This team needs an exorcism

[Baz = Heisman]

They don’t defend well, miss key rebounds and can’t shoot. They are not fun to watch.

Our season is probably already over given we’ve beaten no one (South Carolina sucks) but if we have any chance in hell we need to slow it down and play ugly. They play way too fast and frankly think they are much better than they are. Limiting possessions is our only shot.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Tough to be angry about a close ugly loss whe whe of the best scorers in the country is hurt tbh, not that everything you said isn’t already established as true

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

They don’t defend well, miss key rebounds and can’t shoot. They are not fun to watch.

Our season is probably already over given we’ve beaten no one (South Carolina sucks) but if we have any chance in hell we need to slow it down and play ugly. They play way too fast and frankly think they are much better than they are. Limiting possessions is our only shot.

“Think they are much better than they are”?

where on earth did that come from?

 

[jensberg]

Not sure I agree with everything you said but they do have a problem rebounding and shooting especially three pointers. Even green was like One for four or five today

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

“Think they are much better than they are”?

where on earth did that come from?

I could see this. Like they shot 4-23 from 3. Probably thought they would make around 9-10. Just an example.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I could see this. Like they shot 4-23 from 3. Probably thought they would make around 9-10. Just an example.

Sure wish they would have thought they were going to miss those 3 pointers before they hoisted them up. Know their own role!

 

[SouthportCat]

Completely disagree. Our best shot is to push the tempo and win track meets. Why are we playing Jayden Reid at all if we aren’t going to run? His defense is so horrendous and his decision making and ball handling are erratic at best… unless he gets out where his gear change game can play.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Completely disagree. Our best shot is to push the tempo and win track meets. Why are we playing Jayden Reid at all if we aren’t going to run? His defense is so horrendous and his decision making and ball handling are erratic at best… unless he gets out where his gear change game can play.

We are playing Reid because he is our third best player and the only guy with any experience that can play the PG.

 

[hdhntr1]

I could see this. Like they shot 4-23 from 3. Probably thought they would make around 9-10. Just an example.

Even 25% would have put them at 6 for the win

 

[Baz = Heisman]

“Think they are much better than they are”?

where on earth did that come from?

Go watch Page and Reid specifically. They think they are hot ****. I was courtside for the Oklahoma State game and it’s just nonstop bitching from those two. It’s clear they aren’t meshing with the rest of the team. I don’t blame them as much as I blame Collins for just talent chasing versus finding the right fit for our team’s style.

 

[SouthportCat]

We are playing Reid because he is our third best player and the only guy with any experience that can play the PG.

Instead of “at all” I should have said why do we play him so much if we aren’t adapting to his strengths? He and the team looked so out of sorts when asked to walk the ball up the court.

Obvs we all get that losing an All-American candidate is tough to overcome, but it really threw it into focus for me how Nick’s game is the connective tissue for a bunch of stylistically mismatched players.

 

[SouthportCat]

Go watch Page and Reid specifically. They think they are hot ****. I was courtside for the Oklahoma State game and it’s just nonstop bitching from those two. It’s clear they aren’t meshing with the rest of the team. I don’t blame them as much as I blame Collins for just talent chasing versus finding the right fit for our team’s style.

Courtside or no, awful tough to judge chemistry from the outside. I suspect most of the guys are upset that we let four close ones get away against Quad 1 and 2 teams. Could easily have won all four and frustration seems visible on a lot of faces.

Page’s offense plays in any system. His defense and rebounding effort have to get better. I don’t think we will ultimately regret his transfer in.

Reid is the oddball for me because his destiny is a team looking to get a shot in 15 seconds or less on every possession and we have never been that. He is good enough that we have to play him, but his size and defensive positioning are such big liabilities that I am not sure it’s been a net positive overall.

 

[Catmandoo78]

Go watch Page and Reid specifically. They think they are hot ****. I was courtside for the Oklahoma State game and it’s just nonstop bitching from those two. It’s clear they aren’t meshing with the rest of the team. I don’t blame them as much as I blame Collins for just talent chasing versus finding the right fit for our team’s style.

This roster severely lacks talent. God forbid Collins get some dudes who can ball. Weird criticism that he’s just chasing talent.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

This roster severely lacks talent. God forbid Collins get some dudes who can ball. Weird criticism that he’s just chasing talent.

Shocking I say shocking. CCC knows nothing about getting players “who can ball” and AP & Reid suddenly don’t “mesh” with teammates. Oh I forgot they are “lazy” too.

Alex “I’ll take uniformed takes for $500”.

CSC is right, give me the Premium B Ball board.

 

[Catmandoo78]

Shocking I say shocking. CCC knows nothing about getting players “who can ball” and AP & Reid suddenly don’t “mesh” with teammates. Oh I forgot they are “lazy” too.

Alex “I’ll take uniformed takes for $500”.

CSC is right, give me the Premium B Ball board.

Huh? I was saying Page and Reid are talented and “just chasing talent” is what he should continue to do.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Huh? I was saying Page and Reid are talented and “just chasing talent” is what he should continue to do.

My bad. I interpreted it incorrectly!

 

[hdhntr1]

Courtside or no, awful tough to judge chemistry from the outside. I suspect most of the guys are upset that we let four close ones get away against Quad 1 and 2 teams. Could easily have won all four and frustration seems visible on a lot of faces.

Page’s offense plays in any system. His defense and rebounding effort have to get better. I don’t think we will ultimately regret his transfer in.

Reid is the oddball for me because his destiny is a team looking to get a shot in 15 seconds or less on every possession and we have never been that. He is good enough that we have to play him, but his size and defensive positioning are such big liabilities that I am not sure it’s been a net positive overall.

At the same time, we needed a PG (we have another in West but he need a year of development and getting stronger) and someone that can create his own shot. Unfortunately he has yet to adapt his game to the level of talent we go up against, So he is getting shots blocked that before he was likely to be able to get away with. On D at his size he needs to get steals and so far he has not gotten enough, Hopefully that comes along quickly

 

[hdhntr1]

This roster severely lacks talent. God forbid Collins get some dudes who can ball. Weird criticism that he’s just chasing talent.

Overall it has more talent than we have seen, Guys like Singleton, West But the team is young and guys need time to develop (get stronger and used to this level) and mesh. Unfortunately this is getting into the season and we don't have that time

 

[SouthportCat]

At the same time, we needed a PG (we have another in West but he need a year of development and getting stronger) and someone that can create his own shot. Unfortunately he has yet to adapt his game to the level of talent we go up against, So he is getting shots blocked that before he was likely to be able to get away with. On D at his size he needs to get steals and so far he has not gotten enough, Hopefully that comes along quickly

Is this better than Clayton/KJ/West? Legit asking, not as a gotcha. This is the question I am asking myself. The others are limited in different ways, but know what our system is trying to do defensively.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Is this better than Clayton/KJ/West? Legit asking, not as a gotcha. This is the question I am asking myself. The others are limited in different ways, but know what our system is trying to do defensively.

I think Reid gives us much more in the offensive end. West is the only other true PG option and I think he’ll be good, but he’s wild at times right now. Has to slow down a little. Defensively, none are true stoppers and I don’t see a huge difference at that end. The only different combo I could see is West at the 1 and KJ at the 2. This might get abused defensively though. KJ needs to be aggressive and shoot himself out of the is funk.

Reality, this was always going to be a challenging year with nearly an entire new team.

 

[Max_Power]

They don’t defend well, miss key rebounds and can’t shoot. They are not fun to watch.

Our season is probably already over given we’ve beaten no one (South Carolina sucks) but if we have any chance in hell we need to slow it down and play ugly. They play way too fast and frankly think they are much better than they are. Limiting possessions is our only shot.

My read on the team:

The biggest issue with the team is that they would have benefitted in a big way from an experienced 6'8-6'10 rebounder/defender to play alongside Page and Martinelli. But do you bench Singleton for this?

The next biggest issue is the drop-off in all around play at the 3. Gello is no Brooks but he's a sophomore.

Third, I really expected Windham to be a starter this season. No idea what's going on with that.

Fourth - the change in style of play is to be able to compete punch for punch with top programs. However, the change came with a drop off in situational D and the lack of an experienced shooter with a history of big shots. This NU team is not particularly small but my lord some of the Big10 teams are huge this year. Some of those teams will not be able to replicate this as the BIG and other P5 conferences are so reliant on the portal now and teams are going to miss when they replace mercenary players after this year.

This was always a bridge year. I still think that NU will have one night where the shots fall and it will be magic. However, the rest of the season will be full of tough loses like the ones we have seen. NU with the ball late but unable to finish or stop the opposition when the lights are the biggest.

I share my 88 father's take that the team is a lot closer to taking the next step up than taking steps backward.

So much going forward will depend on the roster and honestly, who knows who will stay or leave or even who is coming in for next year.

 

[mickbula]

My read on the team:

The biggest issue with the team is that they would have benefitted in a big way from an experienced 6'8-6'10 rebounder/defender to play alongside Page and Martinelli. But do you bench Singleton for this?

The next biggest issue is the drop-off in all around play at the 3. Gello is no Brooks but he's a sophomore.

Third, I really expected Windham to be a starter this season. No idea what's going on with that.

Fourth - the change in style of play is to be able to compete punch for punch with top programs. However, the change came with a drop off in situational D and the lack of an experienced shooter with a history of big shots. This NU team is not particularly small but my lord some of the Big10 teams are huge this year. Some of those teams will not be able to replicate this as the BIG and other P5 conferences are so reliant on the portal now and teams are going to miss when they replace mercenary players after this year.

This was always a bridge year. I still think that NU will have one night where the shots fall and it will be magic. However, the rest of the season will be full of tough loses like the ones we have seen. NU with the ball late but unable to finish or stop the opposition when the lights are the biggest.

I share my 88 father's take that the team is a lot closer to taking the next step up than taking steps backward.

So much going forward will depend on the roster and honestly, who knows who will stay or leave or even who is coming in for next year.

I really hope windham finds the magic like at the end of last season. If he keeps staying on bench- I fear he might transfer at end of this season

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I really hope windham finds the magic like at the end of last season. If he keeps staying on bench- I fear he might transfer at end of this season

KJ has to actually do something when he gets his chance.

 

[hdhntr1]

Is this better than Clayton/KJ/West? Legit asking, not as a gotcha. This is the question I am asking myself. The others are limited in different ways, but know what our system is trying to do defensively.

Hard to say. It seems the coaching staff thinks it is the best option

 

[Skunkpilot]

KJ has to actually do something when he gets his chance.

Kj looks lost out there when he is in both offensively and esp defensively.

 

[SouthportCat]

I think both KJ and Mullins need to know they will get 10-15 minutes even if they make a mistake. I never quite understood the "make one error and it's buried on the bench for two weeks" methodology, and it never seems to apply evenly to all players on the roster.

 

[SDakaGordie]

I think both KJ and Mullins need to know they will get 10-15 minutes even if they make a mistake. I never quite understood the "make one error and it's buried on the bench for two weeks" methodology, and it never seems to apply evenly to all players on the roster.

Jim Calhoun leveraged this model to great success. That’s assuming we think we understand the underlying dynamics of how it’s communicated to the players. We really don’t know.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I think both KJ and Mullins need to know they will get 10-15 minutes even if they make a mistake. I never quite understood the "make one error and it's buried on the bench for two weeks" methodology, and it never seems to apply evenly to all players on the roster.

You really think KJ and Mullins are sitting due to one error?

 

[techtim72]

My take is top teams and the Big Ten have used the portal to get bigger and older while NU used it to get smaller (overall) and younger. I think Collins knew this was a lost cause season - he couldn't bring in enough old/top talent like say a Michigan, Illinois and others - it is NU after all - so he chose to error on a developmental squad to bring along for the future. We are going to get pounded this year.

 

[SDakaGordie]

My take is top teams and the Big Ten have used the portal to get bigger and older while NU used it to get smaller (overall) and younger. I think Collins knew this was a lost cause season - he couldn't bring in enough old/top talent like say a Michigan, Illinois and others - it is NU after all - so he chose to error on a developmental squad to bring along for the future. We are going to get pounded this year.

Come on now. You think our 3 transfers are meaningless? You think we can bring in greater top talent with a snap of the fingers?

 

[techtim72]

Wasn't what I was trying to say at all. I think Collins did a great job in bringing in transfers compared to what he would have been able to do only a few years ago, but they all were flawed. Reid's size is an issue, Page had virtually zero production prior and Green played at a lower level and is still young. A lot of needs to fill and thank goodness these players were brought on compared to the alternative. However, I think a lot of the Big Ten was able to bring in proven, older players to supplement squads that had more experienced cores. Plus Collins added a large number of recruits, looking for their impact to occur next year and beyond. I don't fault his efforts at all. He did well with the talent the past few years but they graduated out and he was left with a gaping hole to fill.

 

[SDakaGordie]

Wasn't what I was trying to say at all. I think Collins did a great job in bringing in transfers compared to what he would have been able to do only a few years ago, but they all were flawed. Reid's size is an issue, Page had virtually zero production prior and Green played at a lower level and is still young. A lot of needs to fill and thank goodness these players were brought on compared to the alternative. However, I think a lot of the Big Ten was able to bring in proven, older players to supplement squads that had more experienced cores. Plus Collins added a large number of recruits, looking for their impact to occur next year and beyond. I don't fault his efforts at all. He did well with the talent the past few years but they graduated out and he was left with a gaping hole to fill.

While this makes more sense to me, I think Collins and others thought we did quite well (for NU) in the transfer portal. I know they are a bit younger and your point on development stands, but there’s no way he entices Martinelli to stay if Collins knew in his mind this was a “lost cause” season. And there’s no way these transfers don’t believe they can compete well in this league. We will get blown out at times, but not as much as you are implying.