Pathetic
- Thread starter NJCat
- Start date
That's the kind of play that gets you beat by a team you have no business losing to. I hope we never see that again.
Stinkin' 16 point wins!
And people don't think the culture of NU hoops has changed...
And people don't think the culture of NU hoops has changed...
I don't know, was getting pretty chippy out there, and I don't think it was a coincidence that we didn't even make attempt to score at any time when we broke the press after the flagrant on Benson where he could have been seriously hurt.
Better a 16 point win vs. and overmatched opponent and no injuries than a 30 point win and another one of our guys going down, imo. DePaul was never, ever in this game. Second half was basically a bunch of odd combos to get some guys some much-needed time for the rest of the year.
Better a 16 point win vs. and overmatched opponent and no injuries than a 30 point win and another one of our guys going down, imo. DePaul was never, ever in this game. Second half was basically a bunch of odd combos to get some guys some much-needed time for the rest of the year.
I see it differently. Foul trouble really hurt in the second half. DePaul was playing much harder than NU and the Cats got hit with a bunch of silly fouls. Collins tried to limp to the finish given that his two best point guards either had 4 fouls or fouled out (BMac and Brown). With only 9 healthy players, you are going to see these combos the rest of non-conference play and into the start of Big 10 season, particularly since NU seems to be foul prone in the man to man defense. The fact that NU lost its edge really seemed to bother Collins. Watching the post-game interview, you could see he was really not happy with how his team played in the second half. No post-game shower this time......still had his suit jacket and tie on!
Which is what I said after our football game vs. Sparty in 2006.
I think you started to put the correct context around the second half, Fitzphile.
Yes, the second half wasn't a work of art. However, they played something in the ballpark of eight minutes with either: a) Brown running the show; b) BMac running things with the second team, or c) Lindsey running things for a couple minutes.
I don't think the second half was an example of the true rotation.
Having said all that, the one thing I did take away from this game is that Brown is nowhere near ready to run the team for a long stretch of a game.
Yes, the second half wasn't a work of art. However, they played something in the ballpark of eight minutes with either: a) Brown running the show; b) BMac running things with the second team, or c) Lindsey running things for a couple minutes.
I don't think the second half was an example of the true rotation.
Having said all that, the one thing I did take away from this game is that Brown is nowhere near ready to run the team for a long stretch of a game.
Let's dismiss the notion of a "second team". With only 9 healthy players, there is at least 1 starter on the floor at all times. Most teams use a rotation of 8 players and NU essentially did that, given that Tap fouled out in under 10 minutes of play. This is a rotation you will see until Pardon returns. I still have my doubts about Falzon contributing this season, and I hope I'm wrong.
Sounds like a team that was up 54-18 at half, lost its edge, and didn't play well the second half. Never happened before in college BB, I'm sure.
If you didn't watch it, you can't imagine how bad NU played in the second. NU had a 39 point lead with about 17:00 remaining and won by just 16. Getting outplayed by 23 points is just "losing its edge". Collins was pretty unhappy after the game.
I'm sure Collins was upset, and it will give him some teaching moments, but, yeah, "losing your edge" certainly contributes to getting outplayed that badly. I've never been an athletic great, but I've played enough sports in my lifetime to know that there's no way as a 20-year-old I think any basketball team my squad is beating 54-18 at halftime is going to beat me. And it was true. Northwestern played about as badly as it could the second half and still won easily. If the squad is going to be playing with nine players for a while, Collins might also have to consider using more zone defense. I know that isn't his favorite method, but you always take a chance with a shorthanded squad that a few ticky-tack foul calls are going to take you out of your game quicklyi.
They were totally coasting. Squandering a big lead down to a 16 point victory. I can honestly say I've never seen NU do that before.
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As someone else said, there are plenty of teachable moments from the 2nd half. I was there. Depaul didn't come ready to play the New NU in the 1st half, and DePaul is bad. Happy for the win, but the 2nd half was ugly. Point taken about the combos/subs. I'm actually optimistic about our upcoming stretch without Pardon, which is what I wa hoping to come away with.
That rotation is never going to be a regular thing.
There were several changes in that eight minute stretch that you will never see unless the game is a blowout or there is foul trouble.
1) Lindsey and Law out at the same time.
2) After yesterday, I don't think we'll see Brown running the show for a while in a tight game.
3) Brown and Ash at the same time.
4) BMac, Ash and Brown in at the same time with Tap as the 4.
5) A lineup of only Law or Lindsey or BMac with any other combination of the other six.
It was a 30+ lead and CC used it well. I think he knows more about his team today (except for poor Charlie and Tino).