2026 Predictions? What is best case/worst case scenario?
- Thread starter GrumpyDoc
- Start date
Best case: these guys (Collins and the players) figure out their roles and chemistry quickly, and establish themselves as a tough, defensive team, that will generate pace/buckets off turnovers and will protect their glass. (I found it telling that Collins kept referring to Michigan State as a comparison in his presser; on first blush it was more about the 9/10 man rotations that Izzo has run, but I also intuit that Collins wants that toughness to be part of the 'Cats identity.). This leads to them being a surprise team in the B1G and finish 7th/8th.
Worst case: Collins own inexperience with running 9/10 man rotations effectively, and/or longterm injuries to Martinelli or Page take away their #1 catalysts on offense and defense respectively. Despite strong efforts, team loses more 1-2 possession games and they are at near bottom of table.
Likely: Team will be a tough out, but will be on bubble all season.
Worst case: Collins own inexperience with running 9/10 man rotations effectively, and/or longterm injuries to Martinelli or Page take away their #1 catalysts on offense and defense respectively. Despite strong efforts, team loses more 1-2 possession games and they are at near bottom of table.
Likely: Team will be a tough out, but will be on bubble all season.
Worst: Martinelli gets hurt: 4-5 conference wins
Best: KJ plays like he did near the end of last season. Gelo and Mullins become reliable outside shooters. Page benefits from offensive options beyond Nick and gives us 8 - 10 ppg. Team defense comes together quickly. 20 wins and bubble team.
Best: KJ plays like he did near the end of last season. Gelo and Mullins become reliable outside shooters. Page benefits from offensive options beyond Nick and gives us 8 - 10 ppg. Team defense comes together quickly. 20 wins and bubble team.
Mullins looked poised to have a good senior season during the open practice yesterday. Wondering if he will be the first guy off the bench.
Honestly as good as Martinelli has been, I don't think a loss of him this year would be any where near as bad as the loss of Barney last year. Have a ton more quality and experienced depth this year. Losing other guys might even have a bigger impact as D is so important to this team and that is the weakest part of his game and it looks like we have a few others ready to make a jump on O
Nick is clearly the Alpha. Option 1, 1A, 1B with the game on the line. Losing Nick would kill this team.
I am excited about this roster and the athleticism that seems off the charts compared to our history. That said, we only have one returning guy who has consistently performed at a high level against BIG competition. I think we may struggle some this year.
At the open practice, almost everyone showed a nice three point stroke. Most of them were able to handle the ball driving the lane.
Best case - the new kids figure out the defense, Nick and Page prove a dangerous inside force, creating tons of open looks from three, and our guys knock them down. 12 - 8 and a nice seed in March.
Worst case - someone gets hurt, the kids can't run the defense, and the team shoots 20% from three. 5-15 and we don't make the B1G tournament.
Middlin - we do a bit of both, but can't execute well enough against the top tier. 8-12, win a game in the B1G, miss out on the dance.
Best case - the new kids figure out the defense, Nick and Page prove a dangerous inside force, creating tons of open looks from three, and our guys knock them down. 12 - 8 and a nice seed in March.
Worst case - someone gets hurt, the kids can't run the defense, and the team shoots 20% from three. 5-15 and we don't make the B1G tournament.
Middlin - we do a bit of both, but can't execute well enough against the top tier. 8-12, win a game in the B1G, miss out on the dance.
Best case: 20-0 in the big ten, everything clicks, we win it all.
Worst case: 0-20 it's a disaster
Likely: 10-10, 19-12, bubble
Worst case: 0-20 it's a disaster
Likely: 10-10, 19-12, bubble
A(nother) win over #1 Purdue would be dope too
WORST case? Martinelli turns into a sort of pumpkin (or gets hurt) and nobody else takes any steps forward or fills in gaps at the Big Ten level. The team finishes below .500 and only wins like 3 Big Ten games.
BEST case: Martinelli leads the Big Ten in scoring again and somehow adds yet another major complimentary piece to his game, be it in rebounding or defense. He challenges for Big Ten PoY as a 2nd or 3rd place finisher there. Guys like Arrington suddenly realizes his full potential and is a serious starting Big Ten big for 25-30 mpg. Reid and Green light it up as Big Ten wings and the outside offense absolutely clicks behind Martinelli. Singleton plays only 15-20 a game on a really good veteran team, but he looks like a future absolute star in those minutes and contends for conference 6th man of the year. Our other young-ish wings all take strong development steps as well, explaining why Singleton can't get more, and we have a deep team of guys who come at you from all over the place. We win like 12+ Big Ten games, easily make the tournament, score a second round upset into the sweet 16, and enter the offseason looking to just add the right complimentary pieces in the portal to fit our developing young and returning stars who are projected to be solidly in the top half of the league next year even by a media who underrates us.
BEST case: Martinelli leads the Big Ten in scoring again and somehow adds yet another major complimentary piece to his game, be it in rebounding or defense. He challenges for Big Ten PoY as a 2nd or 3rd place finisher there. Guys like Arrington suddenly realizes his full potential and is a serious starting Big Ten big for 25-30 mpg. Reid and Green light it up as Big Ten wings and the outside offense absolutely clicks behind Martinelli. Singleton plays only 15-20 a game on a really good veteran team, but he looks like a future absolute star in those minutes and contends for conference 6th man of the year. Our other young-ish wings all take strong development steps as well, explaining why Singleton can't get more, and we have a deep team of guys who come at you from all over the place. We win like 12+ Big Ten games, easily make the tournament, score a second round upset into the sweet 16, and enter the offseason looking to just add the right complimentary pieces in the portal to fit our developing young and returning stars who are projected to be solidly in the top half of the league next year even by a media who underrates us.
More of a fanfic, in this case
I think the best case is bubble tourney team if we get great interior defense and Windham is a 15 point scorer without taking too many shots. The floor could be really low if the transfers aren't great, the first years play like first years and KJ doesn't shoot great.
I feel stronger positive vibes. While interior foul trouble and defense is a concern, I think others are not. Our transfers are / will be the best group we’ve ever had. Same as our first years. And KJ will be just fine, especially without the primary ball handling burden.
It’s like 4-5 more wins than were projected, it’s not a FANTASY. It’s all things that could happen on individual players, it’s just like 5 of them stringing together. It’s everybody hitting.
We are sleeping on Clayton. I believe the gains were real, and he has elite size for a lead guard. Floor for me is 16-18 wins, ceiling is 24+. Martinelli top five scorer in the nation with good health luck.
Interesting. I’m definitely not thinking of Clayton much when looking ahead to the season. For all the talk of Jake West being ready, surely he’s behind Clayton on the depth chart as of today, right?
Clayton was pressed into service, and played 26 minutes v Wisconsin and 34 v Minnesota in the BTT. While he didn't take the lion's share of possessions, he did have positive ORtgs (114 v. Wisconsin and 125 v Minny), and over those two games had 5 assists v 2TOs.
He's got decent size for a guard, and perhaps after two years in the system and exposure to B1G play the game might be slowing down for him. He's akin to a guard "Blake Smith" - he knows the sets, and generally will be in right place/right time. He may not have the handle to get dribble pen (only a 7.7 FT Rate), but I see a path to him being a very useful rotation player as he's shown the willingness to take a mid-range jumper or 3pt shot.
Agreed that I haven't thought so much of Clayton with 8 promising new talents coming in - but appreciate the reminder that there's something to be said for the fact he's got more B1G reps than those newcomers.
Clayton is like Northwestern - overlook him at your peril! He might surprise you.
I expect Clayton's role will be larger in the beginning as he helps shepherd the new kids along in the system and by mid season transitions to a third option off the bench or in key situations built for him.
I'd be thrilled to see Clayton showing up as one of those juniors who figured it all out over the summer and makes the big leap. It would be great for him, great for the team, and great for us. I don't see it happening, but I am certainly not rooting against him or any of the kids. I want their NU experience to be continually improving and a joy to look back on after they graduate.
I'd be thrilled to see Clayton showing up as one of those juniors who figured it all out over the summer and makes the big leap. It would be great for him, great for the team, and great for us. I don't see it happening, but I am certainly not rooting against him or any of the kids. I want their NU experience to be continually improving and a joy to look back on after they graduate.
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Eternal respect for Clayton for giving up a redshirt to help the team last year. Personal sacrifice for team benefit. Teammates have to love this guy!
When I transferred the account from rivals, on3 told me my username was already taken (by me) and wasn't available, so I rolled with it.What’s with the User Name not available?