No time left? Iowa buries Northwestern early, run comes too late

Posted by Philip Rossman-Reich on Thursday, March 14, 2013 · 67 Comments

Late in Thursday’s Big Ten Tournament first round game, Bill Carmody was watching his team come alive. Three-pointers were beginning to fall and a once-16-point lead was cut in half. Over and over again, NU would get itself within single digits only to see Iowa make a 3-pointer and a quick run to pull away yet again.

Carmody needed in some way to talk to his team, to calm them down and make an adjustment. He quickly put his hand together in the unmistakable “T” for timeout, but quickly retracted before an official could see it. Carmody had run out of timeout. His team had run out of time.

A slow and somewhat lifeless start doomed Northwestern, putting the team in a hole too deep to climb out of. When it was time to make that long journey out of the hole the Wildcats had dug themselves, the will and effort were there. The defensive execution was not always there. And eventually time was against the Wildcats.

Time seemed to be working against Bill Carmody all night. He called four of his five timeouts in the first half and then spent his final timeout less than a minute into the second half. It was the kind of desperation his team needed for much of the first 20 minutes of the game. A strong second half was not going to do it with this team. Iowa’s onslaught proved too much and held on for a 73-59 victory at the United Center, ending Northwestern’s season without a postseason appearance for the first time in five years.

	Score	Off. Rtg.	eFG%	O.Reb.%	TO%	FTR
Northwestern	59	93.3	44.8	10.0	13.6	43.8
Iowa	73	108.8	41.9	40.0	8.4	51.6

Above are statistics known as the Four Factors and are regarded as indicative contributors to wins and losses. Please see the end of this post for an explanation.

The pain started early as Iowa went on an 11-0 run to open the game and Northwestern struggled to get rebounds or make shots. Turnovers, bad shots and put backs plagued this early part of the game and the Wildcats found themselves down by double digits very fast.

The team seemed lifeless. Players were not moving within the Princeton Offense, and that kind of stagnation kills this team without a player who can create shots for himself or others. Iowa sensed this trepidation and aggressively trapped and blitzed the ballhandler coming off of any picks. Northwestern struggled to adjust and was caught on its back foot very early.

The offense lacked rhythm and Iowa took advantage. It seemed the Hawkeyes could break down the Cats’ defense at any time and if they could not, they would get the offensive rebound more often than not.

Things settled down of course. Northwestern fought back. Some shots started to fall, the team stopped turning the ball over. The Wildcats climbed back into the game.

Defensively, Northwestern dared Iowa to make shots. The Wildcats packed the paint with a 2-3 zone and prevented the Hawkeyes from getting the ball in the middle and doubled the ball when it got sent down to the post. Northwestern was hoping Iowa would go cold from beyond the arc.

They did long enough for the Wildcats to get the game to single digits. Iowa called a timeout and found its shooting stroke again. The lead hovered between 12 and nine the rest of the game. All that was left was to count the seconds off the clock. A frustrating way to end a frustrating season.

Reggie Hearn had 19 points and 10 rebound sin his final game for the Wildcats, putting in a strong final effort. Alex Olah had 12 point sand seven rebounds in one of his best games of the season. He was pushed around a bit too much in the first half, but re-established himself in the post and was very effective in pick and rolls and backdoor cuts in the second half. A good improvement for the freshman center.

However, Dave Sobolewski struggled shooting 1 for 6 from the field.

Surprisingly, Northwestern ended up with a better field goal percentage than Iowa. But the Hawkeyes’ 16 offensive rebounds and 32 free throw attempts gave them so many more opportunities to score.

With a margin for error so small, as it has been since Jared Swopshire was injured in Iowa City, Northwestern could not afford to come out so flat. The Wildcats could not afford to play catch-up the entire game.

Time will only tell now where this program goes as Jim Phillips has a decision to make on Bill Carmody’s future. Only he may know whether time has truly run out.

Offensive Rating measures points scored per 100 possessions.
Effective field goal percentage measures field goal percentage taking into account the added value of a 3-point shot.
Offensive rebound percentage measures the percentage of offensive rebounds over total rebounds.
Turnover percentage estimates what percentage of a team’s possessions end in a turnover.
Free throw rate measures the rate of free throw attempts over field goal attempts.

Category: Hoops, Iowa · Tags:

CM

I’m surprising myself with this one, but it’s my opinion that Carmody should be retained for next year.

With Crawford, Cobb, Ajou, Lumpkin, Cerina, and Liberman (the wounded/suspended warriors) coming back healthy, and two solid recruits in Sina and Taphorn joining the team, next year’s prospects look bright. Demps, Turner, Olah, and Abrahamson now have a full year of B1G play under their belts.

Why would you fire Carmody and essentially throw away next year by sending the program into a tumultuous transition phase? New coach, new system, new learning, etc. I think it’s irresponsible.

Give Carmody next year. If we find ourselves in the same spot at the end of the season, even with the misfortune of drastic injuries like this year, then fine, let’s “blow it up.” Excuses just won’t be acceptable at that point. But with next year looking the way it does, I ask that we give it the fair chance it deserves. Firing Carmody won’t accomplish that.

And to the “13 years blah blah blah” folks:
You have to give his tenure context. Prior to this season (“injury year”), Carmody had put together 4 straight postseason appearances, multiple 20 win seasons, and undoubtedly the most successful stretch in school history. So yeah, he’s 0-for-13. But 2008-2012 were the most successful years ever. It’s been 13 years, but let’s give it the proper context…
- BT
  
  The injury excuse is tiresome. We lost to UIC with a healthy roster. Carmody has had some of the best players in NU’s history the last 4 years and still peaked at an NIT appearance. Are people really so blind to miss that the only reason our win total has increased recently is because we have one of the worst schedules over the first 10 games every year. *** NU has totaled 50 wins in the regular season & Big Ten tourney the last 3 seasons….28 of those came against teams RPI 150+!!!****
  
  There’s always next year right? I guess the NU deal with Wrigley had a
  special caveat that NU basketball fans could steal the Cubs trademark
  mindset. Forget 13 seasons. Carmody’s last 5 years are a fireable
  offense at almost any other BCS program.
- db
  
  Is this a post from 2011, 2012 or 2013?
- das420
  
  Yes, they were the most successful years ever and we still really weren’t that close to making the NCAAs in any of those years (we weren’t last 4 out any of those years). And, is it asking too much to at least get to NY in any of those NIT appearances? I mean PSU won the damn thing one year for godsakes!
  If this is honestly the heights to which we can aspire to as a program, then I’ll let you enjoy our occassional 1st/2nd Round NIT exit–I’ll be finding something else to do…
- Scott Feeney
  
  Cerina has not impressed at all. What little I have seen of Ajou reminds me of Billy Pitts from the 80′s and that is not a good thing. I have real trouble believing that either Lumpkin or Liberman will amount to anything. Both look like they are going to be career injury prone string beans. I just am not buying into this everything will be better next year idea.
  - PDXCat
    
    Brian Pitts. Deepest voice ever!
Socal Scott

Goodbye Coach. Thank you for your years at NU. You have broght the program to a higher level…but we aim for more than NIT bids. Good luck in your next endeavor.
NUBobby95

Stop the insanity! What are we, Cub fans? Time to expect more. Time to push Morty and Jim to step it up when it comes to basketball. How does a team with everything on the line a coach who they verbally support whose job is on the line come out to start both halves looking the way they did? COACHING!!!!!! This team mirrors its coach and always has, passive and not physical. When the refs didn’t call goaltending inthefirst half any other coach in the upper ranks of the BIG would have been at half court. Where was BC? Standing with his arms folded. Get T’d up, go out fighting, show some passion. Anyone who says he should stay needs to have their head examined.
SFTFame

Anybody hear Dan Dakich’s commentary last night towards the end of the game in defense of Bill Carmody? “Be careful with what you wish for, Northwestern.”

People who want him fired generally say they “respect” what Bill Carmody has done for Northwestern, but if you really respect it, you would truly understand just what he has actually done for the program. As Dakich said last night, “Bill Carmody has been better than any other coach in the history of
Northwestern. Only 20 win seasons have been under that guy, Bill Carmody.” And he did this with essentially both hands tied behind his back– the academic restrictions, which won’t (and should not) change, and the lack of administrative support in the form of inadequate facilities and whatever money invested in the program beign spent in non-productive ways. People complain that you can’t sell donors on Bill Carmody– well, if the incoming PG recruit’s father’s comments are any indication, he does a pretty damn good job selling himself.

You think that a new coach, with new blood, should invigorate the program… “just like football.” Keep in mind that the beginning part of Gary Barnett’s tenure at Northwestern was marked by a new Athletic Director, a new University President, and a renewed committment to athletics. And that worked then. NU had been so bad for so long, just hearing that we’re really going to invest in athletics without anything concrete was enough– you could sell that to people. Now, the culture is different, and you really need to put your money where your mouth is. Carmody has had and any new coach would have….. a marketing plan to Chicago-area fans, billboards on the expressways, a uniquely-painted court that looks like ass, and the impression that football is much, much more important than basketball to sell to recruits, because that’s all this athletic department has done for the basketball program.

So you hire a new coach, and hope that the new energy and initial sales pitch about the program moving in the right direction without having any concrete plans is enough smoke and mirrors to get the pieces to put the team in the tournament and start the momentum ball rolling, because you’re not going to get any help from the folks in the administration. If it isn’t, as it wasn’t with Carmody, you better damn well hope the new coach is as good at getting the most of his players as Carmody has been, because that’s all you’re going to be left with, and we’ll be looking for another new coach real quick.

If you want to fire anyone, fire the administration for its neglect of the basketball program for the past 13+ years. Give the man something to work with, something that he can sell to recruits.
- das420
  
  With all due respect, I’m curious as to why you still bother at this point? It seems to me that your point is given our institutional barriers NU will never exceed the levels to which Carmody brought us. What’s the point then? It’s just not enough for me–what keeps you going?
  - SFTFame
    
    We won’t exceed the levels to which Carmody brought is if we continue to neglect the basketball program from an administrative and financial perspective. There are some barriers that we cannot and should not lift– namely, our academic requirements. But everything else can be overcome– investing money in the facilities, an arena, locker rooms, fan experience, equipment, training and support staff for basketball. Things we can use in recruiting to show our prospective players that they are coming to a place that actually cares about them and their sport and wants to compete at a high level. That is something that, believe me, will make a heck of a lot more of a difference than bringing in Chris Collins and/or ditching the Princeton Offense.
    - das420
      
      I think you’re 100% right about the historically embarrassing lack of support from the administration. I do have a question, however. Let’s assume that in the next couple of years we do start to see the kind of administrative support that would help turn this program around. I’m going to guess that any substantive overhaul to facilities, arena, experience, etc. is at least 5 years away–Carmody will be almost 70 by this point. That may not be a big deal, but part of me wonders if we can go for everything in one shot (i.e. bring in a younger, more dynamic coach while, at the same time, see an uptick in admin support–much like what is going on with Footbally currently). I’ll allow you that this would be wholly unfair to Carmody, but, hey, such is life…
- ctya
  
  Not that it really matters, but Bill Carmody is definitely not the most successful coach in NU history. Look it up, Dan Dakich.
  
  And as for the dire “be careful what you wish for” line…what terrible things could happen? We hire a new coach and win less than 1/3 of our conference games and don’t make the tournament?
  - cebpd
    
    SO TRUE.
    
    And as to this “well if we lose Sina if Carmody leaves”
    
    What do you think Fitz would say if a recruit said, “sorry coach, if you fire Jerry Brown, im decomitting”?
    
    Fitz: “Good Luck to you”
Aaron

The “he has our only 20 win seasons” line is quite overplayed. NU started scheduling drastically easier schedules in the non-conference. So when you are saying 20 wins, please keep in mind that you are referring to Central Connecticut State, North Florida, Texas Pan American, etc. Was there an influx in Big Ten wins? Yes, a small one, but not like the jump in overall wins due to easier schedules. With the number of games in a basketball season increasing, 20 wins is becoming like 6 wins in college football.
- SFTFame
  
  Actually, with the exception of 2009-10, our strength of schedule has been fairly consistent, or, if anything, higher in recent years than it was earlier in Carmody’s tenure.
  - db
    
    Our scheduling made it literally impossible for this team to go to the tournament in 11 and 12 unless we went undefeated in non-con AND won 10-11 games in conference. They finally fixed it this year.
ctya

69-152 conference record. 4-9 on the first day of the Big Ten tournament, 0-4 on the second. 0-0 in the NCAA Tournament. 0 for 13 in even being a bubble team on Selection Sunday. The second half of his tenure is just as bad as the first half, unless you for some reason really care about NIT basketball. (BTW, Byrdsong and O’Neill both took us to the NIT in their combined 7 years.)

We can do better.
- Go Cats!
  
  actually 6-16 overall (including this year) in tournament. Worse record overall in B1G tourney – Everyone else in the conference has finished 1st or 2d at some point in the Tourney (not counting Nebraska.) Those kids fought hard at the end – they deserve someone who will fight with them and for them.
Alum Dad

Our basketball program is an embarrassment to the university. Bill Carmody has taken us from horrible to mediocre. To me that isn’t a major accomplishment. His Big 10 winning percentage is all I need to know. I am amazed by the number of Carmody supporters on this board. To each their own, but I really find it hard to look at his NU resume and think he deserves any more time.
- http://www.facebook.com/prossmanreich Philip Rossman-Reich
  
  Calling it an embarrassment is a little much. This year was tough to watch, but NU has depth issues and that happens when your three top players get injured.
  
  Considering how horrible, horrible was for Northwestern. Getting to consistent mediocrity is a pretty big accomplishment.
  - byebyefitz95
    
    The program isn’t an embarrassment, the coach is. Calling 4 time outs in the first half? Really? Do you want your players exhausted in the 2nd half? I was watching with friends who have no relation to the University and they laughed at this coach and what he has done for the program. PRR forget the depth issues…it was crap coaching. The fact you stick up for the man makes you an embarrassment. One thing…are you consistently mediocre in bed? I ask since you seem okay with that.
    - Glopknar
      
      Um. What the hell is wrong with you?
    - DT
      
      I don’t know who the young ladies are in the picture with PRR, but from the way they are smiling, he might indeed bring the success of John Wooden to the boudoir!
      - http://www.facebook.com/prossmanreich Philip Rossman-Reich
        
        lol, Those are my sisters and my Mom! I will get working on Stan Van Gundy next time I am home. Best of everything — great coach and great with the media! #Dreaming
    - http://www.facebook.com/prossmanreich Philip Rossman-Reich
      
      The team was lifeless in the first half. Don’t know what that means as far as Carmody goes. But one game was not going to determine whether he gets fired or not. Jim Phillips has a very difficult decision to make.
      
      My comment about the depth issue was about the overall quality of play this season. The team lost its three best players. That, to me, is not on the coach. We knew the team was struggling to recruit. Guys were playing bigger roles than they could and being asked to step up before they were ready.
  - NU68
    
    It happens when your three top players get injured and you as a coach have no back up, no plan, no replacements, etc.
- bd005
  
  In the previous 4 years, the BB program accomplished MORE than the FB program and that’s despite some key injuries and the B1G having been a better BB conf. than FB conf.
  
  If the FB team had been beset by a similar set of injuries/suspension to key players – we would have been talking about a 3-4 win season for FB (look what happened after ONE player, Persa went down).
db

I disagree with coach’s comments after the loss last night:

1) “Everyone’s goal is to make the NCAA tournament”….No – other than 1 bid conferences, everyone’s goal is to win games in the tournament. I realize this seems like a pipe dream when you have never even been in the discussion on Selection Sunday, but it is how every other team in the country operates, including mid-majors.

2) “Not much has changed since O’Neil, Byrdsong were here”…this comment was in reference that it is not easier to win at NU now, and in fact he said it could be harder. Other than squandering years when the B1G was very down, this is not true. There is a ton more parity in college hoops than ever before. More teams advance, more teams make the tourney. The tourney is even bigger than ever. Top level talent is not just going to 10-20 schools. Academic standards are being ratcheted up, if anything NU is in a better spot than ever to take advantage of momentum.

But more than anything, a coach that is going to sit on the stage and whine about the facilities and how hard his job is cannot be the face of the program. You have to have product before you sell it and raise money. That is how every relevant program in the country has been built. Whether it is an impossible ask or not, you have to try.

I absolutely realize Chris Collins might be horrible and it might set the program back. But what are we risking? A top 75 (at the peak) to top 125 team? What does it matter if we fall off? I would much rather aspire to be better.
- JM
  
  This is THE key point: Mediocrity is not much to risk.
MaxPower

db, I respect your thoughts but I hope everyone realizes that this is an institutional problem and not a coaching one. That is not saying that Carmody gets a blank check or should even be back. I don’t really think it matters who the next coach is unless he gets support from the university. My position is this, if the plan is to hire a new coach and go all in to win, I’m for it. If you are just changing the name on the door, keep Carmody until you are ready to commit to the program.
- http://www.facebook.com/haberstr John Haberstroh
  
  Exactly! It would be great if they announced the new coach and plans for a new arena at the same time.
  - Db
    
    What program built a new arena before the team did anything? Has it ever happened once? Why would we expect our school to do things no one else has ever done before they won?
    - SFTFame
      
      Nebraska?
  - Db
    
    What program built a new arena before the team did anything? Has it ever happened once? Why would we expect our school to do things no one else has ever done before they won?
- http://twitter.com/LakeThePosts Lake The Posts
  
  Bingo. Well said.
  - DT
    
    Rumor has it you are camped out waiting for White Smoke to rise from Jim Phillps’ office!
    - http://twitter.com/LakeThePosts Lake The Posts
      
      Shouldn’t it be purple smoke?
      - DT
        
        As long as it adheres to the strict environmental control standards of Evanston and does not invade Wilmette air space..
- das420
  
  Yep, can’t argue with that at all…
- Db
  
  Don’t mean to break up the unanimous support, but what does this mean? This school has thrown more support behind carmody than maybe any coach in the history of college bball. They have allowed him to coach through 2 bottom out cycles and keep his job. And since then, he hasn’t even challenged for the tournament, yet he’s still out there, coaching whatever that was last night. That is incredible support.
  
  If there was a change, of course there is support for the new guy. They just fired a guy and are making a financial commitment to the new one. I really don’t understand this chorus of we need to build a brand new stadium or have nicer bleachers or else no one will come to play. Did football have nice facilities first, or did they win first? Which stadium in the ncaa was built before the team was competitive?
  
  While I would love to have a shiny new toy, you dont need one. big ten basketball scholarships are finite. How many scholarships are out there where the kids get every game they play broadcast nationally in HD? 500? 750? That’s valuable, people will come, you just need to go get them. And the first requirement is that your coach isn’t intimidated by the nuances of coaching here. All coach carmody does is whine about how hard it is to win here, and get good players. His players reflect that in their comments defending him (we need his system, we aren’t good enough otherwise, etc.). He used to be much more forthright (we expected to win more by now, etc.). that stopped at some point and now its just real hard to get anything accomplished at NU.
  
  i have not always agreed with the stuff fitz says but I have never heard him even utter a peep about the disadvantages he faces when compiling a roster. Of course he wants nicer stuff but he doesn’t use it as a crutch. Carmody uses it as a wheelchair, and it’s painful to listen to, let alone watch.
  
  Sorry for the rant. Now I’ll take your side. If they don’t go hire a new coach they are affirming that they once again don’t care about basketball. They have supported carmody, but not basketball. There is a difference. Maybe that’s what you meant.
- http://twitter.com/LakeThePosts Lake The Posts
  
  I would say this comment most accurately sums up the umpteen conversations and email exchanges I’ve had with fans this week. While NU admin “supports” (Morty, Jim etc..) basketball, the commitment needed for a facilities overhaul is the “support” needed as part of the equation.
NUdone88

How soon are they talking? Today, Monday? If a change is coming don’t they want to do it before next Wednesday to capitalize?

Posters: besides a few mentioned names who really wants this Job? I’m totally serious.

Dan Dakich did mention a loss of momentum with our program. He is a fan of ours!
- http://twitter.com/LakeThePosts Lake The Posts
  
  Neil Hayes of the Sun-Times reported today. Haven’t heard anyone else confirm this or provide any kind of update. i don’t think JP would upstage the B1G tourney though. Monday should be…interesting.
Scott Feeney

ABYSMAL …. Absolutely ABYSMAL performance last night. I don’t care if we lose a decent recruit or not. Time for a change. I went from having expectations to having none for NU basketball.
- http://www.facebook.com/haberstr John Haberstroh
  
  After the initial 0-11 run, the incredibly under-manned Cats broke even with Iowa, a mid-level team in the strongest hoops conference in the country. Miraculous coaching of a team of a gunner (Demps), freshmen, two former walk-ons, and so on.
  - cebpd
    
    yeah, after not scoring for like 5-6 minutes to start the game, THEN they broke even.
    
    That’s like when a team losing to Bama 42-0 in the first half loses 49-7
das420

There are a couple of lines I read above that perfecly sum-up exactly why I think it’s time to move on–specifically:
- “Northwestern struggled to get rebounds…”. Pretty consistent theme over–oh, I don’t know–Bill’s entire career
- “Players were not moving within the Princeton offense, and that kind of stagnation kills this without a player who can create shots for himself or others.” How damning of a statement is this? You’ve basically admitted that we haven’t been able to bring-in 1 goddamn player that can create for himself–what else do I need to know when evaluating whether Carmody should stay?
- :”It seemed the Hawkeyes could break down the Cats defense at any time and if they could not, they would get the offensive rebound more often than not.” Again, this is different from countless other games against BIG opponents, how?
The consistent themes plaguing NU Bball (inconsistent defense, beyond poor rebounding, few players athletic enough to create offense, etc.) haven’t changed. Maybe it’s a loser’s fight and these things will never change regardlesss of the coach–I’m at least willing to try again before completely resigning myself to that fate
PurpleHayes

Quick comment about the games themselves before we return to the gathering mob…obviously disappointing last night, but it was nothing short of bizarre how post-Swopshire, even though we lost every game, there were two distinct models for the games (and we followed one or the other, to the letter): Northwestern #1 came out flat, literally did not score in what seemed like forever, and despite waking up to fight, the hole was too deep. Northwestern #2 competed furiously from the outset, played over their heads, frankly, then gassed and self-destructed with 3-4 minutes left as if an alarm clock had gone off. I’m sure the lynch mob will have coaching reasons for both, but I’m just pointing out the combination of disparity and yet consistency was crazy. Did anybody else notice? NU #1: @Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, last night. NU #2: Both OSU’s, @MSU. The only game that varied at all was PSU, and that was because it actually was a combination of both! (Horrid start, collapse at the end.) The consistency of one type of game or the other was nothing short of weird. Sorry to see NU #1 show up last night–too bad for Marcotullio and especially Hearn to go out on such a note.
Go Cats!

Our facilities are clearly a joke. But let’s not forget – our fball facilities were an absolute embarrassment in December 1991 when Barnett took over and said his team will “look different, act different, and at all times Expect Victory.” They were god-awful when he made his “Take the Purple to Pasadena” speech. And they were still a joke in 1995 and 1996 when we won conference championships.

Now – the $ influx has over the course of almost 20 years gotten to a place where we still need to spend more on football – and we are. And yes – after ’96 Barnett’s teams bottomed out – and Walker had some very up and down years. Football’s recent rise to upper tier (hopefully consistently) in the B1G is not a guarantee and is not something will necessarily last forever – but we now expect it. We’ve seen it can be done – with junk facilities and almost no support – and no lowering of academic standards.

Someone tell me again why we can’t Expect more from men’s basketball? We might not get it every year – or even every other year – but we should (and the COACH DAMN WELL SHOULD) expect it every year. Otherwise – turn it into a club team.

Next year I expect to be looking forward to watching my team on the weekend of the B1G tourney for the first time ever – and being excited about Selection Sunday for the first time ever as an NU fan.

Thanks for everything Billy C – you’ve built a solid foundation – now we need someone else to finish the job.

Go Cats!
- http://www.facebook.com/haberstr John Haberstroh
  
  It seems to me that hoops has relatively many fewer high-quality high schoolers with excellent academics. But I half buy into your Gary Barnett-esque dream … very nice to think that might happen. On the other hand, in the real world Carmody has an excellent, for Northwestern, coming back/in for him next year. Let the Carmody dream last another year?
  - Go Cats!
    
    maybe – but I just counted 8 private schools in US News’ top 31 that are all pretty damn good educational institutions: Stan, Duke, South Bend University, Vandy, G-Town, USC, Wake, and BC. Now – do they all have the same standards we do? Of course not – but do we mean to say that there aren’t just a few talented & smart bball players that we can get too – or are we SO certain that our standards are SO much greater than theirs at every turn….I don’t buy it. Again – no one is saying compromise the standards – I’d prefer to raise the expectations.
    - CalmB4TheStorm
      
      Case in point – Tommy Amaker’s interview with us for our head coaching job.
      Duke admitted both Christian Laetner and Bobby Hurley, however Amaker was told that they would not have been accepted at NU.
JustTheFacts

Just a few facts which can be taken whichever way you want >
Instead of comparing strength of schedule from coach to coach simply compare Big Ten winning percentages (a good control group) >
Tex Winter (Member of National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, key offensive assistant coach to Phil Jackson during Bulls championship years) 29.1%
Rich Falk (Former Associate Commissioner of the Big Ten – in charge of many basketball operations) 23.6%
Bill Foster (Turned around [and had winning records at] the basketball programs at Rutgers, Utah, Duke & South Carolina prior to coming to NU – led Duke to NCAA Chamionship Game 8 years before arriving at NU) 10.3%
Ricky Byrdsong (R.I.P.) 13.9%
Kevin O’Neill (Head coach at Marquette & Tennessee before NU and Arizona & USC after – head coach for one season for the Toronto Raptors) 18.8%
Bill Carmody 31.8%

Regarding out of conference games, just be thankful that we don’t schedule the Evanston YMCA any more. Our all time record against them is 1-7. Look it up!
- ctya
  
  I think it’s pretty well established that Carmody has been better than his immediate predecessors. And that’s gotten him 13 years as a Big Ten head coach. If “better than the 80s” is your standard, then by all means we should keep him around.
  - cebpd
    
    Seriously. “well carmody is better than everyone else beforehand!” is such an AWFUL argument. NU ended the season on a 10? game losing streak.
    
    NU ADministration is more pro-athletics than ever before. That’s what you forgot…Morty LOVES athletics and wants them to succeed. No other President before that was like that. and that’s the direction moving forward.
    
    I don’t care if Carmody was better than everyone else. He has still done awful and it’s time for someone to come in who can get to 50% in conference
- CalmB4TheStorm
  
  Wow. Interesting reactions to some posts on here. JTF only listed stats above with no opinion. Here is what I’d like to know (from objective sources) – Why did prior coaches (such as Winter & Foster) with such strong credentials fail so miserably at NU (while having enormous success elsewhere)?
NUCATS04

Hey LTP, I have been wondering, how much money did you end of raising so far for the website? Also what at NU was it getting donated to and how much was donated? Thanks and keep up the good work.
http://twitter.com/LakeThePosts Lake The Posts

Hey all I’m at the big ten tourney trying to keep up with the deluge of carmody chatter online. Will have new post tonight and this weekend as warranted. Lets continue to keep it thoughtful and no personal attacks please.
- NUdone88
  
  Are you hearing any good scoop inside the UC? What’s your gut feeling: stays or goes? Our players have been cold from the outside since the Columbus game. That is not his fault. Kale seems to be rushing his shot.
  - http://twitter.com/LakeThePosts Lake The Posts
    
    From what I’ve been hearing he’s likely gone. But nothing directly from those that matter – Jim Phillips.
PDXCat

Just curious. Among a lot of the anti-Carmody crowd, there seem to be a lot of comments alluding to the fact that he doesn’t care (about winning, about improving, about his team playing well, etc.). Now, winning percentage you can’t argue, it’s fact. Development of big men, you could argue based on certain criteria/evidence. But not caring?! Where do you see that? Because he isn’t effusive like Fitz? Because he didn’t take a T last night? Attack based on some evidence, not “he hasn’t gotten to the Big Dance in 13 years, obviously he couldn’t care less”.
- Mark
  
  I personally believe that every Big Ten coach is uber competitive as are all the athletes. Can you imagine coaching in a league where half the coaches have taken teams to the final four and two have won national titles? Unless you are extremely competitive you’re going to get swamped every game. I’ve got to believe Carmody and his staff are working their butts off every waking moment.
  
  And I believe that Carmody has greatly improved the basketball program. I also believe that the “program” does need work – facilities, fan support, student support, and coaching. The only reasons not to change coaches that I can see, however, are: 1. to not get into the situation of so many schools where they’re paying huge sums to people after they fire them; or, 2. if the administration cannot make a $$$ commitment as of this date to improve the facilities and thus can’t get a coach they want. 13 years is a pretty good track record to determine the baseline of what you can expect. I don’t think the baseline Carmody has set is high enough. I think others disagree, but . . .
- Db
  
  He’s competitive, just beaten down / defeated. He has morphed into a phase where he uses the school’s restrictions as an excuse. It isn’t healthy and makes people think he doesn’t care because he focuses on unsolvable problems and not solutions.
CliffG

To hire a new coach who might be an improvement over BC would require an immediate commitment of the university to replace Welsh-Ryan. And that’s NOT going to happen until after Ryan Fieldhouse is underway on the lakefront. It’s just not. BC isn’t the obstacle to recruiting and neither are our high standards. It’s the building. The administration knows this, and they aren’t going to make a change as long as the ball is in their court. So to speak.
- Db
  
  Which stadium has built been that front ran success? Anywhere?
DT

In that this blog is dedicted to ‘diehard Northwestern Football Fans”, notable to mention Nick Roach is no longer a Chicago Bear… According to ESPN, signed with the Raiders… Sorry to hear that… Was cool to watch him play a quality brand of Pro Football here in Chi-town..

2013 NU Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result
08/31/2013	at California - TBA TBA	-
09/07/2013	Syracuse - BTN 5:00PM	-
09/14/2013	Western Michigan - BTN 8:00PM	-
09/21/2013	Maine (FCS) - TBA TBA	-
10/05/2013	Ohio State - ABC/ESPN OR ESPN2 7:00PM	-
10/12/2013	at Wisconsin - TBA TBA	-
10/19/2013	Minnesota - TBA TBA	-
10/26/2013	at Iowa - TBA TBA	-
11/02/2013	at Nebraska - TBA TBA	-
11/16/2013	Michigan - TBA TBA	-
11/23/2013	Michigan State - TBA TBA	-
11/30/2013	at Illinois - TBA TBA	-

2012 NU Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result
09/01/2012	at Syracuse - ESPN2 11:00AM - Highlights	42 - 41
09/08/2012	Vanderbilt - BTN 7:00PM - Highlights	23 - 13
09/15/2012	Boston College - BTN 2:30PM - Highlights	22 - 13
09/22/2012	South Dakota (FCS) - BTN 2:30PM - Highlights	38 - 7
09/29/2012	Indiana - BTN 11:00AM - Highlights	44 - 29
10/06/2012	at Penn State - ESPN 11:00AM	28 - 39
10/13/2012	at Minnesota - ESPN2 11:00AM - Highlights	21 - 13
10/20/2012	Nebraska - ABC 2:30PM	28 - 29
10/27/2012	Iowa - ESPN2 11:00AM - Highlights	28 - 17
11/10/2012	at Michigan - ESPN 11:00AM	31 - 38
11/17/2012	at Michigan State - ESPN2 11:00AM - Highlights	23 - 20
11/24/2012	Illinois - BTN 11:00AM - Highlights	50 - 14
01/01/2013	Mississippi State - ESPN2 Gator Bowl 11:00AM - Highlights	34 - 20

No time left? Iowa buries Northwestern early, run comes too late

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