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TPF523

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Sep 8, 2014
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So I know this is probably the last thought on your mind in the midst of perhaps the few weeks ever in Northwestern basketball history but as a fan it's ok to look ahead. I'm from Chicago and although I'm not a Northwestern fan or grad I always root for the Wildcats. I'm very pumped about the season you guys have had and hope like hell you make some noise in the tourney.

With that said it looks like only Lumpkin and Taphorn will be gone next year. That seems pretty ideal for NU, sure you'll have to replace some leadership but not a lot of exiting production. Who do you guys think steps into the lineup next year? Any guys that you may think will be in the rotation next year that maybe don't play too much now? What's the story with the Guard you have coming in from NH? Lastly what's up with Benson, Ash and Ivanauskas? I assume Benson will have a bigger role next year but what about the other two?

Tough loss to the Boilers but shouldn't hurt your chances very much, hate moral victories but that's a good loss. Thanks in advance.
 
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Ivanauskas injured his shoulder in the fall. He has been out all season. We are also missing perhaps our best shooter in sophomore Aaron Falzon who has also been out pretty much all year. This team will be awfully good next year.
 
TheC said:
Ivanauskas injured his shoulder in the fall. He has been out all season. We are also missing perhaps our best shooter in sophomore Aaron Falzon who has also been out pretty much all year. This team will be awfully good next year.
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Should be fun to watch, lots of guys from my area too which make it exciting personally. Any thoughts on Ash? I never see him get any minutes.
 
TheC said:
Ivanauskas injured his shoulder in the fall. He has been out all season. We are also missing perhaps our best shooter in sophomore Aaron Falzon who has also been out pretty much all year. This team will be awfully good next year.
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Team will be better but how much is the key question. Lots of room for individual improvement. Having more offensive options, a veteran team and a deeper bench should help. But the individual improvements will be the key.

GOUNUII
 
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Ash is doing well. Needs more time to showcase his talent. When he was in today cats when on a tear! We will have a dam good back court next year with Mac and Ash!
 
TPF523 said:
Good to hear, he's a good kid.

Thoughts on 5th starter next year?
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As I see it, the team could go in a lot of different directions for the 5th starter next year. My money is on Skelly starting at the 4 but I could also see Falzon in that spot if Collins is looking for more scoring or even Brown if he wants to go smaller and quicker. Will depend on matchups.
 
corbi296 said:
Will depend on matchups.
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To expand on this, the players Collins has brought in (and developed) are so versatile. So many different combinations at his disposal. I know some have lamented the decreased depth (due to injuries), but even with a shorter bench the 'Cats still role out as many players as most team.

I'm thoroughly impressed with how CC has built this roster.
 
FloridAlum said:
Falzon
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I think Falzon will come off the bench to provide some more balanced scoring punch off the bench. That's something that was lacking this year. Skelly can defend the post and will do a lot of the dirty work that was done this year by Lumpkin. Collins will have a lot more options next year but I think Skelly makes the most sense.
 
Ash needs a better handle. I don't know how you develop a better handle, but he needs a better handle.

Falzon starts next year.

Skelly plays starter minutes.

The kid from Edwardsville, if he comes, maybe knocks someone to the bench full time.
 
I also think it's Falzon starting next year. Collins called him the best pure shooter on the team before his freshman year. We'll have a lot of guys to bring off the bench and challenge the starters. If everyone stays healthy ... which has never happened before, but here's to hoping ... we could compete for the conference title.
 
TPF523 said:
So I know this is probably the last thought on your mind in the midst of perhaps the few weeks ever in Northwestern basketball history but as a fan it's ok to look ahead. I'm from Chicago and although I'm not a Northwestern fan or grad I always root for the Wildcats. I'm very pumped about the season you guys have had and hope like hell you make some noise in the tourney.

With that said it looks like only Lumpkin and Taphorn will be gone next year. That seems pretty ideal for NU, sure you'll have to replace some leadership but not a lot of exiting production. Who do you guys think steps into the lineup next year? Any guys that you may think will be in the rotation next year that maybe don't play too much now? What's the story with the Guard you have coming in from NH? Lastly what's up with Benson, Ash and Ivanauskas? I assume Benson will have a bigger role next year but what about the other two?

Tough loss to the Boilers but shouldn't hurt your chances very much, hate moral victories but that's a good loss. Thanks in advance.
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They're both contributors, and Lumpkin especially is a rock and a great defender. But, you're right. Between what we bring (back) in and the expected and continued development of those who stay, I'll be surprised if we aren't ranked for most of the season and in March. Having Falzon and Ivanauskas back from injury will be huge from a depth perspective (Falzon was expected to start), and the development of Pardon and Benson excites me. And we'll probably add a grad transfer big. Watch out for Isaiah Brown (holds scoring record for Metro Seattle which is a big feat considering some of the names coming out of that area) - they say the biggest leap happens between freshman and sophomore years. He showed a lot as a freshman and I think is going to be a player for us in the years to come. I don't know what to expect out of Anthony Gaines but don't think we need him to do much next year.
 
Keep an eye on Isaiah Brown. Excellent scoring ability. Takes a lot of shots, will need to convert on a higher percentage, but he's my guy to watch...
 
DocCat2 said:
Keep an eye on Isaiah Brown. Excellent scoring ability. Takes a lot of shots, will need to convert on a higher percentage, but he's my guy to watch...
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Brown hasn't played many minutes in the last few games. So what's up? Could there be another schlorship available for next season?
 
I wonder if Brown hasn't hit the Freshman wall. He still has confidence on the floor, but he hasn't been as crisp with his passes or as accurate with his shots in the second half of the Big Ten season. I still look forward to big things from him next season.
 
willycat said:
Brown hasn't played many minutes in the last few games. So what's up? Could there be another schlorship available for next season?
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I heard 2-3 starters may transfer bc they aren't happy with their minutes.
 
Fitzphile said:
They want fewer minutes?

/s
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LOL. Our starters get flogged. Hard to see how Brown could be unhappy with his time as a true frosh when BMac is in front of him. He averaged 16 minutes this year. My understanding is that he has been banged up lately.

There are about 40 minutes per game freeing up with Tap and Sanjay graduating. IMO, the biggest challenge will be getting more time for Benson when Pardon is really coming along. Great problem to have.

If anybody is going to want to transfer, it would be Ash. But it's silly to speculate as NO ONE here knows what he is thinking or has discussed with CCC.
 
Hungry Jack said:
LOL. Our starters get flogged. Hard to see how Brown could be unhappy with his time as a true frosh when BMac is in front of him. He averaged 16 minutes this year. My understanding is that he has been banged up lately.

There are about 40 minutes per game freeing up with Tap and Sanjay graduating. IMO, the biggest challenge will be getting more time for Benson when Pardon is really coming along. Great problem to have.

If anybody is going to want to transfer, it would be Ash. But it's silly to speculate as NO ONE here knows what he is thinking or has discussed with CCC.
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Guess I'll agree with you.
 
I honestly don't think we will have a grad transfers big but if we do I don't see him getting any min. Benson is really coming a long as of late and a year in the weight room will help. Also the way the staff develops bigs is crazy (pardon fresh to this year, and Olah).
 
Assuming no injuries (never happens), transfers, or other unexpected roster changes, I'd be thrilled to see the following next year as a minutes framework by position. Game by game, the minutes would vary a lot depending on who's making shots. Stick with the hot hand(s) up to 32 minutes per game. Wouldn't go more than that to save legs for the later season / tournament games.

1: BMac (28), Brown (8), Ash (4)
2: Lindsey (24), Brown (16)*
3: Law (28), Falzon (8), Lindsey (4)
4: Ivanaskaus (15)**, Skelly (20), Falzon (5)
5: Pardon (25), Benson (15)***
Red Shirt: Gaines

* In the event of landing Mark Smith (fingers crossed), I would not expect him to redshirt. If he has the skill and maturity to step in as a frosh, I think it would be great if he could take Brown's minutes at the 2 and Brown takes more minutes at the 1. Ash gets relegated to more bench time unless he has a real leap this offseason.

** My rationale for Ivanaskaus starting at the 4 as my ideal scenario is it would mean that he beat out Falzon and Skelly. It allows Skelly to continue being the spark plug off the bench, who winds up getting more minutes in total than Rap. Based on tape of Rap in HS, i think he has good upside as a help side rim protecting defender. He's got long arms and pretty good hops. I think Pardon and Rap lining up together will help us minimize the loss of Lumpkin defensively.

*** In the event of CCC landing a grad transfer big man, I'd expect him to take minutes away from both Pardon and Benson at the 5. Impossible to project without even knowing of any potential targets.


Fun to think of what this team could be next year. As others have already posted, CCC should have a great deal of flexibility in game planning and lineups to create advantageous matchups. Looking forward to it already, even though there is still so much to enjoy this season.
 
scru said:
Assuming no injuries (never happens), transfers, or other unexpected roster changes, I'd be thrilled to see the following next year as a minutes framework by position. Game by game, the minutes would vary a lot depending on who's making shots. Stick with the hot hand(s) up to 32 minutes per game. Wouldn't go more than that to save legs for the later season / tournament games.

1: BMac (28), Brown (8), Ash (4)
2: Lindsey (24), Brown (16)*
3: Law (28), Falzon (8), Lindsey (4)
4: Ivanaskaus (15)**, Skelly (20), Falzon (5)
5: Pardon (25), Benson (15)***
Red Shirt: Gaines

* In the event of landing Mark Smith (fingers crossed), I would not expect him to redshirt. If he has the skill and maturity to step in as a frosh, I think it would be great if he could take Brown's minutes at the 2 and Brown takes more minutes at the 1. Ash gets relegated to more bench time unless he has a real leap this offseason.

** My rationale for Ivanaskaus starting at the 4 as my ideal scenario is it would mean that he beat out Falzon and Skelly. It allows Skelly to continue being the spark plug off the bench, who winds up getting more minutes in total than Rap. Based on tape of Rap in HS, i think he has good upside as a help side rim protecting defender. He's got long arms and pretty good hops. I think Pardon and Rap lining up together will help us minimize the loss of Lumpkin defensively.

*** In the event of CCC landing a grad transfer big man, I'd expect him to take minutes away from both Pardon and Benson at the 5. Impossible to project without even knowing of any potential targets.


Fun to think of what this team could be next year. As others have already posted, CCC should have a great deal of flexibility in game planning and lineups to create advantageous matchups. Looking forward to it already, even though there is still so much to enjoy this season.
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Agree with your starters, except think that Falzon will be at the 4. If Smith comes aboard, then he will take lots of minutes from Brown and Ash will be a low minutes fourth guard. That still leaves one schlorship available and if Smith is on the roster, I'd bet that it goes to a Big. Not necessarily a 5 but maybe a strong rebounding 4. Then Skelly will lose playing time but still be that hustle guy off the bench. Don't know much about Gaines but NU seldom redshirts guys, unless they are injured. The already, exciting, successful season could really help Collins with recruiting and if they look good in the BTT and make a run of sorts in the NCAA's, then look out.
 
Any speculation about transfers is silly as these kids are on wild ride they can't get anywhere else. Maybe after next year some people will recognize declining participation but no one knows that yet
 
willycat said:
Brown hasn't played many minutes in the last few games. So what's up? Could there be another schlorship available for next season?
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Don't know about schlorships, but I doubt any extra S-C-H-O-L-A-R-S-H-I-P-S will become available.
 
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