I don't know Northwestern head coach Chris Collins on a personal level, but I've asked him questions in the press room at Welsh-Ryan Arena many times. Just from those interactions, I can tell you he'd likely prefer I don't write this article.
Collins is the pinnacle of humility. When his team wins, it's about his players stepping up. When they lose, he's not afraid to be honest about their performance, but ultimately he's right there with them taking accountability for the loss. That's just how Collins is.
Sorry coach, I'm writing this anyway, because you deserve your flowers.
Northwestern, which was 3-13 in conference play heading into a road game last night against Indiana, has had a brutal season. This iteration of the 'Cats is young, inexperienced and simply wasn't prepared to fight with the best of the best in this conference at the beginning of the season.
But that's ok. It's one season, and it wasn't a waste because Northwestern still has Chris Collins, and that's what matters.
There's a reason why every Big Ten coach raves about Collins after each game Northwestern plays. It's because the 'Cats will always give you a fight, no matter the season or the standings. And that's because its leader has built a program with an unmistakable identity centered around toughness, tenacity and a desire to win no matter what it means in the grand scheme of things.
That's exactly what they did last night, beating the Hoosiers 72-68 to mark the program's sixth straight victory against Indiana. Captain Nick Martinelli scored 28 points, putting him even further in the driver's seat to lead the conference in scoring. Freshman point guard Jake West dropped 16 of his own, continuing to break out.
Northwestern isn't fighting for anything tangible anymore. Its postseason hopes are dashed. Nobody cares about the NIT. But it's still fighting, and that's the Collins effect. His teams never stop, and everyone else in the conference knows that.
If you are a Wildcat fan, you can be upset about this season. The results haven't been good enough, and the team has taken a clear step back. But let's not forget that rumors surfaced last offseason about Collins leaving for Villanova before he signed an extension to remain in Evanston.
Be grateful that he's still your head coach. It's hard to do better.
If you asked Collins, his team won last night because his players showed up to play, and everyone is getting more comfortable against Big Ten competition. That's 100% true. I've talked about how much of a warrior Martinelli is all season, and these young players are truly starting to flash.
But the Northwestern identity underpins all of it. It's the reason why Martinelli is the player he is today. It's the reason why we can have faith that young players actually will develop, and that they won't all leave for greener pastures at the end of the season.
You want to question some of his lineup decisions early this season as he was learning about his team? Fine. You have some concerns about roster construction? Valid.
But, let's be clear. There is nobody better than Chris Collins to run this basketball program. He proved that once again last night, but it was already clear. In the transfer portal era, when teams are often searching for a new identity each season, Northwestern stays consistent. As long as Collins is in Evanston, you can bet your bottom dollar that won't change.