Not a Carmody bash as i think he was an ok coach, but collins has shown us, what a 24/7 coach can do as he smashed down the ridiculous thought that NU cant compete.
We can, and better things to come.
We can, and better things to come.
Thankfully, Collins was hired
- Thread starter Mr Wickerpark
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second that. I admit I thought it was the wrong move to let go of Carmody at the time. I was wrong. Collins is a home run.
Defense and rebounding are interesting concepts, aren't they?
Having said that, the Cats still haven't done spit.
Having said that, the Cats still haven't done spit.
I agree, nothing, zero, nada has been accomplished. This is just the reality. The Schedule flips on Sunday and the Cats play 4 of the next 10 against Top 25 teams, two on the road. They play a wounded preseason Big10 favorite twice and a team from Champaign that would love to make the NCAA-less streak last another year by upsetting the Cats once or twice.
Of course they have! They have elevated expectations. They have been competitive in all their losses. They are rewriting northwestern's record books with best start in conference play in half a century for the school. First win in Columbus in 40 years. Don't say this team hasn't accomplished anything...
I never expected such a competitive team after only 3 years and 3 recruiting classes. It also suggest even better things to come.
I dont think we are as good as wisconsin or purdue but we could pull out a title this year as we are playing much better than everyone else other than Maryland.
I dont think we are as good as wisconsin or purdue but we could pull out a title this year as we are playing much better than everyone else other than Maryland.
The reality is that they're 17-4 and fans want to come to games. Neither has ever happened before. We're winning games in the Big Ten without playing gimmick basketball. We're playing D, rebounding, playing athletically. To say nothing has been accomplished is silly. To say nothing has been FINISHED, well that's more accurate.
I really liked BC. Enjoyed his demeanor and his BB acumen. I think Phillips did the right thing waiting until the right guy became available rather than simply getting frustrated and making a change on the hope that change might work.
I hope the same approach is in play for all the coaches. Stability can be good. Change can be good. Having the best coach available is good.
It would be hard to name more than one head coach hired by Phillips who hasn't worked out. Pariano is the only one I can think of.
Jim is a world class AD. Trust me, as a Vanderbilt fan I know how much worse it can be and for an AD to be successful at an academics first school. The way he has been able to raise money, market the teams and get great coaches is really fantastic. Most NU sports programs are trending up and there are a couple great new facilities on the way.
I look at it this way. Collins has taken the myths spewed by Carmody and his mouthpieces like Teddy Greenstein that you can't win at NU because of the academic standards, lack of amazing state of the art arena and other factors and thrown them in the toilet and flushed. He has finally been able to play the man to man defense that he wanted to but could not int the past three years due to limited athletic (slowfooted) skills of Carmody recruits like Olah. He has been able to recruit players who have said publicly that they would never have gone to NU under the prior regime (Vic Law) and evaluated Scottie Lindsey, McIntosh, Pardon and Brown in high school and realized they could develop into solid Big 10 players and maybe into all Big 10 players. He has developed a toughness in the team that we have never seen at NU before. But some are right in that we are onto the third quarter of the season (first quarter - non-conference play, second quarter - first half of the Big 10 season, third quarter - second half of the Big 10 season and Fourth Quarter - postseason), that the 'cats still have to prove it against quality competition. I think they will (they have learned from the heartbreaking losses to Butler, ND and Minny), and it will be an enjoyable ride for us as the fans.
P.S. Where is the poster who has not figured out who the backup PG is - can anyone not say that Isiah Brown is a very talented player with a huge upside and the endless focus on the 13th scholarship is now thrown in the toilet with the Greenstein led myths of NU can't compete because of our tough academic standards (even though Harvard has made the tourney and advanced to the second round, Stanford has had great success in football and basketball, Duke has won 5 basketball championships, etc.) and the facilities prevent us from recruiting. Winning in college basketball and football hinges on having a supportive administration (Pres. Shapiro, AD Phillips) and a coach that can lead the way with his recruiting, player development and gameday coaching and NU and Collins hits all those bases.
P.S. Where is the poster who has not figured out who the backup PG is - can anyone not say that Isiah Brown is a very talented player with a huge upside and the endless focus on the 13th scholarship is now thrown in the toilet with the Greenstein led myths of NU can't compete because of our tough academic standards (even though Harvard has made the tourney and advanced to the second round, Stanford has had great success in football and basketball, Duke has won 5 basketball championships, etc.) and the facilities prevent us from recruiting. Winning in college basketball and football hinges on having a supportive administration (Pres. Shapiro, AD Phillips) and a coach that can lead the way with his recruiting, player development and gameday coaching and NU and Collins hits all those bases.
Yeah, I think that's the thing I enjoy most about this team. They don't necessarily value every possession and occasionally make silly mistakes, but when it comes to the fundamental aspects of the game, they are well versed.
EDIT: I will say that will the right personnel at the top of the 1-3-1 (MMJ, Nash, Cobb), I thought we did see some nice stretches of defense at times under the previous regime.
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As far as the postseason (which is top priority to me) is concerned, you are correct...
...but even as far far back as year 1, Collins has been doing things that haven't been done in Evanston for a long time (3 game road winning streak, winning in Bloomington, Madison, & Minneapolis). So, I wouldn't agree that he's accomplished nothing, per say.
It certainly could still fall fall apart, but with nearly half of the conference season in the books, it's hard to imagine a scenario where the 'Cats won't, at least, make the NIT. It should be noted every major bracketologist currently has the 'Cats in the tournament and on average listed as a 7 or 8 seed. When has that happened before? Pretty exciting times.
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I was one of those that thought Carmody should have been junked years earlier, and that Collins was a godsend. Yeah, I was right, but it wasn't really that hard of a call. But, I want to point out that Sanjay Lumpkin is one of the best players on the team. A real leader. The stuff he does on defense, rebounding, the dirty work. It's invaluable and a reason we are where we are. He epitomizes the toughness that Collins has brought to this team, which is ironic given the fact that he was a Carmody recruit. Thank you Bill Carmody for giving us Sanjay Lumpkin.
Taphorn is a contributor, but playing the largely limited role that most of Carmody's recruits would play on this team.
Just thinking that Lumpkin's minutes will continue to fall because of his excessive fouling and lack of scoring.
except for the part about comparing duke academically to NU. Look up Sean dockery's high school academic credentials and test scores some time. Not only would he never even get a sniff from NU, I would be some other big ten schools would waver at admitting someone with his transcript.
Yes they have. They have made basketball fun at NU and they have instilled an expect victory attitude among themselves and their fans. Those are huge accomplishments IMHO.
GOUNUII
You do know Sanjay is a co-captain with BMac, right? Hard call him anything but a leader unless you think Collins (and the rest of the team) are way off base.
You can call him whatever you want but he hasn't shown it on the floor, since the Big Ten season has started.
Agree with most of this, although there were plenty of people on this board who said we couldn't win without the elusive "state-of-the-art" arena. I hope they get a thorough remodeling done next year that allows Welsh-Ryan to develop into a true "pit." Tim Miles remarked on the crowd noise at the Nebraska game a couple of days ago, and that's the kind of homecourt advantage NU will want going forward.
Disagree, his defense has been as solid as ever and is helping on the glass per usual.
Not worth getting into it though because you've been negative on him for the last three seasons. Your mind is already made up.
PS- I'm calling him what THE TEAM calls him, co-captain. I didn't just make that up out of thin air.
Yes it is and for a very good reason. he would not start or even get lots of minutes for many Big Ten teams. have you noticed that Law has been assigned to guard the opposing teams top scorer, not Lumpkin. Come on now your making things up.
I think every team is led by its senior-most members Willy.
That's why I think you're the leader of this board.
Willy,
This is going to be a bit off topic, but do you have one of those screens that shows the words in really large type?
I sat with Doug Collins for a few hours watching the races just after Chris had taken the job. He respectfully said that NU had an "Ivy Leauge Roster, not a Big Ten Roster" and that it would take Chris a few years to get some BigTen "bodies and athletes" into the program. He was confident Chris could do it and when he did the cats would win. Presto!
No offense but Chris Collins is in a different universe than Bill Carmody. Just gotta hope CC doesn't take the Duke job in a couple years when coach K hangs it up.
No offense but Chris Collins is in a different universe than Bill Carmody. Just gotta hope CC doesn't take the Duke job in a couple years when coach K hangs it up.
The comparison is day and night.
Recruiting
Offensive philosophy
Defense
Player development
CC has an approach that enables NU to compete for a plus .500 record in the Big Ten. BC did many excellent things at NU but he just could not take the next step. I appreciate his contribution to moving the program forward but he could not take us to the next level. While we are not yet there, I believe CC has the pieces in place to do it, despite key injuries and being one scholarship short. The next 10 days will be exciting.
Recruiting
Offensive philosophy
Defense
Player development
CC has an approach that enables NU to compete for a plus .500 record in the Big Ten. BC did many excellent things at NU but he just could not take the next step. I appreciate his contribution to moving the program forward but he could not take us to the next level. While we are not yet there, I believe CC has the pieces in place to do it, despite key injuries and being one scholarship short. The next 10 days will be exciting.
Not OT but your BB knowledge is noticeably lacking. There are at least 6 players on the NU roster who lead by example. not by seniority and there would be likely be 2 more, if they weren't injured. It's hard to be leader when you spend important minutes stuck on the bench because of foul trouble. Again why is it that Law is assigned to the opponents top scorer and not Lumpkin. As to your last personal dig, well you can kiss my a--.
I should apologize about the age joke. People who live in glass houses....
And I know you, like me, are super excited that it's a hybrid roster of Carmody and Collins recruits making history for NU this year. It just proves we can set aside ill feelings after some years and focus only on the positive.
Apology accepted. Gee, wonder what NU will do next season without a Carmody recruit.
I think NU will be an elite NCAA team next year, not just an NCAA qualifier. Ranked the entire season between 10 and 20.
With Falzon back, Rap in the fold and BB playing more minutes NU gets more athletic and longer. Equal or better defensively. Better shooting.
Sanjay will be a graduate assistant and then the year after an assistant coach.
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