[NU Sports] Not ready for prime-time players

[Joe Thiegs]

I think in a down year in the Big Ten, this NU team would make it to the
Tourney.  Also, based on my limited viewing of these 'Cats this year and
reading the box scores and stories, it seems this is a team that could beat
just about anyone in the conference on a given night if they're playing
well.  The problem is, the Big Ten is loaded this year.  With tOSU looking
really good, MSU bound to find its groove at some point, Purdue, Minnesota,
and Illinois all looking strong too, it will be a tough row to hoe.
Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan won't be pushovers (heck, while Michigan
doesn't appear to be a world-beater this year, the Wolverines won at Clemson
and easily handled a tough Oakland team that came within a shot of beating
MSU and did take down Tennessee).  Only PSU and Iowa appear to be weak this
year, and you never know when Talor Battle is going to have a huge game.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all shakes out--should be a fun
year--and I hope the 'Cats end up at least in the upper-middle.  This could
be one of those years where the Big Ten champ has 4-5 losses.  Anyone who
goes 0.500 in this conference in 2011 deserves a bid.

Our lack of depth is, as others have noted, a big liability, as is the lack
of a strong inside presence.  The Princeton offense doesn't rely on a lot of
frontcourt physicality as much as finesse, of course, but guys like Jerod
Sullinger, Derrick Nix, JaJuan Johnson, and Trevor Mbakwe will eat the
Wildcats' lunch, I fear.  We really haven't had a strong inside game since
the days of Evan Eschmeyer.

-Joe

On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 8:21 AM, <marks83588 at aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> Having witnessed the debacle in person, sadly I believe you will need to
> wait another year to see "Northwestern" in the NCAA bracket board. Nice
> team, some good players (Shurna close to great, but cannot guard his shadow)
> but not enough starting talent or depth to make it to the field of
> sixty-whatever.
>
> This was the last winnable road game of the year, in the sense that the gym
> was basically empty. In fact, I would say NU fans were about even in number
> with SJU fans. Of course, NU fans just sit there quietly while SJU fans
> support their team. There was no away pressure from the atmosphere, unlike
> what NU will see in every venue (even Ioa) during Big 10 play. Perhaps the
> next low pressure road game will come in the Big 10 Tournament, playing an
> early game as a 9 or 10 seed. But if you thought last night was a tough road
> venue you're sadly mistaken.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Bendat <thehaze at earthlink.net>
> To: Roy S. Lamberton <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>; neonrye <neonrye at aol.com>;
> nwu-sports <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
> Sent: Wed, Dec 22, 2010 12:00 am
> Subject: [NU Sports] Not ready for prime-time players
>
>
> Given the stage, and the fact that it was a tournament final, this game was
> one
> f the biggest contests we've had in years. I really wanted to believe
> things
> ould be different. I wanted to expect victory. I won't believe we make the
> NCAA
> ournament until I see the word "Northwestern" on the board during the NCAA
> ournament selection show on March 13th.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Roy S. Lamberton" <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>
> Sent: Dec 21, 2010 8:43 PM
> To: neonrye at aol.com, nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Five Minutes to Go
>
> You hit it on the nose Paul
>
> StJ went inside and we couldn't answer
>
> Very disturbing because the rest of the Big 10 will watch this video
>
> rsl
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
> Computer Applications & Support Associates
> -------------------- Also ----------------------
> "Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball
> Director Media Relations - Little League
>  Senior League Softball World Series
> Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
> Northwestern University - Speech 1974 -
> Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
> Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
> ==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========
>
> "...Then I get on my knees and pray,
> WE DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!" -- Pete Townsend
>
> ================================================
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
> ehalf Of
> neonrye at aol.com
> Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 11:23 PM
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: [NU Sports] Five Minutes to Go
>
>
>  Watching the online stream it is evident that our lack of depth is killing
> s--not to
> mention our dearth of big men.  Our guys are exhausted and the game is
> slipping
> way.
> What would a healthy, active Coble have meant to this squad?  When Shurna
> sits,
> e die.
> Same for Juice.  And Luka is overmatched with all of the big bodies the
> ohnnies are
> bringing off the bench in waves.  I still harbor hopes of a great comeback,
> but
>  am not
> optimistic.  We may have been exposed tonight.  I really thought we would
> win
> his game
> and am very disappointed that we are crumbling in the Second Half.  We need
> a
> ench.  Will
> anyone step up in the conference season?
>
> Paul Levinson
>
>
>
>
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