BTN Interview with Coach Collins

[TheC]

Nice interview. I do like Collins and want him to succeed here, but still a long way to go this year.

The only surprising thing was that he sorta' took the credit for the defensive improvement (to be honest, he gave most of the credit to the players), but he didn't mention Coach Lowery at all.

 

[drewjin]

Audige sure wasn't shy in his praise of Lowery for tweaking the defense.

 

[NUThump]

Collins hired Lowery.

 

[ballerog711]

It's lowery, but collins delegating show some improved leadership.

You can even see battle and bmac doing their thing on the sides,

 

[DaCat]

Good interview. Collins brings a lot of credibility to the program, maybe the best is still ahead of him as a coach.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Collins hired Lowery.

Fitz hired JON.

 

[NUThump]

Fitz hired JON.

Yep. Advantage Collins.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

If you listen to that interview looking for insight into the basketball team, you will be disappointed.

 

[techtim72]

In the UIC post-game, Coach Collins mentioned Coach Lowery. A bit reluctantly I sensed. Not a great look but perhaps he is so hungry for any praise it is understandable.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

In the UIC post-game, Coach Collins mentioned Coach Lowery. A bit reluctantly I sensed. Not a great look but perhaps he is so hungry for any praise it is understandable.

I can't blame Collins, who knows or fears he could get fired, for failing to praise a new assistant for the team's success.

Collins admitted in that interview that "Coach K said I couldn't guard anybody" and laughed when Revsine said he was a good defensive coach. Lowery was defensive player of the year in his conference and came to NU as a defensive coaching specialist.

At one point last year I suggested that Bruce Weber might be a good short term coaching solution if Collins was fired.... if we actually got Weber's "Mike Hankwitz" that is pretty awesome. And a stroke of genius/fortune for Coach Collins.

 

[IGNORE2]

In the UIC post-game, Coach Collins mentioned Coach Lowery. A bit reluctantly I sensed. Not a great look but perhaps he is so hungry for any praise it is understandable.

Is it possible Lowry was pushed onto CCC by forces from above? Not saying it was but gragg makes a pretty grave statement last season and assistant is replaced by Lowry. Barnett is credited for bringing Hank in, perhaps someone other than CCC brought in Lowry.

 

[DaCat]

Is it possible Lowry was pushed onto CCC by forces from above? Not saying it was but gragg makes a pretty grave statement last season and assistant is replaced by Lowry. Barnett is credited for bringing Hank in, perhaps someone other than CCC brought in Lowry.

I wouldn't be surprised if indirectly by forcing Collins to revamp his staff (Donlon?) thus leading to the hire of Lowery.

 

[DaCat]

if we actually got Weber's "Mike Hankwitz" that is pretty awesome. And a stroke of genius/fortune for Coach Collins.

Good point... led to a good run for Fitz, maybe Lowery will help make up for some of Collins' deficiencies as a coach.

 

[phatcat]

Fitz hired JON.

And fired him, although you could see the twist marks on his arm

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

While I don’t doubt lowery is a huge help defensively as a coach it’s important to remember that since Collins has coached at NU it’s been pretty clear he’s a defense first coach. The strategy defensively has not changed that much since his year compared to previously. Especially if you look at tourney year. The main difference is this year they have they have the men to run good defense. Lowery for sure adds an extra emphasis and helps reaffirm the culture to defense first.

 

[techtim72]

I also wonder if playing Coaches Battle and McIntosh every day is helping toughen up the team. I am not expert but it appears to me they pull a few unexpected tricks in man to man coverage doubling up, not just the old shuffle, shuffle, switch routine. Plus the guards, particularly Audige, are long and overplay the passing lanes.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I also wonder if playing Coaches Battle and McIntosh every day is helping toughen up the team. I am not expert but it appears to me they pull a few unexpected tricks in man to man coverage doubling up, not just the old shuffle, shuffle, switch routine. Plus the guards, particularly Audige, are long and overplay the passing lanes.

We definitely are jumping the passing lanes more this year - with the same players. Well I guess Barnhizer wasn't playing last year but Berry, Audige and Roper seem to have learned how to anticipate "routine" passes on the perimeter.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

We definitely are jumping the passing lanes more this year - with the same players. Well I guess Barnhizer wasn't playing last year but Berry, Audige and Roper seem to have learned how to anticipate "routine" passes on the perimeter.

Replacing Nance and RY’s minutes with more Berry, Roper, and Barney makes a huge difference on Defense. They are a pain in the ass for other teams to play against. Watch how chippy it will get in conference play when they frustrate opponents. Chase is healthy and always was a good defender, Beran isn’t a bad defender and often got blamed on here for defensive mishaps that started somewhere else. Even Boo has picked up the intensity and last year he was a Matador out there. Big Matt is limited offensively but he competes hard on the defensive end. Even if we lose this year, I don’t think we will be fun to play.

 

[cats_man_too]

Replacing Nance and RY’s minutes with more Berry, Roper, and Barney makes a huge difference on Defense. They are a pain in the ass for other teams to play against. Watch how chippy it will get in conference play when they frustrate opponents. Chase is healthy and always was a good defender, Beran isn’t a bad defender and often got blamed on here for defensive mishaps that started somewhere else. Even Boo has picked up the intensity and last year he was a Matador out there. Big Matt is limited offensively but he competes hard on the defensive end. Even if we lose this year, I don’t think we will be fun to play.

Big Ten Conference Stats - RealGM

Find a complete listing of all the Big Ten Conference basketball teams, on RealGM.com

basketball.realgm.com

Audige and Berry are #2 and #3 in the Big10 in steals. Along with Roper and Barnhizer, I think they can continue to be disruptive this season.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Replacing Nance and RY’s minutes with more Berry, Roper, and Barney makes a huge difference on Defense. They are a pain in the ass for other teams to play against. Watch how chippy it will get in conference play when they frustrate opponents. Chase is healthy and always was a good defender, Beran isn’t a bad defender and often got blamed on here for defensive mishaps that started somewhere else. Even Boo has picked up the intensity and last year he was a Matador out there. Big Matt is limited offensively but he competes hard on the defensive end. Even if we lose this year, I don’t think we will be fun to play.

I think your points are generally on target - defense is mostly a team effort and we have some scrappy players who will get under the skin of our Big Ten opponents - but we're not replacing Nance and Young's minutes with more Berry, Roper and Barnhizer... those minutes are going to Verhoeven and Nicholson, both of whom are doing more on the defensive end, as opposed to Nance and Young who did more on the offensive end.

 

[NUCat320]

The strangest thing about the Lowery hiring is that he was on staff at Missouri State for about three months before the Cats swooped in in late July. While spurning the Valley to join the B1G is something anyone would do, I don’t think I’ve seen that happen after the job was accepted before.

Northwestern is fifth in defensive efficiency here:

NCAA Basketball Stats - NCAA BB Team Defensive Efficiency | TeamRankings.com

NCAA Basketball defensive efficiency, by team.

www.teamrankings.com

They were 144, 166, and 267 the previous three seasons.

(They were 33, 119, and 44 the three seasons prior, the earliest being the NCAA season.)

Collins *was* a good defensive coach, and Collins got enamored with a playing a style that NU didn’t and won’t have the talent to support.

I have no doubt that Lowery has influenced the entire roster to defend harder, and we’ve seen direct results with Berry, Beran, and Nicholson. The first two defend notably harder this season, while Nicholson is significantly more disciplined. (We didn’t see enough of Barnhizer last year to know how he defended; my sense is he didn’t go hard.)

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

The strangest thing about the Lowery hiring is that he was on staff at Missouri State for about three months before the Cats swooped in in late July. While spurning the Valley to join the B1G is something anyone would do, I don’t think I’ve seen that happen after the job was accepted before.

Northwestern is fifth in defensive efficiency here:

NCAA Basketball Stats - NCAA BB Team Defensive Efficiency | TeamRankings.com

NCAA Basketball defensive efficiency, by team.

www.teamrankings.com

They were 144, 166, and 267 the previous three seasons.

(They were 33, 119, and 44 the three seasons prior, the earliest being the NCAA season.)

Collins *was* a good defensive coach, and Collins got enamored with a playing a style that NU didn’t and won’t have the talent to support.

I have no doubt that Lowery has influenced the entire roster to defend harder, and we’ve seen direct results with Berry, Beran, and Nicholson. The first two defend notably harder this season, while Nicholson is significantly more disciplined. (We didn’t see enough of Barnhizer last year to know how he defended; my sense is he didn’t go hard.)

Agreed with everything you wrote up until that last aside... Barnhizer plays hard and doesn't mind the physical side of basketball. But Barney got 82 minutes last year... Nicholson only got 66. To their credit, both guys persevered through their unhappiness about playing time and stayed at Northwestern.

If Barnhizer is defending better, its not an effort thing - its improved technique and understanding.

 

[NJCat]

To their credit, both guys persevered through their unhappiness about playing time and stayed at Northwestern

Yet in the interview Collins said Barnhizer was hurt last year, which was why he didn't get minutes. I doubt he was "unhappy" with the program, probably unhappy with being hurt.

 

[GatoLouco]

Yet in the interview Collins said Barnhizer was hurt last year, which was why he didn't get minutes. I doubt he was "unhappy" with the program, probably unhappy with being hurt.

I heard the same and it sounded to me like a make the kid feel better thing. He was injured early in the season, came back, and was, after the injury, like before the injury, solidly behind Berry and Simmons in the rotation at the 2/3 spot.

 

[Figrating]

Sure is fun to listen to CCC when the team is competitive. Has his eye on the tournament, helping the players realize THEIR dream. It surely seems like this team can do it.

Could only be that CCC and Lowery decided to give credit to the players. Nice team-building gesture.

CCC has paid his dues at NU and, like his image of pounding the rock, has just kept at it after facing discouragement that would have forced weaker coaches to give up. The good karma bus is due.

 

[DaCat]

The strangest thing about the Lowery hiring is that he was on staff at Missouri State for about three months before the Cats swooped in in late July. While spurning the Valley to join the B1G is something anyone would do, I don’t think I’ve seen that happen after the job was accepted before.

Northwestern is fifth in defensive efficiency here:

NCAA Basketball Stats - NCAA BB Team Defensive Efficiency | TeamRankings.com

NCAA Basketball defensive efficiency, by team.

www.teamrankings.com

They were 144, 166, and 267 the previous three seasons.

(They were 33, 119, and 44 the three seasons prior, the earliest being the NCAA season.)

Collins *was* a good defensive coach, and Collins got enamored with a playing a style that NU didn’t and won’t have the talent to support.

I have no doubt that Lowery has influenced the entire roster to defend harder, and we’ve seen direct results with Berry, Beran, and Nicholson. The first two defend notably harder this season, while Nicholson is significantly more disciplined. (We didn’t see enough of Barnhizer last year to know how he defended; my sense is he didn’t go hard.)

In his first few seasons at NU, Collins emphasized defense. Then he seemed to get away from it as you mentioned. In several recent interviews, Collins said he made a conscious decision before the season to emphasize defense again, and thus the hiring of Lowery. I also wouldn't be surprised if Gragg had some say in that hire. Anyways it seems to be working out well so far. Reading between the lines, Lowery might be waiting to step in if Collins screws up this year. But I'd rather focus on the on-court action and hope we have a good season.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Yet in the interview Collins said Barnhizer was hurt last year, which was why he didn't get minutes. I doubt he was "unhappy" with the program, probably unhappy with being hurt.

Which interview are you talking about? The interview on this thread goes on for 15 minutes but Barnhizer isn't mentioned as far as I can tell. Unless I missed it.

 

[DaCat]

Which interview are you talking about? The interview on this thread goes on for 15 minutes but Barnhizer isn't mentioned as far as I can tell. Unless I missed it.

UIC post-game.

 

[pawildcat]

Playing good defense is key to winning at virtually any team sport. If teams have trouble scoring against you, a reasonably competent offense will enable you to compete most nights. Depend too much on offense without defending, especially chucking up three-pointers as basketball often is played now, and you run the risk of being upset by almost anybody, as Iowa found out the other night. Unreal that a B1G team would give up 55 points in a half to a below-average Eastern Illinois team.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I am just glad that we are talking about the players instead of the Coaches for a NU sport!

 

[DaCat]

Playing good defense is key to winning at virtually any team sport. If teams have trouble scoring against you, a reasonably competent offense will enable you to compete most nights. Depend too much on offense without defending, especially chucking up three-pointers as basketball often is played now, and you run the risk of being upset by almost anybody, as Iowa found out the other night. Unreal that a B1G team would give up 55 points in a half to a below-average Eastern Illinois team.

Complementary basketball, no?

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

I am just glad that we are talking about the players instead of the Coaches for a NU sport!

Kelly Amonte Hiller is using the wrong lineups. She needs to go.