Collins blends old and new as NU runs away from Lewis in exhibition

[mshelton33]

Collins blends old and new as NU runs away from Lewis in exhibition

Head coach Chris Collins used a mix of veterans and fresh faces to pick up an 89-62 exhibition win over Lewis.

northwestern.rivals.com

@mikefitz77 was at Welsh-Ryan Arena for Northwestern's 89-62 exhibition win over Lewis and files this column on what we learned about the Cats with the season on the horizon.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

"Mullins was a force in those minutes. He stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and four steals, and his plus/minus was a whopping +30."

"I thought the unsung hero of the game was Justin Mullins," Collins said. "I couldn't take him out of the game just because he was doing so many good things... "

"Windham, in his first college action, didn't post a stat line as flashy as Leach or Mullins, but was calm and confident handling the ball. He had nine points and dished out five assists while being second on the team behind Mullins with a +23."

These are nice things to read.

 

[CatJones]

Notes from the practice game:
1. Ciaravino and Smith were subbed into the game before Mullins
2. Clayton and Barkley were the last scholarship guys to get in
3. Martinelli and Leach look like productive 3 point shooters
4. I saw that Barnheiser was limping
5. I am also worried there is no point guard

 

[NJCat]

Notes from the practice game:
1. Ciaravino and Smith were subbed into the game before Mullins
2. Clayton and Barkley were the last scholarship guys to get in
3. Martinelli and Leach look like productive 3 point shooters
4. I saw that Barnheiser was limping
5. I am also worried there is no point guard

To my eyes last night, #4 and #5 are the most critical. How NU will respond to pressure on the guards will tell how successful they are. Do see anyone on the team who can create their own shot, which makes a difference in a close game.

I thought Mullins played much more under control than he did in limited minutes last year. Collins pulled him quickly in his first half appearance, but he really looked poised in the second half.

Hunger is still a. foul machine, but he had a couple of nice drives in the first half. He needs to clean up the fouls. Fitzmorris is the least capable big man transfer in the recent Collins era, so Matt and Luke need to stay on the floor.

NU played their best ball when they went small against a equally small Lewis team. Face it, NU Centers are just too slow to guard smaller, more mobile players, so NU plays 4 on 5 against most mid-major opponents.

 

[Baz=Heisman]

Notes from the practice game:
1. Ciaravino and Smith were subbed into the game before Mullins
2. Clayton and Barkley were the last scholarship guys to get in
3. Martinelli and Leach look like productive 3 point shooters
4. I saw that Barnheiser was limping
5. I am also worried there is no point guard

What do you mean limping? I thought he is playing Monday…

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Windham may be our primary ballhandler by Christmas.
When he's on the court, of course.
If Collins plays 2 guards most of the time, he'll see plenty of action as the sub for either Leach or Berry.
Five assists in 21 minutes... thats a freshman who sees the court.

So...
Nicholson / Hunger
Martinelli / ?
Barnhizer / Mullins
Berry / Windham
Leach / Windham

with Ciavarino or Smith picking up minutes here and there...
8 man rotation?

 

[EagerFan]

I suspect that when we start seeing full presses, Collins will have the team passing up the court rather than trying to out-dribble oppo guards.

If Windham can learn the defense well enough, I see him being our PG or at least sharing the duties.

I think we need to be prepared to see little participation from Brooks in November. I might be wrong, but Collins (and Brooks) has seen what can happen when a guy is (almost) ready to return from injury, and Brooks will be banging inside so he needs to be actually healthy and not just cleared to play.

I suspect Collins will also limit Matt as much as he can early days, without giving up winnable games. I'm not as sure about Ty, he might be limited as well, but get more minutes as a floater rather than drive/banger. And the Cats need that threat from three.