It’s Fine

[Hungry Jack]

They played poorly. Just like most players on Sunday. I am not why this is controversial or way off base.

CCC addressed this. He said KJ and Gelo were not getting time earlier because they weren’t picking up the defensive assignments as quick as he felt they should. Watch games before the turn of the calendar that this was painfully obvious. He also stated they are quickly improving in this aspect and implied they could in fact be more of a part of the rotation for the reasons you outline.

Right. That was earlier in the season. We can find pretty quickly how well they have picked up on defense after 15 games. But you have to play them for significant stretches against better players, and with better players.

Putting Gelo and KJ with Hunger would go pretty bad.

 

[hdhntr1]

The Washington/Oregon trip is a tough one. You don’t get to go home in between.

That one is likely a lot easier, Especially because they don't come home between so the second game is a lot easier to be ready for

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

PWB - do you really believe that changing lineups is a guaranteed way to change the outcome of a game? It’s what you imply every single time we lose, and more generally with your +/-. Do you really think that sitting Barnhizer and Martinelli (who were of course playing poorly) and leaving in Berry and Nicholson would have changed the outcome? Do you really think another coach could come in to NU and figure out a better mix of playing time and do materially better?

"PWB - do you really believe that changing lineups is a guaranteed way to change the outcome of a game?"

I believe lineups (specific 5 man groups) range from good to bad - all relative to the general abilities of the players on the roster.
In other words, your roster has a given amount of individual talent, strengths and weaknesses. The best coaches maximize the performance of the team by figuring out which lineups work best (in general) and deliberately relying on those groups. The top coaches can also make in-game adjustments to go against the numbers by using lineups that don't normally work too well, but will work today - because of what the opponent is doing or who is playing for them. There ae many variables that occur during a game that require a coach to respond in real time. For what its worth, I think Coach Collins has gotten much better at that.

"Do you really think that sitting Barnhizer and Martinelli (who were of course playing poorly) and leaving in Berry and Nicholson would have changed the outcome?"

I never said that. I think it was a mistake to give up on the starters (collectively) so quickly. I also think it would have been helpful to give Ciaravino and Windham court time with Nicholson, Martinelli and Barnhizer - subbing them in for Leach or Berry - because that is how they will help the most going forward. Nicholson did not play with Windham at all in the Purdue game. Ciaravino played with the starters (Berry out) for 1:45 and we won that segment 4-2. Thats all we got as far as tweaking the starting lineup.

"Do you really think another coach could come in to NU and figure out a better mix of playing time and do materially better?"

If all the D1 coaches brought their staffs with them and took over the Cats with 3 months to prepare, they'd all do things differently. Some would do better, most would do worse.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Jeez, one would think we are asking Coach Collins to convert to Judaism or something. We just want to see KJ and/or Gelo get some meaningful time with Big Matt, Barnelli and another starter (Leach).