Happy Anniversary Chris Collins
- Thread starter Alvious
- Start date
Jim Phillips said at the first rally in Salt Lake City, "We took a chance on Chris Collins, and he took a chance on us."
It's crazy, we've already made the NCAA Tourny and yet we look better on paper next season! The job he's done is incredible.
I think the difference next year is going to be remarkable.
Not to discount Lumpkin and Taphorn but they were not our top two or three players (Lumpkin might have been our second best defender I suppose, and that was important). Most college teams graduate more than that.
We will be stronger at Center Pardon and Benson are only a sophomore and a freshmen. They are going to grow.
Mac, Lindsay and Law have tasted success and won't stop now. I think Law still has some strength development to do that he couldn't do due to his shoulder surgery.
The bench will be deeper and though not tested as fully, are highly regarded and will be better.
And finally, I think they will be more confident from game one. The intimidation factor will switch in NU's direction.
I always hesitate to "expect big things" simply because its happens consistently in collegiate sports where a team brings nearly everyone back and then under-performs. That said, the mental strength that is building within this squad is something special. They never seem to give up, which was evidenced by the lack of blowout losses this season.
Yes and for what it is worth, I thought that toughness seemed to expand at the end of the season which for my money will carry over into the beginning of next.
I am optimistic. However, it will be interesting to see if the hunger is still there. Last years team did something historic. Recreating the urgency behind "It's our time" won't be easy. We've seen the FB team stumble after a big season (all the "4:08 from undefeated" nonsense), and you never know with 18-22 year old young men.
This year's team demonstrated tremendous team unity and unselfishness. While I agree that our overall talent level will increase next year, it will be a challenge to replicate the intangibles. It will be another year of great opportunity and I do believe CC is up to the challenge of building on this year's success.
I think you'll see a TON of heart from our seniors this coming season. Sanjay and Tap showed the way. Seniors gotta make big plays in big moments.
Yeah, I guess and I suppose you really have to screw yourself up to make the step they made. Could be exhausting but some how I feel like they were disappointed not to go farther. I'm hoping it is a kind of breaking through the wall sort of thing, like a light going on.
We must be one of the most experienced teams next season. Of the scholarship players:
4th year for Mac, Lindsey, and Skelly.
3rd year for Law (redshirt injury year), Pardon, Ash.
2nd year for Falzon (redshirt injury year), Brown, Benson.
1st year for Rap (redshirt injury year), Gaines, ?
We could be starting 3 seniors and 2 juniors, though Falzon could start over Skelly by the Big Ten season. So yeah, I expect this team to be better next year. The experience, chemistry, and fire in the belly is all there.
4th year for Mac, Lindsey, and Skelly.
3rd year for Law (redshirt injury year), Pardon, Ash.
2nd year for Falzon (redshirt injury year), Brown, Benson.
1st year for Rap (redshirt injury year), Gaines, ?
We could be starting 3 seniors and 2 juniors, though Falzon could start over Skelly by the Big Ten season. So yeah, I expect this team to be better next year. The experience, chemistry, and fire in the belly is all there.
Four years and the first recruiting class ...
Yes, I'm a happy fan.
But I couldn't be happier to hear CC proclaim he wants more than this. For so long, we'd hear the garbage of satisifaction about just getting into the tournament. That was so Northwestern. We needed someone with bigger ideas, sharper skills and the luck that comes with extra effort to lead the program out of that ugly history - only wanting something that so many consider such a minimal achievement. Great stuff!!
Yes, I'm a happy fan.
But I couldn't be happier to hear CC proclaim he wants more than this. For so long, we'd hear the garbage of satisifaction about just getting into the tournament. That was so Northwestern. We needed someone with bigger ideas, sharper skills and the luck that comes with extra effort to lead the program out of that ugly history - only wanting something that so many consider such a minimal achievement. Great stuff!!
Agreed. Gotta walk before you run though. Collins is making some progress, which we need to acknowledge, enjoy, and then move on. This past season was memorable for many reasons. Winning record in Big Ten - check. Regular season record for wins - check. Increased number of wins every season for Collins - check. NCAA tournament - check. First victory in the NCAA tournament - check.
Looking forward to the next season and its new set of challenges, including contending for a Big Ten title and making a deep run in the NCAA tournament. It's gonna be a fun ride.
I do think (or at least hope) that the heart and leadership that the seniors demonstrated as well as the intangibles mentioned above around the trust and chemistry, defensive intensity and help, becomes ingrained as part of the culture of the team. I do think that's what Coach K has done at Duke and that Coach CC is following the same path. Interesting to point out that some Duke fans watching the Cats (see their board) noted that the Cats this year reminded them a lot of the Duke teams of old, and they even bemoaned that since they started going with one and dones, they lost some of that, with key players having just entered the program and not really being able to follow the lead and develop under that system to become the leaders and advocates of that culture, as much of veterans who have been there and have ahd time to understudy and buy into it.
Sanjay and Tap showed the way. I think we will see the team retain these intangibles next year - with all the guys coming back, and I hope that all the guys really pick up on this as they develop in the system so that there are enough veterans and upperclassmen, that can show the way, just like Sanjay and Tap. Gives you hope that a guy like Isaiah Brown, with all the flashes of brilliance he shows, will retain that offensive ability while slowly develop into a Lumpkin-like player on defense, unselfishness, team, trust, etc... Then you will really have something special.
Though it seems less likely by the day, getting a 2017 commitment from a difference maker like Mark Smith would do a lot for the "fire" factor next year. New blood competing for on the court time is always a good thing.
GOUNUII
While I will leave the basketball-related analysis to those on the board much better-equipped than myself, I will say this in regards to intangibles: it seems like this team is almost entirely McIntosh's at this point. Lindsey and Skelly could/should contribute on that front as well, but neither seem to have the same on-court leadership role as BMac. Collins' pretty effusive praise of McIntosh also goes to support this conclusion.
No question about it. Listening to interviews with him, he is a no-nonsense guy who tells it like it is. And he backs it up with production on the court. After a slow start he became the best player down the stretch. Looking for a great Senior season from Bryant.
Going forward, I would place Law right behind B-Mac in the pecking order of leadership on this team. Others have their rolls, including Lindsey and Skelly. But my guess is that Skelly's roll has less to do with team leadership and more to do with the energy boost every team needs from time to time. You just can't be as inconsistent as Skelly and expect others to follow. B-Mac as the top gun with Law and Lindsey as his wing men sounds about right. Although we shouldn't sleep on Pardon either. His work ethic and will to win/improve is a classic example of leadership by example.
Greedy as I am, I still want a surprise boost for the 2017 class that will challenge for quality playing time this year.
GOUNUII
I'm sure Collins is out there right now trying to figure out how to leverage the program's first NCAA tournament and NCAA tournament win into quality players with the last couple scholarships available, whether it's a four-year guy or a grad transfer. He's already on record as saying that the NCAA appearance has opened up new doors in recruiting, so fingers crossed.
I think you're right. Collins is an outstanding recruiter and I expect him to fully leverage the successful NCAA appearance.