Wait till next year? Sure hope not.

[Alan Smithee]

There is ample reason to believe we will be a better team next year. The reasons are pretty obvious, as the composition of the team and the injuries that affected us are well known.

It is also possible that we could be a markedly better team and still not have greater success in conference play. A number of our conference foes should also be markedly better next year, too. And the bubble may be much less weak. And bid thieves could have a banner year.

Not to mention the fact that, as Cat fans, can we really not expect to encounter some significant adversity next year? God forbid, another season-ending injury? Or two?

Yes, I think we'll be better next year. But that doesn't provide sufficient reason to assume that the road will be easier next year.

This year is when we have to find a way. We're told our guys have been trying to take it one game at a time. Fine. That's what we need. In fact it's all we need. One game. Our next game. Michigan. If they feel pressure now, they'll really feel it if they have to beat Purdue on CBS having lost another opportunity against Michigan.

Over this season, they've earned a position which indicates they'll make it with another win. They have a winnable game in front of a friendly crowd on Wednesday. One game. The next one.

And next year is promised to no one.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

I agree completely. "Next year" in sports, especially in the context of NU sports, has consistently not lived up to expectations. You never know how the conference competition will measure up, as Smithee points out. Also, in basketball we don't know how the non-conference schedule will shake out, in terms of who's on it, whether we will win the games, and how the opponents will fare in their conferences. I'm quite sure CCC will schedule better teams and we might lose a lot more games in November/December.

Most of us take a look at next year's roster and rightfully forecast next year's squad will be better than this year's. But we don't know how we will play away from Welsh-Ryan, what the injury situation will be, or even if CCC will be lured away based on the results he has delivered this year (I have no idea how big a possibility this is, but you never know).

Most of us agree on most of the following points: this year's team is the most athletic, best coached, best on defense, best rebounding, most confident, best shooting team in the many years. From my vantage point (granted, mostly via TV and what the guys say in press conferences) they also seem to be a cohesive bunch. This is special team. I have the utmost confidence we have not seen the last of their victories this year and we will see them in the NCAA bracket in two weeks.

Go Cats!!!

 

[mikewebb68]

Roughly agree, but there are teams in this league that are losing just a ton of players to graduation, though. Us, not so much..

 

[NJCat]

Roughly agree, but there are teams in this league that are losing just a ton of players to graduation, though. Us, not so much..

I'd say Wisconsin, Illinois and MSU lose a ton. The rest of the league not so much.

Wisconsin loses 4 starters.
RU loses Gettys.
PU lose Spike and probably Swanigan.
PSU has no seniors.
OSU lose Loving.
NE lose Webster.
Minny lose Springs.
MSU lose Harris and Ellis. No idea whether Schilling and Carter have eligibility left. Bridges probably goes pro.
MI lose Walton and Irvin.
MD lose Dodd and probably Trimble.
Iowa lose Jok.
IU lose no one.
Illinois lose Morgan, Hill Abrams and Tate.

 

[mikewebb68]

I'd say Wisconsin, Illinois and MSU lose a ton. The rest of the league not so much.

Wisconsin loses 4 starters.
RU loses Gettys.
PU lose Spike and probably Swanigan.
PSU has no seniors.
OSU lose Loving.
NE lose Webster.
Minny lose Springs.
MSU lose Harris and Ellis. No idea whether Schilling and Carter have eligibility left. Bridges probably goes pro.
MI lose Walton and Irvin.
MD lose Dodd and probably Trimble.
Iowa lose Jok.
IU lose no one.
Illinois lose Morgan, Hill Abrams and Tate.

And two of the three teams you cite are ahead of us currenlly in the standings. And if you compare every teams losses to ours (and, btw I believe the consensus is that Bryant at IU is leaving), I think that you would agree that, except for Minny, Penn State, and RU, we lose less than everyone, and two of the three teams we lose more than are finishing well behind us in the standings. You yourself said that next year was the year in the preseason if I recall; this is one of the reasons why.

 

[willycat]

I agree completely. "Next year" in sports, especially in the context of NU sports, has consistently not lived up to expectations. You never know how the conference competition will measure up, as Smithee points out. Also, in basketball we don't know how the non-conference schedule will shake out, in terms of who's on it, whether we will win the games, and how the opponents will fare in their conferences. I'm quite sure CCC will schedule better teams and we might lose a lot more games in November/December.

Most of us take a look at next year's roster and rightfully forecast next year's squad will be better than this year's. But we don't know how we will play away from Welsh-Ryan, what the injury situation will be, or even if CCC will be lured away based on the results he has delivered this year (I have no idea how big a possibility this is, but you never know).

Most of us agree on most of the following points: this year's team is the most athletic, best coached, best on defense, best rebounding, most confident, best shooting team in the many years. From my vantage point (granted, mostly via TV and what the guys say in press conferences) they also seem to be a cohesive bunch. This is special team. I have the utmost confidence we have not seen the last of their victories this year and we will see them in the NCAA bracket in two weeks.

Go Cats!!!

Still feel that one more win gets NU "The Tournament" and feel they will find a way to get it. Also agree that next years team will be better, if Falzon and Rap are healthy and the remaining scholarships bring in at least a guard and another big. If the Cats make the dance, I would think that recruiting will also pick up and don't really think that playing in Rosemont will hurt. Remember our season at DePaul. Think the non-conference schedule was just about right and just think if the Butler and ND games were in the W column, we wouldn't even be thinking about it's strength. Finally I don't think that Collins is going anywhere, at for now. Did you read the extensive piece in today's Trib? Quite enlightening. Stay healthy and NU will again be in the top half of the Big Ten and make the tournament, again.

 

[julescat]

Still feel that one more win gets NU "The Tournament" and feel they will find a way to get it. Also agree that next years team will be better, if Falzon and Rap are healthy and the remaining scholarships bring in at least a guard and another big. If the Cats make the dance, I would think that recruiting will also pick up and don't really think that playing in Rosemont will hurt. Remember our season at DePaul. Think the non-conference schedule was just about right and just think if the Butler and ND games were in the W column, we wouldn't even be thinking about it's strength. Finally I don't think that Collins is going anywhere, at for now. Did you read the extensive piece in today's Trib? Quite enlightening. Stay healthy and NU will again be in the top half of the Big Ten and make the tournament, again.

I hope that NU (Dr. Jim) does a good job of promoting the available beer next year at Rosemont. That will help.

 

[willycat]

I hope that NU (Dr. Jim) does a good job of promoting the available beer next year at Rosemont. That will help.

Ah, another reason for you to love Dr. Phillips!

 

[NJCat]

I hope that NU (Dr. Jim) does a good job of promoting the available beer next year at Rosemont. That will help.

Beer helped quite a bit yesterday.