[NU Sports] Cat BB report card

[Dennis W. Brandt]

I haven't caused any arguments lately, so here goes.  My second annual Cat basketball report card with grades compared to last year's.

Michael Thompson  LY: B-   TY: B    The rock of Welsh-Ryan.  Just lacks that last bit of size and quickness to make him great.

Jeff Shurna             LY: C-   TY: B    Superb improvement from last season.  Coble's loss probably helped his game.

Luka Mirkovic         LY: C-    TY: C   Improved play but lacks the athleticism to stand against better competition.

Jeremy Nash          LY: C     TY: C+   His defense and spark will be missed next season.  His offense is replaceable.

Drew Crawford       LY: n/a   TY: C+   Our potential all Big Ten player faded in the season's final weeks, and he didn't hit free throws all year.  Once he got a rep, freshmanitis struck.  But he'll be back.

Kyle Rowley           LY: F      TY: F    Carmody finally realizes he belongs on the end of the bench.  I would not be surprised to see him transfer to a lesser division school where his sheer size will permit him some success.

Ivan Peljusic           LY: D     TY: D    A less talented Mirkovic.

Davide Curletti       LY: n/a    TY: D    Ditto Peljusic

Mike Capocci        LY: n/a     TY: D    Did not light up the world in the little he played.

Alex Marcotullio       LY: n/a    TY: D   Started promisingly but disappeared once the Big Ten season began.

Coaching               LY: A-     TY: A-     Carmody continues to get the best out of the talent he has, and that talent has improved thanks to improved recruiting - except, that is, for big men.

Back on November 19 I posted the following:  "We have no center.  None.  Not on defense.  Not on offense.  Not on the boards.  None.  And we have no power forward.  We again will be outrebounded by every team taller than the Little People Daycare Center."  While exaggerated for effect, it was accurate.  While Mirkovic did demonstrate improved play, we are still near or at the bottom of the Big Ten in all rebounding categories, and interior offense and defense naturally flows with that stat.  We lost seven games to MSU, OSU, PSU, Illinois, and Wisconsin in large part because they hammered us down low.  Our guards and small forwards have proven they can play well enough to win, but we lack any physical presence down low, which is especially important on the road where we inevitably falter.  Nash provides some, but he is not big enough to do it consistently on the front line, and he won't be back.  The good news for next year is that we are young, more talented than at any time since the late '60s, and Coble's coming back.  The bad news is that the absence of a tough baseline game will still curse us to about a .500 season. An improvement, yes, but not good enough as the team would certainly tell you.  While it is possible for the rest of the team to overcome the baseline deficiency, that is asking a lot.  We have nary a big man among the recruits, so into your hands, Mr. Mirkovic, we commend our spirit.