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hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
37,228
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113
C

catcrazy

Sophomore
Aug 5, 2001
3,777
124
62
After the next few seasons they will be ensconced as our little brother in both basketball and football. No reason to fear the cornstalkers
 
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pawildcat_rivals209725

Senior
Sep 15, 2006
12,698
996
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catcrazy said:
After the next few seasons they will be ensconced as our little brother in both basketball and football. No reason to fear the cornstalkers
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If they ever again hire a coach who can recruit there (haven't had one since Self), they should be a perennial top 25 program. Let's hope they don't.
 
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Dukeman

Senior
Dec 21, 2001
872
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pawildcat said:
If they ever again hire a coach who can recruit there (haven't had one since Self), they should be a perennial top 25 program. Let's hope they don't.
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Northwestern already has the coach, what's to stop them from being a perennial top 25 team?
 
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jjjjjjj_rivals298916

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2001
136
24
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Dukeman said:
Northwestern already has the coach, what's to stop them from being a perennial top 25 team?
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I think it could happen, though it would be much harder if Collins leaves.

Has Duke boxed itself in by hiring Capel as an assistant, or could they still hire Collins when K leaves?
 
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NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,326
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jjjjjjj said:
They're coming to terms with taking a back seat to NU in yet another sport. According to posters there, Groce is all but gone, and they regret not going after Collins.

http://forums.illinihq.com/topic/31...ter-realizing-northwestern-is-better-than-us/

Wonder when NU was last a better program than UI in both football and basketball?
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This post sort of said it all, referring to the 3rd place Wildcats:

"Standings mean nothing this early.
Plenty of time for the 13th place team to catch them."
 
D

Dukeman

Senior
Dec 21, 2001
872
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jjjjjjj said:
I think it could happen, though it would be much harder if Collins leaves.

Has Duke boxed itself in by hiring Capel as an assistant, or could they still hire Collins when K leaves?
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Good question. I don't think Duke has boxed it's self in on the next hire. I expect K to be around a few more year's. I do expect Capel or Collins to be the next coach.

Of course Chris could be building his own legacy here. This is his home, Chicago area is a fertile recruiting ground for him. I can see Northwestern under Chris becoming the Duke of the BIG.

If I were Northwestern I would pay him and sign him to a multi-year contract. Upgrade basketball facilities. Really get student involvement and support (Cameron Crazies). Leave no doubt that he is appreciated.
 
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NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,326
1,501
113
Dukeman said:
If I were Northwestern I would pay him and sign him to a multi-year contract. Upgrade basketball facilities. Really get student involvement and support (Cameron Crazies). Leave no doubt that he is appreciated.
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NU has already extended his contract once. Money won't be the issue. They are spending $110M+ on facilities, so that isn't an issue. Will the students ever support NU hoops the way Dookies do? Who knows. But it probably isn't a big deal to him or the team.

Maybe the biggest differentiator is academics. None of us know for sure, but the common belief is that Duke's standards for basketball players are less rigorous than NU's. If Collins finds his hands are tied trying to recruit the players he needs to win consistently then maybe he decides to take the easy way and returns to Duke.
 
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Katatonic

Sophomore
Oct 23, 2004
86,854
134
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Stated this in CC's 1st year at NU.

As long as the admin supports the program, don't think CC is going anywhere (including to Duke; don't want to be the coach who follows the legend, anyway).

CC loves being back home in Chicago and wants to raise his family here; plus he wants to build his own program and become a legend in his own right.

The only chance I see CC leaving for his alma mater is if the situation resembles UNC - where the Tar Heels were struggling after the retirement of Smith and Williams finally acquiesced to return home.

But unlike for Williams, home for CC means 2 different places.
 
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aquacat

Redshirt
Aug 7, 2013
305
15
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Katatonic said:
Stated this in CC's 1st year at NU.

As long as the admin supports the program, don't think CC is going anywhere (including to Duke; don't want to be the coach who follows the legend, anyway).

CC loves being back home in Chicago and wants to raise his family here; plus he wants to build his own program and become a legend in his own right.

The only chance I see CC leaving for his alma mater is if the situation resembles UNC - where the Tar Heels were struggling after the retirement of Smith and Williams finally acquiesced to return home.

But unlike for Williams, home for CC means 2 different places.
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Chris Collins will coach in the pros if he doesn't go to duke or another big time program. I think we can probably keep him here for ten years, tops. You think he will stay at his first head coaching job for his entire coaching career? I could see him coaching the bulls if he wants to stay in Chicago so badly
 
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Hungry Jack

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2008
37,137
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The Illini are only 11-8 but with an RPI < 50 thanks to a very difficult schedule. They could very well be a tournament team. It just seems like the wheels are coming off because of higher expectations (and not being able to beat some very good teams). I am nowhere near ready to write them off, and expect to split the series with them as I think the rivalry will produce two contested games.
 
DaCat

DaCat

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
25,499
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aquacat said:
Chris Collins will coach in the pros if he doesn't go to duke or another big time program. I think we can probably keep him here for ten years, tops. You think he will stay at his first head coaching job for his entire coaching career? I could see him coaching the bulls if he wants to stay in Chicago so badly
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I still believe that if he has sustained success at NU, Collins will not take another college job, even Duke. My only fear is a pro coaching job, such a the Bulls like you said.
 
DaCat

DaCat

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
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By the way, I went to grad school at Duke, and I personally preferred Northwestern's campus and surroundings over Durham. I liked the Cameron experience, and their golf course right next to the campus was awesome, but the Chicago area is much better, especially if you earn millions, live in Kenilworth, and has 100% support from the administration. He's already thrown the opening pitch at Wrigley 3 times, sang the 7th inning stretch, is touted at Bulls and Black Hawks games... man, the dude is living his dream. Throw in family, childhood friends, Chicago upbringing... it's a perfect fit.
 
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NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,326
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DaCat said:
By the way, I went to grad school at Duke, and I personally preferred Northwestern's campus and surroundings over Durham. I liked the Cameron experience, and their golf course right next to the campus was awesome, but the Chicago area is much better, especially if you earn millions, live in Kenilworth, and has 100% support from the administration. He's already thrown the opening pitch at Wrigley 3 times, sang the 7th inning stretch, is touted at Bulls and Black Hawks games... man, the dude is living his dream. Throw in family, childhood friends, Chicago upbringing... it's a perfect fit.
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But the BBQ is MUCH better in NC, even the Eastern style they serve over there.
 
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hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
37,228
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jjjjjjj said:
I think it could happen, though it would be much harder if Collins leaves.

Has Duke boxed itself in by hiring Capel as an assistant, or could they still hire Collins when K leaves?
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Why would they have boxed themselves in? Though he does have HC experience plus NCAA experience, ties with all the current players and recruits and has done solid recruiting at the top level. Have to question how he ended up with the Asst Coach that led to his demise.
 
mickbula

mickbula

Junior
Jul 1, 2011
2,913
241
63
Call me crazy or a radical fan, but I think if our football and basketball teams continue their upward projectal turn and we get consistent ranked teams (with more bowl wins and several NCaa tourney appearances), Central Road should be renamed either/or both Pat Fitzgerald/ Chris Collins Way/Road/Drive. Either that, or rename bland "Ryan Field"- "Pat Fitzgerald Stadium" and McGaw into "Chris Collins Arena." Will that keep both coaches at NU a little while longer? Didn't Duke name a street by their stadium after their Coach K? A lot of other schools have named stadiums/arenas after coaches- why not us?
 
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Dukeman

Senior
Dec 21, 2001
872
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mickbula said:
Didn't Duke name a street by their stadium after their Coach K? /QUOTE]

No. Their is a large paved area near Cameron where student's start camping out in tents weeks before the UNC game for best court side seats for that game. ( I say seats but student's don't sit, they always stand). The area is called Krzyzewskiville.

The court has been named Coach K Court.
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hdhntr1

All-Conference
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DaCat said:
I still believe that if he has sustained success at NU, Collins will not take another college job, even Duke. My only fear is a pro coaching job, such a the Bulls like you said.
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And after watching what happened to his father and comparing it to what he saw with coach K, would he want that or the security he would have here? Could he make more in the pros? Sure but so many have failed with that transition.
 
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Hungry Jack

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2008
37,137
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Fitzphile said:
I hate Duke.
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There is only one Duke. Her name is Daisy.

 
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phatcat_rivals223240

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2001
18,857
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Fitzphile said:
But the BBQ is MUCH better in NC, even the Eastern style they serve over there.
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1. Carolina BBQ is my least favorite
2. As I've said elsewhere, if Duke calls, he'll leave
3. Let's see the team make the Tourney, (or even the NIT?) before we start throwing roses at his feet. Lots of tough games left and the dreaded BTT
 
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The_Waterboy

Freshman
May 29, 2001
2,490
61
0
IMHO, if Collins rolls-out consistent winning teams at NU (which I fully expect him to accomplish in the next few seasons), he will become a virtual ChiTown legend (a la: Da Coach, St. Barney, etc...). In Durham, he simply would be "That guy who succeeded the legendary Coach K." In comparison, the later's public perception doesn't come close to the former. As for transitioning to a pro coach (the Bulls?)... he has his father as the consumate advisor on what those comparable conditions are like. Again, the headaches for a pro basketball coach are exponentially more painful than what he'd experience as a college coach, especially at NU.
 
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Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
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I hope that the Illini go on a little win streak sans their games against the Cats.

Groce keeping his job is a good thing for NU and right now that prospect looks 50/50 at best.
 
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catsattackfor3

Freshman
Mar 2, 2011
2,629
53
0
A few things on this subject. While Collins has us in the right direction nothing has been accomplished yet. Second when it comes to these jobs searches it always is the fit, the salary and can you win. Illinois is a mid Big Ten job nowadays and that is where Collins has us right now. Why would you make that move??

Second the Duke thing will be interesting. Will they go with a former K assistant who's program is hot at the time of K's retirement? Will they go with whomever he says is his hand-picked successor? Will they go with a guy who is on his staff at the time? Tons of questions. For years two former players i know from Duke said Mike Brey would be the successor because no one can dispute him with his success at ND and he would do it for 5 years or so and be able to take the heat of succeeding the legend. Well that was years ago and Brey is getting up there in age too. Even though Collins is a Dookie he was not that popular as a player as much as Wojo, Hurley, Dawkins, Amaker, etc were and they are all head coaches now as well. Who is to say why Collins gets it over any of them especially if they are hot such as winning in the NCAA tourney at the time of K's retirement.

Or Duke may go completely out of the family and go after a Brad Stevens / Billy Donavan type looking to go back to college. Collins would have no shot against that at this point with is limited time here so far, those guys were Championship and multiple Final 4 coaches .
All of this speculation is just that. Just enjoy the moment and hopefully Collins gets us in the tournament and sustains success.

Finally if Collins is really looking to go the NBA then that is a complete change of lifestyle. Many think it is a much easier without the recruiting and chasing college kids around. If the right situation like the two guys I mentioned Donavan/Stevens arises than thats better than any college gig.
 
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Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
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There's no chance that Collins would go to Illinois. I doubt it would have had interest prior to NU.

The concern with the Illinois job is that when they make the change the program is likely to improve, and that includes recruiting. (even though they have a great class coming in)
 
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chitownUofI05

Sophomore
Jan 13, 2011
6,734
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Jeez, I mean getting your laughs in about 2017 is legit, but you guys act like we'll act like we'll having this TERRIBLE time finding a coach ... history says otherwise. History also says Illinois basketball will be back up eventually.

Then again, if you guys are going to become Duke of the Big Ten, no need to worry, LOL.
 
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chitownUofI05

Sophomore
Jan 13, 2011
6,734
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Also, jobs don't just get dramatically worse overnight. To say the NU job is as good as the UI job is just simply ignorant.
 
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