Cat Chat with coach Carmody
Northwestern coach Bill Carmody met with fans at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant in Evanston Thursday night and, since we have absolutely no life, we were there. (The free Red Hook beer didn't hurt.)
One thing we admire about Carmody is his candor and honesty at all times. Facing fans after an 84-48 loss couldn't have been fun. Some remarks that caught our ear...
Carmody discussed suspended guard Brandon Lee briefly, but there has been no further illumination on the cause of Lee's suspension. Lee is suspended for the season. From the sense of things, I tend to see Lee's future in doubt at Northwestern. I hope this isn't the case because he had real potential and looked like the point guard of the future.
Carmody said freshman Sterling Williams asked to redshirt before the season because he "didn't feel he was quite ready yet" for Big Ten play. Carmody said that Williams has been one of the team's best players in practice over the last four weeks. He's tall at 6-5 and can score much in the same way that Jitim Young could score in the lane against taller players. Carmody said that Williams is a scorer and is looking for big things from him next year. From my own personal experience in seeing Williams play in high school at Whitney Young, I thought he would be the best freshmen on the team. His redshirt was a surprise.
Kentucky transfer Bernard Cote is the team's best shooter, according to Carmody, and the coach is expecting him to contribute next year.
Carmody continues to be mystified by Evan Seacat's play. He just has to hit shots in games, not practice. Carmody told a story about how Michael Jenkins' three-pointer to beat Iowa really was a spot for Seacat, but he didn't have the confidence in him, even if he is a better shooter than Jenkins.
Carmody didn't have an answer for why the Cats struggle on the road, but mentioned that it's a common theme for Big Ten teams this year.
Center Mike Thompson can be a force for the Cats and is needed, especially on the defensive end. But the center needs to develop his offensive game.
Mohammed Hachad is the most frustrating player for Carmody, but he's been playing better of late. Carmody told a story about how Hachad's girlfriend has been in town from graduate school and Hachad has played better of late. Carmody has told Hachad that he needs to keep her in town.
Carmody downplayed talk that the Cats may have to win two games in the Big Ten tournament to make the NIT. "We have to win two of our final three," Carmody said.
It couldn't be more simpler than that.