Coble injured

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SelectionSunday said:
Hope this isn't serious. If he's out for any length of time I think the "Northwestern 1st NCAA appearance" potential crashes and burns from the get-go.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/news/story?id=4645183
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I think their NCAA tourney hopes were over-hyped to begin with. The loss of Moore is a far greater loss than anyone thinks. He was the heart and soul of that team. He was a great, great shooter with a toughness about him that made them tick. That loss is huge. Coble is a fine player - and I hope he's okay - but he will miss Moore a great deal.

In addition, if you look at their schedule to start the Big Ten, they could legitimately be underdogs in ALL of them. They could easily start the conference season 1-9 or 2-8 or even 0-10. Tell me how you all think they'll come out of this opening 10-game conference stretch:

at Illinois
vs. Michigan State
at Michigan
vs. Wisconsin
vs. Purdue
at Ohio State
vs. Illinois
at Minnesota
at Michigan State
vs. Michigan

Now, after that wicked stretch, they play Iowa twice, Indiana twice, and Penn State twice in the final eight games (along with MN and WIS). They only play Purdue and Ohio State once, but can they overcome what I think will be a brutal start? The conference did them no favors by not including IA, IND, PSU in ANY of their first ten games.
 

tjgopher said:
I think their NCAA tourney hopes were over-hyped to begin with. The loss of Moore is a far greater loss than anyone thinks. He was the heart and soul of that team. He was a great, great shooter with a toughness about him that made them tick. That loss is huge. Coble is a fine player - and I hope he's okay - but he will miss Moore a great deal.

In addition, if you look at their schedule to start the Big Ten, they could legitimately be underdogs in ALL of them. They could easily start the conference season 1-9 or 2-8 or even 0-10. Tell me how you all think they'll come out of this opening 10-game conference stretch:

at Illinois
vs. Michigan State
at Michigan
vs. Wisconsin
vs. Purdue
at Ohio State
vs. Illinois
at Minnesota
at Michigan State
vs. Michigan

Now, after that wicked stretch, they play Iowa twice, Indiana twice, and Penn State twice in the final eight games (along with MN and WIS). They only play Purdue and Ohio State once, but can they overcome what I think will be a brutal start? The conference did them no favors by not including IA, IND, PSU in ANY of their first ten games.
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That has to be one of the toughest 10 game strectches in all of college basketball. If they cant get though that 5-5 they should get into the tourney based on that. 10 games against top 25 opponents. WOW!!!
 

As tough as the Big 10 is supposed to be this season, I think every team is going to have a difficult stretch at some point. Take a look at Ohio State's first 5 games of the Big 10 season. ... at Wisconsin, at Michigan, Indiana, at Minnesota and at Purdue. 4 of the first 5 on the road, and none of the road games are IU, Iowa or Penn State.

Regarding NW's difficult stretch, it is a tough one. Boy, I'd say 3-7 and if they survive it at 4-6 or better they'll have to feel pretty good.

Agree about Moore, he'll be tough to replace. Shurna will be one of the guys that will need to step up significantly.
 


tjgopher said:
I think their NCAA tourney hopes were over-hyped to begin with. The loss of Moore is a far greater loss than anyone thinks. He was the heart and soul of that team. He was a great, great shooter with a toughness about him that made them tick. That loss is huge. Coble is a fine player - and I hope he's okay - but he will miss Moore a great deal.

In addition, if you look at their schedule to start the Big Ten, they could legitimately be underdogs in ALL of them. They could easily start the conference season 1-9 or 2-8 or even 0-10. Tell me how you all think they'll come out of this opening 10-game conference stretch:

at Illinois
vs. Michigan State
at Michigan
vs. Wisconsin
vs. Purdue
at Ohio State
vs. Illinois
at Minnesota
at Michigan State
vs. Michigan

Now, after that wicked stretch, they play Iowa twice, Indiana twice, and Penn State twice in the final eight games (along with MN and WIS). They only play Purdue and Ohio State once, but can they overcome what I think will be a brutal start? The conference did them no favors by not including IA, IND, PSU in ANY of their first ten games.
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That's brutal. If they get to three wins out of that I'll be surprised.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Shurna will be one of the guys that will need to step up significantly.
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Shurna made Ralph look like the Hulk last year. If they are counting on him to the their #2 man this year there's no way they'll make the tourney. Even before this injury I thought NU was a long shot. Last year was their chance and they blew it by giving up those big leads at home.
 

Shurna

If not the #2 guy, certainly the #3 guy (behind Thompson). Shurna's not the smoothest looking player, but I think he'll be a solid Big 10 player in Northwestern's system. I like the big Serbian (Mirkovic), too.
 

With this injury it gives the B10 and ESPN even more reason to show his mom celebrating after every shot he makes. I'm glad his mom beat cancer and all, but geez, it gets old after about the 2nd cutaway.
 



SelectionSunday said:
If not the #2 guy, certainly the #3 guy (behind Thompson). Shurna's not the smoothest looking player, but I think he'll be a solid Big 10 player in Northwestern's system. I like the big Serbian (Mirkovic), too.
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I'll predict Northwestern regresses to about 7-11 in the league this year, finishing only ahead of Iowa and Indiana. No way they make the NCAA. Discussion of such is simply trying to write a cute story. Moore was the heart and soul of their mediocre team last year. Why would they be better in a tougher conference this year?
 

To my knowledge, no one on this board (myself included) has picked them to the make the NCAA Tournament. Assuming Coble is OK, however, I'm not ready to dismiss them before the season even starts. I want to see what they look like with their new guys.

Unlike past seasons, NW has a golden opportunity to build a legitimate NCAA resume before the Big 10 season starts. ... Butler, Notre Dame (neutral site), perhaps Iowa State (neutral site), at NC State, Stanford. Win 2 or 3 of those (especially Butler & Notre Dame) and at least they'll have something to build on.
 

"it gets old after about the 2nd cutaway."

I'm with ya' on that one. Am glad she's doing better as well, but Mrs. Coble far & way has become the most annoying camera shot in the Big 10 Conference. She likes the TV lights; that's pretty obvious.
 

SelectionSunday said:
To my knowledge, no one on this board (myself included) has picked them to the make the NCAA Tournament. Assuming Coble is OK, I'm not ready to dismiss them before the season even starts. I want to see what they look like with their new guys.

Unlike past seasons, they have a a really good opportunity to build a NCAA resume before the Big 10 even starts. ... Butler, Notre Dame (neutral site), perhaps Iowa State (neutral site), at NC State, Stanford. Win 2 or 3 of those (especially Butler & Notre Dame) and at least they'll have something to build on.
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Was not directing my comment on NU making the tourney to you specifically or anyone on this board for that matter. Seems some in the national pundits have been trying to jump on the Wildcat bandwagon based off of last year and suggest they will make the tourney this year. My opinion is, that they don't belong in the discussion right now. No need to mention them at all, IMO, unless the writer is just trying to be different for no other reason than being different. Andy Katz and others who have them in the discussion are just trying to be cute. They don't belong there right now. But, as you say, if some of their new guys are good and they get off to a nice start, then maybe they can enter the discussion. Until then, though, they don't belong in any preseason conversation about making the NCAAs.
 



Didn't the student section chant "Caved in Chest" to Coble last year?
 

josh087 said:
With this injury it gives the B10 and ESPN even more reason to show his mom celebrating after every shot he makes. I'm glad his mom beat cancer and all, but geez, it gets old after about the 2nd cutaway.
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Ya she ranks up there with the Terry Heppner story with IU football 2 years ago. Going into the Purdue game IU was 5-6 and had to win to make a bowl. Long story short there kicker hit about a 45 yarder to win it.

Anyway both ESPN and BTN played the story to the point where it got unnessacary. I mean like every drive.
 


If I'm Northwestern. ...

and Coble's injury is one that could linger all year, I'd shut him down for the season. Assuming he's willing to redshirt, long-term that'd probably be the best move for the program. He's really the only senior of note on the roster, there's some young talent. ... let the other guys (Thompson, Shurna, Mirkovic, the freshman Crawford) sink or swim without him this year, take some lumps & they'll be all the better for it for next season.

In terms of importance to their team, Coble and Evan Turner are the two guys in the Big 10 that are the most irreplaceable.
 

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