Hoopraker sources indicate that coach Bill Carmody’s performance, particularly in the area of recruiting, is beginning to raise skepticism in Evanston. Suffice to say, Carmody is being watched more closely than ever before during his tenure. What has appeared at times to be limitless patience and a hands-off approach from administration is expiring. The promising classes of 2006 and 2007 acknowledged, Carmody needs some additional recruiting breakthroughs.
Hoopraker was bullish on Carmody’s hiring six seasons ago. Mentored by rumpled basketball Yoda Pete Carril, Carmody put up high altitude numbers in his four years as Princeton head man. With its ability to control game tempo and beat more athletic teams the Princeton system looked like a snug fit for Northwestern. Carmody was also accustomed to the challenge of recruiting kids who knew their way around the classroom as well the key. All signs suggested he was a smart hire.
There is no argument that Carmody has elevated the competitiveness of the NU program. Given how badly the program had bottomed out under his two immediate predecessors this was no mean feat. The Cats have become a very tough out at home and have turned in three straight seasons of near .500 basketball. They are no longer the league laughingstock. Carmody is a very capable bench coach. He’s engineered some nice upsets. He conducts himself and his program with class and wit.
With this growth curve acknowledged it is time for the program to go higher. Even modest success breeds greater expectations. At places like Northwestern where perennial losing has dulled the administration and much of the fan base into an easier acceptance of mediocrity sometimes these expectations take longer to develop. There is no question one has to be patient and realistic about the rebuilding process. The past six seasons the NU administration has been exactly that. But there are indications this patience is not infinite. Hoopraker believes Carmody needs to take the Cats to at least two NITs or 1 NCAA in the next four seasons. Or some close approximation of the same.
This will only be possible if Carmody makes a significant leap in recruiting. Granted, Coble, Ryan, and Nash are good gets. Coble is going to be an all-time Wildcat before he’s done. The pundits also suggest 2007 signees Mike Capocci and Michael Thompson are the right stuff as well. The problem is, even if these players exceed expectations, it won’t be enough. The perimeter is ably manned, but with the departure of Vince Scott and what appears to be the slow development of Ivan Puljusic and Nikola Baran, Carmody’s team will have little to no post presence in the near future. It’s a fatal flaw. The lack of a strong rebounder, low block scoring threat, and post defender dooms the Cats to status quo results. Carmody apologists will be harshly reminded of this flaw once conference play starts next week.
All of Carmody’s teams, the current one included, exhibit this deficiency. And while Carmody can coach his way out of this deficit to .500 seasons, he won’t be able to make the leap to the postseason. Carmody needs a few good big men and quick. At the very least he needs some players, tall or not, who have the strength and determination to defend and rebound the low block. As Gerry Claxton proves on a regular basis, it isn’t merely about height. Hopefully, Carmody and his assistants Paul Lee, Mitch Henderson, and Tavaras Hardy are doggedly on the case. If not, the word on Central Street is that the growing impatience with Carmody’s program may reach critical mass.
