... Maybe it’s just general apathy about the program. But Kopp wasn’t getting it done when he wasn’t making open shots. Let’s see how it all shakes out before freaking out. If he’s the only departure I’m not sure it changes my view much of next season.
... my sense is that Collins is always pushing the envelope with players as to telling them what is / not in store for them ...
I have very mixed feelings similar to the quotes above.
On one hand, Kopp was really evolving into "just a guy." Will he end up being an 18 ppg guy in a P5 conference? I wouldn't bet on it. I agree he has the skills, but it wasn't happening. And yes, Collins holds some responsibility for that as well as Kopp.
Part of me is in the camp of "let's see how this shakes out." If it's one guy, and Kopp ends up at Houston, fine ... he wanted to go back home. And maybe play in a tourney.
But the underlying circumstances around this don't paint a pretty picture.
1) Collins was obviously going to go to his grave with this guy. He wanted to give him EVERY opportunity to succeed - probably more than he deserved. He 0-for-figgin'-whatever going into the Minn B10 tournament game, and Collins was obviously STILL drawing up plays for him to get him going early in the game.
And in the end, Kopp didn't believe in Collins' direction, even though he went out of his way for Kopp.
2) I also agree with the sense that Collins pushes the envelope too much in these end of the season discussions. I can totally hear, "Miller, we've got two 6-6 guys coming in, and you need to work on X, Y and Z, or else, you're going to see less time."
Yes, it's an idea based on no knowledge or anything close to facts, but I get the feeling Collins wants to challenge these guys as a test. That's not the greatest move when you don't have a lot to start with.
In the end, it doesn't improve things for CC. If I'm Morty or the interim AD, I have discussions whether someone has a strong relationship with Moser. I agree it's a stretch that he will come to NU, but he seems to be motivated by connections, and there's few stronger connections than home. If you can quietly keep him away from Marquette and give him a nice $$incentive$$ (I always believe you need to overpay anyone with any market value to come to NU), you might have a chance at him next year. It's a difficult needle to thread, but I think it's an easy discussion with Moser's agent.