Preseason publications
- Thread starter DocCat2
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Heard Dave Revsine on the radio tonight, he said there could be 10 NCAA-quality teams in the Bg 10 this season, although obviously not all 10 would get into the big dance. Gotta believe he thinks NU is one of those 10.........
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You're probably right. But I think there is a difference between "being NCAA tournament-quality" and being one of the 6 or 7 teams that actually make it. Maybe it is a moral victory but if NU is at least of quality to be in the conversation that would be progress........
I almost want to say they must have at least an NIT this year or next year, or else the program falls into the danger of the same ol, same ol when they walk into a recruit's living room in the summer of '17. At some point, you gotta have something of substance that proves improvement is happening.
As for an NCAA this year, it's a longshot, but I don't think it's wildly out of the question. Can one of the B10 teams predicted to be solid just fall apart, (Indiana, Purdue, Iowa??), while Falzon lights it up, Law or Lindsey plays consistently and Olah becomes a true force?
It will be interesting.
As for an NCAA this year, it's a longshot, but I don't think it's wildly out of the question. Can one of the B10 teams predicted to be solid just fall apart, (Indiana, Purdue, Iowa??), while Falzon lights it up, Law or Lindsey plays consistently and Olah becomes a true force?
It will be interesting.
112, I think your post sums up the year ahead and the program at this point in time.
College sports are largely unpredictable. We can look at several B1G teams and think these teams will be very good, but a couple of injuries here and there can upset the whole apple cart. Very few college BB teams have the depth to stand the loss of more than one high-caliber player without being severely affected. Michigan was a case in point last year. And some teams never get together the way you think they will. Indiana, for instance, is expecting the freshman Bryant to push them over the top. Will he give them enough inside presence to overcome their defensive deficiencies of last year or not? We'll see. Purdue will have a stud front line, but will they have the guard play to take advantage of it? Most people are assuming Wisconsin will stay in the first division because Bo Ryan teams always have, but he's lost a lot of firepower from last year. Again, we'll see.
Like you, I hope someone will falter down the line and give the Cats a shot.
Guys,
NU is a team that returns its five starters and will probably improve at the PF position with a 4-star top 100 player in 6'8" Aaron Falzon who will play significant minutes and from all reports will spread the floor a lot better than in the past two years as a pure shooter who can hit three without a problem. Last year, we had a 6'5" SG masquerading as a PF. Yes, he plays with a lot of heart but you need player at PF who is 6'8-6'9" who can hit an open shot which will free up space for Olah, Law, Lindsey, Demps, or McIntosh to drive, penetrate and kick it out at times.
Now we will have a sixth man in Scottie Lindsey who has put on 20 pounds of muscle and can jump out of the gym who will replace Jershonn Cobb who was playing with limited physical skills last year due to injuries. Remember the failure of Cobb to box out in the Maryland game. We will have a backup center in transfer Joey Van Zegeren who will allow Olah to have his minutes scaled back so he has more energy at the end of the game. Demps has evolved into the team's leader and will play some minutes at PG to spell McIntosh who will not feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. You throw in an improve top 75 players in 4-star Vic Law and there is no reason to believe that NU can win those five close games that they blew in OT and in the last minute last year (loss to MSU in OT, loss by 2 to UM in Ann Arbor, loss by 2 points to OSU at home on two lousy goal tending calls and Russell killing us with 35 points, etc.). Yes, the defense needs to be there and CC knows that, but if you have Lindsey and Law on the floor at the same time with Falzon and Demps and Van Zegeren for some minutes, NU will have its most athletic (meaning long, quick and explosive lineup) team that I have seen in the 25 plus years that I have been watching NU hoops. And where is the program going even after this year? Two four star players coming in 2016 plus a PG who can score from Washington. This includes a player who may be the best player from the state of Illinois and yes, I know he is at a boarding school on the east coast this season.
The answer is up. Nest year, you add a graduate transfer and then you add a talented balanced class of 3 or 4 and the trajectory is going up. Now all the preseason publications are simply regurgitating NU's 10th place finish last season in the Big 10. That is irrelevant and keeps NU under the radar which is a good thing. If Olah and Demps continue their development and the sophs are as good in their growth as advertised, NU should be in that group of teams 5-8 and fighting and competing realistically for a NCAA berth.
And yes, they have the depth to overcome foul trouble in a game or cool shooting on a given night and maybe even an injury here or there with their depth in their top 12 scholarship players. We have never seen the depth that the program has currently. So get ready and enjoy the ride and yes, they will, at a minimum, take the next step and play post-season basketball.
NU is a team that returns its five starters and will probably improve at the PF position with a 4-star top 100 player in 6'8" Aaron Falzon who will play significant minutes and from all reports will spread the floor a lot better than in the past two years as a pure shooter who can hit three without a problem. Last year, we had a 6'5" SG masquerading as a PF. Yes, he plays with a lot of heart but you need player at PF who is 6'8-6'9" who can hit an open shot which will free up space for Olah, Law, Lindsey, Demps, or McIntosh to drive, penetrate and kick it out at times.
Now we will have a sixth man in Scottie Lindsey who has put on 20 pounds of muscle and can jump out of the gym who will replace Jershonn Cobb who was playing with limited physical skills last year due to injuries. Remember the failure of Cobb to box out in the Maryland game. We will have a backup center in transfer Joey Van Zegeren who will allow Olah to have his minutes scaled back so he has more energy at the end of the game. Demps has evolved into the team's leader and will play some minutes at PG to spell McIntosh who will not feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. You throw in an improve top 75 players in 4-star Vic Law and there is no reason to believe that NU can win those five close games that they blew in OT and in the last minute last year (loss to MSU in OT, loss by 2 to UM in Ann Arbor, loss by 2 points to OSU at home on two lousy goal tending calls and Russell killing us with 35 points, etc.). Yes, the defense needs to be there and CC knows that, but if you have Lindsey and Law on the floor at the same time with Falzon and Demps and Van Zegeren for some minutes, NU will have its most athletic (meaning long, quick and explosive lineup) team that I have seen in the 25 plus years that I have been watching NU hoops. And where is the program going even after this year? Two four star players coming in 2016 plus a PG who can score from Washington. This includes a player who may be the best player from the state of Illinois and yes, I know he is at a boarding school on the east coast this season.
The answer is up. Nest year, you add a graduate transfer and then you add a talented balanced class of 3 or 4 and the trajectory is going up. Now all the preseason publications are simply regurgitating NU's 10th place finish last season in the Big 10. That is irrelevant and keeps NU under the radar which is a good thing. If Olah and Demps continue their development and the sophs are as good in their growth as advertised, NU should be in that group of teams 5-8 and fighting and competing realistically for a NCAA berth.
And yes, they have the depth to overcome foul trouble in a game or cool shooting on a given night and maybe even an injury here or there with their depth in their top 12 scholarship players. We have never seen the depth that the program has currently. So get ready and enjoy the ride and yes, they will, at a minimum, take the next step and play post-season basketball.
Nice 10,000 foot overview. Definitely a glass half-full opinion, and one I can buy 100%. Cats are a "buy" right now.
+1 Could not agree more.
I stated a year ago that last year's class was so good that Lindsey would have been the best recruit in a typical BC class....I think he's gonna surprise the hell outta people this year. Weak competition I know, but he was posterizing guys in Spain. Also saw multiple alley-oops to Lindsey and JVZ. This team is bigger, deeper, and more talented on paper than any team I've seen in 20+ years. Who knows if that'll translate, but I'm excited to see it play out...think we'll start to see Collins up-tempo system and man defense show more too with next year being the full roll-out (once Olah graduates...doesn't fit his strengths).
I cannot wait for this season, especially given the last two football no-shows. Collins > Fitz x1000
While I agree with all of this, the challenge is that the BiG as a whole will be much better this year.
You know, all I want to see is a team that plays hard, is well coached, and competitive against great competition. Not like football.
Yes, I am optimistic because Collins seems to be able to evaluate his team and addresses weaknesses. He needed PFs and recruits successfully Skelly and Falzon. He needs more athleticism and recruits Law and Lindsey. He needs a more athletic backup center and finds Joey Van Zegeren who is a big step up in talent than our back up centers in the past. And successfully recruits centers in Pardon and 4-star Barrett Benson who had at least 6-7 offers from other Big 10 schools. Players develop under Collins (see Demps and Olah). I don't want to make many comparisons, but I would hope our football coaching staff would realize you win in the Big 10 in the trenches and we need better recruits on the offensive line, defensive lines and WRs to beat the teams in the upper half of the Big 10 in football.
As for the Big 10 being stronger, last year, UW was a returning Final 4 team who had all of its players returning. UW is not as strong as last year. MSU is strong again this year but loses 4-year starter McDonald's All-American Brandon Dawson who abused the 'cats twice last year, OSU beat NU because D'Angelo Russell scored half their points (35-37 points) and he was the no. 2 pick in the NBA pick, Maryland will be very strong this year but they lost Dez Wells who killed the 'cats last year, UofI beat NU twice last year and they have had a number of injuries to key players and defections, UNL beat us because we had no answer for Terran Petteway and he went pro which is a good thing. UM and IU have issues at the center position. Iowa lost Aaron White, their MVP last year to graduation. So yes, the Big 10 is a deep and tough conference, but I do not think the conference will be much better than last year with two Final 4 teams and a NCAA finalist in UW. Also, remember that NU played UW and MSU twice last season and lost 4 times. Their schedule does not have the top teams Maryland, IU and MSU twice or maybe I am mistaken.
As for the Big 10 being stronger, last year, UW was a returning Final 4 team who had all of its players returning. UW is not as strong as last year. MSU is strong again this year but loses 4-year starter McDonald's All-American Brandon Dawson who abused the 'cats twice last year, OSU beat NU because D'Angelo Russell scored half their points (35-37 points) and he was the no. 2 pick in the NBA pick, Maryland will be very strong this year but they lost Dez Wells who killed the 'cats last year, UofI beat NU twice last year and they have had a number of injuries to key players and defections, UNL beat us because we had no answer for Terran Petteway and he went pro which is a good thing. UM and IU have issues at the center position. Iowa lost Aaron White, their MVP last year to graduation. So yes, the Big 10 is a deep and tough conference, but I do not think the conference will be much better than last year with two Final 4 teams and a NCAA finalist in UW. Also, remember that NU played UW and MSU twice last season and lost 4 times. Their schedule does not have the top teams Maryland, IU and MSU twice or maybe I am mistaken.