For Collins being such a smart offensive minded coach, I am shocked about how stagnant and simple our offensive sets are drawn up. On-ball pick without reliable rolls to the basket or repositioning of the original picker. No off-ball picks or high staggered picks to free up 3 point shooters. It’s just a lot of one on one with Martinielli or Barnheizer or a mid range jump shot from Leach without any true sets. I was surprised to see the entire end of the game and even overtime proceed like it was an organized pick up game or one the Purple league games at old Patten gym. I think that’s the reason we get into som many shooting slumps and have a hard time getting Berry going for simple looks. Collins has a great offensive mind, I wonder why he’s keeping it so simple.
Awesome win, but a few questions
- Thread starter EyeCat
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He addressed this in the postgame. They felt they had an advantage with Martinelli against Humrichous (sp) and just kept calling for that. I like the simplicity of doing something that works until the opponent stops it, which in this case they never did.
Just need to listen to his post-game speech or read some of the other posts after Matt’s write-up.
I thought it was brilliant that he did the obvious and just kept dumping it in to Martinelli with Barney ready if doubled. The definition of not over coaching.
It’s the pro style of coaching. Force matchups that work vs. system coaching. Make them prove they can stop you. Can very often result in “iso ball” but is effective.
Strategy definitely worked in the latter part of the game and overtime but didn’t work too well in the first half. I just wonder if Collins is sometimes forced into this style because of the inability of Leach to be a true playmaker (assists) and the lack of production from our young guards.
He is forced into this style; that was the point of his post-game interview. He is playing to the strengths of his players.
I haven’t seen that much so far, but it struck me that the offense was lots of dribbling. The reasoning makes sense, and was validated down the stretch.
I’m really excited for what March looks like for this club, and I’ll definitely enjoy the ride there. It’s a very good team.
I’m really excited for what March looks like for this club, and I’ll definitely enjoy the ride there. It’s a very good team.
Collins admitted he was spamming the Leach-Martinelli screen in OT. Once the guard switched to Martinelli, he'd attack him with bootyball, or he'd take the 3 if the defender was dropping in the zone. The one time that they blitzed Martinelli, Leach ghosted the screen and attacked the paint which drew the +1.
They will run pindowns and cross-screens, but for the most part they're hunting down the best matchup. Given that both Martinelli, Barnhizer and Leach are so comfortable in the mid-range, they're gonna pull trigger on alot of free throw elbow jumpers or in the case of our wings, back down to setup a post flipper (Martinelli) or fade (Barnhizer). It's definitely not "modern basketball", but it's what we got.
They will run pindowns and cross-screens, but for the most part they're hunting down the best matchup. Given that both Martinelli, Barnhizer and Leach are so comfortable in the mid-range, they're gonna pull trigger on alot of free throw elbow jumpers or in the case of our wings, back down to setup a post flipper (Martinelli) or fade (Barnhizer). It's definitely not "modern basketball", but it's what we got.
I’m in no way qualified to second guess a coach. Just trying to understand better how and why we go through long periods of scoring vacuums and although it worked out this time- it barely did so to get to OT and a single missed open 3 in the final seconds from losing this one too. Also to better understand why Berry may be struggling more this year than when he got more open looks while Boo was on the floor penetrating and dishing on primary or “hockey” assists. I get it, it’s our personnel and hoping when Wyndham gets more comfortable perhaps having some more options and motion sets.
I think it will be tougher for Berry to get the same quality shots this season as he did last season. Leach, who is perhaps the best at drive-and-kick, will continue to split duties as a ballhandler.
If NU gets comfortable clearing out for him, you’ve got more opportunities for Leach to corner to Berry on the wing, where he’s best.
Related, Martinelli’s gotta spend at least a few possessions looking for that corner three. I love 57% from outside, but I’d love it more on 4 or 6 rather than two attempts a game.
If NU gets comfortable clearing out for him, you’ve got more opportunities for Leach to corner to Berry on the wing, where he’s best.
Related, Martinelli’s gotta spend at least a few possessions looking for that corner three. I love 57% from outside, but I’d love it more on 4 or 6 rather than two attempts a game.
On that note, I do sometimes wonder while Martinelli/Barnheizer are dribbling hard in the lane with their head down , why once in a while we can’t set a down pick to free up the other of Martinelli/Barnheizer or Berry to get to a wing and pass out for a more open 3. There is very little inside-out play. Once the ball is down in the post with either, it’s not coming out. Again, I’m not any sort of expert, but I’ve rarely seen that in all the games thus far. I’m not trying to be critical or seem like a know-it-all, just asking for knowledge from those that know more.
As the board knows, Martinelli and Barnhizer are flat-out great players. These guys are mismatches every time they step on the floor with their blend in of speed, size, length, and strength. Martinelli is our top scorer, no question. So the key to the offense was putting him in the best situations to succeed. That means switches and screens to get him into favorable matchups. This isn’t anything new. NU has done it for years. Remember Buie? They ran him through screens, forced the defense to switch, and got him downhill against slower defenders.
That’s how you create offense. And that’s exactly what they need to do for Martinelli and Barnhizer. Collins likes to set things up to get the best players in positions where they win more often than not. Keep it simple. Let Martinelli work when he’s got a mismatch, especially against an Illini defender who couldn’t stop him. If it’s working, don’t mess with it. Let the guy cook.
Mullins was being left wide open in the corner and he made one and another was in and out. I think he is capable of hitting a couple of those a game if he gets confident there. Saw him drill several of those in an open practice last year.
If Mullins could really shoot from the perimeter he'd be up there with Martinelli and Barnhizer as our best players.
Its nice to think he could make strides in that direction.
He may be our most explosive player getting to the rim - and so far thats the primary (only?) way he can score reliably.
He passed on an open 3 late in the game against Illinois.
I'm surprised Illinois didn't leave him alone and double Martinelli.
I remember that sequence where JM passed out of the open look in the corner. The pass was low and a bit wide, causing him to shift his feet. By the time he reset, the weak side defender was closing. He could have gotten the shot off, but I can see why he passed.
Underwood said after the game that they had great tape on NU and that NU didn't do anything they didn't expect or plan for.
He basically said the rest of the team can't shoot, so they were focused on stopping Brooks and Nick. I got the impression that leaving Mullins alone in the corner was part of that plan - an invitation to shoot and a dismissal of him as a threat, and the same with Luke outside. And that part of it worked out for them pretty well.
I don't think they sagged off of Ty nearly as much as the other two.
Mullins really needs to fix that corner three because I'm guessing he's going to get that same level of disrespect going forward until he starts making them pay.
He basically said the rest of the team can't shoot, so they were focused on stopping Brooks and Nick. I got the impression that leaving Mullins alone in the corner was part of that plan - an invitation to shoot and a dismissal of him as a threat, and the same with Luke outside. And that part of it worked out for them pretty well.
I don't think they sagged off of Ty nearly as much as the other two.
Mullins really needs to fix that corner three because I'm guessing he's going to get that same level of disrespect going forward until he starts making them pay.
The announcers mentioned the Illini plan to let Mullins shoot constantly throughout the game, along with "Brad Underwood is an analytical guy, he's happy to have the Wildcats take those midrange jumpers."
1) I am still hopeful that Mullins is not inherently a poor 3 pt shooter. He shot 36.5% as a Freshman in 2 attempts a game. Of course one can wonder about the pace of game, speed of closing out, etc, in a better conference. I am just going with him having to build up his confidence. Still going through a bit of an internal battle fighting some "imposter syndrome". You belong young man, confidence, confidence!
2) They definitely did not sag on Ty, period. They knew the game plan.
Yep, if they leave Mullins that open he has to shoot. Miss 3, keep firing. Don’t force it, just don’t pass up wide open shots. If he gets it in the right spot, he can make it. If he misses, he misses.
It seems that way to me as well.
He was on no one's radar going into his senior high school season in Oak Park.
Well, I guess he was on Denver's radar. But then he became a top 10 player in Illinois, who had already committed to a Summit League team.... Very similar to Nick Martinelli in that regard. (Martinelli and Mullins knew each other from high school ball)
My impression last year was that Mullins was dealing with a mental or emotional issue of some kind. As my daughter put it then "Justin always seems so sad."
The guy has the physical tools to be really good. He was praised by several prior coaches for his extreme work ethic. He's a good student.
He just seems to want to fly under the radar. I'm rooting for him to realize how good he can be.
Northwestern men’s basketball’s Justin Mullins’ homecoming
Less than 20 miles from his new stomping grounds at Welsh-Ryan Arena, sophomore guard Justin Mullins discovered his love for basketball on his childhood courts in Oak Park, Illinois. He spent countless hours on the hardwood, honing his craft. Oak Park River Forest High School basketball coach...
dailynorthwestern.com
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Why change if it’s working and Illinois never adjusted? No idea why Underwood sat and watched that transpire with no different looks
Didn't he say something about the coaches telling them not to switch on certain plays? I thought he was saying they tried to get the players to stay on their guys (or at least the ones on Brooks and Nick), and it wasn't happening. He seemed a bit frustrated with some of the freshmen decision making.
It sounds like his grandfather, who was very involved in his bringing, is/was sick with cancer. I am sure that weighed heavily on Justin.He was on no one's radar going into his senior high school season in Oak Park.
Well, I guess he was on Denver's radar. But then he became a top 10 player in Illinois, who had already committed to a Summit League team.... Very similar to Nick Martinelli in that regard. (Martinelli and Mullins knew each other from high school ball)
My impression last year was that Mullins was dealing with a mental or emotional issue of some kind. As my daughter put it then "Justin always seems so sad."
The guy has the physical tools to be really good. He was praised by several prior coaches for his extreme work ethic. He's a good student.
He just seems to want to fly under the radar. I'm rooting for him to realize how good he can be.
Northwestern men’s basketball’s Justin Mullins’ homecoming
Less than 20 miles from his new stomping grounds at Welsh-Ryan Arena, sophomore guard Justin Mullins discovered his love for basketball on his childhood courts in Oak Park, Illinois. He spent countless hours on the hardwood, honing his craft. Oak Park River Forest High School basketball coach...
I see a lot of potential in him. His athleticism is very apparent, and you don't become a great defender based on athleticism alone (though it certainly helps). I am hoping he breaks out this year.
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Yeah, since I know nothing about Mullins' upbringing other than what I read in those NU stories about him - neither article mentioned his parents, but they did mention his grandparents "going to every game I played from age 5 on" and his family, friends, coaches and trusted advisors.
And that his grandfather's cancer was a big factor in his decision to transfer back home, as you noted.
Not trying to be a stick in the mud. But…..it’s unlikely that we will routinely “out-talent” the upper echelon of the BT - even with the amazing play of Martinelli and Barnheizer. It means we will need to out scheme most of the teams except perhaps when we’re running real hot with 3s on occasion. Anyway, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Mullins' best offensive play was going straight to the rim for the reverse layup, bringing the game to 1 in the last minute. Scoring was huge on that possession, but scoring fast was critical. He saw a lane and took it, and scored on Ivisic, I think it was.
We don't win the game without that play. One bucket, but hopefully a building block. Mullins is talented, and growth from him on offense would be really helpful to the balance of the team. He's strong on perimeter defense, so he's gonna play.
We don't win the game without that play. One bucket, but hopefully a building block. Mullins is talented, and growth from him on offense would be really helpful to the balance of the team. He's strong on perimeter defense, so he's gonna play.
It was a knifing, slashing drive. From my vantage point from the second row in the balcony near the corner, he was coming straight at me. He really seemed to elevate and hang mid-air as he shifted the ball and then laid in the reverse. It was an electric play by Justin.
