[NU Sports] NU Hoops?

[Jonathan Hodges]

> (1+)  NU  rolls over Robert Morris in exhibition, the same team that  beat
>  NU last  year.  Is  that because NU is that much better? or Robert  Morris
>  is not as good as they were last year?
> or just that the newbies (Shurna, Mirkovic, etc.) having a full  season
>  under  their belt? Is it any sort of indicator to the   season   ahead   or
>   simply   an   exhibition  game  vs. non-competitive opponent?
>

I wasn't at the game, but I heard that Robert Morris was far worse looking
than last year.  They had a lot of Div. I castoffs last season who moved on
or got cast off further following last season.  BUT, don't discount the fact
that last year Carmody threw a ton of true/redshirt freshmen to the wolves
in the exhibition game without enough requisite practice/playing time under
their belt in the Princeton offense system - which does take some time to
pick up.


>
> (2)   For  those more in the know - who is going to try to fill Craig
> Moore's shoes this season?
>

True freshman Drew Crawford from nearby Naperville.  He isn't the pure
shooter that Moore was, but he is supposed to be a special player.  It will
be interesting to see how he comes along (he is also one of NU's biggest
recruits in some time).


>
> (3)   Even  with  the  return of all significant players except Moore  (and
>  even  if Moore were to magically return), what are the  chances  of  the
>  'Cats actually moving up in the Big 10 standings?
> (given  the  overall  youth prevalent on the other BT teams). I don't
> recall significant losses by many teams. To me, the 'Cats fortunes  of
>  potentially making the 'you know what' at the end of  the  season  are
>  going to be very much dependent on a near perfect   non-conf   record  or
>  a  great showing  at  the  BT tournament.Thoughts?
>

The Big Ten is supposed to be tough this year, with a slew of teams in the
preseason rankings and MSU expected to be national-title caliber again.  But
NU is still supposed to be a middle of the pack team that has a legitimate
chance of making the NCAAs (a manageable nonconference schedule and a total
of 20 home games helps).

I'm not a big basketball guy, but hope that helps.

Jonathan