Matthew Able back on the table?

SmellyCat

Junior
May 29, 2001
7,290
340
83
Is "no room at the inn" assuming Clayton is coming back, because it sure looks like he's not.
 

catcrazy

Sophomore
Aug 5, 2001
3,786
137
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I agree I think we will have a transfer or two. Wouldn't be surprised if Clayton or Barkley or both are in the transfer portal
 

Napcat

Redshirt
Nov 23, 2016
200
5
18
Cameron Carr, who chose Tennessee over Northwestern in his final two, has entered transfer portal at Tennessee Uber talented 6”6 guard/forward.
 

PurpleWhiteBoy

Redshirt
Feb 25, 2021
5,303
0
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Not sure about Barkley and Clayton transferring.
If either is my kid, he's staying at NU and getting a great college degree for nothing.
Not sure how that works from the Collins side of things.
If I recall correctly, scholarships expand by 2 to allow the money schools to absorb the cost of players who "won't leave..."
Or is it to deprive the mid-majors of players who could help them?

Admittedly Northwestern is in rare company (bench non-players reluctant to leave) - due almost entirely to the desirability of the diploma.
Parker Strauss fell into that category and he left, so each situation is different.

I'm not writing off Barkley yet.
 

Gocatsgo2003

All-Conference
Mar 30, 2006
46,653
3,033
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My first thought was how much buyer’s remorse Jalen Blackmon must have. Playing for a crappy team and his minutes have been cut pretty drastically of late. Could’ve instead been at least in the rotation if not starting for an NU team that’s at least in the hunt for the NCAAs.
 

Max_Power

Junior
May 29, 2001
2,949
224
51
My first thought was how much buyer’s remorse Jalen Blackmon must have. Playing for a crappy team and his minutes have been cut pretty drastically of late. Could’ve instead been at least in the rotation if not starting for an NU team that’s at least in the hunt for the NCAAs.
These guys are both Florida kids so it made sense and Miami has been very strong recently. Also Miami has big NIL $$$ and some kids just want that. Whether Able ever becomes available will be based on the next hire and my guess is Miami will land a quality name coach. Heck, I'd expect to hear Collins name at some point as a successor given the money I expect they will be tossing around.
 

SmellyCat

Junior
May 29, 2001
7,290
340
83
Not sure about Barkley and Clayton transferring.
...
I'm not writing off Barkley yet.
Nor am I, but it would still not be surprising. It's one thing to barely play your freshman year and then turn out to be good later like Barnhizer and Nicholson, but Barkley is in his second year and has already redshirted. If he barely plays this year, and it looks like that is the case, that's an awfully long time to be on the bench if you have higher aspirations.
 

Purple Pile Driver

All-Conference
May 14, 2014
27,162
2,593
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Nor am I, but it would still not be surprising. It's one thing to barely play your freshman year and then turn out to be good later like Barnhizer and Nicholson, but Barkley is in his second year and has already redshirted. If he barely plays this year, and it looks like that is the case, that's an awfully long time to be on the bench if you have higher aspirations.
I have not written Barkley off, but I have my pen out and the caps off.
 

RhabdoWildcat

Junior
Dec 15, 2009
2,104
210
48
These guys are both Florida kids so it made sense and Miami has been very strong recently. Also Miami has big NIL $$$ and some kids just want that. Whether Able ever becomes available will be based on the next hire and my guess is Miami will land a quality name coach. Heck, I'd expect to hear Collins name at some point as a successor given the money I expect they will be tossing around.
I can't imagine Collins leaving unless the pay disparity is huge. Not sure how old his son is but I'd imagine he'd wait at least until he graduated. Maybe there's another Collin's kid in the wing coming to NU so that could keep him longer too.
 

NVAcat

Redshirt
Nov 27, 2017
193
0
16
I have not written Barkley off, but I have my pen out and the caps off.
Being glued to the bench in his second year and with a very promising class coming in, he’s basically got to conclude that if wants to play in college that he has to transfer. More or less the same for Clayton who didn’t make the necessary jump from year one to year two and has almost certainly been passed by KJ & Gelo & also looking at the strong incoming class.These guys were smart enough to get into NU so pretty sure they can see the writing on the wall.
The upshot is that we very, very likely have two scollies and these are high upside players to add to Avery good class. I would hold one though for a quality big man transfer.
 
Dec 24, 2010
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If Collins' intention is growing player skills / developing players, and maintaining a core of experienced quality players, I wouldn't write a frosh or soph off just because they aren't getting playing time yet.
 

PurpleWhiteBoy

Redshirt
Feb 25, 2021
5,303
0
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If Collins' intention is growing player skills / developing players, and maintaining a core of experienced quality players, I wouldn't write a frosh or soph off just because they aren't getting playing time yet.
The only thing I have been able to notice about Barkley is that he appears comfortable with his teammates and can shoot the ball alright for a guy his size. Doesn't look like a stiff - just might be outclassed at this level.
 
Dec 24, 2010
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I generally remain hopeful about the young guys we haven't seen much of, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. I haven't seen anything others here haven't also seen. I'm just giving Collins the credit of his ongoing statements about developing the younger guys while the experienced older guys get the court time. And looking back at the first few years of Boo, Brooks, Nick, etc and how far they've all come.

Collins doesn't seem to be trying to compete for impact freshmen so much, so I don't expect to see too many impact freshmen playing.
 

Purple Pile Driver

All-Conference
May 14, 2014
27,162
2,593
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I generally remain hopeful about the young guys we haven't seen much of, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. I haven't seen anything others here haven't also seen. I'm just giving Collins the credit of his ongoing statements about developing the younger guys while the experienced older guys get the court time. And looking back at the first few years of Boo, Brooks, Nick, etc and how far they've all come.

Collins doesn't seem to be trying to compete for impact freshmen so much, so I don't expect to see too many impact freshmen playing.
We better see impact Freshmen next season or we are in big trouble.
 

CSCatFan1

Senior
Dec 4, 2002
39,976
462
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I generally remain hopeful about the young guys we haven't seen much of, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. I haven't seen anything others here haven't also seen. I'm just giving Collins the credit of his ongoing statements about developing the younger guys while the experienced older guys get the court time. And looking back at the first few years of Boo, Brooks, Nick, etc and how far they've all come.

Collins doesn't seem to be trying to compete for impact freshmen so much, so I don't expect to see too many impact freshmen playing.

The fact that KJ & Gello are playing over Clayton & Barkley are all you need to see. I’ll be surprised if both are on the roster next season. With 5 incoming frosh, we’re going to need those two slots to replace Leach and Fitz on the roster.
 

NUcats92

Sophomore
Jun 12, 2021
761
148
43
I can't imagine Collins leaving unless the pay disparity is huge. Not sure how old his son is but I'd imagine he'd wait at least until he graduated. Maybe there's another Collin's kid in the wing coming to NU so that could keep him longer too.
Nope, Collins only has a son and a daughter that’s it and his daughter is in her first year at Duke.
 

Max_Power

Junior
May 29, 2001
2,949
224
51
I have not written Barkley off, but I have my pen out and the caps off.

I can't imagine Collins leaving unless the pay disparity is huge. Not sure how old his son is but I'd imagine he'd wait at least until he graduated. Maybe there's another Collin's kid in the wing coming to NU so that could keep him longer too.
I did mean to suggest he would leave only that I expect to see his name popping up with openings given the last two years. I would be shocked if collins left for anywhere other than Duke and that job is probably filled going forward.
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
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You wouldn’t imagine it, but there are actually limits to how much normal people can spend. Collins is a basketball coach, so not entirely normal, but he’s ultimately pretty normal.

He’s made ~$3M per year over the last three. He doesn’t have private jet money, but he sure has “retire in ten years at the age of 60 and know that I can live beyond comfortably on bank interest” money.
 

PurpleWhiteBoy

Redshirt
Feb 25, 2021
5,303
0
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The fact that KJ & Gello are playing over Clayton & Barkley are all you need to see. I’ll be surprised if both are on the roster next season. With 5 incoming frosh, we’re going to need those two slots to replace Leach and Fitz on the roster.

As I mentioned above, it is unclear (to me) that Collins can just ask Barkley or Clayton to transfer.
I'm not sure he can kick them off the team either.
So they'd (maybe) have to willingly walk away from a free Northwestern education... for what? Playing time at a lower level and earning a lesser diploma? That not too smart.
But if they can get an Ivy to take them and work out the financials, that would make sense.

Regardless, we lose Leach, Fitzmorris, Barnhizer, Nicholson, Berry
we return Hunger, Martinelli, Windham, Ciaravino, Mullins, Barkley(?), Clayton(?), Blake Smith (status?)
We add 5 new freshmen.
NCAA added 2 more scholarships to the limit... So it will be 15 next year.

I could see Barkley leaving on his own to play in the diminished ACC, I suppose. Closer to home, quality education, reputable programs.
Not sure where Clayton would go.
 
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PURPLECAT88

Senior
Feb 4, 2003
7,686
751
113
As I mentioned above, it is unclear (to me) that Collins can just ask Barkley or Clayton to transfer.
I'm not sure he can kick them off the team either.
So they'd (maybe) have to willingly walk away from a free Northwestern education... for what? Playing time at a lower level and earning a lesser diploma? That not too smart.
But if they can get an Ivy to take them and work out the financials, that would make sense.

Regardless, we lose Leach, Fitzmorris, Barnhizer, Nicholson, Berry
we return Hunger, Martinelli, Windham, Ciaravino, Barkley(?), Clayton(?), Blake Smith (status?)
We add 5 new freshmen.
NCAA added 2 more scholarships to the limit... So it will be 15 next year.

I could see Barkley leaving on his own to play in the diminished ACC, I suppose. Closer to home, quality education, reputable programs.
Not sure where Clayton would go.
Good analysis, but you left out Mullins among the returning players.