NU doesn’t have playmakers. Period.

[freewillie07]

Michigan was beatable. They missed a ton of good looks from 3 and Wagner got in a bit of foul trouble. Great situation for NU.

The problem is Michigan is a good defensive team and NU has NO ONE who can individually go one-on-one, beat their man off the dribble, and finish at the rim. Law had the ball ripped out of his hands when he tried to create. Look at the number of steals Michigan had. BMac missed a bunch of looks at the rim.

Until NU gets the type of wings who can create for themselves, rather than relying on the lead guard to get them the ball at their spots, this is going to be a recurring problem against quality teams.

 

[NJCat]

Michigan was beatable. They missed a ton of good looks from 3 and Wagner got in a bit of foul trouble. Great situation for NU..

So true. When you hold your opponent to 28% from 3 and still get outshot you have a problem. NU a) cannot create a shot off the dribble, and b) is a BAD jump shooting team. Bad combination.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

We need a five star point guard!

 

[NJCat]

We need a five star point guard!

Dang!!!!

 

[freewillie07]

And, I should add, this is not just a deficiceny that rears its ugly head against Top 25 teams. Even against mediocre non-conference opponents, you’d often see a guy on the other team who is just a “baller.” At the time we were playing man, and one or two players could consistently beat their NU defender with a quick first step.

I don’t know why Collins hasn’t found a wing recruit that fits that mold. Maybe A.J. Turner, Miller Kopp and Pete Nance will show some of that ability.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

And, I should add, this is not just a deficiceny that rears its ugly head against Top 25 teams. Even against mediocre non-conference opponents, you’d often see a guy on the other team who is just a “baller.” At the time we were playing man, and one or two players could consistently beat their NU defender with a quick first step.

I don’t know why Collins hasn’t found a wing recruit that fits that mold. Maybe A.J. Turner, Miller Kopp and Pete Nance will show some of that ability.

Wing is not the problem. We need another banger inside to help Pardon, Ball never comes inside to go back out. There is always help at the basket which makes it difficult to drive. The 3 you mention along with Law and Gaines will be the strength of next year’s team. PF & PG are the biggest question marks next year.

 

[freewillie07]

Wing is not the problem. We need another banger inside to help Pardon, Ball never comes inside to go back out. There is always help at the basket which makes it difficult to drive. The 3 you mention along with Law and Gaines will be the strength of next year’s team. PF & PG are the biggest question marks next year.

I disagree. NU had a tough time establishing an inside game today, sure, but there have been plenty of times in this latest stretch of games when the offense ran through Pardon. Heck, Skelly has shown some decent post moves on occasion. It would be nice to have another banger, but it’s not the reason the offense couldn’t get anything going toward the basket.

Show me examples of Lindsey, Law or Gaines catching a pass, making a move, getting past their defender, dribbling in a controlled manner and finishing at the rim. I can maybe think of one or two times it happened against Minnesota, but can’t recall a single instance in tonight’s contest.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I disagree. NU had a tough time establishing an inside game today, sure, but there have been plenty of times in this latest stretch of games when the offense ran through Pardon. Heck, Skelly has shown some decent post moves on occasion. It would be nice to have another banger, but it’s not the reason the offense couldn’t get anything going toward the basket.

Show me examples of Lindsey, Law or Gaines catching a pass, making a move, getting past their defender, dribbling in a controlled manner and finishing at the rim. I can maybe think of one or two times it happened against Minnesota, but can’t recall a single instance in tonight’s contest.

Lindsay had a dunk drive from left if basket Law has a drive straight into the hoop for a layup.

 

[Barn#13]

You got that right. We still have a large talent gap to close.

 

[Sec_112]

... Show me examples of Lindsey, Law or Gaines catching a pass, making a move, getting past their defender, dribbling in a controlled manner and finishing at the rim ...

I think "finishing at the rim" is one of your key phrases, and NU had SEVERAL, SEVERAL chances for bunnies at the rim and blew them - at least four baskets. Eight more points and that was a different game.

But I'm splitting hairs. I think anyone who thinks the offensive challenges would be changed by one aspect of the game is crazy. This is an all-around meltdown on offense.

* Incredibly undisciplined shot selection.
* I'll agree with a lack of anyone who can get by their defender.
* Your one guy who can get by a defender too often settles for his mediocre three-point shot.
* Combine that with a lack of any consistent three-point threat.
* I'll also agree there needs to be more bulk in the paint. Pardon in your only threat down low.
* No consistent help from the bench.
* A laughably poor attempt to get to the free-throw line. NU is last in conference play with 139 attempts. Seven teams in the B10 have at least 170 attempts. (BTW, the next closest teams to NU are Wisconsin (143) and Illinois (156). Both have played one less game than NU.)
* All of it weaves together. Can't shoot outside? Any team can pack it down and concentrate on preventing penetration..

And Isiah Brown comes nowhere near a solution to this.

Your first sentence, FreeWillie, is the one that kills me. This game was very winnable, and NU had nothing. Tough year.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Off night shooting by Mac and Law spells doom and gloom

 

[hdhntr1]

I think "finishing at the rim" is one of your key phrases, and NU had SEVERAL, SEVERAL chances for bunnies at the rim and blew them - at least four baskets. Eight more points and that was a different game.

But I'm splitting hairs. I think anyone who thinks the offensive challenges would be changed by one aspect of the game is crazy. This is an all-around meltdown on offense.

* Incredibly undisciplined shot selection.
* I'll agree with a lack of anyone who can get by their defender.
* Your one guy who can get by a defender too often settles for his mediocre three-point shot.
* Combine that with a lack of any consistent three-point threat.
* I'll also agree there needs to be more bulk in the paint. Pardon in your only threat down low.
* No consistent help from the bench.
* A laughably poor attempt to get to the free-throw line. NU is last in conference play with 139 attempts. Seven teams in the B10 have at least 170 attempts. (BTW, the next closest teams to NU are Wisconsin (143) and Illinois (156). Both have played one less game than NU.)
* All of it weaves together. Can't shoot outside? Any team can pack it down and concentrate on preventing penetration..

And Isiah Brown comes nowhere near a solution to this.

Your first sentence, FreeWillie, is the one that kills me. This game was very winnable, and NU had nothing. Tough year.

I saw several examples of guys not completing their cuts. Looked like they would get open with one more step and they basically did not take that step. Almost like they knew that if they did get open they would not get the ball

 

[Kelly_32_rivals]

Our offense is horrible.

Let me know the next time Collins runs something to get McIntosh a shot. He either has to get them off a kick out or beat his guy one-on-one (not really a strength of his).

People can ***** and moan about a hundred different things with this team but when it comes down to it, this is on Collins. He hasn't done a good job this year.

 

[ubercat]

Back to Princeton Offense.

/s

(ducks)

 

[willycat]

Our offense is horrible.

Let me know the next time Collins runs something to get McIntosh a shot. He either has to get them off a kick out or beat his guy one-on-one (not really a strength of his).

People can ***** and moan about a hundred different things with this team but when it comes down to it, this is on Collins. He hasn't done a good job this year.

Your kidding, right? You can't be serious about wishing that Mac should take more shots. He should pass, pass and pass some more.

 

[wildelk2]

....and I wonder if Ivanauskas was recruited to take Sonjay's place. Rebound, clean up garbage, clear space for others....we miss Lumpkin so much. Tap too. So we had Vassar hold a spot, Ivanauskas has been hurt and who knows what's going on with Brown....

 

[Sec_112]

... when it comes down to it, this is on Collins. He hasn't done a good job this year.

I don't disagree with this. The problems are too widespread to simply be an issue with the players.

There's also not much to be said for the other side of the ball. The move to various zone schemes had worked well, but it took waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to adjust.

 

[rwhitney014]

I don't disagree with this. The problems are too widespread to simply be an issue with the players.

There's also not much to be said for the other side of the ball. The move to various zone schemes had worked well, but it took waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to adjust.

Which has been a criticism of Collins, and I think a fair one, throughout his tenure. It seems like it often takes 3-5 games to make a switch to something that ends up helping.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

Back to Princeton Offense.

/s

(ducks)

The Princeton offense, like many others, is fine when it is run correctly. The Carmody teams I watched tended to have more problems with defense and rebounding than offense.

As far as this year, these are largely the same players and same coaches as last year. I think people might have underestimated the contributions of people such as Taphorn and Lumpkin in past seasons. And I think the team and its coach climbed the mountain last year and came out this year unprepared to stay on top. That's on all of them. Some years the magic is there and other years it is not. With a well-regarded class coming in next year, I think the next 2-3 seasons are crucial in determining if Collins will be the answer at NU.

 

[Figrating]

I think "finishing at the rim" is one of your key phrases, and NU had SEVERAL, SEVERAL chances for bunnies at the rim and blew them - at least four baskets. Eight more points and that was a different game.

Those go in, NU's confidence goes up and NU plays a competitive game. And win or lose, NU has kept the pressure on UM.

For some reason, NU is just that close to and that far from being competitive with top 25 teams.

Streaky is the best description of the NU shooting. Damn competitive - first 3/8 of the UM game - then to a complete stop. Took all my will power to stay and watch the end of the first half. Those that watched this game to the bitter end are eligible for the Croix de NU.

CCC is working w/o Rap and Brown.

NU fought hard against a better team.

 

[ricko6543211]

I think "finishing at the rim" is one of your key phrases, and NU had SEVERAL, SEVERAL chances for bunnies at the rim and blew them - at least four baskets. Eight more points and that was a different game.

But I'm splitting hairs. I think anyone who thinks the offensive challenges would be changed by one aspect of the game is crazy. This is an all-around meltdown on offense.

* Incredibly undisciplined shot selection.
* I'll agree with a lack of anyone who can get by their defender.
* Your one guy who can get by a defender too often settles for his mediocre three-point shot.
* Combine that with a lack of any consistent three-point threat.
* I'll also agree there needs to be more bulk in the paint. Pardon in your only threat down low.
* No consistent help from the bench.
* A laughably poor attempt to get to the free-throw line. NU is last in conference play with 139 attempts. Seven teams in the B10 have at least 170 attempts. (BTW, the next closest teams to NU are Wisconsin (143) and Illinois (156). Both have played one less game than NU.)
* All of it weaves together. Can't shoot outside? Any team can pack it down and concentrate on preventing penetration..

And Isiah Brown comes nowhere near a solution to this.

Your first sentence, FreeWillie, is the one that kills me. This game was very winnable, and NU had nothing. Tough year.

I also saw non completed cuts that were stopped early, and multiple times where players got clear on cuts and the ball handler didn't see them. Passing was not good either. Shooting as we all noticed was poor, as was finishing at the rim. This was a total failure across all parts of offensive execution.

 

[rwhitney014]

Those go in, NU's confidence goes up and NU plays a competitive game. And win or lose, NU has kept the pressure on UM.

For some reason, NU is just that close to and that far from being competitive with top 25 teams.

Streaky is the best description of the NU shooting. Damn competitive - first 3/8 of the UM game - then to a complete stop. Took all my will power to stay and watch the end of the first half. Those that watched this game to the bitter end are eligible for the Croix de NU.

CCC is working w/o Rap and Brown.

NU fought hard against a better team.

Does that mean I get a La Croix? I'll take a mango, please.

 

[hdhntr1]

I don't disagree with this. The problems are too widespread to simply be an issue with the players.

There's also not much to be said for the other side of the ball. The move to various zone schemes had worked well, but it took waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to adjust.

People said that getting to the Dance was what was important and they were ok with what came after so long as we got there once. Guess that wasn't true

 

[NJCat]

People said that getting to the Dance was what was important and they were ok with what came after so long as we got there once. Guess that wasn't true

Good point!!

 

[SmellyCat]

SO FAR...when I get disappointed about this season, I can look back on last March and smile, and I can be taken to that blissful place without any diminishment. It's not like the second Matrix ruining the original.

Now, if NU has several disappointing seasons in a row, it'll get harder and harder for 2017 to be enough. For football fans, think of how miserable 1998-1999 were. If we hadn't had the magical 2000 season then it would have been a pretty terrible five-year run through 2002 and 1995-1996 would just be a distant memory. If NU has enough decent seasons here and there, with some NCAA appearances in there, I can live with the occasional disappointing season. So far, that's all this is.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

I also saw non completed cuts that were stopped early, and multiple times where players got clear on cuts and the ball handler didn't see them. Passing was not good either. Shooting as we all noticed was poor, as was finishing at the rim. This was a total failure across all parts of offensive execution.

The emphasis on three-point shooting has not promoted cutting offenses. If I were a recruiter, I'd go for quickness as much as possible and throw on at least a bit of full- and half-court pressure on every game. If you can force an opponent to take 10-15 seconds before getting into its offense, it doesn't allow time for more than one or two plays.

 

[Sec_112]

One if the things I like about Collins is that he killed that "one time is fine" mentality from the word "go," and he threw it right out there.

The goal should be long-term and consistent strength.

One bad season does not make a bad coach. Let's hope he's learning from the evolution of these two seasons.

 

[NUCat320]

Streaky is the best description of the NU shooting. Damn competitive - first 3/8 of the UM game - then to a complete stop. Took all my will power to stay and watch the end of the first half. Those that watched this game to the bitter end are eligible for the Croix de NU.

The great Dan Bernstein (and many others) once said, "If you're a streaky shooter, that just means you're a bad shooter."

NU's offense is, as it was last year, super thin. I wish Scottie and Vic and Mc made a concerted effort to draw fouls and get to the line.

 

[Medill90]

The great Dan Bernstein (and many others) once said, "If you're a streaky shooter, that just means you're a bad shooter."

NU's offense is, as it was last year, super thin. I wish Scottie and Vic and Mc made a concerted effort to draw fouls and get to the line.

Remember last season how Scottie would post up smaller players on a clear out....those were the years.

 

[MysticCat]

One if the things I like about Collins is that he killed that "one time is fine" mentality from the word "go," and he threw it right out there.

The goal should be long-term and consistent strength.

One bad season does not make a bad coach. Let's hope he's learning from the evolution of these two seasons.

Does 4 out of 5?

 

[NJCat]

Does 4 out of 5?

More so than 13 out of 13.......

 

[NUCat320]

Remember last season how Scottie would post up smaller players on a clear out....those were the years.

For reference,
Mc: 3.0 fta/g last year, 2.0 this year
Vic: 3.4 to 2.8
Scottie: 2.5 to 2.4
'Rerk: 2.4 to 3.9

On balance , not a huge difference from the big four returnees. But, you'd trade Mc's 90% chance for Rerk's (much improved) 61% any day.

 

[ricko6543211]

One if the things I like about Collins is that he killed that "one time is fine" mentality from the word "go," and he threw it right out there.

The goal should be long-term and consistent strength.

One bad season does not make a bad coach. Let's hope he's learning from the evolution of these two seasons.

Agreed, especially with your last paragraph.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Mac ain't doing squat this year. Nothing in his game is All Big Ten level!

 

[NJCat]

Mac ain't doing squat this year. Nothing in his game is All Big Ten level!

Not even all A-10 level......

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Any transfers out there?

 

[TheC]

People said that getting to the Dance was what was important and they were ok with what came after so long as we got there once. Guess that wasn't true

My god..... could you imagine how depressing this season would seem if we had just missed out on making the NCAAs last year?

 

[hdhntr1]

Those go in, NU's confidence goes up and NU plays a competitive game. And win or lose, NU has kept the pressure on UM.

For some reason, NU is just that close to and that far from being competitive with top 25 teams.

Streaky is the best description of the NU shooting. Damn competitive - first 3/8 of the UM game - then to a complete stop. Took all my will power to stay and watch the end of the first half. Those that watched this game to the bitter end are eligible for the Croix de NU.

CCC is working w/o Rap and Brown.

NU fought hard against a better team.

Whether it be MICH D or our offensive choices, we were off our spots and shot selection suffered. For example, Pardon taking his hook from too far out etc.