[NU Sports] Basketball (ugh!)

Thu Jan 8 11:48:51 CST 2009

I would like to say that I share coach Roy's sunny optimism about a mid- to late-season peak.
 I don't.
 More than five Big Ten wins would be a miracle. And, again, I can not for the life of me understand why Northwestern can not recruit enough guys to win. In basketball, Duke and Stanford have proven without any doubt that it is possible to win with smart guys who can also cut it at an academically demanding institution. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Roy Lamberton
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 7:03 AM
To: cherron604 at aol.com; tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Basketball (ugh!)

I am very worried after last night's disaster in Madison.

We finally have 3 big guys to play the middle, and they all seem to get fouled up.

Big 10 teams have figured out that you smother Moore and try to smother Coble, leaving Thompson to try to score from outside - where he rushes his shots. 

The Big 10 also appears to have figured out the Princeton offense, and takes away the backdoor cuts while shutting down the perimeter shooting.

On the plus side (thanks Dave) - the Cats have played and lost to two of the leagues better teams. So far every opposing coach has good things to say about how we play and how they don't take us for granted. 

BC is rotating big men in the middle, trying to find a guy who can play his offense the way Hardy or Jenkins did while adding more defense. Both centers are still developing a 3 point shot (since they haven't tried any in a game) and learning the 1-3-1 the way the coaches want it played. It is too bad that we don't redshirt more roundball players the way Sterling did.

He hasn't cracked the starting lineup, but he seems to be playing with more maturity when he does get in the game.

This team is proof that you just can't take a couple of shooters, surround them with big guys, and win. 

However, I honestly still believe that this team can improve enough to get a few more wins in January, and maybe play to their potential in February. The point in basketball, or any sport with a playoff, is to peak towards the end of the season.

The Cats are definitely in the position of having to peak late, because they're struggling right now.

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
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Publisher: Purple Reign (Scout.com/Fox Sports) Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R] Northwestern University - Sp 1974 - Chi Phi: Pi74, KD68 ==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  =========== A Few Basic Truths:
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-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of cherron604 at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:26 AM
To: tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Basketball (ugh!)

Are we looking at two wins this season (over the Hoosiers) ?? Or even less
?? This is going downhill in a hurry.? So unfortunate in light of what some
of the other programs at NU are achieving.

Chuck Herron?? Tech '85

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis W. Brandt <tbng at comcast.net>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 9:34 pm
Subject: [NU Sports] Basketball (ugh!)

Another disgraceful b-ball performance at Wisconsin tonight.  To our dismal 
rebounding performance we added a total inability to shoot.  Lord almighty, 
please send us a center and a power forward with athletic ability.
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