Keep in mind...

[lou v]

...that NU is missing two starters right now. Last night's loss was hard to take -- and difficult to watch -- but any Big Ten team will struggle after losing 40 percent of its starting lineup. Olah will hopefully be back in a couple games, but we don't know how much he will be affected. We're now seeing how much NU misses an athletic slasher like Law. It didn't show up against weak non-conference competition, but it sure is now. Unfortnately, he's not coming back this season.

At this point, NU has to win its next three games -- at Minnesota and Wisconsin and Penn State at home. That's certainly doable. But I could see them easily losing two of those three, too.

 

[catfans5]

I sat last night with my buddy. We coached 8th grade park district basketball. We commented that we had more movement by our 8th grade team running a simple motion offense than NU did last night. We stood around a lot and no player was getting hit with any rhythm. The offense was really two guards and three potted plants. We were easy to defend with no pressure on the defense. We did not go to the basket. We threw up these imitation George Gervin finger rolls which had little chance to go in We shot no free throws. We never had players flashing to the middle. We really, really miss Olah who gave us an inside game. The Cats will have some rough sailing.

It seems the premise of the team is to beat the other team off the dribble and dish and/or a pick and roll. Both seem predicated that the ball handler will be able to create an opening/mismatch to then get a good shot or pass the ball to an open shooter. The problem, as I see it, is that McIntosh is the only one capable of doing this. OSU on the pick and roll double teamed McIntosh leaving him little option or the pick was by a player who can not finish. If I was the opposition, I would double down on McIntosh on the pick and roll or at any time and force someone else to take the slack.

IMO, if we are going to pick and roll, the better option for McIntosh, if they can set a pick, would be Falzone, Taphorn and Skelly who can make a jumper or may attempt to drive to the basket. I think the emphasis has to be going to the basket at the beginning of the game and screw the 3 point shot.

 

[Fitz51]

It was really, really ugly last night. Sitting 4th row center gave a good look at it, too. A total inability to crate shots, and OSU did a very good job cutting off any lanes that might have even been briefly open to the basket. That plus sub 20% 3-point shooting = NU loses 9/10 times.

 

[willycat]

I sat last night with my buddy. We coached 8th grade park district basketball. We commented that we had more movement by our 8th grade team running a simple motion offense than NU did last night. We stood around a lot and no player was getting hit with any rhythm. The offense was really two guards and three potted plants. We were easy to defend with no pressure on the defense. We did not go to the basket. We threw up these imitation George Gervin finger rolls which had little chance to go in We shot no free throws. We never had players flashing to the middle. We really, really miss Olah who gave us an inside game. The Cats will have some rough sailing.

It seems the premise of the team is to beat the other team off the dribble and dish and/or a pick and roll. Both seem predicated that the ball handler will be able to create an opening/mismatch to then get a good shot or pass the ball to an open shooter. The problem, as I see it, is that McIntosh is the only one capable of doing this. OSU on the pick and roll double teamed McIntosh leaving him little option or the pick was by a player who can not finish. If I was the opposition, I would double down on McIntosh on the pick and roll or at any time and force someone else to take the slack.

IMO, if we are going to pick and roll, the better option for McIntosh, if they can set a pick, would be Falzone, Taphorn and Skelly who can make a jumper or may attempt to drive to the basket. I think the emphasis has to be going to the basket at the beginning of the game and screw the 3 point shot.

I can't agree with you more on those weak finger roll attempts...drive to the basket stuff it or get fouled, geez. Also McIntosh is the only guy hitting 3's and passing to set up others. Yet no one else can shoot from beyond the arc, including the supposed best shooter, Demps. Really, really can't figure why he wasn't sitting next to CC for a lot of the game. Maybe, just maybe Falzone could have made a few 3's. Looks more and more like Lindsey left his game in Europe and with Law out no one slashes to the hoop. Could be that that one scholarship loss is hurting the overall depth, including someone to spell Mac.

 

[NJCat83588]

Really, really can't figure why he wasn't sitting next to CC for a lot of the game.

Willy, who would you have played if Demps was sitting next to Collins? Remember, Ash is still recovering from a staph infection in his leg and wasn't available for extended minutes yesterday.....

 

[willycat]

Willy, who would you have played if Demps was sitting next to Collins? Remember, Ash is still recovering from a staph infection in his leg and wasn't available for extended minutes yesterday.....

Sure seems like a long time since we heard of that staph infection. maybe Falzone, Taphorn or how about Vassar. just what did Demps do last night or for that matter the last few weeks that warranted his presence on the floor.

 

[TejasCat]

Willy, who would you have played if Demps was sitting next to Collins? Remember, Ash is still recovering from a staph infection in his leg and wasn't available for extended minutes yesterday.....

He brought in Taphorn and Lindsey when Demps was on the bench. Those guys couldn't do any worse than 3-17 from the field with 0 assists, right? In fact, we outscored them 4-0 (would have been 6-0 if Tap could make a FT) with that lineup for a few minutes.

If Collins has no other options and is gonna play Demps regardless, then he isn't doing his job coaching. He needs to work on other guys at the 2 during practice, especially if Ash is not healthy.

 

[NJCat83588]

He brought in Taphorn and Lindsey when Demps was on the bench. Those guys couldn't do any worse than 3-17 from the field with 0 assists, right? In fact, we outscored them 4-0 (would have been 6-0 if Tap could make a FT) with that lineup for a few minutes.

If Collins has no other options and is gonna play Demps regardless, then he isn't doing his job coaching. He needs to work on other guys at the 2 during practice, especially if Ash is not healthy.

Lindsey is the only other 2. Tap cannot play a 2, I don't care how much you practice him there he cannot guard a 2. Like it or not, Demps will play a lot of minutes as NU only has 4 Guards on the roster this season.

 

[hdhntr1]

I sat last night with my buddy. We coached 8th grade park district basketball. We commented that we had more movement by our 8th grade team running a simple motion offense than NU did last night. We stood around a lot and no player was getting hit with any rhythm. The offense was really two guards and three potted plants. We were easy to defend with no pressure on the defense. We did not go to the basket. We threw up these imitation George Gervin finger rolls which had little chance to go in We shot no free throws. We never had players flashing to the middle. We really, really miss Olah who gave us an inside game. The Cats will have some rough sailing.

It seems the premise of the team is to beat the other team off the dribble and dish and/or a pick and roll. Both seem predicated that the ball handler will be able to create an opening/mismatch to then get a good shot or pass the ball to an open shooter. The problem, as I see it, is that McIntosh is the only one capable of doing this. OSU on the pick and roll double teamed McIntosh leaving him little option or the pick was by a player who can not finish. If I was the opposition, I would double down on McIntosh on the pick and roll or at any time and force someone else to take the slack.

IMO, if we are going to pick and roll, the better option for McIntosh, if they can set a pick, would be Falzone, Taphorn and Skelly who can make a jumper or may attempt to drive to the basket. I think the emphasis has to be going to the basket at the beginning of the game and screw the 3 point shot.

We got to the line 12 times in the first half (and I think this was in the first 15 minutes). But we missed 6 of them Pretty hard when JVZ was 3/3 meaning the rest of the team was 3/9. Also we were hurt in that Pardon missed a bunch of shots that in other games he has hit. Falzone missing early sure didn't help either.. Two quick fouls on Lindsey and no Ash probably kept CCC from sitting Demps.

 

[hdhntr1]

I

I can't agree with you more on those weak finger roll attempts...drive to the basket stuff it or get fouled, geez. Also McIntosh is the only guy hitting 3's and passing to set up others. Yet no one else can shoot from beyond the arc, including the supposed best shooter, Demps. Really, really can't figure why he wasn't sitting next to CC for a lot of the game. Maybe, just maybe Falzone could have made a few 3's. Looks more and more like Lindsey left his game in Europe and with Law out no one slashes to the hoop. Could be that that one scholarship loss is hurting the overall depth, including someone to spell Mac.

It is one scholarship loss but 3 other guys are out. Vassar was supposed to be a PG and no one else fully fits that role.

 

[hdhntr1]

He brought in Taphorn and Lindsey when Demps was on the bench. Those guys couldn't do any worse than 3-17 from the field with 0 assists, right? In fact, we outscored them 4-0 (would have been 6-0 if Tap could make a FT) with that lineup for a few minutes.

If Collins has no other options and is gonna play Demps regardless, then he isn't doing his job coaching. He needs to work on other guys at the 2 during practice, especially if Ash is not healthy.

Taps D keeps him off the court. If he is on the court long enough, whet he gets for you, he generally gives back.

 

[hdhntr1]

Sure seems like a long time since we heard of that staph infection. maybe Falzone, Taphorn or how about Vassar. just what did Demps do last night or for that matter the last few weeks that warranted his presence on the floor.

Really did not have that much of a choice when Lindsey got those two quick fouls.

 

[Medill90]

The screens and picks aren't very good, I don't think. Fine for Loyola Maryland but not so much for a rugged Big Ten team. NU is not creating space of its picks. A lot of motion that doesn't result in much.

There is very little that happens between the three point stripe and the basket. The ability to pull up at the elbow or from 10 feet doesn't exist on this team.

The next time one of our guards uses the backboard on a shot that isn't a lay up I'm giving everyone $10. You miss 10 or 12 shots, for jimminy's sake, use the backboard.

We're dumping on Demps but a lot of guys underperformed these last two games.

OSU was beatable which is why this is a tough loss. Their length really helped. But next year with Law and Rap NU turns into a pretty long team.

NU rebounded with OSU the entire game. When's the last time that happened?

 

[hdhntr1]

...that NU is missing two starters right now. Last night's loss was hard to take -- and difficult to watch -- but any Big Ten team will struggle after losing 40 percent of its starting lineup. Olah will hopefully be back in a couple games, but we don't know how much he will be affected. We're now seeing how much NU misses an athletic slasher like Law. It didn't show up against weak non-conference competition, but it sure is now. Unfortnately, he's not coming back this season.

At this point, NU has to win its next three games -- at Minnesota and Wisconsin and Penn State at home. That's certainly doable. But I could see them easily losing two of those three, too.

I will give you Olah but Law has been out all year and everyone generally loses someone. For MSU it is Valentine

 

[Sec_112]

Imagine this question in September: Olah and Law are out and Demps is shooting 23% from 3 and scoring 11/g. How do you think the team will do?

In that context, I'd be happy they played OSU tight throughout most of the game.

I hope they can pull it together somehow. Demps or Falzon have to open things up a bit while BMac is double-teamed.

 

[TejasCat]

I hope they can pull it together somehow. Demps or Falzon have to open things up a bit while BMac is double-teamed.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see BMac double-teamed, they (and Maryland) seemed to play pretty damn good D one on one against him, and stayed with the 3 point shooters.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

I will give you Olah but Law has been out all year and everyone generally loses someone. For MSU it is Valentine

Yeah, and MSU has struggled without Valentine. Also, he is expected to be back soon.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Sure seems like a long time since we heard of that staph infection. maybe Falzone, Taphorn or how about Vassar. just what did Demps do last night or for that matter the last few weeks that warranted his presence on the floor.

Willy, I would like to address this Vassar obsession that a lot of you people have. I was told over in my workout place by Chris Collins' closest blood relative that Johnny Vassar was way behind the other freshmen when he came in probably because he was at a number of different high schools and never had the same coach for more than about four or five months. He honestly could not help this team last year as you clearly saw in the games he was in and would not have helped this year.

I think the guard situation from a time on the floor situation could be helped by giving Lumpkin some minutes at the two guard spot. He played there some the last two years and he can handle the ball and play defense so he won't hurt you and he will give our guards some rest until Ash gains more experience. He could probably also calm Demps down a little. I think no assists in the last two games for Demps is more telling than his horrific shooting.

That could also settle our wing spots where I think we are really hurting because of inconsistencies and Falzone's freshmen lack of experience. Collins is playing Falzone a lot but in my opinion he is a limited player at this time. I have said this before but he can't use his left hand, he is a very limited dribbler, does not have a quick step on a drive to the basket and alters his shot when anyone is near him. Compare him to McIntosh as a freshman and to me it's apparent he came from a weak high school program. He is being rushed and needs more time.

I would give Taphorn some of his time, because he can shoot and drive to the basket and is not afraid of being knocked on his butt when he goes way up on his shot. He is a lot stronger than Falzon also.

 

[CappyNU]

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see BMac double-teamed, they (and Maryland) seemed to play pretty damn good D one on one against him, and stayed with the 3 point shooters.

I felt like there was constant help by the OSU defenders on Mac throughout the night. It was very clear they were determined to stop him, and Demps throwing up brick after brick made Mac press his game more, which ended up in poor decisions.

 

[willycat]

Willy, I would like to address this Vassar obsession that a lot of you people have. I was told over in my workout place by Chris Collins' closest blood relative that Johnny Vassar was way behind the other freshmen when he came in probably because he was at a number of different high schools and never had the same coach for more than about four or five months. He honestly could not help this team last year as you clearly saw in the games he was in and would not have helped this year.

I think the guard situation from a time on the floor situation could be helped by giving Lumpkin some minutes at the two guard spot. He played there some the last two years and he can handle the ball and play defense so he won't hurt you and he will give our guards some rest until Ash gains more experience. He could probably also calm Demps down a little. I think no assists in the last two games for Demps is more telling than his horrific shooting.

That could also settle our wing spots where I think we are really hurting because of inconsistencies and Falzone's freshmen lack of experience. Collins is playing Falzone a lot but in my opinion he is a limited player at this time. I have said this before but he can't use his left hand, he is a very limited dribbler, does not have a quick step on a drive to the basket and alters his shot when anyone is near him. Compare him to McIntosh as a freshman and to me it's apparent he came from a weak high school program. He is being rushed and needs more time.

I would give Taphorn some of his time, because he can shoot and drive to the basket and is not afraid of being knocked on his butt when he goes way up on his shot. He is a lot stronger than Falzon also.

I just threw out Vassar to see if others feel the same way I do about him clinging to a schlorship and hurting his former teammates in the process. Agree that he is not ready for Div. 1 play now but there should be a way to find him a program, maybe at a lesser level. Maybe NU could provide a needs based schlorship , so that BB one can be filled with a player.

 

[ricko6543211]

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see BMac double-teamed, they (and Maryland) seemed to play pretty damn good D one on one against him, and stayed with the 3 point shooters.

I think the problem was that OSU (and Maryland) had guards that were long and quick, so he and Tre had hard time penetrating 1 on 1. And then their bigs were also quite athletic, so when he took the high screen they were able to switch or trap him and he couldn't take advantage of it. Add to that Falzon and Tre couldn't make an open shot to save their lives and our offense wasn't very effective. There aren't that many teams in the B1G that are able to do that. Because they helped so much on our guards in the lane Pardon and co got a fair number of O boards and a few putbacks, but not enough to tip the scales.

A combination of poor shooting (on a lot of good looks I thought, unlike Maryland 1H where it was a lot of forced shots, often late in the clock) and reffing that skewed in the OSU direction did us in.

 

[hdhntr1]

I just threw out Vassar to see if others feel the same way I do about him clinging to a schlorship and hurting his former teammates in the process. Agree that he is not ready for Div. 1 play now but there should be a way to find him a program, maybe at a lesser level. Maybe NU could provide a needs based schlolarship , so that BB one can be filled with a player.

The problem with Vassar for this year is not so much that he takes up a scholarship (well that is part of it) but that he decided late to change schools, so that the coaching staff could not really address the PG position for which he was recruited for. While he was not ready last year and RS would have been appropriate, I would have to think that with a year in the program, he might develop enough that he could at least spell BMac for a few minutes a game. I have to think that if they had known earlier that he was going to leave, they might have been more able to address the PG shortage in last years class. But maybe not since all of the available scholarships were spoken for, his still keeping the scholarship might have prevented that It would seem we are sort of stuck this year as Ash was more of a 2 in HS so who spells BMac?

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

I just threw out Vassar to see if others feel the same way I do about him clinging to a schlorship and hurting his former teammates in the process. Agree that he is not ready for Div. 1 play now but there should be a way to find him a program, maybe at a lesser level. Maybe NU could provide a needs based schlorship , so that BB one can be filled with a player.

Willy, I agree with you and I'm sure he is not the most popular figure around the athletic facilities and probably for that matter the campus. I don't know for sure if this true regarding to having a free year, but I'm sure he could find another school to offer him, but not at the level of education he is receiving at NU. I think one or both of his parents are successful and they are using the system to its fullest.

Maybe NU should operate like Kansas. My daughter went there some time ago and I got tickets to the Kansas State game through one of the scholarship player's dad, who had a good business in Kansas. I was at the game talking to the dad before hand and he said I hope you appreciate these tickets. "They cost me $10,000". That was for two of his four tickets. The KU athletic department met with him after his son got a scholarship and said here is the deal. You got the scholarship worth this much, you have a successful business, how about a donation of $10,000 for the extra tickets to the athletic fund. There are no free lunches. That's the conservative way of doing business. I had my own business and returned the complement in Cub tickets to him over the years.

 

[thewildcat2011]

The KU athletic department met with him after his son got a scholarship and said here is the deal. You got the scholarship worth this much, you have a successful business, how about a donation of $10,000 for the extra tickets to the athletic fund.

Honestly, that seems pretty classless from KU's athletic department.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Willy, who would you have played if Demps was sitting next to Collins? Remember, Ash is still recovering from a staph infection in his leg and wasn't available for extended minutes yesterday.....

Lindsey at the two.

I think fatigue, wear and tear at the G is starting to show. Mac looked wiped and Tre was terrible. I realize it is tough without depth, but time to throw Lindsey in to sink or swim. I suggested preseason that Lindsey could be the deciding factor for the season. Starting to think more so now. Demps and Mac simply cannot play 90% of the game every game.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Willy, I would like to address this Vassar obsession that a lot of you people have. I was told over in my workout place by Chris Collins' closest blood relative that Johnny Vassar was way behind the other freshmen when he came in probably because he was at a number of different high schools and never had the same coach for more than about four or five months. He honestly could not help this team last year as you clearly saw in the games he was in and would not have helped this year.

I think the guard situation from a time on the floor situation could be helped by giving Lumpkin some minutes at the two guard spot. He played there some the last two years and he can handle the ball and play defense so he won't hurt you and he will give our guards some rest until Ash gains more experience. He could probably also calm Demps down a little. I think no assists in the last two games for Demps is more telling than his horrific shooting.

That could also settle our wing spots where I think we are really hurting because of inconsistencies and Falzone's freshmen lack of experience. Collins is playing Falzone a lot but in my opinion he is a limited player at this time. I have said this before but he can't use his left hand, he is a very limited dribbler, does not have a quick step on a drive to the basket and alters his shot when anyone is near him. Compare him to McIntosh as a freshman and to me it's apparent he came from a weak high school program. He is being rushed and needs more time.

I would give Taphorn some of his time, because he can shoot and drive to the basket and is not afraid of being knocked on his butt when he goes way up on his shot. He is a lot stronger than Falzon also.

I really like a lot of this. Starting with Mac, Demps, Lumpkin, Skelly and Pardon - use Lindsey and Lumpkin in big doses to spell Demps often and allow Demps to spell Mac. Pepper a bunch of Tap at the three and four and JvZ at the five. Gives a consistent 8 man rotation. Use Falzone when things are out hand one way or another. Same with Ash when he is ready. We had to burn Ash's shirt with the lack of Gs - but he is not ready and is not a B1G PG. in 20/20 hindsight, we should have shirted Falzone - but I understand his potential carried too much allure. And, if either shows improvement, up their minutes where appropriate.

I think when Olah returns, you have to limit his play and practice, same w JvZ. Pardon is showing he is human but still solid. 20-10-10 among the big men as the starting game plan seems solid.

I really think throwing so many guys out there in an 11 man rotation is counter productive. CCC needs to find 8 guys (9 with a three headed C MASH unit), and run with it. At the same time, he needs to get Mac and Demps off the floor. 30-32 minutes max.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

I just threw out Vassar to see if others feel the same way I do about him clinging to a schlorship and hurting his former teammates in the process. Agree that he is not ready for Div. 1 play now but there should be a way to find him a program, maybe at a lesser level. Maybe NU could provide a needs based schlorship , so that BB one can be filled with a player.

Not sure NU can under NCAA rules. I think they had their chance when he declared intent to transfer and probably quit participating in various required activities.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

The problem with Vassar for this year is not so much that he takes up a scholarship (well that is part of it) but that he decided late to change schools, so that the coaching staff could not really address the PG position for which he was recruited for. While he was not ready last year and RS would have been appropriate, I would have to think that with a year in the program, he might develop enough that he could at least spell BMac for a few minutes a game. I have to think that if they had known earlier that he was going to leave, they might have been more able to address the PG shortage in last years class. But maybe not since all of the available scholarships were spoken for, his still keeping the scholarship might have prevented that It would seem we are sort of stuck this year as Ash was more of a 2 in HS so who spells BMac?

I have a problem with this idea because the Vassar decision was not that late. And I really think the staff had to know it was coming. With some many PGs available going into the summer, as well as transfers, the staff should have had a Plan B. I think we can dress 15? If so, it's kind of disappointing they have not recruited any preferred walk ons too.

 

[backdoorpass]

That could also settle our wing spots where I think we are really hurting because of inconsistencies and Falzone's freshmen lack of experience. Collins is playing Falzone a lot but in my opinion he is a limited player at this time. I have said this before but he can't use his left hand, he is a very limited dribbler, does not have a quick step on a drive to the basket and alters his shot when anyone is near him. Compare him to McIntosh as a freshman and to me it's apparent he came from a weak high school program. He is being rushed and needs more time.

Falzon went to Northfield Mount Hermon, which is actually one of the very best high school basketball programs in the country. They made the National Championship Final Four each of the past 3 years, had 5 McDonald's All-American nominees on the team last year (Falzon was not one of them), sent 50+ guys to Div 1 programs over the past 10 years and so on.

 

[NURoseBowl]

I really like a lot of this. Starting with Mac, Demps, Lumpkin, Skelly and Pardon - use Lindsey and Lumpkin in big doses to spell Demps often and allow Demps to spell Mac. Pepper a bunch of Tap at the three and four and JvZ at the five. Gives a consistent 8 man rotation. Use Falzone when things are out hand one way or another. Same with Ash when he is ready. We had to burn Ash's shirt with the lack of Gs - but he is not ready and is not a B1G PG. in 20/20 hindsight, we should have shirted Falzone - but I understand his potential carried too much allure. And, if either shows improvement, up their minutes where appropriate.

I think when Olah returns, you have to limit his play and practice, same w JvZ. Pardon is showing he is human but still solid. 20-10-10 among the big men as the starting game plan seems solid.

I really think throwing so many guys out there in an 11 man rotation is counter productive. CCC needs to find 8 guys (9 with a three headed C MASH unit), and run with it. At the same time, he needs to get Mac and Demps off the floor. 30-32 minutes max.

10 assists per game from the bigs, Bobbo? Seems a bit much . . . typo?

 

[PURPLECAT88]

10 assists per game from the bigs, Bobbo? Seems a bit much . . . typo?

I think he meant 20-10-10 in reference to minutes distribution not pts-rebs-assists.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

10 assists per game from the bigs, Bobbo? Seems a bit much . . . typo?

Falzon went to Northfield Mount Hermon, which is actually one of the very best high school basketball programs in the country. They made the National Championship Final Four each of the past 3 years, had 5 McDonald's All-American nominees on the team last year (Falzon was not one of them), sent 50+ guys to Div 1 programs over the past 10 years and so on.

Just a question and not trying to be smart. Are you talking about the prep school National Championship? Does this include teams like Oak Hill. Monteverde, IMG, and that school out in Las Vegas? Who were the final four teams in the last two years? Who were the other five guys and where did they go?

I may be prejudiced but I would still take McIntosh, Law, and Pardon any day of the week over him. I do think he will be a Big Ten player in time though.

 

[Max_Power]

Jeffrey Cat - so you will take NU's best player in McIntosh and highest rated recruit in Law over a similarly rated recruit in Falzon. I'm just pointing out to you that your comparison is not really putting down Falzon.

He's a piece and a quality piece and again, saying you'd take the other three over him, not much of an insult and still leaves him plenty of room to be pretty good.

I keep looking at the big picture and how the real year they are aiming at is probably McIntosh's senior year. In that year, you will have 2 bigs in Benson and Pardon who are active around the rim, two scorers at guard in McIntosh and Brown, an experienced back up in Ash plus a likely high quality recruit given the pending offers. At forward, you will be rotating Falzon, Law, Skelly, Rap and likely another athletic small forward and big.

When I look at what Collins is doing, it could be a really good team in two years.

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Jeffrey Cat - so you will take NU's best player in McIntosh and highest rated recruit in Law over a similarly rated recruit in Falzon. I'm just pointing out to you that your comparison is not really putting down Falzon.

He's a piece and a quality piece and again, saying you'd take the other three over him, not much of an insult and still leaves him plenty of room to be pretty good.

I keep looking at the big picture and how the real year they are aiming at is probably McIntosh's senior year. In that year, you will have 2 bigs in Benson and Pardon who are active around the rim, two scorers at guard in McIntosh and Brown, an experienced back up in Ash plus a likely high quality recruit given the pending offers. At forward, you will be rotating Falzon, Law, Skelly, Rap and likely another athletic small forward and big.

When I look at what Collins is doing, it could be a really good team in two years.

Max, I agree with you completely. He will be a piece of the puzzle in time.

Incidentally, I just looked up the four McDonalds nominees from Mt. Hermon's. Two of the guys went to Penn, one to Maryland Baltimore County, and one to Cal State Pomona. Boys those teams don't have Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland, and Purdue in their conference, if you know what I'm getting at. How could they have been nominated before Falzone.

 

[Max_Power]

Falzon was 92 in Rivals (4 stars), 91 ESPN (4 stars), not top 100 and 3 stars by Scout. So a really nice player for NU and just about what'd you expect in performance to date. Hopefully he will have a moment like Law did last year where it starts to click and he'll shoot 44% from 3 for the rest of the season. The offers out to date this years are aiming much higher for the cats . . .

 

[Jeffrey Cat]

Falzon was 92 in Rivals (4 stars), 91 ESPN (4 stars), not top 100 and 3 stars by Scout. So a really nice player for NU and just about what'd you expect in performance to date. Hopefully he will have a moment like Law did last year where it starts to click and he'll shoot 44% from 3 for the rest of the season. The offers out to date this years are aiming much higher for the cats . . .

Max, I agree but there are some weaknesses that have to be worked on. I'm sure they already are as I can see him driving more.

 

[Gladeskat]

Falzon went to Northfield Mount Hermon, which is actually one of the very best high school basketball programs in the country. They made the National Championship Final Four each of the past 3 years, had 5 McDonald's All-American nominees on the team last year (Falzon was not one of them), sent 50+ guys to Div 1 programs over the past 10 years and so on.

Not only that, they've also had Gladeskat's mom, starting center for Mount Hermon.

 

[NURoseBowl]

I think he meant 20-10-10 in reference to minutes distribution not pts-rebs-assists.

AH. Thanks, Purplecat - yet more proof that I'm not Northwestern material.

 

[mikewebb68]

I just threw out Vassar to see if others feel the same way I do about him clinging to a schlorship and hurting his former teammates in the process. Agree that he is not ready for Div. 1 play now but there should be a way to find him a program, maybe at a lesser level. Maybe NU could provide a needs based schlorship , so that BB one can be filled with a player.

Yeah, if we hyperpost more about it on this board, maybe he'll give the scholarship up. Uh, no.

 

[mikewebb68]

Honestly, that seems pretty classless from KU's athletic department.

And perhaps an NCAA violation as well?