My take after two conference games is

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

that the primary thing standing between us and the tournament is Buie and Audige and their shot selection. They both have much to offer, but the consequences of promiscuously jacking up shots are clear. Otherwise I feel we’re amply good enough to get it done. And I remain convinced this is a correctable problem if the will is there.

MSU had nothing going offensively in the first half other than transition buckets they’re too good at cashing in when a bad shot gets jacked up. The halftime lead could have easily been 13 like it was last year.

We also picked a bad time to have uncharacteristically bad FT shooting. I know physical play tends to have that effect, but man it was pretty sad through the whole game.

 

[freewillie07]

that the primary thing standing between us and the tournament is Buie and Audige and their shot selection. They both have much to offer, but the consequences of promiscuously jacking up shots are clear. Otherwise I feel we’re amply good enough to get it done. And I remain convinced this is a correctable problem if the will is there.

MSU had nothing going offensively in the first half other than transition buckets they’re too good at cashing in when a bad shot gets jacked up. The halftime lead could have easily been 13 like it was last year.

We also picked a bad time to have uncharacteristically bad FT shooting. I know physical play tends to have that effect, but man it was pretty sad through the whole game.

As I just posted in the game thread…

This team is good enough to compete in the Big Ten. We knew that before, and we saw it again today.

This team is NOT good enough to win when shooting like garbage from everywhere on the floor. Knew there would be some rust, but was hoping it would shake off by halftime. Instead, NU stayed cold while MSU shot 6/13 from 3. Couldn’t even knock down free throws.

 

[GatoLouco]

that the primary thing standing between us and the tournament is Buie and Audige and their shot selection. They both have much to offer, but the consequences of promiscuously jacking up shots are clear. Otherwise I feel we’re amply good enough to get it done. And I remain convinced this is a correctable problem if the will is there.

MSU had nothing going offensively in the first half other than transition buckets they’re too good at cashing in when a bad shot gets jacked up. The halftime lead could have easily been 13 like it was last year.

We also picked a bad time to have uncharacteristically bad FT shooting. I know physical play tends to have that effect, but man it was pretty sad through the whole game.

Excellent recap IMO.

Losing against the #10 team (MSU was supposed to worse than this) is nothing to be discouraged by. It would not be had we lost a hard fought game where we played decently. It’s even less when we lost doing terrible things like missing a lot of FT or having very poor shot selection.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

As I just posted in the game thread…

This team is good enough to compete in the Big Ten. We knew that before, and we saw it again today.

This team is NOT good enough to win when shooting like garbage from everywhere on the floor. Knew there would be some rust, but was hoping it would shake off by halftime. Instead, NU stayed cold while MSU shot 6/13 from 3. Couldn’t even knock down free throws.

Missed shots I can live with, and there were some from everyone. This team is good enough offensively that it won’t happen too much. And we’re good enough defensively, at least on the interior, for opponents’ runs not to get too out of hand.

Except when possessions are ended by shots that should never be taken.

 

[freewillie07]

 

[MCC_Cat]

Yes that was an offensive offensive showing and we easily could've won that game somehow. D and rebounding are much improved. Ball rotation and shot selection, sadly not.

Is it just me or does Audige launch some of those 3's before he even has the ball securely in his hands? It's like he's so eager to launch the 3 he goes into the shot before he even has control of the ball. I've never seen someone do that before but I swear he did it multiple times today and not surprisingly, shot an airball every time.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

Yes that was an offensive offensive showing and we easily could've won that game somehow. D and rebounding are much improved. Ball rotation and shot selection, sadly not.

Is it just me or does Audige launch some of those 3's before he even has the ball securely in his hands? It's like he's so eager to launch the 3 he goes into the shot before he even has control of the ball. I've never seen someone do that before but I swear he did it multiple times today and not surprisingly, shot an airball every time.

He actually hit an open three after being what, 1-14 on the season up to then? He missed a number of them after that.

Even though his biggest problem isn’t missing wide open threes, I’d be fine with him not taking any shot that isn’t in the paint for a while. I’m not sure he’s internalized the difference between an open look and one that, em, isn’t.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

Yes that was an offensive offensive showing and we easily could've won that game somehow. D and rebounding are much improved. Ball rotation and shot selection, sadly not.

Is it just me or does Audige launch some of those 3's before he even has the ball securely in his hands? It's like he's so eager to launch the 3 he goes into the shot before he even has control of the ball. I've never seen someone do that before but I swear he did it multiple times today and not surprisingly, shot an airball every time.

Has anyone ever seen Collins criticize Audige for a shot? Ever? I don’t live near Chicago so maybe I’m missing that by not being at the games, but in the 10-20 interactions between them I’ve seen on tv over a couple years, I’ve always read their interactions as positive. The question that I wish a reporter would ask Collins is about shot selection. Maybe someone asked him that question today?

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

Fair question; I don’t know. I do know that someone has said Collins likes, or at least doesn’t mind, shots very early in a possession.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

If I had a dollar for every time Izzo spoke very highly of us over the last 15 years, I would have $15.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

If I had a dollar for every time Izzo spoke very highly of us over the last 15 years, I would have $15.

He’s not exactly Lou Holtz in that regard, but I take your point.

 

[GatoLouco]

No one would criticize Audige (or Buie) if they went 0-10 taking forced shots at the end of the shot clock. Or they were wide open. Those are not bad shots.

What we saw today was a lot of plain bad shots. Rushed, contested, off balance, early in the shot clock.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

He’s not exactly Lou Holtz in that regard, but I take your point.

Actually I would have more than $15! ‘Cause sometimes we play them twice.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

No one would criticize Audige (or Buie) if they went 0-10 taking forced shots at the end of the shot clock. Or they were wide open. Those are not bad shots.

What we saw today was a lot of plain bad shots. Rushed, contested, off balance, early in the shot clock.

Robbie Hummel was beside himself about Audige. I’ve actually never heard an announcer single out one player so often in a game before. If I had a dollar for every time Hummel was exasperated by Audige today…

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Has anyone ever seen Collins criticize Audige for a shot? Ever? I don’t live near Chicago so maybe I’m missing that by not being at the games, but in the 10-20 interactions between them I’ve seen on tv over a couple years, I’ve always read their interactions as positive. The question that I wish a reporter would ask Collins is about shot selection. Maybe someone asked him that question today?

Collins generally doesn't criticize shot selection, or much of anything in game. That's not his style, and i think it's the right choice. Criticize during practice. That's where players learn and improve. You don't want them in their own heads during the games.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

Collins generally doesn't criticize shot selection, or much of anything in game. That's not his style, and i think it's the right choice. Criticize during practice. That's where players learn and improve. You don't want them in their own heads during the games.

I guess I would be interested to know if he criticizes shot selection during practice? Because Audige has not improved in shot election since he has been at NU.

 

[NU Houston]

I'll be happy when schools like Michigan State and Michigan aren't stealing away the kids of former NU star athletes. Seeing the shot of Christie (in MSU green) standing next to his mom's plaque at Northwestern was painful. It sucks. Almost as bad as seeing Chris Hinton decked out in maize and blue.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

Collins generally doesn't criticize shot selection, or much of anything in game. That's not his style, and i think it's the right choice. Criticize during practice. That's where players learn and improve. You don't want them in their own heads during the games.

The problem is when you have both guards doing it, that’s a lot of possessions where nobody else might even get to touch the ball.

I don’t need Collins to berate them in public, but I pray that he’s giving them reminders, because otherwise we just have to sacrifice the current game while waiting for an acceptable opportunity to mention it in practice, and hope that they’ll just remember in the next game, all evidence otherwise notwithstanding.

 

[GatoLouco]

Criticizing during the game has to happen. It does not mean necessarily singling out a player in front of the cameras away from the huddle. It means talking to the player, with different levels of intensity, during a timeout, as he goes by, or after a substitution.

I am 100% sure CC does it in some way. And fairly confident 99% of coaches do it. If it’s done efficiently, that’s a very relevant question in light of Audige’s behavior. In the end, if the player does not react to the criticism there’s always sitting him down on the bench.

Taking one bad shot is not a big deal. Taking several is. Even the indirect results of it, like the frustration of the rest of the team seeing it happen, are very destructive.

 

[JoeWildcat]

I’ve said it before: Buie and Audige are the worst shooters of our top 7 or 8 players, but they take way more shots than anyone else. I am a big believer in taking the first open shot someone has regardless of how early in the shot clock it is, but don’t launch shots early just to launch shots early. CCC should have been able to fix this long ago, but I have seen no improvement over the past couple years.

 

[xxxbobxxx]

Collins generally doesn't criticize shot selection, or much of anything in game. That's not his style, and i think it's the right choice. Criticize during practice. That's where players learn and improve. You don't want them in their own heads during the games.

Um, I thought I recall young guys getting brought to the bench as soon as possible after jacking up bad shots. I thought folks noted that CCC can have a short leash at times, maybe too short.

I’m glad to see us compete and be in it all game today. It says to me that we have the horses. From my position, it’s up to the coaches now to game plan and coach in game to bring home success.

We should have a chance every single game. Let’s see how we do.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

so what you guys are saying is... we looked like a poorly coached team today....

 

[NREPP Fraud]

that the primary thing standing between us and the tournament is Buie and Audige and their shot selection. They both have much to offer, but the consequences of promiscuously jacking up shots are clear. Otherwise I feel we’re amply good enough to get it done. And I remain convinced this is a correctable problem if the will is there.

MSU had nothing going offensively in the first half other than transition buckets they’re too good at cashing in when a bad shot gets jacked up. The halftime lead could have easily been 13 like it was last year.

We also picked a bad time to have uncharacteristically bad FT shooting. I know physical play tends to have that effect, but man it was pretty sad through the whole game.

Agreed! Get the ball inside to Young and Nance!

 

[GatoLouco]

I watched the IU @ PSU game. I swear there were 10+ times Jackson-Davis was solidly in front of his defender down low, the ball was on his side of the court, hand up, and his team mate did not get him the ball. One of the best big men in the country. It’s mind boggling.

 

[NU Houston]

Criticizing during the game has to happen. It does not mean necessarily singling out a player in front of the cameras away from the huddle. It means talking to the player, with different levels of intensity, during a timeout, as he goes by, or after a substitution.

I am 100% sure CC does it in some way. And fairly confident 99% of coaches do it. If it’s done efficiently, that’s a very relevant question in light of Audige’s behavior. In the end, if the player does not react to the criticism there’s always sitting him down on the bench.

Taking one bad shot is not a big deal. Taking several is. Even the indirect results of it, like the frustration of the rest of the team seeing it happen, are very destructive.

Collins sure jumped on Simmons in a timeout for failing to box out Christie on a dunk off an offensive rebound. Clear stare down and (my lip reading) "Box Out!". He seems to get on them during games.

 

[NUCat320]

Actually I would have more than $15! ‘Cause sometimes we play them twice.

As I recall, the only time he doesn’t say nice things is when NU beats him. Last year, he destroyed his players to the press after NU won.

 

[Sec_112]

I can agree the shot selection of Buie and Audige stinks. I've given up that it will be coached out of them. As Collins has said many, many, many times, he will never tell someone not to shoot. It's obviously something from his playing days that he's carried as a core philosophy of his coaching.

I can't disagree more that this is a good team offensively. Yes, part of it is coaching. But Buie, Nance and maybe Young are the most consistent scorers the team has. But I wouldn't call them truly consistent. You can't depend on them. They averaged 10, 11 and 7 respectively in the conference last year.

And then if they have a lousy game like they did today along with Audige, who are you going to depend on to pick up the slack? Who are they going to pass to that's a consistent scorer?

On a VERY good night, you're going to get 30 points from Buie/Young and Nance. For that perfectly good night, you'll get another 24 from Buie/Young and Audige on that perfect night. Then what? You need another 15 points from the remainder of the group just to get to 69 pts per game - 9th in the conference last year. And that's a prefect night for your first four scorers. Good luck getting a realistic 20 from the remainder of that group.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

I can agree the shot selection of Buie and Audige stinks. I've given up that it will be coached out of them. As Collins has said many, many, many times, he will never tell someone not to shoot. It's obviously something from his playing days that he's carried as a core philosophy of his coaching.

I can't disagree more that this is a good team offensively. Yes, part of it is coaching. But Buie, Nance and maybe Young are the most consistent scorers the team has. But I wouldn't call them truly consistent. You can't depend on them. They averaged 10, 11 and 7 respectively in the conference last year.

And then if they have a lousy game like they did today along with Audige, who are you going to depend on to pick up the slack? Who are they going to pass to that's a consistent scorer?

On a VERY good night, you're going to get 30 points from Buie/Young and Nance. For that perfectly good night, you'll get another 24 from Buie/Young and Audige on that perfect night. Then what? You need another 15 points from the remainder of the group just to get to 69 pts per game - 9th in the conference last year. And that's a prefect night for your first four scorers. Good luck getting a realistic 20 from the remainder of that group.

The good news for me is that I don’t need Buie or Audige not to shoot. They’re capable of getting or creating good shots. In a given possession they may pass up a shot only to get the ball back with another, better opportunity. There’s a wide gulf between being shy and wearing a lampshade every game.

 

[GatoLouco]

Collins sure jumped on Simmons in a timeout for failing to box out Christie on a dunk off an offensive rebound. Clear stare down and (my lip reading) "Box Out!". He seems to get on them during games.

There’s a weird dynamic in teams, sports or otherwise, of who gets yelled at. Simmons is a freshman, Audige is not. So maybe it’s selective. I don’t know but I know it should not be.

I believe citing CC saying he won’t ever tell a player not to shoot does not mean literally they can take any shot. I don’t know in what world Ryan Young would take a shot from the logo and not be told that is not acceptable. I believe more accurately would be he will not tell any player to not take a good shot.

Personally I am on the side of the line of thinking that if you are open you take the shot. If you refuse to take open shots you can’t play. What an open shot is, well depends on the player, surely it’s different for Stephan Curry from what it is to the rest of the world.

Good shots bad shots is why I abominate the step back shot. It’s a fantastic tool, so handy at the end of the shot clock. Or if you’re James Harden. But it’s a terrible option for 90% of the time it’s used. Low percentage shot in the overwhelming majority of times it’s taken.

In the end Audige believes he’s James Harden.

 

[GatoLouco]

The good news for me is that I don’t need Buie or Audige not to shoot. They’re capable of getting or creating good shots. In a given possession they may pass up a shot only to get the ball back with another, better opportunity. There’s a wide gulf between being shy and wearing a lampshade every game.

Audige was in control in the first half. Created good shots for other people in the process. He tends to go into poor shot mode the less in control of the game we are.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

If Audige has the ball in transition, he almost never passes.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Audige was in control in the first half. Created good shots for other people in the process. He tends to go into poor shot mode the less in control of the game we are.

Yes, he seems to take the mindset that he HAS to be the one to score when NU hits the skids. I believe the poor shot selection is addressed by the staff frequently and maybe even some the older guys, Nance in particular. As bad as Chase’s selection was today it was worse at times last year. Boo jacked up a few silly shots too but for the most part didn’t force it as much and he didn’t go crazy like last year. Just missed a lot.

I think CCC, the staff, and even the players know that the team needs Chase and/or Boo to be that third scorer. There isn’t much offense after Pete and Young. Berry seems to be a year away from joining that role. Both Chase and Boo can get hot and I would want them shooting plenty if NU is trailing. Winning, they tend to get out of the offense when things start tightening up. Pretty sure shot selection is addressed plenty by the staff, but Chase and/or Boo have to score for NU to beat most good teams.

 

[hudsoncat]

I imagine he could give Chris more credit if we won.

 

[Dugan15]

The phrase that comes to mind in watching the game and reading this thread is “opportunity cost.” OK, I get it. Coach Collins wants Buie and Audige to be aggressive. But, the reality is that from beyond the arc, Chase is 2/17 (.118) and Boo is 20/67 (.299). Meanwhile, Ryan G. is 7/15, Pete is 12/30 and Ty is 24/52 (Are you kidding me??). Work the offense. Give our team the chance to get an open look. The shots that leave us all flummoxed could be had at any point in the shot clock.

 

[PurpleFaze]

Robbie Hummel was beside himself about Audige. I’ve actually never heard an announcer single out one player so often in a game before. If I had a dollar for every time Hummel was exasperated by Audige today…

Hummel is refreshingly honest in his analysis which makes him probably my favorite BTN coverage guy.

 

[PurpleFaze]

The phrase that comes to mind in watching the game and reading this thread is “opportunity cost.” OK, I get it. Coach Collins wants Buie and Audige to be aggressive. But, the reality is that from beyond the arc, Chase is 2/17 (.118) and Boo is 20/67 (.299). Meanwhile, Ryan G. is 7/15, Pete is 12/30 and Ty is 24/52 (Are you kidding me??). Work the offense. Give our team the chance to get an open look. The shots that leave us all flummoxed could be had at any point in the shot clock.

This game was there for the taking. Too many missed FT’s and too many just plain dumb shots. NU has a deep bench so no idea why Collins is ok with guys who are having off nights continue to jack up shots. Audige was lucky to draw iron on most of his shots today…

 

[PurpleFaze]

Yes, he seems to take the mindset that he HAS to be the one to score when NU hits the skids. I believe the poor shot selection is addressed by the staff frequently and maybe even some the older guys, Nance in particular. As bad as Chase’s selection was today it was worse at times last year. Boo jacked up a few silly shots too but for the most part didn’t force it as much and he didn’t go crazy like last year. Just missed a lot.

I think CCC, the staff, and even the players know that the team needs Chase and/or Boo to be that third scorer. There isn’t much offense after Pete and Young. Berry seems to be a year away from joining that role. Both Chase and Boo can get hot and I would want them shooting plenty if NU is trailing. Winning, they tend to get out of the offense when things start tightening up. Pretty sure shot selection is addressed plenty by the staff, but Chase and/or Boo have to score for NU to beat most good teams.

This team can still win if Boo and Audige aren’t scoring- they have a deep enough bench. Boo seems to be figuring that out. Audige seems to be more intent on making sure he gets his shot volume no matter the circumstances.

They were a combined 6/25 or something today? They basically shot us out of the game by continuing to jack up attempts.

 

[PurpleFaze]

If Audige has the ball in transition, he almost never passes.

Nance would have had an easy slam that would have fired up the crowd today and Audige didn’t even consider giving it back…

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Those cupcakes in the B1G might be better than they are being credited for. PSU knocked off Miller and the Hoosiers today. Nebraska just blew a game losing in OT to OSU.

 

[benoitdenizetl]

If Audige has the ball in transition, he almost never passes.

Some of the best tweets today are from MSU fans thanking Audige for their win.