Some thoughts...

[Medill90]

Some thoughts about NU Bball under CCC...

* Rigor and discipline: Collins, James and the rest of the staff pretty much just work and work and work. They have a clear vision of what they're doing. They're not changing direction every year. There's a real continuum evident in how they are building this program. It's impressive how clean adn crisp their external communication has been. Nothing to point to that one can criticize or indicates messy workings. No one could have known they'd be this good at running the operation. Especially impressive given that this is Collins' first gig.

* Recruiting and recruiting bigs: I stated on this board years ago that it's impossible for NU to recruit bigs on par w the other Big Ten program. Pardon, Bennett, Rap, Nance, Skelly, Falzon...wtf do I know? While a small subset posted concern about recruiting in recent weeks/months, the truth is 100 percent of us worried about it. But step back and look at it over CCC five years....plot the line....as good as it is, the trendline suggest it will get better. Unthinkable performance. Kids that can't compete in the upper third of the big ten do not get offers. So, everyone that accepts is pretty much big ten ready.

* Culture: Have you noticed that the players don't seem to be jumping ship. They like it. They get it. It's intense, but that's what they signed up for. That and the degree. Not saying that it's better that other Big Ten programs, but it is better than previous NU program.

Like everyone else I'm super excited about recent recruiting wins. But what is so impressive is the vision and their discipline to stick with it and not get lost. This team is not that far away from being a regular fixture in the top six of the Big Ten and making several runs at the sweet sixteen.

Good thing, because the Big Ten is getting much tougher top to bottom.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

The players feel they're apart of something special and want to be apart of it. Colllins is doing something beyond just winning more...

 

[DaCat]

It seems the players really like each other and get along real well, including walk-ons. Very different dynamics from one-and-done programs I would guess. Having high character upperclassmen like Lindsey, Law, Mac, Pardon, Skelly etc. also helps build and reinforce the culture.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

While a small subset posted concern about recruiting in recent weeks/months, the truth is 100 percent of us worried about it.

I don't think that anybody can be more thrilled than I am. Having been a big fan of Larry Sr., I'm really excited about seeing Pete down the line.

* Culture: Have you noticed that the players don't seem to be jumping ship. They like it. They get it. It's intense, but that's what they signed up for. That and the degree. Not saying that it's better that other Big Ten programs, but it is better than previous NU program.

I think that's partially a function of recruiting Northwestern-caliber kids. They're in it for more than the NBA.

Now what happens 5 years down the road and we start recruiting one-and-dones and two-and-outs? In my opinion, I don't think that detracts from the culture or the program one bit. For the most part, we'll remain a stable, 4-year destination, not like some places where they are turning over 6 guys every year between the transfers and lottery hopefuls. Having 4-year guys is what builds the culture long term and it's really a matter of the caliber. No offense to Sobo or anybody else, but a McIntosh for 4 years is just an enormous upgrade. We owe Coach Chris a huge thank you for coming in and bringing in Bryant. Wow.

But I also wouldn't complain about a player like a Luol Deng or a Jayson Tatum coming in for a year. That's no different than a grad transfer like we've had before, except it's way, way higher profile and we're thinking Final Four or Elite Eight.

Then you can upgrade the 4-year guys to a different level, too. Then you've got what Butler and Gonzaga have been mining. You've got your core 4-year guys, then you sprinkle in the one-and-dones and transfers with no detriment to the culture.

 

[scru]

I don't think that anybody can be more thrilled than I am. Having been a big fan of Larry Sr., I'm really excited about seeing Pete down the line.



I think that's partially a function of recruiting Northwestern-caliber kids. They're in it for more than the NBA.

Now what happens 5 years down the road and we start recruiting one-and-dones and two-and-outs? In my opinion, I don't think that detracts from the culture or the program one bit. For the most part, we'll remain a stable, 4-year destination, not like some places where they are turning over 6 guys every year between the transfers and lottery hopefuls. Having 4-year guys is what builds the culture long term and it's really a matter of the caliber. No offense to Sobo or anybody else, but a McIntosh for 4 years is just an enormous upgrade. We owe Coach Chris a huge thank you for coming in and bringing in Bryant. Wow.

But I also wouldn't complain about a player like a Luol Deng or a Jayson Tatum coming in for a year. That's no different than a grad transfer like we've had before, except it's way, way higher profile and we're thinking Final Four or Elite Eight.

Then you can upgrade the 4-year guys to a different level, too. Then you've got what Butler and Gonzaga have been mining. You've got your core 4-year guys, then you sprinkle in the one-and-dones and transfers with no detriment to the culture.

I think that is pretty much what all top teams do, not just Butler and Gonzaga. There are only a few notable exceptions that turn over 2+ one-and-done's per year: Kentucky, Duke, UCLA, Kansas, UNC. And, even these schools don't hit this every year (except Kentucky). Traditional powers like Michigan State, Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Villanova, Georgetown, UConn, etc. are more likely to turn-over 0 to 1 freshman phenoms per year. And, I think we are still a ways away from speaking of NU in the same breath with either the first or second batch of schools. However, I like the trajectory and have never been more excited for NU hoops.

 

[rwhitney014]

Good thing, because the Big Ten is getting much tougher top to bottom.

Part of why this is true is because WE are getting much tougher.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Part of why this is true is because WE are getting much tougher.

I don't know if the Big Ten is getting tougher. Do you remember the 1980s? Some of our teams weren't bad but they got destroyed.

Wisconsin and Nebraska are worse than they were a few years ago. Ohio State is worse (for now). Maryland is worse. Indiana is worse (for now). Iowa is worse. Illinois is worse. Purdue is probably worse without Swanigan.

Michigan, Minnesota, MSU are no better or worse. Rutgers is demonstrably better. That's one of the few. No clue about PSU.

Come to think of it, it looks like the perfect time to win the conference.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

I think that is pretty much what all top teams do, not just Butler and Gonzaga. There are only a few notable exceptions that turn over 2+ one-and-done's per year: Kentucky, Duke, UCLA, Kansas, UNC. And, even these schools don't hit this every year (except Kentucky). Traditional powers like Michigan State, Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Villanova, Georgetown, UConn, etc. are more likely to turn-over 0 to 1 freshman phenoms per year. And, I think we are still a ways away from speaking of NU in the same breath with either the first or second batch of schools. However, I like the trajectory and have never been more excited for NU hoops.

Those are really good points. That's why I said maybe 5 years in the future. A lot of assumptions about Coach Chris staying, though. He really shouldn't want an NBA or a higher profile NCAA job. You get paid more but there's zero job stability.

Just piggybacking on something VirginiaWildcat said (GOD HELP ME), our coaches get a lot of leeway. If Coach Chris had a few bad years, he still has the job for life basically.

 

[rwhitney014]

I don't know if the Big Ten is getting tougher. Do you remember the 1980s? Some of our teams weren't bad but they got destroyed.

Wisconsin and Nebraska are worse than they were a few years ago. Ohio State is worse (for now). Maryland is worse. Indiana is worse (for now). Iowa is worse. Illinois is worse. Purdue is probably worse without Swanigan.

Michigan, Minnesota, MSU are no better or worse. Rutgers is demonstrably better. That's one of the few. No clue about PSU.

Come to think of it, it looks like the perfect time to win the conference.

I wasn't alive for most of the '80s, so I'm not of much help there.

 

[pawildcat]

I don't know if the Big Ten is getting tougher. Do you remember the 1980s? Some of our teams weren't bad but they got destroyed.

Wisconsin and Nebraska are worse than they were a few years ago. Ohio State is worse (for now). Maryland is worse. Indiana is worse (for now). Iowa is worse. Illinois is worse. Purdue is probably worse without Swanigan.

Michigan, Minnesota, MSU are no better or worse. Rutgers is demonstrably better. That's one of the few. No clue about PSU.

Come to think of it, it looks like the perfect time to win the conference.

I agree. I think the B1G is a couple of years away from being the balanced powerhouse it's been in past seasons. I think they have some good coaching talent coming in at OSU and Indiana, but it's hard to see them righting the ship immediately. I'm not sure Iowa will be worse as they had a pretty good group of freshmen last year, but we'll see. Penn State has been recruiting well and should be better. MSU should be stronger than last season as they have some good recruits coming in and others coming back from injury. I think Maryland might surprise you as well. But the traditionally strong programs at Indiana, OSU and Illinois have to come back for the league to really be at full strength.