So that is it for the season

[hdhntr1]

Nor does it make sense to me, unless Collins wants to flex that NU is now among the basketball elites that can brag about turning down the NIT.

Or it might be that Collins would accept an invitation to play in the NIT, but due to contractual obligations between the Big Ten and Fox, he would have to play in the Crown instead, and he doesn't want to play in the Crown.

I don't know.

Question is would it have been NIT or the new Crown. If the latter pretty easy to understand, If the former, getting tourney experience might have helped for the future

 

[phatcat]

They are done. It's time to end it. If they could go, they would

 

[UpsetAlert]

Yes, I watch every game and attended both games in Indianapolis. Would like to see whoever is healthy play and further their development with the additional practice time and game experience.

I’m guessing you may have overlooked the crap ton of injuries and the team playing on fumes. Not much more to learn this year. Need to get healthy and start recruiting. Onward.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

If I had to guess; this was a “team” decision with Matt and Ty heavily involved in the final choice.

Yeah, it was per the reporting a "team decision."

 

[Deeringfish]

Too bad for us fans but I have to admit if it were not for the injuries that got the young guys on the court, I wouldn't be very excited about next year. Seeing the young guys hold their own and Mart continue to excel even without Barney or Leach on the floor is really encouraging. When you consider most players, if healthy, improve year over year sometimes dramatically, next years team could be way better than I was thinking at the beginning of this season.

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Too bad for us fans but I have to admit if it were not for the injuries that got the young guys on the court, I wouldn't be very excited about next year. Seeing the young guys hold their own and Mart continue to excel even without Barney or Leach on the floor is really encouraging. When you consider most players, if healthy, improve year over year sometimes dramatically, next years team could be way better than I was thinking at the beginning of this season.

KJ flashed a ton early at least from an attacking the ball basket perspective. 2nd best at breaking down a defender off the dribble I’ve seen as a freshman at NU. Upside was clear from the jump.

Gelo needed a little bit to flash his athleticism and jump shot. Still needs to get more comfortable to really show his ceiling.

 

[Davidgolds5]

The guru on x reporting that collins and Villanova have mutual “interest”. Please no.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

I talked to several players at length face to face after the MD game. It was obvious they were not going to play after the BTT unless they won it.

 

[Deeringfish]

I talked to several players at length face to face after the MD game. It was obvious they were not going to play after the BTT unless they won it.

Did they tell you they were confident that CCC would stick around?

 

[TheC]

The guru on x reporting that collins and Villanova have mutual “interest”. Please no.

Villanova hasn't fired their coach yet. He's only in his third year, though fans are grumbling because they haven't made the tournament under him.

 

[Davidgolds5]

Villanova hasn't fired their coach yet. He's only in his third year, though fans are grumbling because they haven't made the tournament under him.

Unfortunately the guru seems like a solid source.

 

[IMC Cat]

Isn't our new AD from Nova? Seems like he'd be pretty clued into the offer Nova would give to Collins. And in turn be able to match with a slightly more lucrative extension to stay here.

 

[Davidgolds5]

Isn't our new AD from Nova? Seems like he'd be pretty clued into the offer Nova would give to Collins. And in turn be able to match with a slightly more lucrative extension to stay here.

Are we to assume it is 100 percent about the money? Realistically can Collins improve the program anymore than he already has here at NU? Is the ceiling the tournament #8 seed? Who knows that motivates the guy. Too bad his son graduated! That seemed to ensure he wasn’t going anywhere.

 

[Deeringfish]

Are we to assume it is 100 percent about the money? Realistically can Collins improve the program anymore than he already has here at NU? Is the ceiling the tournament #8 seed? Who knows that motivates the guy. Too bad his son graduated! That seemed to ensure he wasn’t going anywhere.

Didn't he just sign a very talented and well rounded class? Some have said it is potentially the best class he has ever signed. The current roster has a lot of well regarded talent as well, which was not the case when he landed the original Big Dance class.
I don't think he is going anywhere but he has to play the renegotiating game every chance he gets or soon the players will be making more than he is.

 

[TheC]

Are we to assume it is 100 percent about the money? Realistically can Collins improve the program anymore than he already has here at NU? Is the ceiling the tournament #8 seed? Who knows that motivates the guy. Too bad his son graduated! That seemed to ensure he wasn’t going anywhere.

I can't see anyone wanting to leave a power conference school to go to the Big East.

 

[phatcat]

Is the ceiling the tournament #8 seed?

Realistically, it may be. A fully funded NIL may help. The conference is ridiculously hard now tho.

 

[Davidgolds5]

Realistically, it may be. A fully funded NIL may help. The conference is ridiculously hard now tho.

Didn't he just sign a very talented and well rounded class? Some have said it is potentially the best class he has ever signed. The current roster has a lot of well regarded talent as well, which was not the case when he landed the original Big Dance class.
I don't think he is going anywhere but he has to play the renegotiating game every chance he gets or soon the players will be making more than he is.

I hope you are right.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Realistically, it may be. A fully funded NIL may help. The conference is ridiculously hard now tho.

The conference has won a Natty in two decades.

 

[phatcat]

The conference has won a Natty in two decades.

I totally get it, but EIGHTEEN P4 teams. That's just a lot of competition. Not like FB when we could rise up in a weak B1GW here and there

 

[EagerFan]

Realistically can Collins improve the program anymore than he already has here at NU? Is the ceiling the tournament #8 seed?

Absolutely he can improve the program even more.

A lot hangs on the success of this new recruiting class and the older statesmen coming back, but Collins has been turning NU into a respectable program, and all the interviews and 'The Journey' stuff is big (haha) PR about a coach that respects, loves, and fights for his players and his players reciprocating. That kind of stuff could turn NU into a primary destination for the kinds of players he wants.

I think Collins has his eyes set on a championship, and I think that barring the injury bug he has had a couple of teams in the last two years that were at least sweet sixteen material - and I think he knows it. He wants more, and he can get it at NU even with its baggage.

 

[Deeringfish]

Absolutely he can improve the program even more.

A lot hangs on the success of this new recruiting class and the older statesmen coming back, but Collins has been turning NU into a respectable program, and all the interviews and 'The Journey' stuff is big (haha) PR about a coach that respects, loves, and fights for his players and his players reciprocating. That kind of stuff could turn NU into a primary destination for the kinds of players he wants.

I think Collins has his eyes set on a championship, and I think that barring the injury bug he has had a couple of teams in the last two years that were at least sweet sixteen material - and I think he knows it. He wants more, and he can get it at NU even with its baggage.

I agree with this and unless coaches at this level are satisfied to take a team from C to B and leave on a good note, or he is board of the challenge NU offers, I can't see any reason why he wouldn't want to stay and try to take NU from B to A. They have given him the facilities where he finally knows he has a home advantage, the talent on the roster has improved incrementally and the fan base is getting more involved. He has a chance to build something really historic at NU and I think they are paying him pretty well. Why leave? Things could be a lot worse.

 

[Davidgolds5]

While things have improved quite a bit, I will say that the home support is sometimes a bit lacking. Not sure how it is at Villanova. But the fan base seems very small at NU.

 

[Davidgolds5]

If Mark Jackson cannot retain Collins, should he be able to keep his job as AD?

 

[Baz=Heisman]

Our ceiling is probably a 4 seed, guys. We would have been a 6 last year with no injuries. Everyone on that team was, at best, a 3 star except Ty who was a low 4. With mid-to-high 4 stars we can get to the 4 line. Have faith!