It’s Fine

[Jonny2TheP]

Zero positive in that game. Not making that argument. But it was a tough game coming off a brutal loss. We didn’t show up. We weren’t competitive. But just a bad day. Regroup. Move on. Have a good week of practice.

It makes our margin of error smaller, but I actually feel better about this than the PSU game. Sometimes you’re just off. We have a veteran club that won’t carry that over to next weekend.

 

[jensberg]

Zero positive in that game. Not making that argument. But it was a tough game coming off a brutal loss. We didn’t show up. We weren’t competitive. But just a bad day. Regroup. Move on. Have a good week of practice.

It makes our margin of error smaller, but I actually feel better about this than the PSU game. Sometimes you’re just off. We have a veteran club that won’t carry that over to next weekend.

Not sure I agree. I think this game showed what we've been seeing the last couple games that teams will double team both Nick and Barney and that causes them some issues with turnovers etc. If we can't get other reliable scoring options we will have difficulty winning games in the future. Hopefully based on what was seen today Collins will play Jello more.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I'd rather have a really sh*tty game from our players once or twice than to get blindfolded, bent over, leveraged and made to squeal like a hamster by a bunch of grinning referees any day of the week.

 

[stpaulcat]

NU won the second half, didn't they?

 

[hdhntr1]

Zero positive in that game. Not making that argument. But it was a tough game coming off a brutal loss. We didn’t show up. We weren’t competitive. But just a bad day. Regroup. Move on. Have a good week of practice.

It makes our margin of error smaller, but I actually feel better about this than the PSU game. Sometimes you’re just off. We have a veteran club that won’t carry that over to next weekend.

As they said during the game. Teams tend to have about 3 of these stinkers a year. That said, this was ugly. Chello and Windham did get some more valuable minutes is about the only positive, I was switching between this game and Bears gams so I missed that Chello got up to 19 points. I see Fitsimmons got 9 as well. Basically the bench cleared

 

[hdhntr1]

NU won the second half, didn't they?

There was no winning for NU in that game

 

[Skunkpilot]

Fitzmorris should play more instead of hunger. As goofy as he looks out there I thought his length works on D esp when he flails his arms up and around.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Not sure I agree. I think this game showed what we've been seeing the last couple games that teams will double team both Nick and Barney and that causes them some issues with turnovers etc. If we can't get other reliable scoring options we will have difficulty winning games in the future. Hopefully based on what was seen today Collins will play Jello more.

We have other guys that can score. Berry needs to be better consistently (admittedly, I’m losing faith he can be a consistent scorer), but Leach can score and in certain matchups, Nicholson can be that guy too. Jelo and Windham are getting valuable experience too.

It was just a bad game. I know you always look at things in a negative light, but no reason to overreact at this point.

 

[NUCat320]

Fitzmorris should play more instead of hunger. As goofy as he looks out there I thought his length works on D esp when he flails his arms up and around.

Hunger has limited value if he’s not making his shot. Not a defensive presence. Doesn’t really help the ball flow except as a shooter. A step back this season, definitely.

I just finished watching the half and have no need for the second.

 

[No Chores]

Fitzmorris should play more instead of hunger. As goofy as he looks out there I thought his length works on D esp when he flails his arms up and around.

Correct in my opinion. Hunger is absolutely awful on defense, can't jump and can't make the 3 ball, which he continues to attempt. We will need a transfer center next year.

 

[its_the_sauce]

We totally forgetting the big positive today. Bears beat the Packers.

 

[hdhntr1]

We totally forgetting the big positive today. Bears beat the Packers.

Screwed up their draft pick

 

[its_the_sauce]

Screwed up their draft pick

Do you follow the Bears?? It doesn't matter where they draft, they'll always screw up their pick LOL.

 

[CappyNU]

Our conference schedule is incredibly front-loaded this season. Our first 7 conference games are considered to be against top-50 competition per kenpom, but only 6 of the final 13 games are. Just need to win the home games coming up and we'll be ok.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

We have other guys that can score. Berry needs to be better consistently (admittedly, I’m losing faith he can be a consistent scorer), but Leach can score and in certain matchups, Nicholson can be that guy too. Jelo and Windham are getting valuable experience too.

It was just a bad game. I know you always look at things in a negative light, but no reason to overreact at this point.

We aren’t going to win games when we have 2 starters both in their 5th year in the program that combined for 0 points, 2 Rebounds, and 1 Assist for a game.

 

[catcrazy]

Yeah but I really think the swindling of a potential victory at Penn State affected the team more then you think. When they look at the tape they will see clear bias and all of those reds should be suspended without pay

 

[clarificationcat]

Yeah but I really think the swindling of a potential victory at Penn State affected the team more then you think. When they look at the tape they will see clear bias and all of those reds should be suspended without pay

It’s also not easy traveling to State College on a Thursday and then West Lafayette on Sunday afternoon. That’s a tough travel schedule.

 

[hdhntr1]

Correct in my opinion. Hunger is absolutely awful on defense, can't jump and can't make the 3 ball, which he continues to attempt. We will need a transfer center next year.

He probably hits it well enough in practice and they want him to continue to attempt it thinking it will add a dimension and make it more difficult to defend allowing openings for others

 

[hdhntr1]

It’s also not easy traveling to State College on a Thursday and then West Lafayette on Sunday afternoon. That’s a tough travel schedule.

From what I remember seeing traveling in and out of State College is a nightmare for visitors. Going down to Purdue not so bad but the PSU trip really takes it out of the players

 

[No Chores]

He probably hits it well enough in practice and they want him to continue to attempt it thinking it will add a dimension and make it more difficult to defend allowing openings for others

He's had long enough to prove that he can make it, and he can't. So, now it becomes just another empty possession.

 

[cedricmelons]

From what I remember seeing traveling in and out of State College is a nightmare for visitors. Going down to Purdue not so bad but the PSU trip really takes it out of the players

It's a charter flight. No biggie.

 

[Davidgolds5]

He's had long enough to prove that he can make it, and he can't. So, now it becomes just another empty possession.

He needs to stop shooting, the coaching staff needs to tell him to stop shooting. He has too many soft fouls too that end up in “and 1s.” Definitely a high energy guy for the Cats, but not sure why he gets the minutes he does.

 

[CSCatFan1]

Zero positive in that game. Not making that argument. But it was a tough game coming off a brutal loss. We didn’t show up. We weren’t competitive. But just a bad day. Regroup. Move on. Have a good week of practice.

It makes our margin of error smaller, but I actually feel better about this than the PSU game. Sometimes you’re just off. We have a veteran club that won’t carry that over to next weekend.

Gello!

 

[stpaulcat]

We aren’t going to win games when we have 2 starters both in their 5th year in the program that combined for 0 points, 2 Rebounds, and 1 Assist for a game.

Agree with that, what gives?

 

[clarificationcat]

It's a charter flight. No biggie.

I wasn’t sure about that. Still, players get to campus early Friday morning and head to West Lafayette on Saturday. Not much recovery or practice time after a mentally and physically exhausting game. That’s tough when you have been playing once a week at home.

 

[Palindrome_rivals517509]

Yeah but I really think the swindling of a potential victory at Penn State affected the team more then you think. When they look at the tape they will see clear bias and all of those reds should be suspended without pay

Really agree. Getting shafted in a Thursday road game where just about the only statistic re: losing was the FT disparity (and an “inadvertent” goaltending whistle) is enough to give these guys a hangover. I cannot say I was surprised by them looking/feeling dispirated. I think days off followed by a home game will be the tonic they need to get back on track. They’re kids.

 

[stpaulcat]

Really agree. Getting shafted in a Thursday road game where just about the only statistic re: losing was the FT disparity (and an “inadvertent” goaltending whistle) is enough to give these guys a hangover. I cannot say I was surprised by them looking/feeling dispirated. I think days off followed by a home game will be the tonic they need to get back on track. They’re kids.

Palindrome, seriously? On 01/06/2025? 5

 

[hdhntr1]

Yeah but I really think the swindling of a potential victory at Penn State affected the team more then you think. When they look at the tape they will see clear bias and all of those reds should be suspended without pay

Travel to and from PSU is also one of the toughest trips followed up but the trip to W Lafayette so quickly after makes it really tough. Probably the toughest travel all year.

 

[PurpleFaze]

We aren’t going to win games when we have 2 starters both in their 5th year in the program that combined for 0 points, 2 Rebounds, and 1 Assist for a game.

This is spot on. The ceiling of this team will be determined by Berry and MN. They’ve been in the program and conference too long to be such non factors in some games.

 

[combes]

Travel to and from PSU is also one of the toughest trips followed up but the trip to W Lafayette so quickly after makes it really tough. Probably the toughest travel all year.

The Washington/Oregon trip is a tough one. You don’t get to go home in between.

 

[PurpleFaze]

Yeah but I really think the swindling of a potential victory at Penn State affected the team more than you think. When they look at the tape they will see clear bias and all of those reds should be suspended without pay

The tough loses at Iowa and Penn State certainly leaves little room for error the rest of the season

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

The ceiling of this team will be determined by Berry and MN.

In the Purdue game, this is what happened to open the action...

Purdue hit a wide open 3 pointer from the wing after passing to Kaufman-Renn at the free throw line and then back out. Looked like a designed play. PU 3-0

NU lost the ball when Barnhizer passed to Martinelli in the corner.

Braden Smith made a 2 point jumper. PU 5-0

Barnhizer missed a jump shot.

Braden Smith passed inside to Kaufman-Renn, who scored. PU 7-0.

Barnhizer threw a pass over the defense to an open Leach, who hit a 3 pointer. PU 7-3.

Braden Smith missed a 3 ptr. A Purdue wing got the offensive rebound. Ty Berry forced a turnover from Smith.

Barnhizer passed over the defense to Leach, who missed a 3 pointer.

Smith made another jumper. PU 9-3.

Barnhizer missed a 3 pointer.

Kaufman-Renn missed a jumper but the rebound went long and came back to him. He made a floater. PU 11-3.

Martinelli turned the ball over.

Collins called time out at 15:34 and subbed in Hunger for Nicholson.

 

[PurpleFaze]

In the Purdue game, this is what happened to open the action...

Purdue hit a wide open 3 pointer from the wing after passing to Kaufman-Renn at the free throw line and then back out. Looked like a designed play. PU 3-0

NU lost the ball when Barnhizer passed to Martinelli in the corner.

Braden Smith made a 2 point jumper. PU 5-0

Barnhizer missed a jump shot.

Braden Smith passed inside to Kaufman-Renn, who scored. PU 7-0.

Barnhizer threw a pass over the defense to an open Leach, who hit a 3 pointer. PU 7-3.

Braden Smith missed a 3 ptr. A Purdue wing got the offensive rebound. Ty Berry forced a turnover from Smith.

Barnhizer passed over the defense to Leach, who missed a 3 pointer.

Smith made another jumper. PU 9-3.

Barnhizer missed a 3 pointer.

Kaufman-Renn missed a jumper but the rebound went long and came back to him. He made a floater. PU 11-3.

Martinelli turned the ball over.

Collins called time out at 15:34 and subbed in Hunger for Nicholson.

11-3 isn’t a lost cause. It becomes one when two of your starters add nothing on offense for the rest of the game

 

[Davidgolds5]

A win on Sunday will make (almost) everything better. National TV game.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

11-3 isn’t a lost cause. It becomes one when two of your starters add nothing on offense for the rest of the game

Talk to Collins. He's the fellow who played Nicholson a total of 7:44 after that opening segment.
He's also the fellow who played Berry a total of 12.5 minutes and only 1:07 in the 2nd half.

Meanwhile Martinelli went 0 for the first half and Barnhizer played his worst game by far.
Similarly, Collins had his worst game of the year - by quite a bit.

Its bizarre to me that people would try to pin the loss on Berry and Nicholson because they didn't score in 13 minutes or so each. Well, maybe not bizarre - just waaaaay off.

 

[PurpleFaze]

Talk to Collins. He's the fellow who played Nicholson a total of 7:44 after that opening segment.
He's also the fellow who played Berry a total of 12.5 minutes and only 1:07 in the 2nd half.

Meanwhile Martinelli went 0 for the first half and Barnhizer played his worst game by far.
Similarly, Collins had his worst game of the year - by quite a bit.

Its bizarre to me that people would try to pin the loss on Berry and Nicholson because they didn't score in 13 minutes or so each. Well, maybe not bizarre - just waaaaay off.

I’m not really blaming those two for the Purdue loss. Plenty of blame to go around in that game.

Maybe CC wanted to send them a message that he expects more from them. Not like they produced in the minutes they played.

I don’t agree with everything Collins does, but overall he’s earned some slack for his job the last few years.

My main point is that in a tough Big 10 NU won’t make the tourney unless MN and TB step up and contribute on a more consistent basis.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Florida 64 Tennessee (#1) 30 with about 5 minutes to go. I guess the Purdue game could have been worse.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Talk to Collins. He's the fellow who played Nicholson a total of 7:44 after that opening segment.
He's also the fellow who played Berry a total of 12.5 minutes and only 1:07 in the 2nd half.

Meanwhile Martinelli went 0 for the first half and Barnhizer played his worst game by far.
Similarly, Collins had his worst game of the year - by quite a bit.

It’s bizarre to me that people would try to pin the loss on Berry and Nicholson because they didn't score in 13 minutes or so each. Well, maybe not bizarre - just waaaaay off.

PWB - do you really believe that changing lineups is a guaranteed way to change the outcome of a game? It’s what you imply every single time we lose, and more generally with your +/-. Do you really think that sitting Barnhizer and Martinelli (who were of course playing poorly) and leaving in Berry and Nicholson would have changed the outcome? Do you really think another coach could come in to NU and figure out a better mix of playing time and do materially better?

 

[Hungry Jack]

To PWB's point, you should try some new lineup combinations, such as giving KJ and Gelo time with the first team. We are too one-dimensional on offense, with a key missing ingredient of a consistent outside shooting threat. We also struggle at guard against the press. There is evidence that we have assets in place to counteract those issues. Why not try it for 5-10 minutes?

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I’m not really blaming those two for the Purdue loss. Plenty of blame to go around in that game.

Maybe CC wanted to send them a message that he expects more from them. Not like they produced in the minutes they played.

I don’t agree with everything Collins does, but overall he’s earned some slack for his job the last few years.

My main point is that in a tough Big 10 NU won’t make the tourney unless MN and TB step up and contribute on a more consistent basis.

They played poorly. Just like most players on Sunday. I am not why this is controversial or way off base.

To PWB's point, you should try some new lineup combinations, such as giving KJ and Gelo time with the first team. We are too one-dimensional on offense, with a key missing ingredient of a consistent outside shooting threat. We also struggle at guard against the press. There is evidence that we have assets in place to counteract those issues. Why not try it for 5-10 minutes?

CCC addressed this. He said KJ and Gelo were not getting time earlier because they weren’t picking up the defensive assignments as quick as he felt they should. Watch games before the turn of the calendar that this was painfully obvious. He also stated they are quickly improving in this aspect and implied they could in fact be more of a part of the rotation for the reasons you outline.