First 2 years below .500

[olsh]

27-30 overall, 10-18 in conference in first two years.

Coach Collins?

Nope, Coach K at Duke.

Even the third year was a struggle, 11-17 and 3-11 in conference. Year 4 they made the NCAAs.

I'm willing to wait. I like the direction we are headed. A lot.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

I think u r right! We are on the up n up!

 

[Hungry Jack]

I hope year 3 is a break-through year for this team. 9-9 in the conference would count, IMO. With Olah and Demps as seniors, plus Van Man and the kids a year older, it might just happen. Maybe. Hopefully.

 

[clarificationcat]

I have had no expectations to this point other than to see the team play hard and players improve. I agree that we need to jump a tier next year in the conference and be one of the bubble teams.

 

[SouthportCat]

Hey, Dan Dakich said we'd be a Top 5 team in the B10 next year! That nugget was buried in the final two minutes, for anyone who was still interested in watching the game.

I honestly thought I had hallucinated for a moment.

That said, I echo the sentiments. Next year's team should be talented and a lot of fun to watch.

 

[thewildcat2011]

A third year under .500 would be an absolute momentum killer. In some ways, Collins is a victim of his own limited success so far. Winning 6 conference games each year has been more than a lot of people thought we would win. Need to keep improving and win 7+ next year to really show progress.

 

[LANGHORNE DAVE]

Boy, I sure hope you're right but if I remember, Coach K finished 2nd to a number of nationally ranked recruits before breaking through. While Collins has stepped up his recruiting, we're still not involved with kids that Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana or even Illinois are after. Have to admit a bit discouraged after bowing out meekly yesterday while Michigan and Penn State showed much more life in their games. Throw in those bad losses to Illinois and Iowa to end the season, I would have liked to see a better end to the season. Let's hope our freshmen show that improvement as they become sophs.

 

[thewildcat2011]

We're in on a couple of very big 2016 targets. I think Collins needs to land one of them.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[olsh]

Maybe you are right LD.

But I think you are thinking of our own Bill Foster, who was 2nd to a number of nationally ranked recruits before breaking through with Gene Banks. Mighta been with K too. Wouldn't be too down about the end, good learning experiences this year for the freshmen. Also, not sure that the PSU - NU comparison is that worrisome, as PSU has done it thanks to one star senior with significantly more experience.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

Originally posted by LANGHORNE DAVE:
Have to admit a bit discouraged after bowing out meekly yesterday while Michigan and Penn State showed much more life in their games. Throw in those bad losses to Illinois and Iowa to end the season, I would have liked to see a better end to the season.

I thought we finished he season in phenomenal fashion, winning 5 of 8 after starting 1-10. We were beating every team we were supposed to, and a couple teams that were supposed to beat us. Not sure how you can find that disappointing...

 

[olsh]

I get it -- when you go 5 out of 6, then come out flat and get your butt kicked in the final 2, not very competitive ... I can definitely see the disappointment. I was disappointed too and yet very positive about the season as a whole.

But if our energy was better the last 2 games, I'm sure we'd be getting ready for the CBI. We just had a look of a team that was purely spent last night. Understandable with how the season went, but also disappointing for sure.

 

[Gladeskat]

Originally posted by olshin:
I get it -- when you go 5 out of 6, then come out flat and get your butt kicked in the final 2, not very competitive ... I can definitely see the disappointment. I was disappointed too and yet very positive about the season as a whole.

But if our energy was better the last 2 games, I'm sure we'd be getting ready for the CBI. We just had a look of a team that was purely spent last night. Understandable with how the season went, but also disappointing for sure.

While winning six games was great, those blowout losses at the end pointed to just how much more we have to improve to become a legit tournament team. We are still way behind in the talent and skills we need to have to become an upper level B1G team. That gap will narrow with experience and better recruiting. It may take a few years, though.

 

[EvanstonCat]

The guy we really need to land is Baret Benson of Willowbrook. He's a big time center. Keep him home. I don't see anyone else on the list. Who were you talking about? Maybe

We really could have benefitted from landing Henry Ellenson. But, then I state the obvious.

 

[Katatonic]

What has really stunk being an NU fan is no post-season for both FB and BB 2 seasons in a row; which after the run of 4/5-consecutive in both, thought days of these post season droughts would be over.

Next season, barring any unfortunate circumstances, expect 1 of the 2 to make the post season, but at this juncture, not sure which has the better shot.

One thing to note, even programs like PSU have gotten just as good, if not better guard/wing players (their achilles heel has been the lack of above avg-bigs).