BOO IS BACK!!!
- Thread starter Gocatsgo2003
- Start date
I love what this team looks like even if Chase doesn’t come back. You have two anchors at the 1 and the 5 and exciting/proven wing options all around them who can compete for playing time. And you have a mature coaching staff including the leader of the last NCAA team to preach about the sins of complacency.
Couple of things on this: (1) this team is not complacent - lots of work being put in already; (2) I am not sure the last team was complacent, I just remember them having no joy at all, especially Lindsey. We had more than one conversation about how he looked like the last place he wanted to be was the Allstate Arena.
I agree that the team looks very promising with Buie back.
But Barnhizer is a starter, so he isn't really competing for minutes.
If Audige comes back and is willing to take a reduced role, that would be ideal.
If by reduced role you mean 35 minutes instead of 39, then yes! If you mean what I think you mean (the conference’s best defender and a team leader playing 20-25 minutes game), then no.
well I was thinking 25-28... but I'm assuming the transfers can play productive minutes and that Audige would not be the point guard when Buie is sitting.
The main part of "reduced role" would be 4th (or 5th) option on offense.
What a difference a year makes. This time last May, this board was melting down after losing Nance and Young and with most wanting Collins fired. Many of us saw a team that would struggle to win a game in the B1G. Pundits had the team pegged for 13th in the league.
Today, we have a First Team All B1G guard returning, a national COTY signed for another 5 years, three promising transfers, and a legitimate shot at winning the B1G. Makes my head spin!
Today, we have a First Team All B1G guard returning, a national COTY signed for another 5 years, three promising transfers, and a legitimate shot at winning the B1G. Makes my head spin!
Yeah, I know PWB doesn't love Audige like many of the rest of us, but the way he describes it is ok by me. Starter, lock-down defender, third scoring option, more rest than he used to get = Pretty good way of using him.
If he's in the game at the end, it's because NU needs to make a defensive stop and/or he's looking to pass to Boo, Langborg, or Barnhizer (I'll accept good alley-oop passes to Matt of course) and not as someone trying to get/make a last shot.
If he's in the game at the end, it's because NU needs to make a defensive stop and/or he's looking to pass to Boo, Langborg, or Barnhizer (I'll accept good alley-oop passes to Matt of course) and not as someone trying to get/make a last shot.
Audige has the ability, when hot, to take over the game scoring. He’s just not consistent. Given his defense he should still be taking as many min as he can handle. Offensively hopefully Buie and Audige won’t have to shoulder as much of the load. This team has the potential between Buie, Audige, Barnhizer, and Langborg to have a different top scorer on any given night.
It won’t be so much Audige having a “reduced role” more of a this isn’t all on you and Buie. The min and role on the team will be similar to last year. The role itself is changed with the addition of Langborg and development of Barnhizer.
The line up as is going into next year is very exciting. One more scholarship to fill. Buie is a very important addition not just because of his talent but the role he plays in NU’s offense is irreplaceable.
This is great news. Retention of key players like Boo stabilizes the program and enables the program to be competitive year after year. I like the team’s prospects with the Collins extension (hopefully other assistants will also be retained and rewarded) - that the program will continue its success at a high level moving forward. I have to say last year was a pleasant surprise how well we performed without any expectations of success prior to the season. Last year’s season and tournament was especially great for me with both the Wildcats and San Diego State winning during the regular season and their tournament wins. I’m so looking forward to next season as both teams appear to be reloading rather than rebuilding. Expectations are high. Go Cats!!
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Boo was at Matt Nicholson's 21st birthday party in downtown Chicago.
Chase was not. Hopefully that means nothing...
Chase was not. Hopefully that means nothing...
This is excellent news! If Boo still has the desire to play at the next level, I expect he will spend the off season working even harder at raising his game and that worked out really well last year.
I love Matt, but the coolest alley-oop I saw from NU last season was finished by Chase!
Hard to sit such a strong defensive player and maybe last season the team couldn't afford to sit him. But this year the team looks deep enough. CA might benefit from reduced PT...
Here's hoping NU gets him back.
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Need a PF 4 spot transfer for final scholarship. Wings - SG spot now have 4 player rotation. 2 transfers plus Berry and Barnhizer back fills gap Chase would leave. PG back up needs a step up from Berry or First Year for 7-8 minutes per game to rest Boo. Boo is Big Ten MVP.
Disagree. Boo, Chase, BB, Mart and Matt
Bring Berry like the 3 and D that he was meant to be.
Yeah, the idea that Chase would be anything other than 2 or even 1a is ridiculous
Ole Bob doesn’t come visit as often as the Rant days. OleBob sad long ago he thinks they are a package and thinks chase is returning too. OleBob is excited about the idea of 13 schollie players -some not awe inspiring - but 13 is fantastic.
OleBob will plan to fly around to away games and offer opportunities to y’all. So let’s start planning!
If they can give him a nice NIL deal I would think he’s back. His only other real options would be to transfer to another school OR go play in Serbia or something similar
Not sure what this means. Audige clearly wore down last year, presumably from playing so many minutes. His 2nd half was a bit grim. He's a great defender. He is an average scorer. On a team with Buie, Nicholson, Barnhizer and probably Martinelli likely to be better options on offense - then you have Ty Berry, 6'4" Ryan Langborg and 6'6" Justin Mullins vying for minutes at the 2 and 3 positions... Audige basically has to play fewer minutes and should have a reduced role in the offense.
If Langborg and Mullins can't cut it, thats a different situation. But Mullins looks promising and Langborg led his team to two NCAA tournament wins, so its hard to imagine they won't play for NU.
He will benefit greatly from still playing 35+ minutes but not having to be the #2 scorer most nights - or the secondary ball handler - with Brooks, Matt, and Langborg shouldering load, ESPECIALLY Brooks and Langborg handling the ball. It’ll allow Chase to work on the offense in flow and not have to expend maximum energy on both sides while he’s slapping the floor playing elite D.