Yes this season has been frustrating and disappointing. Especially because of the heights we reached last year and expectations of a similar performance this year. I would suggest we move away from the ledge. While we have obviously not done as well as last year, and have had plenty of disappointing losses, I would suggest keeping it in perspective of NU basketball. As badly as we have played, look where we are. With everything gone wrong, we are but one game below 500 in BIG and with a potentially weaker part of our schedule remaining. If we only win 3 of last 7, there would only be one season (last year) where we exceeded that number of in season BIG wins in something like the last 50 seasons If we win 4 of last 7, we would end with a 0.500 BIG record for only the 3rd time in recent history. While it has not been a great season, that it is so disappointing is a reflection on just how far we have come
For those that have been about to jump off the bridge
- Thread starter hdhntr1
- Start date
Yeah, I think we'll go 4-3 the rest of the way. Say we go 1-1 in the BTT to finish 10-10; 19-14 overall. I hope we make the NIT - depends on how many at-large bids they hand out but we'll be right on the door step. If we get up to 21 wins this may put us on the NCAA bubble but that's stretching it.
No...it's look at how the current regime has changed expectations, to a point where two conference wins less than our highest in 60 years is considered a gargantuan failure by some.
i mentioned this the other day. its a disappointing season based on last year and returning players - but last year we probably overachieved and got lucky alot. this year we have underachieved and not gotten lucky. if we finish .500 we will be on track to have one best 4 year spans in NU history and our trending up as a program
Bingo, and we need to get real. Still fighting traditional powers and the academic standards might be more of a handicap in basketball than football.
It's not unrealistic to expect year over year improvement from a team with a lot of talent back and highly touted recruits. Anyone not disappointed is...never mind
I think the point is there's a difference between being disappointed and the sky is falling. Being disappointed is appropriate. There were huge expectations for this team but the team very clearly had no idea how to handle success.
But that doesn't mean we have to go off the ledge here. There is no reason to think the sky is falling and I have faith that this year's humbling will go a long way towards re-establishing the hunger that is missing.
Success is rarely linear.
But that doesn't mean we have to go off the ledge here. There is no reason to think the sky is falling and I have faith that this year's humbling will go a long way towards re-establishing the hunger that is missing.
Success is rarely linear.
Warning: gcg2013's account may have been hijacked!!!
Post totally out of character!!!!
...unless, of course, he evaluates the NU BkB program under standards of success that are completely different from those he applies to the NU FB program...
In principle, with 20 wins the cats should easily make the NCAA BUBBLE. Plenty of major con teams got AL bids last year with that sort of record. Case in point: MSU got an AL with a modest 19-14 (10-8) record and didn't even do that well in the BTT (1-1), nor seems to have had major "signature" wins...WF got one with a 19-13 record....and Vandy with 19-15.
Of course, one has to look at specifics (like good wins, bad loses, etc both by NU as well as other bubble teams)...but if they reach 19 or more wins they are in playy....not in of course, but in play for the NCAA-T.
You must be a Cubs fan - keep those expectations low, after all we always stunk in the past.
No, we used to be crappy so mediocre looked great. Now we are better so mediocre is, well mediocre. I am just suggesting it is not terrible.
Last edited:
My kenpom projection after our eight game winning streak is at 39! With quality wins over Michigan MSU,and Marlyand. Plus a win in BT Tournament has us at 22-10! Good enough to go dancing!
It would be great if it happens, because seeding is also important.
But (as discussed before) even 19 wins *MIGHT* be enough to get an AL bid (last year several major con teams made it with 19 wins,and didn't seem to have done anything extraordinary).
While that is supposedly possible, probably a stretch as pretty limited opportunities for good wins and perceived weakness of the BIG. Probably keeps us off the bubble. Now get to 21 wins and we would have gotten to 10-8 and two BTT wins. Bubble for us is probably between 20-21 wins
More likely that Ash plays in the NBA than NU gets on the bubble......
I think this is a good way to frame the season. Certainly disappointing, not a disaster though.
20 wins is NIT bubble. NCAA bubble is at least 22 wins at this point. The conference is terrible, we have no good wins, two bad losses to GT and IU, and there are only two games left on the schedule (UM & MSU) that will move the needle at all on our resume. We need to sweep the rest of the regular season to have any chance.
Like I said, MSU last year got an AL bid with only 19 wins, and didn't seem to have any really impressive win (and only won 1 in in the BTT). I think the others mentioned AL-receiving 19-win teams were in a similar situation.
That said, the more they win the better, as we all know. As a minimum, more wins would help seeding, which is also important.
Their wins over Minnesota (twice), Michigan, us, Wisconsin, and Wichita State were all significantly more impressive than any wins on NU’s schedule this year. Our best win right now is Penn State.
Edit: Our best win is now Michigan. The tournament analysis remains the same.
Last edited: