Game Thread: Northwestern vs. DePaul

[mshelton33]

Northwestern (3-0) hosts DePaul (3-0) tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game is set to tip at 8 pm CT and will air on BTN.

 

[EagerFan]

This is bad.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

This is bad.

We're holding our own so far, but DePaul's offensive rebounds are concerning.

 

[SDakaGordie]

We're holding our own so far, but DePaul's offensive rebounds are concerning.

Really concerning.

 

[SmellyCat]

Not to mention all the wide-open 3 point attempts. NU is lucky they’re missing them.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Not to mention all the wide-open 3 point attempts. NU is lucky they’re missing them.

We are 5 for 18 from 2-point land…

 

[EagerFan]

We’ll see what the coaches get going in the second half. DePauls plan of smothering Jake and LA and trusting their defensive rebounding is working pretty well.

that’s while shooting 19% from three.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Wins are going to be infrequent.

 

[TheC]

This product on the court is really inexcusable. I don’t know if it’s Chris Collins’ fault or the athletic department’s fault or the university, but they have shirked all responsibility to assemble a basketball roster. I don’t want to knock these kids, but they simply aren’t high level college basketball players. To run this roster out there as a BIG10 team in 2026 is unacceptable.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

This product on the court is really inexcusable. I don’t know if it’s Chris Collins’ fault or the athletic department’s fault or the university, but they have shirked all responsibility to assemble a basketball roster. I don’t want to knock these kids, but they simply aren’t high level college basketball players. To run this roster out there as a BIG10 team in 2026 is unacceptable.

Do you think they missed on all their NIL targets, or there wasn't enough NIL to go after better targets, or was there sufficient NIL but it wasn't spent wisely? Which of those three do you think is most likely?

 

[EagerFan]

This is depressing. I’d feel better if DePaul was any good. Is it twenty years ago again?

 

[SDakaGordie]

This product on the court is really inexcusable. I don’t know if it’s Chris Collins’ fault or the athletic department’s fault or the university, but they have shirked all responsibility to assemble a basketball roster. I don’t want to knock these kids, but they simply aren’t high level college basketball players. To run this roster out there as a BIG10 team in 2026 is unacceptable.

Or maybe academic requirements limited our pool?

 

[TheC]

Do you think they missed on all their NIL targets, or there wasn't enough NIL to go after better targets, or was there sufficient NIL but it wasn't spent wisely? Which of those three do you think is most likely?

I’m guessing the first two

 

[TheC]

Or maybe academic requirements limited our pool?

Same requirements as always and we haven’t been this outmanned since the Kevin O’Neil years. Someone dropped the ball.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Same requirements as always and we haven’t been this outmanned since the Kevin O’Neil years. Someone dropped the ball.

But when you add in sub-par NIL money’for NU, and just the fact that there is NIL money and lots of great players are aiming for and staying in college, it’s not the KON years.

 

[EagerFan]

If there isn’t funding to build and keep a competitive team, it’s not much different.

 

[SmellyCat]

Jake West has great basketball instincts. I'm not sure anyone else on the team has passable instincts.

I wonder what the record is for the most shots blocked in a season, because NU might make a push for that record this year.

 

[wildcatpn]

This product on the court is really inexcusable. I don’t know if it’s Chris Collins’ fault or the athletic department’s fault or the university, but they have shirked all responsibility to assemble a basketball roster. I don’t want to knock these kids, but they simply aren’t high level college basketball players. To run this roster out there as a BIG10 team in 2026 is unacceptable.

Regardless of who’s at fault, this has to be a wake up call that more money needs to be spent if this team will ever be competitive again. To have zero front line is unacceptable. This program had some momentum a couple years ago and they’ve squandered it all. And there are many to blame.

 

[SDakaGordie]

If there isn’t funding to build and keep a competitive team, it’s not much different.

It is funding AND academic requirements (that get in the way of guys who are trying to earn more and more NIL money playing basketball).

I would appreciate it (for no other reason) if we can stop blaming and tearing down, without evidence, the really good people who are doing their best for Northwestern.

 

[wildcatpn]

It is funding AND academic requirements (that get in the way of guys who are trying to earn more and more NIL money playing basketball).

I would appreciate it (for no other reason) if we can stop blaming and tearing down, without evidence, the really good people who are doing their best for Northwestern.

There are more than enough academically qualified players if the money was there. The academic requirements have been eased. The only bright side is that it looks like this season is going to be a disaster and Jackson/Chiang are not Gragg/Schill and they will not allow this program to become a perennial embarrassment.

 

[catcrazy]

Yes but this is painful to watch. We have some big donors let's get them to chip in money or hire Matt Painter as an assistant coach()!!

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

It is funding AND academic requirements (that get in the way of guys who are trying to earn more and more NIL money playing basketball).

I would appreciate it (for no other reason) if we can stop blaming and tearing down, without evidence, the really good people who are doing their best for Northwestern.

I seem to remember (but correct me if I'm wrong) discussions that indicated that grad transfers are easier to get through admissions. Aren't grad transfers precisely the types of players we should be targeting with NIL?

 

[MCC_Cat]

This is truly KON level talent on this team. I don't think our 5's would start on NAIA schools. I'll be shocked if we win a BIG game this year. Epic.

 

[1830 S herman]

I would appreciate it (for no other reason) if we can stop blaming and tearing down, without evidence, the really good people who are doing their best for Northwestern.

67 — 47
2nd • 00:00

This is the evidence.

 

[SDakaGordie]

There are more than enough academically qualified players if the money was there. The academic requirements have been eased. The only bright side is that it looks like this season is going to be a disaster and Jackson/Chiang are not Gragg/Schill and they will not allow this program to become a perennial embarrassment.

I think history tells us that these high-academic players are not the ones typically winning basketball championships regularly, and that a school’s winning history matters a lot to top players. We have a much smaller pool and we need way more $ (and great coaching) to offset it. But, I agree we are in as good hands currently as we could be.

 

[SDakaGordie]

67 — 47
2nd • 00:00

This is the evidence.

Of having bad people in charge of our program? Give me a break.

 

[1830 S herman]

Uh, didn't say "bad people." I'm sure they are good people. However, the product they are putting on the floor is, in fact, bad.

 

[Hungry Jack]

47 points yeesh

 

[catcrazy]

After we lost to Illinois State in a scrimmage the paper bags were being made. This is not an acceptable product. Collins is a good coach but you can't coach Chuck Nevitt to be Lew Alcindor.

 

[wildcatpn]

I think history tells us that these high-academic players are not the ones typically winning basketball championships regularly, and that a school’s winning history matters a lot to top players. We have a much smaller pool and we need way more $ (and great coaching) to offset it. But, I agree we are in as good hands currently as we could be.

Winning history means a lot less in today’s day and age when money speaks.

 

[prez77]

47 points yeesh

It shouldn't have been that close. DePaul kept heaving up 3s they couldn't make instead of pounding inside where they were totally dominant.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

DePaul totally dominated the Cats. The DePaul center Magoon Gwath played his first 2 years at San Diego State so I was familiar with him as a top inside man and shot blocker. Gwath took over the inside in this game. The Cats were physically overwhelmed and looked weak. Could be a long season for the Cats in the BigTen. The Cats appear to lack the talent and size needed to successfully compete in the BigTen. Not a good look for the program.

(Not as bad as my other school, UC San Diego which is down 91-43 early in the 2nd half with 16:00 left. Utah State has 22 three pointers!)

 

[Baz = Heisman]

We ******* suck

 

[Baz = Heisman]

Same requirements as always and we haven’t been this outmanned since the Kevin O’Neil years. Someone dropped the ball.

They always limit our pool, which I’m fine with and it’s one of our noble principles, but holy **** we are bad. In fairness, colllege sports blows now. NIL killed it. I’d be much more upset if this was back when college sports was great.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

We simply don’t invest enough to compete. When some in your league triple your expenditures, you won’t beat them. We have 1 legitimate B1G starter. Only a few guys could come off the pine for other decent B1G teams. Hopefully we kept some cash in the piggy bank for next year. Only 2 of the 7 transfers are contributing. This isn’t the team you bring in if you had money. That should be obvious to everyone. They better get help for West next year or he’s going somewhere else.

 

[MCC_Cat]

I hope we get Hodge and he gets some experience. I don't know what hope there is for the bigs unless McEldon can actually move the needle if he returns.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

It is funding AND academic requirements (that get in the way of guys who are trying to earn more and more NIL money playing basketball).

I would appreciate it (for no other reason) if we can stop blaming and tearing down, without evidence, the really good people who are doing their best for Northwestern.

Nobody ever gets fired in SD world. Medicracy is the high bar, existence is the expectation. Accountability is removed from the dictionary.

I’m not a CCC basher. He convinced me a while back that he has grown into the HC role and its related responsibilities. My disappointment is that ccc would agree to this scenario. And for that, I blame him.

Either he believed in the squad assembled for this year or the budget was woefully inadequate for the league and academic expectations and after losing his entire squad, ccc said ok, I’ll take your money and run the best D2 squad the B1G his ever seen. Either scenario reflects poorly on ccc. And the latter reflects poorly on the new regime too. None inspire me to try spend money and time chasing the team around the country.

Just my two cents as SD rolls into his typical either blindly support or you are a hater response.

 

[EagerFan]

It is funding AND academic requirements (that get in the way of guys who are trying to earn more and more NIL money playing basketball).

I would appreciate it (for no other reason) if we can stop blaming and tearing down, without evidence, the really good people who are doing their best for Northwestern.

Blaming academics would have more juice if we hadn’t just failed to retain all of the guys we wanted to retain from last year’s team. There’s evidence that, for example, Tre would be able to get past admissions, and the school wasn’t willing to hire him for a second year.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

I think history tells us that these high-academic players are not the ones typically winning basketball championships regularly, and that a school’s winning history matters a lot to top players. We have a much smaller pool and we need way more $ (and great coaching) to offset it. But, I agree we are in as good hands currently as we could be.

And I think that the last ten years of final four participants show otherwise. Raise your hand if you could live with one final four in a lifetime. Now raise your hand if NU has reached the sweet sixteen in your lifetime.

Before we worry about dynasties like when Gonzaga broke into the scene, or even the infrequent but repeated appearances of Valpo, maybe we can focus on a single Rose bowl-esque appearance just once in my lifetime?

 

[Catreporter]

No one but Jake and LA can create their own shot and they have to work so hard to do that. And the rebounding is atrocious. Put Ghai in there to get some experience. The other two bigs are worthless. This team could go 0-20 in the BIG. Collins worst team by far. I plan on eating my season tickets for the most part because this team will be unwatchable against Big Ten teams.