Big News!!!!!!!

[NJCat]

NU announces Trienens Performance Center! Another $20M investment.

http://nusports.com/news/2017/2/6/TrienensPerformanceCenter.aspx

 

[Max_Power]

Teams will have so much more room for activities!

 

[DaCat]

I kind of miss the dirt floors of McGaw Hall.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

NU announces Trienens Performance Center! Another $20M investment.

http://nusports.com/news/2017/2/6/TrienensPerformanceCenter.aspx

First WR and now this? Wow.

The basketball upgrades happened MUCH sooner than I anticipated. The new facilities coupled with a tournament appearance in the next year or two should make a HUGE impact in recruiting. We may actually begin see NU teams that are athletically on par with the top half of the conference.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Cool!

 

[EvanstonCat]

First WR and now this? Wow.

The basketball upgrades happened MUCH sooner than I anticipated. The new facilities coupled with a tournament appearance in the next year or two should make a HUGE impact in recruiting. We may actually begin see NU teams that are athletically on par with the top half of the conference.

We already are on par with the top half of the conference.

We want to be better though.

 

[Ubermorgen]

Great to see this.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

We already are on par with the top half of the conference.

We want to be better though.

We are if we can avoid the illnesses and season-ending injuries and keep the talent on the court.

 

[Gladeskat]

When are they going to build the Ryan Trienens monorail from main campus to the Central Street complex?

Is this a gift out of guilt? As a board member since 1967, is Trienens responsible for the horrid facilities NU athletes had to endure during the 70's and 80's? Did he provide for the funky medicine balls that were the extent of the lifting equipment at the Central Street complex? Or the wonderful clay floor for McGaw Hall?

 

[DaCat]

Great to see this.

Wow, I wonder if the wife would let me build a man cave like this in my basement? especially the soft purple mood lighting.

 

[FloridAlum]

Wow, I wonder if the wife would let me build a man cave like this in my basement? especially the soft purple mood lighting.

Of course she would. Go for it

 

[NUCats]

Wow, I wonder if the wife would let me build a man cave like this in my basement? especially the soft purple mood lighting.

Isn't the whole point of a man cave is that you don't ask permission

 

[Alaskawildkat]

The fake off the lake now?

 

[DaCat]

Isn't the whole point of a man cave is that you don't ask permission

No, not in my neck of the woods. It has to be carefully strategized and planned for years, then it depends entirely on whatever mood she's in when I broach the subject, and whatever random sin I committed in the past 50 years that comes to her mind.

 

[NJCat]

When are they going to build the Ryan Trienens monorail from main campus to the Central Street complex?

Elon Musk is going to build a tunnel, after he finished the one in LA.

 

[FloridAlum]

No, not in my neck of the woods. It has to be carefully strategized and planned for years, then it depends entirely on whatever mood she's in when I broach the subject, and whatever random sin I committed in the past 50 years that comes to her mind.

When all else fails, grovel and beg

 

[willycat]

NU announces Trienens Performance Center! Another $20M investment.

http://nusports.com/news/2017/2/6/TrienensPerformanceCenter.aspx

So I guess this then confirms that the weight room, along with the indoor practice facility will be torn down. What goes there? Ice hockey rink? More parking?

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

We already are on par with the top half of the conference.

Nope.

NU has very good coaching/development at its disposable, but (although significantly improved) still does not have the top shelf athletes that the Indianas, Marylands, Michigan States, and Purdues possess. Even with the 'Cats in better shape than ever on that front, it's hard to rank the current roster outside of the bottom half of the conference in terms of sheer talent.

The good news is with the new facilities, a perhaps a tournament bid or two in the bag, NU may start to have a real shot at nabbing local blue chips like Jabari Parker and Tyler Ulis. Collins is a more than capable closer.

 

[NURoseBowl]

No, not in my neck of the woods. It has to be carefully strategized and planned for years, then it depends entirely on whatever mood she's in when I broach the subject, and whatever random sin I committed in the past 50 years that comes to her mind.

Great post, DaCat. I suspect you struck a chord here with many of us.

 

[Max_Power]

So I guess this then confirms that the weight room, along with the indoor practice facility will be torn down. What goes there? Ice hockey rink? More parking?

Until we see a drawing of the outside, I would not jump to that conclusion. There is a lot of space to repurpose but also a number of sports moving into the office. The drawing is about 1/2 to 2/3rds of the football area of current practice facility (65 yards long and hoops court is 94 feet). The windows in the drawing match the existing windows.

I am not convinced NU will give up the smaller section of the current facility as clearly the baseball team and softball team could warm up inside when the weather is bad.

NU also released a new drawing of Welsh Ryan that is further along. Just watch the Foundation and they show it during the show.

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

Nope.

NU has very good coaching/development at its disposable, but (although significantly improved) still does not have the top shelf athletes that the Indianas, Marylands, Michigan States, and Purdues possess. Even with the 'Cats in better shape than ever on that front, it's hard to rank the current roster outside of the bottom half of the conference in terms of sheer talent.

The good news is with the new facilities, a perhaps a tournament bid or two in the bag, NU may start to have a real shot at nabbing local blue chips like Jabari Parker and Tyler Ulis. Collins is a more than capable closer.

I'd argue our starting lineup is better then bottom tier big ten. (When healthy) We have two of the most atheltic wings in the big ten. Pardon is also pretty athletic. You don't have a shot at making the dance with a bottom half talent level of the big ten.

 

[NJCat]

NU also released a new drawing of Welsh Ryan that is further along. Just watch the Foundation and they show it during the show.

I watched the Foundation. The drawing is really interesting, lots of Tiers and overhangs. Should be a really cool venue when complete.

 

[Max_Power]

I watched the Foundation. The drawing is really interesting, lots of Tiers and overhangs. Should be a really cool venue when complete.

They start construction in a month. We should see some drawings of the whole facility pretty soon up on the Facilities Management page.

 

[willycat]

Until we see a drawing of the outside, I would not jump to that conclusion. There is a lot of space to repurpose but also a number of sports moving into the office. The drawing is about 1/2 to 2/3rds of the football area of current practice facility (65 yards long and hoops court is 94 feet). The windows in the drawing match the existing windows.

I am not convinced NU will give up the smaller section of the current facility as clearly the baseball team and softball team could warm up inside when the weather is bad.

NU also released a new drawing of Welsh Ryan that is further along. Just watch the Foundation and they show it during the show.

I thought that the new facility was an extension of the current BB practice area or the land was somehow part of it. If not then what happens to that space under the current north stands? Part of the new W-R?

 

[wildcat229]

I thought that the new facility was an extension of the current BB practice area or the land was somehow part of it. If not then what happens to that space under the current north stands? Part of the new W-R?

The announcement clearly states that the new courts are being built within the existing indoor practice facility, and that the space freed up in WR will be used for larger locker rooms.

 

[willycat]

The announcement clearly states that the new courts are being built within the existing indoor practice facility, and that the space freed up in WR will be used for larger locker rooms.

I thought it said that it would be built around the old practice facility, which is behind and under the north stands. Are you saying that it's going to be built within the FB indoor facility? I didn't get that at all. Help!

 

[NJCat]

I thought it said that it would be built around the old practice facility, which is behind and under the north stands. Are you saying that it's going to be built within the FB indoor facility? I didn't get that at all. Help!

The old FB facility will house the 2 basketball courts and a volleyball court. The area under the north stands will be locker room facilities. Here is an excerpt from the press release:

"The Trienens Performance Center will feature a fieldhouse with three courts constructed inside the existing Trienens Hall, adjacent to Welsh-Ryan Arena. The facility will allow for construction of larger team locker rooms inside the Arena for men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball. "

 

[willycat]

The old FB facility will house the 2 basketball courts and a volleyball court. The area under the north stands will be locker room facilities. Here is an excerpt from the press release:

"The Trienens Performance Center will feature a fieldhouse with three courts constructed inside the existing Trienens Hall, adjacent to Welsh-Ryan Arena. The facility will allow for construction of larger team locker rooms inside the Arena for men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball. "

Thanks. Guess there goes the potential additional parking spaces. Will the new practice facility be connected to the new W-R? ? I don't think that there are shower facilities in the old football building.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

We are if we can avoid the illnesses and season-ending injuries and keep the talent on the court.

As discussed in another thread, so far 4 of NU's 7 victories have come against Rutgers, PSU and Nebby, 3 of the B1G weakest programs. Another was against an uncharacteristically weak OSU squad (5-7). The remaining 2 against 6-6 IOA and 5-6 Indy.

NOT A SINGLE WIN over a team with a winning B1G record, and only one against a team with a non-losing B1G record.

As of TODAY, no reasons whatsoever to believe NU is "on par with the top half of the conference".

Let's beat Mary, Wiscy and PU (to whom we've lost earlier) without losing again to mediocre/weak B1G team. Then we may have reasons to claim to be "on par with the top half" of the B1G.

 

[mikewebb68]

As discussed in another thread, so far 4 of NU's 7 victories have come against Rutgers, PSU and Nebby, 3 of the B1G weakest programs. Another was against an uncharacteristically weak OSU squad (5-7). The remaining 2 against 6-6 IOA and 5-6 Indy.

NOT A SINGLE WIN over a team with a winning B1G record, and only one against a team with a non-losing B1G record.

As of TODAY, no reasons whatsoever to believe NU is "on par with the top half of the conference".

Let's beat Mary, Wiscy and PU (to whom we've lost earlier) without losing again to mediocre/weak B1G team. Then we may have reasons to claim to be "on par with the top half" of the B1G.

Is posting this point 1,000 times going to be your new version of your 5-4-2-5-2-4 nonsense?

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

I'd argue our starting lineup is better then bottom tier big ten. (When healthy) We have two of the most atheltic wings in the big ten. Pardon is also pretty athletic.

Law certainly looks the part, but outside of him and Lindsey (which the staff needed a couple years to develop) the roster doesn't stack up well with the rest of the conference blue bloods (except possibly Wisconsin). I love Pardon and what he brings to the table (his wingspan and motor are outstanding), but he's undersized for the position. There's a bit of a ceiling. The same can be said of McIntosh.

Let me be clear. I'm not taking anything away from this team. This bunch has some talent (elite talent by traditional NU standards...which can cloud one's judgment). What makes them NCAA tournament capable though isn't their athletic prowess, but rather their commitment to the fundamentals and how well they function as a unit. It's a testament to type of players and staff NU has.

You don't have a shot at making the dance with a bottom half talent level of the big ten.

Disagree.

The 'Cats almost made the tourney in 2011-12 with practically no bench, a starting center that was not BIG caliber, and PG who was relegated to a niche role by his senior season. That squad, like most in NU history, may have been the least athletic team in the conference.

Penn State made the dance the year prior with a roster that was certainly in the back of half the conference in terms of sheer talent.

There are other examples, but it's important to note that both of the squads had an All American type leading the charge. Just one player elite player can have a HUGE impact in basketball.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

the support that all athletics are getting is unbelievable. kudos to Phillips and Morty for doing what most thought was impossible.

 

[Sec_112]

I watched the Foundation. The drawing is really interesting, lots of Tiers and overhangs. Should be a really cool venue when complete.

Looks like the plans have already changed somewhat significantly compared to the original public drawings. Originally, there were three levels behind the baseline. Now there are two.

 

[NJCat]

Looks like the plans have already changed somewhat significantly compared to the original public drawings. Originally, there were three levels behind the baseline. Now there are two.

I think there is still some artistic license being used in the latest drawings. The number of people behind both baselines looks too large given that the size of the arena footprint isn't changing.

 

[willycat]

I think there is still some artistic license being used in the latest drawings. The number of people behind both baselines looks too large given that the size of the arena footprint isn't changing.

Spoke with someone in the parking lot last fall, who's company is working on the project and he said he thought that both the west and east walls were being pushed out.

 

[Max_Power]

I thought that the new facility was an extension of the current BB practice area or the land was somehow part of it. If not then what happens to that space under the current north stands? Part of the new W-R?

Spoke with someone in the parking lot last fall, who's company is working on the project and he said he thought that both the west and east walls were being pushed out.

They moved the softball scoreboard off the east wall and permanently relocated it. This would be consistent with the walls changing. Again, they are like a month out so the plans have to be somewhere!

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

Law certainly looks the part, but outside of him and Lindsey (which the staff needed a couple years to develop) the roster doesn't stack up well with the rest of the conference blue bloods (except possibly Wisconsin). I love Pardon and what he brings to the table (his wingspan and motor are outstanding), but he's undersized for the position. There's a bit of a ceiling. The same can be said of McIntosh.

Let me be clear. I'm not taking anything away from this team. This bunch has some talent (elite talent by traditional NU standards...which can cloud one's judgment). What makes them NCAA tournament capable though isn't their athletic prowess, but rather their commitment to the fundamentals and how well they function as a unit. It's a testament to type of players and staff NU has.



Disagree.

The 'Cats almost made the tourney in 2011-12 with practically no bench, a starting center that was not BIG caliber, and PG who was relegated to a niche role by his senior season. That squad, like most in NU history, may have been the least athletic team in the conference.

Penn State made the dance the year prior with a roster that was certainly in the back of half the conference in terms of sheer talent.

There are other examples, but it's important to note that both of the squads had an All American type leading the charge. Just one player elite player can have a HUGE impact in basketball.

Lindsey didn't get more athletic over his two years, he got a lot more consistent and stronger. Pardon is pretty athletic undersized yes but his put backs require atheltism. Otherwise ya BMac is a solid player gets a lot out of what he's given fundamentally sound with great court vision. But everytime I watch the cats they aren't being outclassed by better athletes. I have never felt the other was just to athletic for us to beat.(Purdue was the only game I felt like we didn't stand a chance).
Basically I'm not saying top big ten talent I'm saying for sure not lower tier big ten talent.

 

[NJCat]

They moved the softball scoreboard off the east wall and permanently relocated it. This would be consistent with the walls changing. Again, they are like a month out so the plans have to be somewhere!

Maybe. I was using the trusses as a reference and they don't seem to be changing vis-a-vis the east and west walls.

 

[willycat]

They moved the softball scoreboard off the east wall and permanently relocated it. This would be consistent with the walls changing. Again, they are like a month out so the plans have to be somewhere!

Can't imagine why they haven't shared at least the preliminary drawings, especially since the work l supposedly start in early March.

 

[NJCat]

Can't imagine why they haven't shared at least the preliminary drawings, especially since the work l supposedly start in early March.

Agree. Hope they put up a web cam during the project like the Taj Fitz has.