Comments on: Good, Bad and Ugly: Northwestern

By: elling2008

elling2008 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:22:22 +0000

We are getting there…just wait.

By: elling2008

elling2008 — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:22:22 +0000

We are getting there…just wait.

By: MillaRed

MillaRed — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:37:28 +0000

Well said JerryCT I won't disagree. I have high hopes for Story. He just seems to be a comfortable scorer doesn't he? Hope he sticks it out he could go for 20 ppg as a senior.

The jury is still out on Williams too isn't it? I think Nick will also benefit from more talent on the floor. He's automatic from 12 feet in and can get tough rebounds at the 3 spot.

We'll see about Verdell. Ask me again after a game that he doesn't have 7 turnovers! I agree though he has talent.

I think the problem in the future we will face is we have all these kids getting playing time as FR when honestly they should be getting stronger and honing their skills. So when the talent pool immediately doubles, will they have the patience to wait their turn after getting the minutes as underclassmen?

Hey, it's a nice problem to have. But it's still a potential problem.

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:37:30 +0000

Millared- My thoughts almost completely.

The only modifications I would offer is that the most competitve kids today on the roster, based on who is getting better and more consistent, are VJIII and Story. It will be fun to see how they come in next year ready to compete. I imagine VJ as the next Devin Harris....we cannot lose him. I think he can replace Dumes by next year sometime.

I fear Roth, Williams have the most work to do. Is Williams a shooter, a rebounder, a ball handler, a defender or is he all of these or none of these ? Same with Story . It is hard to fit either into a lineup role next year but yet they do many things partially well.

Story being from Ca may be ready to go home but I hope not.

With increased scoring ability next year I think defense will separate who plays who does not. This is why Hulls, Moore, Roth, Creek may be limited in PT even if they can hit 3's. They will need to show they are not a liability on D. Same for Muniru

By: MillaRed

MillaRed — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Gary, I think we'll look more like this to start 09. The depth really looks good. As a matter of fact, I would expect a transfer ot two over the next few seasons unfortunately.

PG Rivers
SG Dumes
SF Watford
PF Pritchard
C Capobianco

Rivers has been waiting to lead a team for three years. To say he is mentally ready is an understatement. Dumes gets talent around him that can give him more space to create. Watford is a match-up nightmare at the SF position. Pritchard gets a lot of garbage points on the weak side. The C position is the question mark. Capobianco fits the mold. Maniru is a project at best much like Jobe.

PG - Jones or Hulls (expect this to be a 2 year battle behind Rivers. Jones very well could transfer at some point. Is he patient enough behind Rivers for two years?)
SG - Creek with Roth busting those zones when needed
SF - Nick Williams
PF - Malik Story
C - Elston (Either Pritchard or Capo will always be on the floor, and Elston gives them a 3rd option in the paint) I think Maniru is at least 2 years away. I hope I'm wrong.

Sorry guys but I don't see Moore getting anything but garbage time after this season unless he can start hitting threes.

By: MikeinNC

MikeinNC — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:42 +0000

They are so close now. I think it is now 99% mental and when they get that first win to get them over the threshold we will see rapid improvement going forward….right now there is a pattern consistent with a team that, deep deep down, does is not really sure it can win the game – they can stay close, come back from a deficit and make it close, even get a lead, but in the end they just cannot finish. It's like a salesperson who can do everything right but just can't close the deal at the end because they haven't done it yet and lack the belief – once they close their first deal they start closing more and more…you see signs of this in the variety of ways that they are losing the winnable games – a poor decision with the basketball, poor FT shooting, poor 3 pt shooting, a dumb foul…whatever…it is not the same thing all the time, which tells me they are still finding ways to lose instead of finding ways to win….when they finally break through this (and they will pretty soon) I think we will be surprised at the rapid progress. TC is going to build one he** of a program over time.

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:31:12 +0000

That was nice……..Moore is a stud. I can see him next year coming into the game….popping that uniform off throwing on Fish's head…and slapping the floor at midcourt………..

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:29:41 +0000

Creek, watford, or Elston starts next year without a doubt

By: Todd Welch

Todd Welch — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:11:00 +0000

It was a great game to watch until the closing seconds, ouch, not exactly how I was hoping the last play would go. Turnovers hurt once again but we hit some great shots under pressure which will be a great learning experience for all those kids. Speaking of those kids, I really enjoy watching the play of TP, MR, VJ, MS and NW as I think they will make a great foundation for what we are building.

Now while I’m not making excuse for the lose, I must make a comment. The kid Coble is good but come on refs, do you even understand the term ESTABLISHED PIVOT FOOT! While he was making his dramatic shots we was walking every time!

By: Ryan_T

Ryan_T — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:28:40 +0000

Did anyone else laugh their asses off when Moore popped off the bench and threw his tear-away pants on top of the old dude sitting in the announcers section?

Every time they showed that replay I giggled like a little school girl.

By: HoosierSmitty

HoosierSmitty — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:45:14 +0000

I've just become a little numb to the season at this point. I went ballistic when Roth tied it up, but I tempered it quickly with the realization that we would almost surely lose – and by some bonehead play. (It turned out to be two – a foul at the top of the key and trying to inbound from half court)

It's just so frustrating to see that we've had chances to win four BT games and then lost by a combined total of 17 points – one of those in OT. (I'm not counting Penn State).

It's encouraging at the same time…but ugh…I just want that DAMN WIN!

When a team is terrible – as IU supposedly is – they should be getting blown out by like 30 points, not scrapping for these wins. It's surely a testament to these kids' hustle and teamwork, along with Crean's ability to coach and motivate…but we've got to find a W sometime soon or I'm going to lose it!

Go Hoosiers!

By: Disco_Briscoe

Disco_Briscoe — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:33:37 +0000

I know we don't know and its too early to tell but this is pretty funny. Watford and Creek are fighting to start and probably should be included in the starting lineup.

Biggest thing is Muniru? Why is he starting over the studs of the class. We cant get numbers on him and whats to say he's even better than Capo or Elston…which I don't think he is.

By: BGleas

BGleas — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:59:03 +0000

Jones tried to in-bound to Pritchard.

By: Taskmaster75

Taskmaster75 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:53:23 +0000

Forgot Capobianco

By: Taskmaster75

Taskmaster75 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:49:18 +0000

I thought that was Taber inbounding the ball? Probably wrong, but that's what I remember off the top of my head.

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:18:22 +0000

Marquette has played the weakest schedule in the BEAST so far. It now gets tougher and you may see more losses.

Next year I donot see Williams or Muniru starting very often . The way Watford is rebounding in HS along w his scoring he will be impossible to keep on the bench. That leaves one slot for alot of players.

By: BGleas

BGleas — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:11:37 +0000

I love Crean so far, so I'm not trying to be overly critical, but I hope that's just him over-coaching a young inexperienced team and not how he'll operate in that situation when we have an experienced talented team.

By: cooper

cooper — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:47:17 +0000

I missed most of the game but from what others are saying they played better which is good. Looks like Williams and Pritch struggled and for IU to be in the game when they both struggle is promising. I think VJ is really coming along, and from watching short clips of Hulls I don't think he is going to unseat VJ next year as backup PG. Hulls is small, doesn't appear all that quick and has an awkward shot though he shoots a good % he is a much better dribbler but I think he needs a year to get stronger before he gets significant minutes over Rivers or VJ. Interesting that Marquette is number 8 in the country without Crean when they were picked 6th in Big East. I'm not saying anything bad about Crean or that he was a bad hire, just an interesting fact. I don't expect any wins but will be happy if Dumes, Pritchard, Wiliams and Jones continue to improve as I think they will be the core players from this team getting minutes next year.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:14:07 +0000

You are absolutely right about going fullcourt for the last shot. That was just not a good coaching move, not with these young guys. Its incredibly hard to inbounds halfcourt in a pressure situation like that.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:11:37 +0000

IU is coming along nicely. You can see the improvement. I think the rebuilding project might not take as long as some think. We could field a very nice team next year.

PG - Rivers
SG - Dumes
SF - Williams
PF - Pritchard
C- Muniru

Bench

Story
Roth
Hulls
Elston
Watford
creek

I think we can compete for the big ten next year. Rivers experience this year setting on the bench with crean will be great for him as a leader!