Time for a change with Northwestern basketball
I witnessed a horror show the other night.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I watched a Northwestern men’s basketball game. Forget the fact they got spanked by Minnesota on Sunday. It was the game against the Michigan Wolverines at home last week that left me stunned.
It was an embarrassing defeat; they seemed to lay down against a talented Michigan team. As 10-point underdogs, the Wildcats missed assignments, didn’t play defense, had no focus and showed a lack of heart, ultimately sinking their ship against Michigan.
Final score: Michigan 94, Northwestern 66.
The announcer said Bill Carmody told them that the Wildcats would make the tournament either this year or next. Is he kidding? The NCAA isn’t holding its breath.
Was this the plan when he started to coach at Northwestern in 2000? Did he expect to be a 10-point dog at home? Sure, they lost Drew Crawford, but it’s time for the excuses to end. No NCAA tournament bids in 13 years is not acceptable.
They just can’t continue to call themselves “Chicago’s Big Ten Team”. There should be a vote to see if that slogan should stick, because there is nothing that screams Chicago about this team. They appear soft mentally and physically.
Is it the coach’s fault? Oh yeah! But the lack of effort is on the players, and it was a grind watching this team play.
I like Bill Carmody, and he seems like a class guy, but 13 years is a long time to come up empty. With Northwestern’s football fortunes going through the roof, the basketball squad has got to be addressed next. Jim Phillips, Northwestern’s vice-president of Athletics and Recreation, is a Chicago guy. I’ve known Phillips for years, and he’s a proven winner. Sooner or later, though, his patience will run out.
Right now just try to compete boys, because I’ve seen nothing but disinterest and surrender over the last few games.
Can’t second-guess ShanahanI would have played Robert Griffin III the same way that Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan did. RG3#146;s the guy that brought me to the dance. After he got hurt in the game Sunday for the first time, I might have given in to temptation and gone with Kirk Cousins, but really the Seattle Seahawks played error-free football and were the better team on Sunday. The topic will be how injured is RG3, but the doctors gave him the go-ahead to keep playing even after it seemed apparent he could hardly walk. No worries for the Washington Redskins, though. RG3 will be ready to go next season. In the meantime, if you#146;re the Atlanta Falcons you have the Seahawks up next. Gulp! I still like Atlanta, but Russell Wilson, the third-round pick who beat out the high-priced free agent Matt Flynn for the No. 1 job, is the real deal. I am looking forward to a fun weekend of football.Program note: Look for me on Mancow on Ch. 50 (WPWR TV) at 6 a.m. Friday and Monday.Ÿ Mike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.