Senior Leadership: Its too bad Jitim Young is
graduating because he's definitely been the Senior Leader, ever since he arrived in Evanston. I wouldn't want to break up the Bill Carmody Brain Trust, but if there was some way to keep Jitim on or near the bench in the future, I'd do it.
But there seems to be another couple of guys starting to take an upper classmen's leadership role. Start with the guy from Duke -- Michael Thompson is already talking the talk, even though he can't walk the
walk yet. Wait 'til next year.
Then there's the guy charged with leading the team on the floor - T.J. Parker. You get the feeling from reading his interview comments that
he's deferring to Jitim as he gradually takes over. The other regular who
is possibly ready to get out and lead, and who will be a Senior next year,
is Davor Duvancic, you just wish he'd become more consistent on
the floor to have the credentials to push the rest of the team.
Which brings up the other starter at forward, Vedran Vukusic.
He's a quiet guy, who lets his play do the talking. Next year he'll be
the guy with all the minutes up front, is he the next sparkplug?
McDonald's All Americans: Who would have thought that NU would
have a legitimate MAA guy playing next year.
Michael Thompson has yet to play a minute for the Cats, but already
I feel a sense of anticipation. He was pretty vocal his first few days
at NU, but now has quietly assumed a practice role as he burns his Redshirt/Sitout
year. You wonder if he's the next sparkplug, or just the next big guy in
the middle.
So....based on what Lindsey outlined, NU appears poised to take a leadership
role in the Big 10 in the next two years.