Is it time to be concerned about the 2019 class?

[freewillie07]

Building on this thread here, which highlights some of NU’s offers:

https://northwestern.forums.rivals.com/threads/offers.38619/

Realistically, how close is NU with some of its 2019 targets? At this point last year, Lathon and Nance had already been committed for weeks, and we had a good feeling that one of Horton-Tucker, Kopp and Bey would work out. I have not gotten that sense at all so far for the very important 2019 group. There will be at least 5 open scholarships after the current season.

I don’t want to be alarmist. And I realize there’a the strategy of NU keeping things tight-lipped so the brand names don’t catch on. But still, it’s the offseason, and the lack of likely commits on the horizon is a tad harrowing.

 

[NJCat]

Building on this thread here, which highlights some of NU’s offers:

https://northwestern.forums.rivals.com/threads/offers.38619/

Realistically, how close is NU with some of its 2019 targets? At this point last year, Lathon and Nance had already been committed for weeks, and we had a good feeling that one of Horton-Tucker, Kopp and Bey would work out. I have not gotten that sense at all so far for the very important 2019 group. There will be at least 5 open scholarships after the current season.

I don’t want to be alarmist. And I realize there’a the strategy of NU keeping things tight-lipped so the brand names don’t catch on. But still, it’s the offseason, and the lack of likely commits on the horizon is a tad harrowing.

Seems like NU is aiming higher for this class. I'm content to see how it all plays out. The new gym and practice digs should help.

 

[Fitz51]

It's time to be concerned about 2025.

 

[Sec.112]

Let's talk in September when the summer meat markets are complete and high school is back in session.

For now, 26 of the ESPN top 100 have committed. Not an overwhelming number.

As an aside, USC is suddenly a recruiting juggernaut with four comitts in the top 100.

 

[FitzFan]

As an aside, USC is suddenly a recruiting juggernaut with four comitts in the top 100.

I'm sure they're recruiting honestly and with integrity. After all, nothing bad or illegal has ever happened at USC when they've been raking in recruits. And that coach of theirs that is under federal investigation? A fine man of upstanding moral character.

 

[JournCat]

I wonder if recruiting gets tougher the year after we bring in a five-man class. Like how we couldn't get a point guard after Mac.

 

[freewillie07]

Seems like NU is aiming higher for this class. I'm content to see how it all plays out. The new gym and practice digs should help.

That’s what I’ve been telling myself, but still can’t help but get a little antsy. Collins must be privately confident in at least some of these offers panning out...

 

[IdahoAlum]

Seems like NU is aiming higher for this class. I'm content to see how it all plays out. The new gym and practice digs should help.

So that means we’ll ge turned by a higher class of player? (Sorry, couldn’t resist).

In all seriousness it will be interesting to see what this class looks like, and who the first commitment is.

 

[NJCat]

So that means we’ll ge turned by a higher class of player? (Sorry, couldn’t resist).

In all seriousness it will be interesting to see what this class looks like, and who the first commitment is.

I'd hate for my job success to be determined in large part by the decision making process of 17 and 18 year-old high school kids.

But this isn't CCC's first recruiting rodeo. He's been doing this half his life and has had more hits than misses.

 

[Deeringfish]

I wonder if recruiting gets tougher the year after we bring in a five-man class. Like how we couldn't get a point guard after Mac.

That makes sense. Same thing in football when CT won the starting job as a freshman. Probably why they try to have balanced classes in BB from year to year.

 

[Figrating]

It's just unfortunate that following NU's first dance they had to play the next season's home games out of town. With a better season last year, maybe one or two of our top targets would be with us.

It's also unfortunate that the new arena is still a construction zone. A construction zone doesn't impress nearly as much as a brand new, completed arena.

These are growing pains that we have had to accept.

Though CCC and staff are the best hoops recruiters ever at NU, we'll always worry, an NU tradition.

 

[hdhntr1]

I'd hate for my job success to be determined in large part by the decision making process of 17 and 18 year-old high school kids.

But this isn't CCC's first recruiting rodeo. He's been doing this half his life and has had more hits than misses.

Probably still more misses but enough hits

 

[DaCat]

Weren't we having a similar conversation last year about this class?

 

[NJCat]

Weren't we having a similar conversation last year about this class?

Not at this time last year. NU already had 2 high profile commitments.

 

[NJCat]

Probably still more misses but enough hits

The only "misses" I count are Vassar and Brown.

 

[Medill90]

The only "misses" I count are Vassar and Brown.

IIRC, Brown is coed.

(I'll be here all week, folks)

 

[hdhntr1]

IIRC, Brown is coed.

(I'll be here all week, folks)

THat is what we were afraid of

 

[Medill90]

THat is what we were afraid of

As a Jesuit priest used to say to me when I was a teen, "Look ashamed, headhunter. Look ashamed."

 

[cometclear]

The only "misses" I count are Vassar and Brown.

Oh, good lord...

 

[cometclear]

This is a make-or-break year and I'm sure Collins knows that. If he doesn't follow up with a class similar or better than last year's, that momentum will be lost and questions will be raised given that his strength is recruiting and not X's and O's.

 

[NUCat320]

For what it’s worth, in he CCC era, the only class without a commitment at this stage was Gaines’ class of one. He committed late September, and, certainly, the jury is still out.

On the other hand, in 2013, Law was the only commitment at this stage in the game. Skelly came in late July, and Mc and Lindsey in September (and JV in December).

NU is aiming higher, and b-listing later, it seems to me. It’s a risky strategy, but settling is at least as risky.

The new gym can’t open soon enough.

 

[Medill90]

What matters to the '19-'20 season is what the roster looks like a year from now.

This year, with Taylor and Turner, NU looks to be very competitive in a wide open Big Ten. NU has effectively added six new players.

Of course I'd like to see NU sign some great hs talent. But if Collins can built another roster with transfers and hs kids to complement what is already here, that's just fine.

So far, they aren't compromising on talent level and they aren't compromising on admissions standards.

 

[freewillie07]

For what it’s worth, in he CCC era, the only class without a commitment at this stage was Gaines’ class of one. He committed late September, and, certainly, the jury is still out.

On the other hand, in 2013, Law was the only commitment at this stage in the game. Skelly came in late July, and Mc and Lindsey in September (and JV in December).

NU is aiming higher, and b-listing later, it seems to me. It’s a risky strategy, but settling is at least as risky.

The new gym can’t open soon enough.

Ok, but the 2017 class was never meant to be a class of just one. NU was close, but missed, on Kellan Grady, Brad Davison, Jordan Goodwin, Savion Flagg, Jordan Nwora, Justin Smith, Clifton Moore, Luka Garza, etc. All ~Top 100 type players who largely committed to other Power 5 programs.

Thus, the backup plan to bring in Turner and roll with a team last year that had 11 eligible players. Didn’t work out so well with Rap injured for the season and no depth behind BMac.

 

[willycat]

This is a make-or-break year and I'm sure Collins knows that. If he doesn't follow up with a class similar or better than last year's, that momentum will be lost and questions will be raised given that his strength is recruiting and not X's and O's.

Don't know about those X's and 0's. Since Collins has taken over his teams play tough defense and rebound on both ends of the court. A clear departure from a previous coaching theories.

 

[Chuckster1973]

Not to get into a star rating debate but it looks like the more recent offers are three star players for 2019 where as previously we were going after mainly four Star players many of whom were in the top 100. As many have mentioned, this is a key year to augment the talent we already have. I think we've gotten some great commits previously, hopefully that will continue and many of the players we get will develop and become even better then the rating would indicate.

 

[freewillie07]

Not to get into a star rating debate but it looks like the more recent offers are three star players for 2019 where as previously we were going after mainly four Star players many of whom were in the top 100. As many have mentioned, this is a key year to augment the talent we already have. I think we've gotten some great commits previously, hopefully that will continue and many of the players we get will develop and become even better then the rating would indicate.

Yes. The type of players NU offered up until recently were largely blue-chip recruits. Top 50 types. Now we are seeing more of the “under-recruited” type players pick up offers.

Will be interesting to see if anyone offered before the summer commits. I certainly hope so.

 

[willycat]

Yes. The type of players NU offered up until recently were largely blue-chip recruits. Top 50 types. Now we are seeing more of the “under-recruited” type players pick up offers.

Will be interesting to see if anyone offered before the summer commits. I certainly hope so.

It was reported yesterday that they have offered Donovan Williams a 4* guard from Texas.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Don't know about those X's and 0's. Since Collins has taken over his teams play tough defense and rebound on both ends of the court. A clear departure from a previous coaching theories.

Yes, I'd agree that I much prefer Collins's X's and O's vs. say, Bill Carmody's. Since Carmody maybe had some gimmicky but sometimes interesting O, but zero X or anything resembling rebounding or defense.

 

[NJCat]

Yes, I'd agree that I much prefer Collins's X's and O's vs. say, Bill Carmody's. Since Carmody maybe had some gimmicky but sometimes interesting O, but zero X or anything resembling rebounding or defense.

Five years and 4 months later, we are still hearing about Bill Carmody.

[sigh]

 

[NUCat320]

“Hey guys, can we work on the ‘stand around for 28 seconds and hope the floater goes in’ play again?”

 

[NJCat]

“Hey guys, can we work on the ‘stand around for 28 seconds and hope the floater goes in’ play again?”

I think the Collins guys have worked on that one enough.....

 

[EvanstonCat]

Five years and 4 months later, we are still hearing about Bill Carmody.

[sigh]

Yes, unfortunately, it will take as many years to forget as we gave him to have us suffer.

 

[cometclear]

Five years and 4 months later, we are still hearing about Bill Carmody.

[sigh]

A surefire sign that the program is not where they hoped it would be at this point and are worried.

 

[Medill90]

A surefire sign that the program is not where they hoped it would be at this point and are worried.

Who's the "they"....the Carmody family?

 

[NUCat320]

It was reported yesterday that they have offered Donovan Williams a 4* guard from Texas.

I think NU is to the B-list now, though the B-list is much closer to Cobb/Crawford than it is to Marcotullio/Ajou.

 

[cometclear]

Who's the "they"....the Carmody family?

Do you guys not understand how transparent it is when you bring up Carmody after all these years as a way to deflect? Move on, boys. I love it when you folks invoke Carmody's name and then set up this strawman about people here claiming Carmody was a raging success. Everytime you do this, you make Collins and you make yourselves look weaker because even a dummy can see what you're attempting to do.

 

[Walker Fan]

Every year is an important one for a Power 6 basketball coach. Nothing unusual. Collins has had more hits than misses. Last year, was a tough year playing no real home games and getting minimal production from Falzon who was supposed to take over Lumpkin's role. Also, McIntosh's injury and production below his junior year hurt the team's production. This year's team will be longer and more athletic and hopefully, will yield better results.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

Do you guys not understand how transparent it is when you bring up Carmody after all these years as a way to deflect? Move on, boys. I love it when you folks invoke Carmody's name and then set up this strawman about people here claiming Carmody was a raging success. Everytime you do this, you make Collins and you make yourselves look weaker because even a dummy can see what you're attempting to do.

Nobody will ever that that tourny run away from me.

Taphorn to Pardon! The win over Vandy! Aww...good memories!

 

[cometclear]

Every year is an important one for a Power 6 basketball coach. Nothing unusual. Collins has had more hits than misses. Last year, was a tough year playing no real home games and getting minimal production from Falzon who was supposed to take over Lumpkin's role. Also, McIntosh's injury and production below his junior year hurt the team's production. This year's team will be longer and more athletic and hopefully, will yield better results.

If Collins does not replicate or exceed last year's recruiting haul, the state of the program will be questioned and that would be justified. With the current point guard situation, I just can't see this team getting back to the Tournament.

 

[Medill90]

Do you guys not understand how transparent it is when you bring up Carmody after all these years as a way to deflect? Move on, boys. I love it when you folks invoke Carmody's name and then set up this strawman about people here claiming Carmody was a raging success. Everytime you do this, you make Collins and you make yourselves look weaker because even a dummy can see what you're attempting to do.

I did not bring up Carmody. I have no idea to whom you referred.