Bilas on NU

[NJCat]

From his twitter account:

"Northwestern is a fun team to watch, and will play in the NCAA Tournament. Bryant McIntosh, Scottie Lindsey and Vic Law are really good."

https://twitter.com/JayBilas

 

[NJCat]

From his twitter account:

"Northwestern is a fun team to watch, and will play in the NCAA Tournament. Bryant McIntosh, Scottie Lindsey and Vic Law are really good."

https://twitter.com/JayBilas

Dickie V climbs aboard the NU Bandwagon:

"This will be the year @NUMensBball will make the @NCAA tourney for the 1st time! @coach_collins has a hustling hungry team"

 

[YesterdaysCat]

From his twitter account:

"Northwestern is a fun team to watch, and will play in the NCAA Tournament. Bryant McIntosh, Scottie Lindsey and Vic Law are really good."

https://twitter.com/JayBilas

Any wagers on Coach bolting after the season if we make the dance? I say if we make the field it's 50-50. I totally wouldn't begrudge him either. One tourney appearance is one more than I ever thought I'd live to witness.

 

[TheC]

Can we not get ahead of ourselves and start listening to this nonsense? We beat a mediocre Penn State team. Its still frickin' December.

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

Any wagers on Coach bolting after the season if we make the dance? I say if we make the field it's 50-50. I totally wouldn't begrudge him either. One tourney appearance is one more than I ever thought I'd live to witness.

As he is from here I really don't see him leaving unless a blue blood program opens - but I have no idea. We were saying the same thing about Fitzgerald not too long ago - things change quickly.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

As he is from here I really don't see him leaving unless a blue blood program opens - but I have no idea. We were saying the same thing about Fitzgerald not too long ago - things change quickly.

If we did something crazy like make the Sweet 16, he would be crazy not to cash in.

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

If we did something crazy like make the Sweet 16, he would be crazy not to cash in.

Couldn't he just cash in at NU? Why would leaving to go to some random school be better for him?

 

[NUCat320]

As he is from here I really don't see him leaving unless a blue blood program opens - but I have no idea. We were saying the same thing about Fitzgerald not too long ago - things change quickly.

Coach K is 69 years old.

In about 3 years, they'll have to figure out who is most accomplished and the best fit:
Capel
Wojo
CCC
Some other jabroni

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

Coach K is 69 years old.

In about 3 years, they'll have to figure out who is most accomplished and the best fit:
Capel
Wojo
CCC
Some other jabroni

Agree if duke, Kentucky, UNC, Kansas open up and he was offered he would go, for sure duke. But if something like Texas or Georgia tech or Illinois etc why would he leave?

 

[catcrazy]

He's not going to the Illini. He already turned down that job. Unless duke comes calling I doubt he leaves. He is from Chicago and can become the Coach K of NU

 

[DC Cats]

It all depends on what CCC's goals are.

If he wants to coach in the NBA, Collins probably won't jump to a blue-blood program unless it offers a clear and immediate upgrade in talent and exposure from where NU is right now. I don't think there are a lot of programs with HC openings that fit that description right now. Jumping directly from NU to the NBA might be a possibility in the future, but we'd have to have a couple seasons like Butler did under Stevens first.

I don't believe that CCC will jump on an HC opportunity at a blue-blood just for the sake of climbing the ladder or making more money. He spent a long time as an assistant at Duke and could have started moving up the coaching ranks much earlier if that was his primary motivation. That said, I wouldn't be shocked if it happened. I just don't think it's very likely. The one exception is, of course, Duke. When that job opens up, I don't know whether it'll be Collins, Wojo, or someone else getting the offer, but we all know that CCC is more likely to go than stay if he's the Chosen One.

The third possibility is that Collins wants to do what Coach K did at Duke. Maybe he looked at NU, saw a small, academically-minded school and realized that this was the perfect place to build a program, establish a legacy as a top coach, and rejuvenate the college basketball scene in his hometown. This is definitely my preferred outcome, and I think it's a realistic possibility.

One thing's for sure - if the team keeps playing like it has been so far this season, we'll have our answer soon enough.

 

[T_Levine]

It will come down to one thing. If he thinks we could ever be a final four program. If he answers yes, then 30 years from now the floor at welsh Ryan will be called Chris Collins court.

 

[Kelly_32_rivals]

You never want to follow a legend. You follow the guy that got fired that followed the legend.

 

[NUCat320]

Agree if duke, Kentucky, UNC, Kansas open up and he was offered he would go, for sure duke. But if something like Texas or Georgia tech or Illinois etc why would he leave?

I think NU is actually a pretty good place to coach, especially with the facility upgrades.

I believe that what makes NU a challenge - lack of history, lack of stature in the local sports scene - also makes it a better place to coach. At many other places, three years *without even an NIT bid* could have gotten him fired. At NU, that's not the case.

In short, I don't think the grass is greener at most other places. And I think - based on the time he waited (as a later poster noted) to take his first lead gig - that CCC has a similar approach.

 

[Medill90]

I think a lot of his future will depend on recruiting and NU admissions. If he experiences over several years that he has little to no chance of bringing in high four and five star talent because NU admissions are so difficult it may very well be the factor that sends him on his way. But I think he needs more data to make that determination and I think it's a factor that is amorphous.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

Couldn't he just cash in at NU? Why would leaving to go to some random school be better for him?

Probably not NU because it's hard as hell to recruit here, much harder than Duke even before 'Duke became Duke.' Not to mention our players are the types you have to coax into signing NDAs just to shut em up.

 

[NJCat]

Probably not NU because it's hard as hell to recruit here, much harder than Duke even before 'Duke became Duke.'

Note: Duke has always been Duke. Great history of successful basketball. Cameron indoor is named for a successful coach who started winning in the 20's. They've had a total of 7 head coaches in the 70 years since Cameron, showing just how successful their run has been. Coach K has been exceptional but he wasn't starting with the NU history against him.

 

[JournCat]

The coach that gets us to the tournament will be virtually unfireable. Collins could have filled in Johnnie Vassar's timesheets himself. Plus the media hype between the NU mafia, the Doug Collins acolytes and the Coach K fans will be unimaginable. He'll get a big extension, unmatched job security, and a soon-to-be-upgraded facility in one of the best basketball markets in the country ... which is his hometown. You leave that for nothing short of a national brand, in my opinion.

 

[NJCat]

[QUOTE="JournCat, post: 386850, member: 926" You leave that for nothing short of a national brand, in my opinion.[/QUOTE]

Which is what Duke, his alma mater, is......

If Duke called, I think he would have a really tough decision to make. I think NU would throw the kitchen sink at him to get him to stay, but would it be enough?

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

[QUOTE="JournCat, post: 386850, member: 926" You leave that for nothing short of a national brand, in my opinion.

Which is what Duke, his alma mater, is......

If Duke called, I think he would have a really tough decision to make. I think NU would throw the kitchen sink at him to get him to stay, but would it be enough?

I don't think he'd follow Coach K directly. Now...the guy after...

 

[shakes3858]

You never want to follow a legend. You follow the guy that got fired that followed the legend.

Except someone out of Brey, wojo, Collins, Capel... is going to be the guy following the legend.... so when that guy is fired, the narrative will be Coach K's assistants aren't Coach K so they'll go a different route.

If Collins wants to go to Duke, and he's offered, he should take it...but the only way he's getting the offer is if he gets an elite 8 and another year in the sweet 16. In that case, I'll shake his hand, wish him the best of luck at Duke on his way out (I might kiss him on the lips too) and root for Duke in every game.

 

[NJCat]

[QUOTE="shakes3858, post: 386905, member: 936" I'll shake his hand, wish him the best of luck at Duke on his way out (I might kiss him on the lips too) and root for Duke in every game.[/QUOTE]

I'll wish him luck too. But no way can I root for Duke.

 

[hdhntr1]

It all depends on what CCC's goals are.

If he wants to coach in the NBA, Collins probably won't jump to a blue-blood program unless it offers a clear and immediate upgrade in talent and exposure from where NU is right now. I don't think there are a lot of programs with HC openings that fit that description right now. Jumping directly from NU to the NBA might be a possibility in the future, but we'd have to have a couple seasons like Butler did under Stevens first.

I don't believe that CCC will jump on an HC opportunity at a blue-blood just for the sake of climbing the ladder or making more money. He spent a long time as an assistant at Duke and could have started moving up the coaching ranks much earlier if that was his primary motivation. That said, I wouldn't be shocked if it happened. I just don't think it's very likely. The one exception is, of course, Duke. When that job opens up, I don't know whether it'll be Collins, Wojo, or someone else getting the offer, but we all know that CCC is more likely to go than stay if he's the Chosen One.

The third possibility is that Collins wants to do what Coach K did at Duke. Maybe he looked at NU, saw a small, academically-minded school and realized that this was the perfect place to build a program, establish a legacy as a top coach, and rejuvenate the college basketball scene in his hometown. This is definitely my preferred outcome, and I think it's a realistic possibility.

One thing's for sure - if the team keeps playing like it has been so far this season, we'll have our answer soon enough.

And now that he has new facilities coming, a lot of reasons to stay

 

[YesterdaysCat]

The coach that gets us to the tournament will be virtually unfireable. Collins could have filled in Johnnie Vassar's timesheets himself. Plus the media hype between the NU mafia, the Doug Collins acolytes and the Coach K fans will be unimaginable. He'll get a big extension, unmatched job security, and a soon-to-be-upgraded facility in one of the best basketball markets in the country ... which is his hometown. You leave that for nothing short of a national brand, in my opinion.

Yeah I totally agree with this. There are some national brands with coaches who are in their 60s or older. Syracuse, Louisville, Duke, UNC to cite a few. Those schools don't offer job security but they make it much easier to succeed, too, with much more money available and without the academic standards.

 

[GOUNUII]

And now that he has new facilities coming, a lot of reasons to stay

Here's an angle that hasn't been considered. The 2018 class is going to be HUGE to Collins' future at NU. I think he'll be successful enough this year and next to be targeted for openings at brand schools after each season. If he likes what he has in the 2018 class, that may be the largest factor of all in keeping him. If he doesn't, and he knows he was recruiting off unprecedented success, notoriety and facility upgrades, he may make a business decision to cash in. Remember, this guy is passionate about the young men who cast their lot with him. The 2018 class could make or break his future at NU.

GOUNUII

 

[Gladeskat]

Except someone out of Brey, wojo, Collins, Capel... is going to be the guy following the legend.... so when that guy is fired, the narrative will be Coach K's assistants aren't Coach K so they'll go a different route.

Nah. Collins will have taken us to 5 NCAA tourneys by then. He'll be even harder to ignore.

 

[Gladeskat]

Here's an angle that hasn't been considered. The 2018 class is going to be HUGE to Collins' future at NU. I think he'll be successful enough this year and next to be targeted for openings at brand schools after each season. If he likes what he has in the 2018 class, that may be the largest factor of all in keeping him. If he doesn't, and he knows he was recruiting off unprecedented success, notoriety and facility upgrades, he may make a business decision to cash in. Remember, this guy is passionate about the young men who cast their lot with him. The 2018 class could make or break his future at NU.

GOUNUII

I'd be concerned right after his kids graduate from high school.

 

[EvanstonCat]

As he is from here I really don't see him leaving unless a blue blood program opens - but I have no idea. We were saying the same thing about Fitzgerald not too long ago - things change quickly.

Could be wrong, but I think Collins is a lifer. Only possibility I see is that he goes back to Duke to succeed Coach K, but I think he wants to build his own program like Coach K did at Duke (though arguably, Coach K followed Foster). It's probably wishful thinking on my part, but I think Collins is a Chicago boy, and he will never be able to surpass Coach K at Duke, and would rather be the Coach K for NU. Building it up to national prominence.

Collins has the opportunity to become like a John Wooden, Bobby Knight, a Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, or an Adolph Rupp. Legendary coaches who defined their programs and put them on the map. Then again, he might be fine with being more of a Roy Williams or Rick Pitino, or John Calipari, or Tom Izzo, all of whom followed legends and still made a name for themselves. If he does leave, I won't harbour any grudges, especially if he brings us a couple Final Fours and a national championship along the way. Not to mention something like 5 consecutive B1G titles.

 

[DaCat]

Could be wrong, but I think Collins is a lifer. Only possibility I see is that he goes back to Duke to succeed Coach K, but I think he wants to build his own program like Coach K did at Duke (though arguably, Coach K followed Foster). It's probably wishful thinking on my part, but I think Collins is a Chicago boy, and he will never be able to surpass Coach K at Duke, and would rather be the Coach K for NU. Building it up to national prominence.

I agree with ECat on this one, and have stated in previous posts why I think he'll be a lifer. Most recently NU announced the major renovation of WRA, demonstrating again how Collins has the 100% backing of this administration. I love seeing him sing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley or shoot pucks at a Black Hawks game. He's having a great time living the dream. And Doug Collins is a diehard fingernail-chewing NU fan now. For me, having gone to grad school at Duke, the Evanston/Chicago area blows away Raleigh-Durham. I don't see him leaving any time soon for another college job, even Duke.