Why? If he doesn’t make the tourney for three straight years, he’s getting fired. He raised the bar and as a result needs to live with new expectations.
Northwestern vs. Butler Game Thread
- Thread starter lou v
- Start date
If you think NU basketball is an automatic ride to the top every year, I’m not sure what world you live in. And he’s not getting fired!
Game thread always has emotional hot takes, so no comment on the above.
Positives I saw:
KJ took shots and made a couple! (I don’t know if he knows how to play off a guard like Reid at all).
Game looks like it has slowed down a bit for Kropp. Could have done without that three point attempt though.
Max Green keeps bringing energy and the good kind of fearless offense.
Robbie Hummel is still the best color guy in hoops, hard stop. Apologies to Shon Morris.
Positives I saw:
KJ took shots and made a couple! (I don’t know if he knows how to play off a guard like Reid at all).
Game looks like it has slowed down a bit for Kropp. Could have done without that three point attempt though.
Max Green keeps bringing energy and the good kind of fearless offense.
Robbie Hummel is still the best color guy in hoops, hard stop. Apologies to Shon Morris.
Much has been made about CCC finding the right combinations. Granted I am just an armchair slob but to me you have the running unit (Reid/Page/NM/Gelo/Mullins/Green) and you have the half court unit (West/Clayton/NM/KJ/Kropp/Page/Singleton).
Obviously there is overlap but when JR is setting things up the guys from the half court unit just stand and watch. Reid’s sets don’t look great. Too many drives to nowhere, can’t seem to make a post entry pass, has at least two ball handling gaffes per game. If he is driving the bus we have to be an attacking offense at all times and we live with the rest.
Obviously there is overlap but when JR is setting things up the guys from the half court unit just stand and watch. Reid’s sets don’t look great. Too many drives to nowhere, can’t seem to make a post entry pass, has at least two ball handling gaffes per game. If he is driving the bus we have to be an attacking offense at all times and we live with the rest.
Brother, I’m 37 and went to my first game in 1997. I’m well aware of the heartbreak. But I’m also cognizant of the new era we’re in - which Chris absolutely built - and that means an elevated standard.
Hummel is the freaking man. Used to see him out in Chicago bars and he was nice as could be. And he’s worked his *** off to get to where he is. I just always wonder what would have happened for Carmody, Juice, Shurna if Hummel committed to us… if I recall correctly he picked Purdue over us and Butler and it was very close between us and Purdue. Sigh.
If he doesn’t make 3 straight tourneys… yes. I said “hot seat” next year if we don’t rally and make it this year.
Do you remember injuries from last year? They were rather significant. And the year before when we made the tournament? And the fact that he’s still dealing with the Gragg effect with the Clayton class, which are juniors (in their prime)? Need to think this through some more…
Ty Berry was hobbled until January by that recover recovery from surgery to repair his meniscus. Brooks was never healthy. And then Jalen Leach tore his ACL. If those three guys are fully healthy, that is a tournament team.
Last year’s team flipped one of the close losses to a win and would have been in even with the injuries.