Been thinking this for the last week or so .....

[Max_Power]

The basketball program has come a long way. We are at the point where we are all pissed off about losing to a 20 win UCLA team (UCLA is a blue blood) by 4 with 2 of the top three players for NU out for the season.

Yes, I think that NU has legit complaints about the officials. I agree with many that the refs do not give NU the credit it deserves and that in big games, NU does not get the benefit of the calls. I also think this will change and here is why - Collins coaches tough defensive minded teams. As he has slowly built this program, he has been able to increase both the athleticism and skill levels of the players. Windham and Ciaravino are next level athlettes. Mullins is also really athletic and has become a solid defender. Martinelli is Robbie Hummel athletic - not great but there. Of the film I have watched, the recruits look more on par with Windham and Ciaravino ( I have not been able to get a read on Gill bc there is not much film on him but I am assuming he will be on par with Berry who is very underrated) than prior recruits.

Hopefully, Collins can supplement this group in the portal and NU will be right there again next year.

Also, I think that NU has a solid shot at the Crown Tourney based on the NET ranking in the 50s so this season is not dead yet.

 

[Davidgolds5]

Different note, but has there been a more endearing player on the cats than Keenan? Instant energy. And he has been quite productive. Would have been nice to have seen more of him earlier in the season.

 

[SmellyCat]

I think about it too Max. The floor - and our expectations - are so much higher now.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Different note, but has there been a more endearing player on the cats than Keenan? Instant energy. And he has been quite productive. Would have been nice to have seen more of him earlier in the season.

Fitzmorris is one of those guys where if he is on the other team, you hate him...and it's great having a guy like that on our team!

 

[Hungry Jack]

That left-handed jam he threw down vs Iowa was electrifying. WRA went nuts when he hit that jumper near the baseline last night. Love his attitude.

 

[Kat burglar]

I rejoined the NU bball fan club when Collins was hired and he recruited Vic Law. I thought that if we could regularly be better than 50 in Kenpom we would have a sustainable program. Back then I would scream at the TV and kick the dog when we were down. I was worried when we were up 10 points with 2 mins left.

Now my blood pressure is down and actually think we still have a chance if we are down 10 with 2 mins left. Love the grit. Love the team. Love the board and the people who post here. Thank you.

Time to raise my sights!

 

[GatoLouco]

The athleticism of the NU players pre Collins was significantly lower than it is now. We can complain about disparities we see today, but it's night and day. And that was the immediate impact Collins had. Arguably the most important as, without it, we might as well go back to gimmicky offenses to masquerade none of our guys can dunk...
.
.
.
Cough
.
.
.
Princeton offense
.
.
.
Cough

 

[DaCat]

Overall point taken and I love Collins, but let’s not forget Shurna won a slam dunk contest AND a three point contest AND a B1G scoring title. Coble and Crawford won B1G Freshman of the Year awards. Carmody won Coach of the Year. It wasn’t all bad.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Overall point taken and I love Collins, but let’s not forget Shurna won a slam dunk contest AND a three point contest AND a B1G scoring title. Coble and Crawford won B1G Freshman of the Year awards. Carmody won Coach of the Year. It wasn’t all bad.

Carmody did a pretty good job considering how hamstrung he was by the crappy facilities.
His style of play, obviously his choice, made recruiting tougher too.
And he was no charismatic dynamo - kids probably thought NU had sent a professor to discuss academic admission requirements.
Luckily he was able to get some guys from Europe who probably didn't care about all of the above.

Good coach who struggled to bring in players.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

The athleticism of the NU players pre Collins was significantly lower than it is now. We can complain about disparities we see today, but it's night and day. And that was the immediate impact Collins had. Arguably the most important as, without it, we might as well go back to gimmicky offenses to masquerade none of our guys can dunk...
.
.
.
Cough
.
.
.
Princeton offense
.
.
.
Cough

Can we have the 1-3-1 zone back too? With Juice or Sobo under the basket?

 

[NUera]

Good coach who struggled to bring in players.

Yup. Billy C gets way too much shade on this board. Perfect coach to shepherd us out of the dumpster fire left by “hotshot” Kevin O’Neill when he suddenly left us with a roster so bad dudes were transferring to culinary school. Carmody stabilized the program and introduced legitimate expectations, even if he couldn’t meet them. I’m grateful for his time here.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Carmody did a pretty good job considering how hamstrung he was by the crappy facilities.
His style of play, obviously his choice, made recruiting tougher too.
And he was no charismatic dynamo - kids probably thought NU had sent a professor to discuss academic admission requirements.
Luckily he was able to get some guys from Europe who probably didn't care about all of the above.

Good coach who struggled to bring in players.

I've told this story before but I ran into Carmody and his wife in the TSA line at Newark Airport. He was going to announce the signing of a big recruit - he turned out to be literally big - Chier Ajou. Carmody could not have been nicer. He was also ecstatic about his recruiting coup. Recruiting...his biggest weakness.

Too bad he didn't get Frank Kaminsky instead.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Yup. Billy C gets way too much shade on this board. Perfect coach to shepherd us out of the dumpster fire left by “hotshot” Kevin O’Neill when he suddenly left us with a roster so bad dudes were transferring to culinary school. Carmody stabilized the program and introduced legitimate expectations, even if he couldn’t meet them. I’m grateful for his time here.

Carmody was a perfect bridge coach. Unfortunately, he stuck around for about a decade after that bridge had been built and couldn't get us across it. How's that for extending a metaphor beyond all reasonable expectations?

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Carmody was a perfect bridge coach. Unfortunately, he stuck around for about a decade after that bridge had been built and couldn't get us across it. How's that for extending a metaphor beyond all reasonable expectations?

You took that bridge a bit too far.

 

[CatJones]

Carmody was a perfect bridge coach. Unfortunately, he stuck around for about a decade after that bridge had been built and couldn't get us across it. How's that for extending a metaphor beyond all reasonable expectations?

Our basketball Moses!

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Carmody did a pretty good job considering how hamstrung he was by the crappy facilities.
His style of play, obviously his choice, made recruiting tougher too.
And he was no charismatic dynamo - kids probably thought NU had sent a professor to discuss academic admission requirements.
Luckily he was able to get some guys from Europe who probably didn't care about all of the above.

Good coach who struggled to bring in players.

Not disagreeing with this, but if Carmody is a good coach what’s that make Collins?

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Carmody was a perfect bridge coach. Unfortunately, he stuck around for about a decade after that bridge had been built and couldn't get us across it. How's that for extending a metaphor beyond all reasonable expectations?

I don't know about that.
His teams slowly improved, then he reached NIT 4 years in a row, then one disastrous year of injuries and NU fired him.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Not disagreeing with this, but if Carmody is a good coach what’s that make Collins?

Collins is certainly a much better recruiter with better facilities.
Beyond that its just opinion.

 

[Davidgolds5]

I’d like to see some kind of nu carmody appreciation night. He was a big part of the program for a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him at a game. Curious if his relationship with Nu is decent. Not suggesting a jersey be hung, but certainly a little plaque or something on the wall!

 

[NUera]

Not disagreeing with this, but if Carmody is a good coach what’s that make Collins?

NU’s GOAT. And it’s not up for debate.

 

[Davidgolds5]

Yes NU should just lock this guy down for good. Build him a statue, raise a banner for the guy, make it impossible (and/or uncomfortable for the guy to leave)

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

NU’s GOAT. And it’s not up for debate.

Your opinion is duly noted. Wouldn't want to debate you about your opinion.

I'll go with Dennis Grady.

Oh wait, you said its not up for debate.

How about this - Chris Collins is definitely our greatest coach since Carmody...

Although, sadly, he's also our worst coach since Carmody.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

NU’s GOAT. And it’s not up for debate.

Careful you will be the third member of the “cult”.

Edit: maybe it’s up to 5 members now.

 

[Smolmania]

I've told this story before but I ran into Carmody and his wife in the TSA line at Newark Airport. He was going to announce the signing of a big recruit - he turned out to be literally big - Chier Ajou. Carmody could not have been nicer. He was also ecstatic about his recruiting coup. Recruiting...his biggest weakness.

Too bad he didn't get Frank Kaminsky instead.

Maybe if he'd been in Evanston when Kaminsky visited campus he could have? Kaminsky would have been awesome at the top of the key in the Princeton offense.

 

[phatcat]

Different note, but has there been a more endearing player on the cats than Keenan? Instant energy. And he has been quite productive. Would have been nice to have seen more of him earlier in the season.

Collins looked like a genius when he subbed out Matty for Fitz. Like "can't stop the tall guy anyway, might as well get some offense from the 5 spot. "