Stirring the pot: are the Cats playing their best ball of the year right now?

[eastbaycat99]

I would argue that the Cats are playing their best ball of the year right now after the two recent road wins and last night’s wire to wire over Iowa. I don’t mean Collins should have played their current rotation over Barnhizer and Leach; if they went to Lourdes this weekend and were miraculously cured, I would want them back in the starting lineup immediately. What has happened is that with their injuries, Windham, Mullins, and to a lesser extent Ciaravino and Clayton have had a chance to get their sea legs, and the Cats are playing a competent 2 deep rotation at 4 positions and getting solid play at all 5.

At the start of the year, Barnhizer was out and Berry limited. The two freshman and Mullins were not playing with confidence and system knowledge, and Clayton was redshirting. By the time Berry was rounding into shape, Barnhizer got dinged up against MSU and was playing at less than full speed. Leach contributed all year, but had limitations at running the point. Most of the year, the Cats rotated at only 2 positions, and late game stamina was a problem. The long and short is that up to the last few games, the Cats did not have competence at all 5 positions or depth, while now they have both.

I really wish this set of players could get a mulligan on the west coast trip and Nebraska home game; I think they would sweep at this point.

I am looking forward to see if they can make a run in the BTT. I really hate conference tournaments, but this year, it may be a shot for a group that has given its all.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I firmly believe that if this team were fully healthy (ie Berry never hurt, Barney never injured, Leach health), it would be a tournament team. Of course, KJ would not have emerged like he has if Leach were healthy, but it's fun to imagine KJ as the primary ball handler with Leach playing more as a spot up shooter, and Ty playing like he has lately. It would be a dangerous team.

 

[Southport Cat]

I firmly believe that if this team were fully healthy (ie Berry never hurt, Barney never injured, Leach health), it would be a tournament team. Of course, KJ would not have emerged like he has if Leach were healthy, but it's fun to imagine KJ as the primary ball handler with Leach playing more as a spot up shooter, and Ty playing like he has lately. It would be a dangerous team.

I fully believe if the set of circumstances you outline were true the Cats would be a top 5 seed, not just in. I believe they are going to get in anyway after we thump UCLA on Monday.

 

[Davidgolds5]

It looks great out there but the first half of the season we were playing some very good teams and for the most part competing. Not sure you can draw conclusions for the team vs OSU, Minn and Iowa…..let’s see how things go vs UCLA and Maryland (teams that we commonly played earlier in the season). It woukd be great to keep this thing rolling.

 

[ThatkidfromHolland]

Imagine if the team had entered the season healthy, actually having an offseason to gel together and work on their games, rather than focusing on getting healthy. There wouldn’t have been that slow start with Berry and Matt trying to find their footing, followed by the team needing to adjust again when Barnhizer reentered the lineup. Leach would have gotten more reps with three key players, hopefully accelerating his development to the level we saw before his injury. Barnhizer also wouldn’t have been playing hurt and would have been at full strength. KJ’s late-season improvement would have added a scoring option off the bench and depth, something the team lacked early on. That said, injuries happen, and NU got unlucky with the players affected and the fact that those injuries were season-ending. Good coaches are able to get their teams playing better by the end of the season. While the last three games should be taken with a grain of salt due to the competition, it's still fun to win games.

 

[eastbaycat99]

It looks great out there but the first half of the season we were playing some very good teams and for the most part competing. Not sure you can draw conclusions for the team vs OSU, Minn and Iowa…..let’s see how things go vs UCLA and Maryland (teams that we commonly played earlier in the season). It woukd be great to keep this thing rolling.

I must have missed the game against UCLA earlier in the season, but I did not miss the loss to Iowa. Questionable officiating aside, they also lost to PSU early in the season, a team I think they would handle pretty easily right now.

I think the best 3 game stretch earlier was the Maryland/Michigan/Indiana grouping. I think it is interesting that this was the stretch where Berry did not start, but started finding his stroke coming off the bench.

 

[Davidgolds5]

I must have missed the game against UCLA earlier in the season, but I did not miss the loss to Iowa. Questionable officiating aside, they also lost to PSU early in the season, a team I think they would handle pretty easily right now.

I think the best 3 game stretch earlier was the Maryland/Michigan/Indiana grouping. I think it is interesting that this was the stretch where Berry did not start, but started finding his stroke coming off the bench.

Looks like plenty of tickets available for tomorrow night. Really would be nice if the game would sellout and we have a great environment in there, it’s senior night and it’s a big game. I hear from people that is too tough to make it to an 8pm game. Nu somehow has to get fans in the seats. Not sure what the answer is, but we need to sell out more games.

 

[Darren72]

Looks like plenty of tickets available for tomorrow night. Really would be nice if the game would sellout and we have a great environment in there, it’s senior night and it’s a big game. I hear from people that is too tough to make it to an 8pm game. Nu somehow has to get fans in the seats. Not sure what the answer is, but we need to sell out more games.

I was at the Iowa game on Friday night. Amazing atmosphere. But yeah, 8 PM especially on a school night, makes it really tough for kids. Probably much better for TV ratings.

 

[Davidgolds5]

I was at the Iowa game on Friday night. Amazing atmosphere. But yeah, 8 PM especially on a school night, makes it really tough for kids. Probably much better for TV ratings.

Yes they often have 3 games on each night. 6, 8, 10. They never have 7pm games.

 

[SmellyCat]

I think the best 3 game stretch earlier was the Maryland/Michigan/Indiana grouping. I think it is interesting that this was the stretch where Berry did not start, but started finding his stroke coming off the bench.

I've been thinking about the Michigan game. If NU wins that one - and they almost did - and all the other game results are the same, they're probably in the NCAA field right now or else very very close. NU may still have an uphill climb to get an invitation this year, but that's how close they are to being right in the thick of it.

 

[Davidgolds5]

I've been thinking about the Michigan game. If NU wins that one - and they almost did - and all the other game results are the same, they're probably in the NCAA field right now or else very very close. NU may still have an uphill climb to get an invitation this year, but that's how close they are to being right in the thick of it.

One groin away from the tournament?