Almost everyone

Aug 13, 2002
3,221
268
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who contributed on our first tourney team has finished their career at NU with the team on a very low note. Given that the tourney team was a reasonably young team, that's really sad. I'm not saying this points primarily to the coaching, but I certainly can't say it speaks well of it either.
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
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I’ve been thinking similar things. Vic and Dererk deserve to go out better, in the same way that Mc and Scottie deserved to go out better.

This season — well, we could maybe see it coming.

Last season — with one starter and one bench guy lost, and basically all the scoring back — well, that one still boggles the mind.
 
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willycat

Junior
Jan 11, 2005
21,448
318
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I’ve been thinking similar things. Vic and Dererk deserve to go out better, in the same way that Mc and Scottie deserved to go out better.

This season — well, we could maybe see it coming.

Last season — with one starter and one bench guy lost, and basically all the scoring back — wel, that one still boggles the mind.
The baskets in Rosemont were 11 ft. high!
 

catsattackfor3

Freshman
Mar 2, 2011
2,629
53
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Just sad. I do blame the staff they never got better and perhaps worse. Plus recruits coming in have not helped either. All the momentum has been lost. Thinking back to the 2008-09 season when we won 17 games and made the NIT we followed that up by 20, 20, and 19 win seasons and 3 more NIT's. I thought that after the NCAA appearance with such a young team we would have had a streak like that of at least high digit wins and NCAA or at the least NIT appearances which would have set us up for a sustained success in the program. This I feel has been very devastating and it is like we have to start all over because in the minds of recruits the narrative still has not changed (you cannot win at Northwestern!)
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
0
Just sad. I do blame the staff they never got better and perhaps worse. Plus recruits coming in have not helped either. All the momentum has been lost. Thinking back to the 2008-09 season when we won 17 games and made the NIT we followed that up by 20, 20, and 19 win seasons and 3 more NIT's. I thought that after the NCAA appearance with such a young team we would have had a streak like that of at least high digit wins and NCAA or at the least NIT appearances which would have set us up for a sustained success in the program. This I feel has been very devastating and it is like we have to start all over because in the minds of recruits the narrative still has not changed (you cannot win at Northwestern!)
The narrative has changed for the worse.

NU can’t sell ‘be the first’ anymore. They can sell “we’re a lot like Rutgers or Oregon State”, but school is tougher and the meatballs are worse.
 

PurpleFaze

Redshirt
Jan 9, 2019
1,331
38
48
I’ve been thinking similar things. Vic and Dererk deserve to go out better, in the same way that Mc and Scottie deserved to go out better.

This season — well, we could maybe see it coming.

Last season — with one starter and one bench guy lost, and basically all the scoring back — well, that one still boggles the mind.

Based on what I saw last years team didn't have the fire. They made the NCAA, mission accomplished, and didn't have the drive again. Plus lots of injuries.

Let's be honest too- the tourney team was good, but we had quite a bit of luck that season.
 

catsattackfor3

Freshman
Mar 2, 2011
2,629
53
0
Based on what I saw last years team didn't have the fire. They made the NCAA, mission accomplished, and didn't have the drive again. Plus lots of injuries.

Let's be honest too- the tourney team was good, but we had quite a bit of luck that season.

I agree that season may have been somewhat lucky as we took advantage of a down Big 10 as well but these past two season since we have been very terrible in so many facets. We have dipped way too much and the years prior to the NCAA tourney team with both CC and BC we were far and away more competitive and played well even if we were a little out talented. These last two teams have more talent but just no fire and look really poorly coached. no other way to say it. I absolutely hate putting that on the coaching staff but many of these kids proved they could play so what the heck happend? I dont see the enormous interest in recruiting momentum I felt we had building before the NCAA tournament or even right after. Its like we fell off the map.
 
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PurpleFaze

Redshirt
Jan 9, 2019
1,331
38
48
I agree that season may have been somewhat lucky as we took advantage of a down Big 10 as well but these past two season since we have been very terrible in so many facets. We have dipped way too much and the years prior to the NCAA tourney team with both CC and BC we were far and away more competitive and played well even if we were a little out talented. These last two teams have more talent but just no fire and look really poorly coached. no other way to say it. I absolutely hate putting that on the coaching staff but many of these kids proved they could play so what the heck happend? I dont see the enormous interest in recruiting momentum I felt we had building before the NCAA tournament or even right after. Its like we fell off the map.

We are currently paying the price for a couple bad recruiting years. For two classes we basically added gaines and turner. And it doesn't help that the Big 10 is unbelievably strong this year from top to bottom. This same team in other years would probably be closer to .500 in conference play.

Last year I think was a result of the NCAA tourney hangover, injuries, and All State arena.

The state of the program to me is going to depend on how Collins recruits the next 2-3 years. If it continues to be good then we will be ok. If we have lean years then that's a bad sign.