Why is McIntosh in the game with a 32 pt lead and 4 min to go?
- Thread starter Seattle_Cat
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Whew...was worried we wouldn't find something for our fans to complain about...thanks for your efforts.
Easy answer. It was the first conference game where he complelety found his groove, and Collins wanted to let him ride it as long as possible, hoping he'd get his 10th assist before pulling him. Shortly thereafter, BMac throws a perfect lob to Pardon for a dunk, and promptly leaves the game amid cheers. Everyone goes home happy...
You can be happy and question things. Kind of like the Cubs fans who go berserk when people criticize how Maddon managed his bullpen. It's not one or the other - we're happy but why the heck is your best player out there in mop up time. Wrestler is right - that's how D-Rose got hurt.
....and xyzbob.......radio silence on that end.
It's my one and only complaint about Collins as a coach. Not only was Bmac in, but so was Law and Lindsay. I was texting two die-hard Cats friends starting with 6 minutes left when we were up 30, saying that if one of our stars needlessly got injured in garbage time, I would throw something at the tv. You have to find ways to rest your stars and keep them healthy, and sitting them with a 30 point lead and 5 minutes left is the way to do it. With all that said, what a great win. I love beating Iowa.
Maybe Collins was looking at the week before NUs next game. Speaking of that, does it seem strange that there is a week break in the middle of the schedule like this?
Why have 5 B1G teams played six conference games, and Wisconsin is the lone team to have played four conference games. That seems out of whack.
My thought on this was that he wanted to make a statement to his team and to the rest of the league, to show them all that NU is good and can crush a pretty decent Big Ten team. If he pulls the starters, maybe we limp to the finish and win by 12-15 points. Instead, we win by 35, which is definitely more eye-catching to anyone who is just looking through the box scores. Changing the perception of Northwestern basketball.
I am not posting under an alias but CC better find some minutes for Ash because teams know that pressing BMac hard disrupts NU's offense. He is undoubtedly going to run into foul trouble and I would like to see a "comfortable" Ash able to contribute some minutes in emergencies rather than rely solely on Brown
I like Brown a lot! Kid looks better than Bmac did as a frosh! Fastest guy on the team. Ash and Brown need to get some minutes! No way does Bmac need to be in the game that long. We need to preserve Bryant's legs for March!
As I noted in the other thread, leaving Mac in is something I approve of if we are playing the likes of Ioa. Why did we leave him in? Well, because we wanted to murder Ioa. And crush their throat with our boot. And hear the lamentations of their women. It was the right decision in retrospect.
They are learning to win. Remember a 40 pt lead against Depaul and how quickly that started to disappear? And as another said, a week till next game. Plus brown had spelled Bmac a fair amount. Bmac had a total o 32 minutes which is low for him. If he ended with 36 minutes, you would have more of a point.
Bingo! The flow in the second half was the best we've had all season and I think CCC wanted his starters (particularly BMac) to ride that surge and enjoy blowing out a Big Ten opponent. It was a reward for them. Collins said he dreamed of games like this at home when he took the job. He also pointed out to the press that his team plays really hard and selfless (29 assists).
If we get a big lead again, I think he'll substitute more.
I have been catching up on the reading side. It has been a whirlwind start to the year for me.
I am ecstatic about the game last night. I watched beginning to end. Loved that Mac to Skelly dunk. And the Skelly block out of nowhere was pretty cool too.
I started thinking the same thing about leaving the starters in too long. Would have been nice to see Charlie score, or get more than one brick shot. And to see Malnati hit the floor - I am sure we cannot be RSing a walk on. In fact, I liked seeing the Brown, Ash, Taphorn, Skelly, Benson line up towards the end. I could have gone for another 2-3 minutes of it. See what those guys could do.
If you had been paying attention, you would know that's EXACTLY what Collins has been doing throughout conference play.
BMac has received much more (=4-5 mins) in game rest than seasons past thanks to creative line up combinations and the development of Brown (and as well as the occasional appearance by Ash).
With an off week on the horizon and Bryant having been under the weather recently, it makes complete sense that Collins would want to keep playing him, especially considering how well he playing against Iowa.
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I agree. Collins played Brown and BMac together for a good spell in the second half and they played well together, in fact helping break open the game when Ioa started creeping closer. I also started to think why BMac was staying in towards the end of the game, but then after Collins pulled him after the 10th assist, it made sense.
Should've taken him out as a sub on a dead ball instead of replacing him at the under 4 timeout so he could've gotten a deserved standing O!
Except that purple seaters never stand. Could have been a polite sitting O though.....
Bryant was wearing a wrap on his right hand yesterday. Wonder when he hurt it and if it was affecting his shot in prior games?
Bryant was wearing a wrap on his right hand yesterday. Wonder when he hurt it and if it was affecting his shot in prior games?
Injuries in the last few weeks were referenced in the most recent episode of the Journey. This, likely was one of them.
Bryant was wearing a wrap on his right hand yesterday. Wonder when he hurt it and if it was affecting his shot in prior games?
His shooting was better with the wrap, right? maybe it is just a support to modify his shot.
Seatle is right. I wish CC would clear the bench sooner but as I believe CC wants to see certain things before he pulls his starters, so he's done a pretty damn good job so I for one will trust him. As far as a week off during conference play that happens every season. Up to 6,7 years ago we'd schedule a clunker during conference play, usually good 'ole Chicago State in the middle of the conference season. Wins were hard to come by so sometimes it was good "Comic Relief"; Michigan, Ohio State, Chicago State, Iowa, Minnesota.....etc. BC finally decided that rest and/or more practice was more important than a game vs. Texas - Pan American in January.
It looks like Chris is giving the players a couple of days off. No media availability until Friday. I think that's a great idea with all the sickness and minor bumps and bruises we've been dealing with so far this season. Hopefully it will pay off on Sunday. I don't care what Ohio State's record is this season, a win at Columbus would be really big for this team.
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