01/09/2013 - At Michigan Report Card

DEFENSE: A

Since defense is separate from rebounding, this is a definite "A" for NU, who held Michigan 20 points under its season average, including its lowest field goal percentage of the year (39%) and lowest amount of points (62).

Nebraska did get the benefit of many wide open Michigan misses, as well as nine missed free throws (including four front ends of one and one's), but NU gets the majority of the credit for slowing Michigan down, not giving them easy baskets and holding them in check.

Very happy with the defensive effort.

REBOUNDING: F

God awful effort, though I admit NU was out classes athletically in a big way.

Michigan had SIXTEEN offensive rebounds.

Let me repeat - SIXTEEN.

Overall, they out rebounded the Huskers by SEVENTEEN (47 to 30).

Just not a good game, at all, for NU. While he had a nice game, I especially noticed Shavon Shields struggling to box out and rebound. There were also a couple of times David Rivers didn't find his man, either. But again, these guys are playing a bit out of position, so you can't be too difficult on them.

BALL HANDLING: A

Nebraska allowed only ONE easy fast break bucket, though it came at a key time in the contest, with NU down 5. Dylan Talley telegraphed a pass which led to a dunk at the other end in the latter stages of the second half.

However, 10 assists and 6 turnovers on the road against this team, ESPECIALLY with Benny Parker only playing 12 minutes because of foul trouble, was very, very encouraging.

COACHING: B+

Nebraska was clearly prepared to play this basketball game, and the majority of things they failed on were things that were out of their hands. I.E., the lack of athleticism in rebounding.

The only thing I didn't like was mentioned above - that we made virtually no effort, outside of a couple of timeouts, to get the ball to Ubel. Granted, you have to give Michigan a lot of credit, too. But we needed more than just Gallegos and Talley hocking up desperation jumpers to score in the mid to upper 50's, or what it would have taken to have a chance.

I like Coach Miles' use of timeouts in this game and as I've mentioned a few times this year, he seems to have a knack for getting good shots out of timeouts/out of bounds plays, just like the previous couple of coaches.

OVERALL GRADE: B+

Nebraska played on the upper end of good in this game, based on the fact that there wasn't a lot they could do with lack of size and athleticism in rebounding.

I was encouraged by this effort and think if they can continue to show this kind of enthusiasm and heart, they'll pull out three to four wins in Big 10 play.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: RAY GALLEGOS

RAY GALLEGOS - 8

DYLAN TALLEY - 3

BRANDON UBEL - 3

DAVID RIVERS - 1

SHAVON SHIELDS - 1