I expressed serious concerns about our future immediately after the Purdue blowout.
I became more critical of our stagnant-looking offense, as did many others.
If I was critical of a lineup, it was because it hadn't been working or didn't seem like it should work.
I know I was very complimentary of the original starting lineup and I was very complimentary of Collins making the switch to Ciaravino for Berry - because it worked quite well.
Windham, Mullins and Ciaravino ALL played pretty well until Barnhizer got back in the lineup. Mullins cratered on the offensive end. Ciaravino and Windham just weren't getting minutes. My oft-stated belief was that the best way for NU to finish midpack in the Big Ten was to get meaningful minutes from Mullins, Windham and/or Ciaravino. The older guys had little room to improve. In my view, the team had to get Mullins and the freshmen going in order to have a good year. They didn't. We aren't.
What I do is look at who played in a game and how they performed. I evaluate the success or failure of the 5 man lineups.
I present the information and commentary about what I think is happening. I try to be fair.
Honestly I don't care who is the coach. (With Pat Fitzgerald, I did, because I had a lot of respect for him as a human being)
I realize that some have an emotional tie to Chris Collins. I really don't. I root for the team first and then individual players.
Just as the players make plays and decisions that are scrutinized, so should the coaches be scrutinized.
The head coach makes all the lineup decisions, makes the strategy calls and has sole authority over which players are in the game at all times. This gives him a significant impact on the outcome of many games. So how can you not discuss it?
