Seniors

[Purple Pile Driver]

There is a lot of sadness and even some doom and gloom on here today. I just wanted to say that this years team was one of my favorites over the past two decades despite the win loss record. They fought hard, I only saw one game this year where they looked disinterested. They got everything out of what they had. Never quit and showed the young pair what it takes to succeed. That impact will last.

Barney is probably the toughest player we’ve had in a cat uniform in ages. He could do it all, anyone that thinks he isn’t in the top tier of talent in the B1G is a goof. Berry contributed to two tourney teams, came back from an injury to play this season and represented his team and school with class. Big Matt, did his job. He anchored the defense and there is a noticeable difference when he leaves the floor. He didn’t whine about getting no chances in offense and didn’t try and do to much. These 3 guys are winning players. Leach is here for only 1 year but he too is a B1G player. Great addition. I can’t think of a team in the B1G that these 4 couldn’t get playing time on.

So let’s, celebrate their careers. They have been everything we could have hoped for when we got them. They didn’t have a ton of help this year but they produced more often than not. Too often we heard about bringing Ty off the bench, put in anyone but Big Matt, and Barney couldn’t hit the three. If we get graduating classes like this every few years we will be just fine.

 

[Cataria]

There is a lot of sadness and even some doom and gloom on here today. I just wanted to say that this years team was one of my favorites over the past two decades despite the win loss record. They fought hard, I only saw one game this year where they looked disinterested. They got everything out of what they had. Never quit and showed the young pair what it takes to succeed. That impact will last.

Barney is probably the toughest player we’ve had in a cat uniform in ages. He could do it all, anyone that thinks he isn’t in the top tier of talent in the B1G is a goof. Berry contributed to two tourney teams, came back from an injury to play this season and represented his team and school with class. Big Matt, did his job. He anchored the defense and there is a noticeable difference when he leaves the floor. He didn’t whine about getting no chances in offense and didn’t try and do to much. These 3 guys are winning players. Leach is here for only 1 year but he too is a B1G player. Great addition. I can’t think of a team in the B1G that these 4 couldn’t get playing time on.

So let’s, celebrate their careers. They have been everything we could have hoped for when we got them. They didn’t have a ton of help this year but they produced more often than not. Too often we heard about bringing Ty off the bench, put in anyone but Big Matt, and Barney couldn’t hit the three. If we get graduating classes like this every few years we will be just fine.

Well stated but the season is not over. These remaining guys need to battle and win more games. They still have a lot to play for. Each one of them has given a lot to Northwestern and deserve our attention too. Let's be sure to support the seniors and all the players that are still out there representing the university. Thanks to Brooks for all his efforts and making us proud of the team.

 

[EagerFan]

Not the way I wanted the freshmen to get experience, but Angelo will have to really step up and KJ's gonna get chances to shine.

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Man, this sucks. This senior class has been instrumental in two of the best seasons in NU basketball history. They spent the entire offseason battling through and recovering from injuries, and unfortunately, this season started with them still in recovery mode. It’s just heartbreaking that we never got to see this group at full strength, especially with key players like Barnhizer never fully recovering, and Ty and Matt missing an entire offseason, starting the year far from 100%. Given all that Matt, Brooks, and Ty have contributed to this program over the years, they truly deserved one last shot with a healthy season.

But, as we know, injuries are an unavoidable part of the game. It's tough because this senior group, the leaders of the program, won’t get to go out on top the way they had hoped. I can’t help but feel for these guys, when you're dealing with injuries in a window as short as a college career, it’s just brutal. That said, I still have full confidence in this team’s heart and grit. They're not going to back down and there are still plenty of opportunities for quality wins and competitive play. I’ll miss watching Brooks as he was fun to watch, but I’ll keep watching, keep supporting, and keep cheering for them, because they’ve given this program so much over the years, and I’m not about to stop supporting them now. They’ve earned that.

 

[CappyNU]

We got lucky in 2017 when we had 3 starters start every game, and only lost 13 player games to injury. In 2023, we had 4 starters start every game, and only Julian Roper missed extended time which enabled Barnhizer to go from playing 19 mpg to 28 mpg, and for Martinelli to go from 0 to 11 mpg. Last year, the injury bug got us, with just two starters starting every game, plus the two season-ending injuries, plus Langborg missing a couple games late and not being 100%. We were able to still make the tourney thanks to the wins we had previously banked, along with Blake Smith and Luke Hunger stepping up.

This year, we don't have the wins banked, and we haven't had the reserves stepping up, though there's still time for that. But yes, it sucks to not have ever been able to witness this team at its peak level of performance.

 

[hdhntr1]

There is a lot of sadness and even some doom and gloom on here today. I just wanted to say that this years team was one of my favorites over the past two decades despite the win loss record. They fought hard, I only saw one game this year where they looked disinterested. They got everything out of what they had. Never quit and showed the young pair what it takes to succeed. That impact will last.

Barney is probably the toughest player we’ve had in a cat uniform in ages. He could do it all, anyone that thinks he isn’t in the top tier of talent in the B1G is a goof. Berry contributed to two tourney teams, came back from an injury to play this season and represented his team and school with class. Big Matt, did his job. He anchored the defense and there is a noticeable difference when he leaves the floor. He didn’t whine about getting no chances in offense and didn’t try and do to much. These 3 guys are winning players. Leach is here for only 1 year but he too is a B1G player. Great addition. I can’t think of a team in the B1G that these 4 couldn’t get playing time on.

So let’s, celebrate their careers. They have been everything we could have hoped for when we got them. They didn’t have a ton of help this year but they produced more often than not. Too often we heard about bringing Ty off the bench, put in anyone but Big Matt, and Barney couldn’t hit the three. If we get graduating classes like this every few years we will be just fine.

Barney has been a great player for us. But it is not because he is uber talented. Sure he has talent but not really top tier, Nothing wrong with that, But what he adds in heart and determination makes him one of the top guys in BT, if not the country. In those areas, there is no one better. He will go through walls to get the job done and leaves it all on the floor (including teeth). That is what makes him great. And yes, he, Berry and Nicholson deserve to be honored. Leach has also bought in. When he got here he was not ready for the speed and power of the BIG but he has adjusted and is now a consistent and important BIG player. They all need to be honored.

We still have a number of games to go and I intend to be at each of the home games. The effort that the all put in needs to be honored

 

[Hungry Jack]

There is a lot of sadness and even some doom and gloom on here today. I just wanted to say that this years team was one of my favorites over the past two decades despite the win loss record. They fought hard, I only saw one game this year where they looked disinterested. They got everything out of what they had. Never quit and showed the young pair what it takes to succeed. That impact will last.

Barney is probably the toughest player we’ve had in a cat uniform in ages. He could do it all, anyone that thinks he isn’t in the top tier of talent in the B1G is a goof. Berry contributed to two tourney teams, came back from an injury to play this season and represented his team and school with class. Big Matt, did his job. He anchored the defense and there is a noticeable difference when he leaves the floor. He didn’t whine about getting no chances in offense and didn’t try and do to much. These 3 guys are winning players. Leach is here for only 1 year but he too is a B1G player. Great addition. I can’t think of a team in the B1G that these 4 couldn’t get playing time on.

So let’s, celebrate their careers. They have been everything we could have hoped for when we got them. They didn’t have a ton of help this year but they produced more often than not. Too often we heard about bringing Ty off the bench, put in anyone but Big Matt, and Barney couldn’t hit the three. If we get graduating classes like this every few years we will be just fine.

The current edition reached its apex last season right before Ty hurt his knee vs. Nebby. Matt went down with his broken foot 4 weeks later vs. Iowa, and a significantly diminished team made a brave tournament showing. I think if last year's edition enters the tourney fully healthy, they are likely a Sweet 16 team (higher seed avoids UConn in round 2).

It has been a great run and real renaissance that started with Boo Buie in 2019, Ty and Matt in 2020, Brooks and Chase in 2021. In other words, stacking up classes of good recruits, and adding a complementary piece via the portal.

 

[mickbula]

How many more wins would we need for the nit? That would get us some more practices and more of the young guys experience...correct? I think that would be ideal??

 

[Max_Power]

How many more wins would we need for the nit? That would get us some more practices and more of the young guys experience...correct? I think that would be ideal??

over .500

 

[Hungry Jack]

How many more wins would we need for the nit? That would get us some more practices and more of the young guys experience...correct? I think that would be ideal??

Probably 18 total.