[NU Sports] it's not the system

[Brad Wilson]

Pete Carril got to the Basketball Hall of Fame running
his offense; the Princeton offense works just fine. 

But you have to have the players. A savvy, smart point
guard and at least one lights-out shooter are
important, but most of all the offense needs a "point
center" (as Kit Moeller was called at Princeton), a
big guy who can score and pass (and rebound a little)
from the low post. Carril always valued post play.
When the ball doesn't ever go in the post, and isn't
passed well out of it, the Princeton offense becomes
totally dependent on the 3-point shooters and that is
never what Carril intended (the man loved open
layups). NU's post play under Carmody has been
appalling, dreadful, and weak. Every so often really
good 3-point shooting makes up for it -- not often.

And also remember that the Princeton offense was
coupled with the Princeton defense, which under Carril
was always in the top 5 nationally; a sticky, fierce
zone that made life miserable for inside players,
limited second shots and slowed the game down. NU's
defense does none of that.

At this poimt I concede Carmody needs to go, but I
doubt NU will ever get anybody better. NU is where
basketball coaches' careers go to die. 

I might take a shot at Craig Robinson (Princeton '85),
a Chicago native now coaching at Brown. 

But hoops is hopeless. Now, wrestling ...
nationally-ranked, with a win over Illinois, something
most NU teams cannot do ... that's where it's at in
the winter.

bw



"Happy are those who see beauty in the modest spots where others see nothing." -- Camille Pissaro

"Quis ipsos custodes custodiet?" -- Juvenal


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