Start Barnhizer

[NUCat320]

I really, really like Berry, but Brooks has now played two really, really games in a row.

He impacts the game on both ends of the court in a way that neither Barry nor Roper do.

More importantly, Berry fits better as a backcourt backup (assuming the top scoring guards are allowed to sit the rest of the season), as he’s got the juice to be a scorer alongside Boo or Chase.

Brooks plays mid range and scores on drives and hard cuts (oh what a cut tonight!), while Barry is much more perimeter oriented. Barry plays hard defense, but Barney’s size allows him to match up more effectively on switches.

Ultimately, the starting five doesn’t matter that much, but Barney has earned those minutes and that recognition.

 

[Rebel II1]

I really, really like Berry, but Brooks has now played two really, really games in a row.

He impacts the game on both ends of the court in a way that neither Barry nor Roper do.

More importantly, Berry fits better as a backcourt backup (assuming the top scoring guards are allowed to sit the rest of the season), as he’s got the juice to be a scorer alongside Boo or Chase.

Brooks plays mid range and scores on drives and hard cuts (oh what a cut tonight!), while Barry is much more perimeter oriented. Barry plays hard defense, but Barney’s size allows him to match up more effectively on switches.

Ultimately, the starting five doesn’t matter that much, but Barney has earned those minutes and that recognition.

I have maintained all along that he will be a star for us, in the future. Let the coaches coach. Right now we are getting it done in good fashion.

 

[GatoLouco]

Free Barney

 

[Titanium999]

I really, really like Berry, but Brooks has now played two really, really games in a row.

He impacts the game on both ends of the court in a way that neither Barry nor Roper do.

More importantly, Berry fits better as a backcourt backup (assuming the top scoring guards are allowed to sit the rest of the season), as he’s got the juice to be a scorer alongside Boo or Chase.

Brooks plays mid range and scores on drives and hard cuts (oh what a cut tonight!), while Barry is much more perimeter oriented. Barry plays hard defense, but Barney’s size allows him to match up more effectively on switches.

Ultimately, the starting five doesn’t matter that much, but Barney has earned those minutes and that recognition.

Not sure! Berry plays tough on defense! Split their minutes for sure, 50/50

 

[CSCatFan1]

We can start:

Barney
Berry
Beran
Bouie
Bricklayer

The Killer Bees!

 

[rwhitney014]

We can start:

Barney
Berry
Beran
Bouie
Bricklayer

The Killer Bees!

Nah, I’d go with Bicholson.

 

[DaCat]

We can start:

Barney
Berry
Beran
Bouie
Bricklayer

The Killer Bees!

Big Matt

 

[Username Not Available]

Brooks will get plenty of court time the next couple of games. Seems like he had almost 30 minutes tonight.

 

[TheC]

If I'm Collins and I see there is a deadball right around the 13 minute mark of the 2nd half, I take out Boo to get him a nice rest before the final grind. I know these guys are young, but I can't imagine how they can play the entire 2nd half at full speed and not be out of gas when they need it most. I'm sure Collins knows more than me, but I never understood why he never sneaks in some rest for his main guys near the end. Even in the NBA, the stars often sit the beginning of the 4th quarter so they are ready to finish hard.

 

[Catreporter]

The problem was last night was such a nip-and-tuck affair that every possession was huge and we needed Boo and Audige in there. With Roper out again, it is going to be really challenging to get them some rest during the game.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I know Roper needs minutes, but his offensive decisions have been so poor lately I wonder if sitting and watching a few games might benefit him.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Collins is asking a lot of Big Matt - he probably sets 50 screens a game at this point - every one of which is a chance for a ref to whistle an offensive foul. And then he gets to have Tyler Wahl plowing into him repeatedly with no call (either way). I give the guy credit for busting his *** and doing what the coaches tell him to do.

Same with Barnhizer, who is physical, has good instincts, plays with passion, can score from anywhere and is much better than some have opined after his freshman year.

 

[Username Not Available]

Matt is constantly moving his feet on screens. He's super lucky he didn't foul out in the first half, let alone the game. They really need to coach him on that because it's such a big part of the offensive sets. Beran is better at it, but he just doesn't have that width or mass.

And I say that not as a dig at Matt, but at the coaches not getting him to the next step of his game. It looks like they've been working him hard on his free throw shooting, which is sooper important. Setting his feet and a post move would make him seriously dangerous instead of just a nice piece.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Matt is constantly moving his feet on screens. He's super lucky he didn't foul out in the first half, let alone the game. They really need to coach him on that because it's such a big part of the offensive sets. Beran is better at it, but he just doesn't have that width or mass.

And I say that not as a dig at Matt, but at the coaches not getting him to the next step of his game. It looks like they've been working him hard on his free throw shooting, which is sooper important. Setting his feet and a post move would make him seriously dangerous instead of just a nice piece.

Little H was asking about that last night. He is starting to set a lot of screens, and talks about picking guys off (he wants to brick wall some kid onto his butt). He asked about foot placement and movement.

I told him he has to:
1) set a sufficiently wide base, but not too wide
2) get set first and be a statue
3) cover his nuts with his hands

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Matt is constantly moving his feet on screens. He's super lucky he didn't foul out in the first half, let alone the game. They really need to coach him on that because it's such a big part of the offensive sets. Beran is better at it, but he just doesn't have that width or mass.

And I say that not as a dig at Matt, but at the coaches not getting him to the next step of his game. It looks like they've been working him hard on his free throw shooting, which is sooper important. Setting his feet and a post move would make him seriously dangerous instead of just a nice piece.

I agree with you. He does a little shift out with his foot and knee on many screens. He wasn't doing that earlier in the season. At Wisconsin, he will foul out for sure if he keeps doing that.

But, Collins has him setting so many screens... it will be tough.

Obviously Nicholson isn't going to score out there, so Beran is not first choice for screener... and Verhoeven can only set about 2 good screens before he gets whistled for an offensive foul.

 

[Username Not Available]

It was really noticeable with Matt last night, it seemed like he was trying to choose the right spot to occupy and just kept bobbing too long. TV has the same problem width/mass problem as Beran, but without Beran's dexterity and skill. I'm not really down on him, two of those calls last night were just not fouls by him, and I appreciate him being on the team even if it's just to give Matt much needed rest time.

And Boo/Matt did try the roll two or three times last night, but Matt either didn't finish or just hesitated too long to put it in. But that also helped later in the game when boo went on his drive/score tear.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

It was really noticeable with Matt last night, it seemed like he was trying to choose the right spot to occupy and just kept bobbing too long. TV has the same problem width/mass problem as Beran, but without Beran's dexterity and skill. I'm not really down on him, two of those calls last night were just not fouls by him, and I appreciate him being on the team even if it's just to give Matt much needed rest time.

And Boo/Matt did try the roll two or three times last night, but Matt either didn't finish or just hesitated too long to put it in. But that also helped later in the game when boo went on his drive/score tear.

Wisconsin looked like they chose to stay on Nicholson when Buie drove the lane - which is fine by me.
There weren't many opportunities for lobs.

Big Matt had that early tip in, but got his layup attempt blocked by a guard when he was too far under the basket. He often gets fouled when he goes up strong, but thats only really helpful when he makes his free throws.

Its just a different world in the post against Big Ten opponents - and Verhoeven has no physical advantages to rely on against Big Ten starters. (Its really a shame Hunger is out for the season)

 

[hdhntr1]

I really, really like Berry, but Brooks has now played two really, really games in a row.

He impacts the game on both ends of the court in a way that neither Barry nor Roper do.

More importantly, Berry fits better as a backcourt backup (assuming the top scoring guards are allowed to sit the rest of the season), as he’s got the juice to be a scorer alongside Boo or Chase.

Brooks plays mid range and scores on drives and hard cuts (oh what a cut tonight!), while Barry is much more perimeter oriented. Barry plays hard defense, but Barney’s size allows him to match up more effectively on switches.

Ultimately, the starting five doesn’t matter that much, but Barney has earned those minutes and that recognition.

It matters not if he starts or not. Show me the minutes and when he gets them. He is getting more and more and at more important times of the game

 

[ballerog711]

Most times with moving screens it's the guard with the ball that causes the foul.

The screener has to set himself. The guard with the ball has to drive his man jn thto the screen and go shoulder to shoulder.

 

[TheC]

Most times with moving screens it's the guard with the ball that causes the foul.

The screener has to set himself. The guard with the ball has to drive his man jn thto the screen and go shoulder to shoulder.

Also, with the pick and roll, sometimes the big man starts to move again after contact. If the defender is savvy, sometimes they can sell the foul by making it look like that rolling action knocks them off track.

 

[DaCat]

3) cover his nuts with his hands

What about on rebounds? Buie caught Beran's foot flush in his groin during a rebound scramble. Ouch!

 

[NUCat320]

What about on rebounds? Buie caught Beran's foot flush in his groin during a rebound scramble. Ouch!

Not enough talk about Boo’s resilience. That was as (accidentally, obv) vicious as they come. Sympathy pains.

 

[DaCat]

BigMatt blocking balls
Berry, Barney balls better
Beran boots Boo's balls

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Not enough talk about Boo’s resilience. That was as (accidentally, obv) vicious as they come. Sympathy pains.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/a462ba50-6110-4b3d-b76f-e138f3a18f9f

 

[hdhntr1]

Leave it to CoralSpringsBrat to keep taking shots at Nicholson, even after a gutty win, in his one man campaign to get Verhoeven more playing time...

Collins is asking a lot of Big Matt - he probably sets 50 screens a game at this point - every one of which is a chance for a ref to whistle an offensive foul. And then he gets to have Tyler Wahl plowing into him repeatedly with no call (either way). I give the guy credit for busting his *** and doing what the coaches tell him to do.

Same with Barnhizer, who is physical, has good instincts, plays with passion, can score from anywhere and is much better than some have opined after his freshman year.

At this point Nicholson has gotten to where several aspects of his game are really solid. He still is a little weak in the hands so he misses a frustrating number of layups every night. High % on dunks but on other inside shots... Free throws sort of up or down. No longer a foul machine. He is stronger, playing solid D, blocking out well and rebounding.

There were good reasons that he was a third choice last year that got limited minutes . He has worked hard and has earned his starting role this year. Last year other than the dunks he was more like Verhoven is this year. A foul machine that you might be willing to give a few minutes but not much more than that. THis year he belongs and if he gets stronger and continues to improve, next year he could be a force

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

At this point Nicholson has gotten to where several aspects of his game are really solid. He still is a little weak in the hands so he misses a frustrating number of layups every night. High % on dunks but on other inside shots... Free throws sort of up or down. No longer a foul machine. He is stronger, playing solid D, blocking out well and rebounding.

There were good reasons that he was a third choice last year that got limited minutes . He has worked hard and has earned his starting role this year. Last year other than the dunks he was more like Verhoven is this year. A foul machine that you might be willing to give a few minutes but not much more than that. THis year he belongs and if he gets stronger and continues to improve, next year he could be a force

I agree with much of what you wrote about Nicholson this season. Obviously, last season was a Sh*tshow. So I won't go over all of that again... but Nicholson was a better basketball player last year than Tydus Verhoeven will ever be. No disrespect intended for Verhoeven. Its just true.

Physical size is important in the college game. We got pushed around with Nance and Beran as our starting frontcourt, doing that whole "Stretch 5" theory.

I looked at the Power 6 rosters.... Here are the non-freshmen who are at least 7 feet tall and at least 250 lbs currently... Nicholson was that big as a freshman. In most cases I listed their sophomore year stats.

Player	School	Mins	Pts	Rebs	year	born
Dickinson	Michigan	32	18.5	8.5	soph
Edey	Purdue	19	14	7.7	soph
Nicholson	Northwestern	2	1	0.7	soph
McLeod	Fla St.	7	2.7	1.3	soph
Marsh	Wake Forest	19	6.0	4.5	soph	England
Bradford	Wake Forest	14.5	3.3	1.9	soph (Kan St)
Mutombo	Georgetown	11	5.0	3.0	freshman
Kalkbrenner	Creighton	29	13.0	7.7	soph
Thiemann	California	13	3.0	2.8	soph	Germany
Ballo	Arizona	15	6.8	4.4	soph	Mali
Brown	Tex A&M	7	1.5	1.7	soph	Canada
Gray	S. Carolina	11	2.9	3.4	soph
Plavsik	Tennessee	4	1.4	0.5	freshman	Serbia
Robbins	Vandy	27	14.1	7.1	soph (Drake)

Nicholson got the least opportunity in his first 2 seasons of anyone his size who currently plays for a Power 6 school. So when some of us kept saying that Nicholson should be getting 5, maybe 10 minutes off the bench, this is why - it is what coaches do to develop their big guys. My guess is that Collins had no idea Young was leaving, but thats besides the point.

 

[NUCat320]

Barnhizer has had a nice stretch, hasn’t he? Really excelling when given the opportunity.

 

[cometclear]

I don't get hung up on who's starting. I'm more concerned with who is playing the most minutes. He needs more minutes. He's somewhat limited athletically, but he is exceptionally smart and well-schooled, and has good size. He could help every program in the country. Every one.

 

[GatoLouco]

All these comments on starting or not being irrelevant are, IMO, only potentially true. It really depends on the players whether that can make a difference or not. There are players that will feel a boost of confidence if that happens and it elevates their game. Same goes for losing the starting job.

I have no idea the effect on Barnhizer and Berry if this was to happen. Could be positive, neutral or negative.

They’ll both play more for, at least, a couple of weeks. Though I’ve not heard anything about Roper, I’m guessing it’s two weeks minimum.

 

[ballerog711]

Justin Van Der Bahn was 7 feet 240 pounds and got no playing time at BC. They are ACC. I do not see him on the chart.

I think it's more important who finishes the game. Starting is nice....

 

[Catreporter]

I am a big fan of Nicholson. Hopefully he stays two more seasons and develops into something special. He still needs a lot of work finishing around the rim. I've seen him working on it in warmups 30 minutes prior to the games. He has worked hard to come this far. I don't think he was ready to contribute much last year ahead of Young and Nance, who for all their limitations, are still good enough to start at Duke and UNC.

 

[DaCat]

I am a big fan of Nicholson. Hopefully he stays two more seasons and develops into something special. He still needs a lot of work finishing around the rim. I've seen him working on it in warmups 30 minutes prior to the games. He has worked hard to come this far. I don't think he was ready to contribute much last year ahead of Young and Nance, who for all their limitations, are still good enough to start at Duke and UNC.

Ironically I would rather have Nicholson than Young or Nance this year.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Ironically I would rather have Nicholson than Young or Nance this year.

I'd take all 3.
But Young and Nicholson sharing the 5 would have been nice too.
I think Collins was planning on doing that this year, before Young bailed.
Obviously there are no guarantees, but if we could somehow trade Verhoeven for Young right now, we'd surely be a better team.

 

[NJCat]

Ironically I would rather have Nicholson than Young or Nance this year.

I would like to have seen a combo at the 5 of Matthew and Ryan this year.

 

[hdhntr1]

All these comments on starting or not being irrelevant are, IMO, only potentially true. It really depends on the players whether that can make a difference or not. There are players that will feel a boost of confidence if that happens and it elevates their game. Same goes for losing the starting job.

I have no idea the effect on Barnhizer and Berry if this was to happen. Could be positive, neutral or negative.

They’ll both play more for, at least, a couple of weeks. Though I’ve not heard anything about Roper, I’m guessing it’s two weeks minimum.

Different players react differently to starting vs coming off the bench. Presumably coaches, seeing them all the time, are likely taking that into consideration. More important is minutes given and when. Do coaches feel confident in them in game situations? Barnhizer is a guy thatCCC and company do feel confident in and he is getting plenty of minutes. Maters less if he is starting

 

[NUCat320]

So impressed that Berry rose to the occasion here. Credit to me.