit to Northwestern, and more.

All times CENTRAL. All games available nationally unless otherwise indicated. I will add future opponents and announcers as they are assigned, except for BTN+ games. This is the last full week of non-conference play. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

First, the NU game:

Northeastern @ Northwestern
Sunday, December 29
12:30 PM, Peacock (streaming only)
PxP: Chris Vosters
Color: Stephen Bardo

And the rest:

Monday, December 23

Seattle @ Washington
9:00 PM, BTN
PxP: AJ Kanell
Color: Eldridge Recasner

Nebraska @ Hawaii (Diamond Head Classic)
9:30 PM, ESPN2
PxP: Roxy Bernstein
Color: Sean Farnham

Wednesday, December 25

Nebraska vs. Oregon State @ Honolulu, HI (Diamond Head Classic)
7:30 PM, ESPN2
PxP: Roxy Bernstein
Color: Sean Farnham

Saturday, December 28

Maryland Eastern Shore @ Maryland
11:00 AM, BTN
PxP: Joe Malfa
Color: Christy Winters-Scott

UCLA vs. Gonzaga @ Inglewood, CA (West Coast Hoops Showdown)
3:00 PM, FOX
PxP: Jason Benetti
Color: Jim Jackson

Sunday, December 29

Indiana State @ Ohio State
11:00 AM, BTN
PxP: Jack Kizer
Color: Jordan Taylor

Penn @ Penn State
12:00 PM, Peacock (streaming only)
PxP: Jason Knapp
Color: Nik Stauskas

Chicago State @ Illinois
1:00 PM, BTN
PxP: Mike Hall
Color: Trent Meacham

Morgan State @ Minnesota
1:00 PM, Peacock (streaming only)
PxP: Steve Schlanger
Color: Jess Settles

NJIT @ Washington
2:00 PM, Peacock (streaming only)
PxP: Terry Gannon
Color: Eldridge Recasner

Winthrop @ Indiana
3:00 PM, BTN
PxP: Connor Onion
Color: Shon Morris

Weber State @ Oregon
4:00 PM, BTN+ (streaming only)

Toledo @ Purdue
5:00 PM, BTN
PxP: Jeff Levering
Color: Bruce Weber

Western Kentucky @ Michigan
7:00 PM, BTN
PxP: Jason Ross Jr.
Color: Austin Johnson

Awesome to beat DePaul resoundingly. This is a solid 9-3 record. Love the defensive intensity and effort. Brooks is the MAN. Some other really nice pieces tonight too.

Did anyone else wince when he got fouled hard very late, while we were up big & he was still in the game? Didn’t love having him out there at that point.

Suspect free throws could cost us some conference games. Needs to be cleaned up.

I really think this team could go dancing again…but I truly believe #3 needs to improve his shooting for that to happen. We can’t have a clangfest from him almost every night and do what we need to in the B1G season. Love his work on D but he can’t keep shooting like this imo.

Which OL-man has time in JUCO?

PS Cooper Lovelace. No love lost?

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Per Rivals X.

Good for him, quite a move to the #1 team in the nation. There are the buyers and there are the sellers now, and we’re not a buyer.

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I recall another thread where go cats go 2003 said there could be several early this week.

Former NU Wildcat is having a big game tonight vs. OU. 2 picks, including an 80-yard pick 6 that got Arizona back into the game after OU had reeled off 24 straight points.

Maldonado is from the Phoenix area, and after a year at NU, decided to return home. He has become a good player for the PAC 12 Wildcats.

Great to see him playing well. Shows we know how to recruit!

On the move again. Going to UMASS. The football hotbed of the east coast

Starting to get a bit of respect. Note this was before yesterday's demolition of DePaul.

I had the pleasure of meeting the venerable Hungry Jack at the game this afternoon, and I'll be damned if he didn't tell me - ten minutes before tipoff - that he was expecting a twenty point win today. 'Twas almost as if he knew exactly what he was talking about. Was a pleasure meeting you today, sir. You'll have to make more such predictions in the future.

DUI. And the Lions have already cut him.

That’s a bummer. DUIs are nothing to mess with and just plain idiotic in a day and age when there are so many ways to avoid driving after drinking. Glad no one got hurt and hope he learned his lesson. Although it comes at a big cost.

It should be an 8-team field playing over three weeks.

Will Indiana, SMU, Tennessee or Clemson advance? I don’t think so.

Good players are flying off the board and nothing from the cats but a couple offers to 2nd tier lineman. Go get the damn QB now! Hope it's not all talk and no action.

Duke's , starting QB , Malik Murphy,with 2 years of eligibility, is transferring to Oregon State
Consequence of Tulane QB transferring to Duke ?

Wow, the game actually merited a column...