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    hhcdave

    12/08/2013 - Creighton Report Card

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    OFFENSE: C-

    As hard as it is to believe, there were some positives offensively tonight.

    For starters, Nebraska shot more free throws than Creighton (26 to 22) and NU's 59% from the field in the second half was better than Creighton's 55% in the first.

    Outside of that though, there wasn't a lot of good to say, especially in the first ten minutes of the game, when NU's offense was "bad for the ages."

    The Huskers came out scared, rattled and like they'd never seen aggressive defense in their lives. Creighton did a great job taking away the driving lines, sure, but NU took WAY TOO MANY jump shots and three pointers early on.

    In fact, in the first half, Nebraska shot just 8% from downtown (1-12) and 30% from the field, which helped them get down 22-3. No, you can't even make that up.

    I'll give NU some credit in that they played much better in the last 25 minutes, but when you dig a hole of epic proportions, it really doesn't matter.

    DEFENSE: D

    Nebraska allowed CU to shoot 49% for the game and pour in 82 points.

    Again, from the 5:00 minute mark of the first half and on, once NU switched to the zone, it did a nice job of keeping Creighton in check.

    But how can you really feel good about that?

    One thing is for sure, Nebraska needs to play more zone. That defense has been largely successful (sans one game in the Charleston Classic) and it will help keep NU out of foul trouble.

    The Huskers (and the rest of America) are glad to see Doug McDermott's days coming to an end as a collegiate player, as the big man lit the nets on fire to the tune of 33 points on 12-23 shooting (5-10 downtown).

    REBOUNDING: C

    34 to 30, Creighton. For as bad as this game was, rebounding really played no factor, and that's not a bad total.

    Nice night for two Huskers on the boards, as Petteway and Deverell Biggs hauled down six boards apiece.

    It's for this reason, along with 21 points, that Petteway is our Player of the Game (over Shavon Shields - though it was GREAT to see Shields "show up" and get back on track).

    I also loved hearing how Petteway handled himself in the locker room following the game, as he apologize to teammates, was in tears and genuinely sorry that he was co-issued a flagrant two foul (along with Grant "Thug Life" Gibbs). Class act by Terran when, in this writer's opinion, he had little to apologize for.

    Gibbs should know better, after all, as he was a college freshman when Petteway was still getting school lunch at Galveston, Texas Middle School.

    BALL HANDLING: D

    9 turnovers to 13 assists. In theory, that's nice.

    If you watched the game, however, Nebraska's inability to get into its offense in the first 15:00 was one of the main shortcomings of this contest.

    NU consistently lacked attack, passion, fire, etc. in its offense. That comes back to how they performed with the ball in their hands (that's what she........).

    COACHING: D

    This game was unacceptable. Period.

    You can't get down 30 to a team in the first twelve minutes of a game, anytime, anywhere.

    Nebraska looked scared, flat and overwhelmed early on, and at least some of that have to come back to the head coach.

    Should NU have taken a shoot around in Omaha? Should they have planned their trip different with a hotel? Should they have played more straight up and less attention to McDermott, who you knew was going to get his 30 either way? Should NU have zoned earlier? Should former starter (just two weeks ago) David Rivers have gotten in the game over Nathan Hawkins? Lots of questions.

    I appreciate how NU battled back and to Miles' credit, he was coaching BIG TIME in the second half, running up and down the sideline, calling timeouts and obviously seeing his team meet the challenges he issued at the half. So for that, he deserves credit and props.

    But I can't do much more than that, as really, Miles and his team created lemonade out of the rotten lemons they created mostly on their own.

    OVERALL GRADE: D

    If Nebraska had been down 8 points at the half and lost by 15, we would all feel okay with this loss.

    But the fact that Nebraska thoroughly EMBARASSED ITSELF (and its fans) in the first half is enough to make this one far from "acceptable."

    Hopefully this will be a big part of the growing process, and we'll see a much different NU team in Cincinnati in a couple of weeks. Also, hopefully NU realizes that if it comes out loose, with intensity and plays its game, it can play with borderline Top 25 teams like Creighton.

    I do have to give Creighton lots of credit, too, as much as it pains me. They have a very good basketball team and they'll be a solid 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

    Still, the days of the Bluejays as a state "basketball power" appear to be coming to an end, based on CU losing the majority of its key players (and All-Americans) and based on the fact that its head man hasn't shown any ability to cut it in major conferences, which CU now finds itself a part of.

    PLAYER OF THE GAME: TERRAN PETTEWAY

    BONUS AWARD - DOUCHE OF THE GAME AWARD: GRANT GIBBS

    2013-2014 PLAYER OF THE GAME TOTALS:

    TERRAN PETTEWAY - 4

    TAI WEBSTER - 2

    LESLEE SMITH - 1

    SHAVON SHIELDS - 1

    WALTER PITCHFORD - 1




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    When I flipped on the TV it was 40 - 10. A brutish reminder of what being a Nebraska basketball fan is all about. The highs and lows are pronounced.

     

    You need to find the high within the low.  One member found his in Nyquil shots.

     

     

    NyQuil is just the chaser.

     

    SO that's why I was seeing purple dragons.

     

     

    That's one way to describe a Jaysker

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    When I flipped on the TV it was 40 - 10. A brutish reminder of what being a Nebraska basketball fan is all about. The highs and lows are pronounced.

     

    You need to find the high within the low.  One member found his in Nyquil shots.

     

     

    NyQuil is just the chaser.

     

    SO that's why I was seeing purple dragons.

     

    Better than pink elephants, I suppose.

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    In all truth, my friend and I made it into a drinking game...one drink for every time Dougie got fouled (or "fouled") and two for every time he flopped. The first half became infinitely more watchable.

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    In all truth, my friend and I made it into a drinking game...one drink for every time Dougie got fouled (or "fouled") and two for every time he flopped. The first half became infinitely more watchable.

    Lucky you didn't die from alcohol poisoning. ;)

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    F - Miles burning a redshirt in a blowout loss with a player that doesn't look ready.

    I didn't see it as a burned red shirt. Hawkins had said he was playing and he got his wish. Also if Ray doesn't pick up the pace Hawkins will be taking his minutes.

    I also thought that Hawkins d upped against Doug fairly well and we played better when he came into the game.

    Just my $.02

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    F - Miles burning a redshirt in a blowout loss with a player that doesn't look ready.

     

    I would disagree that Hawkins didn't look ready.  He didn't seem to shy away from the big stage and he probably played the best post defense against DM than any of our guys.  I would expect to see his minutes increase now that he is able to play.

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    F - Miles burning a redshirt in a blowout loss with a player that doesn't look ready.

     

    The only reason this was the first game Hawkins played was because this was the first game he was available to play.  There was no indication he was going to redshirt this year.

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    Coz, if you go back and review the comments from the original exhibition game, most people noted that Hawkins played the best of all the freshman.  I have zero issues with the decision to redshirt Nick Fuller; he needs strength and another year to mature.  But Hawk has the strength and athletic skill set to play and play well this year. 

     

    He will get minutes and he will continue to improve.  I understand your angst in waiting this long to see him, but as others said, it was never his intent to redshirt this year.  It was simply a matter of when he would heal sufficiently enough to contribute.

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    I thought Hawkins would redshirt for sure. Obviously not the case. He's putting the best players on the floor that give us a chance to win, and if you're not getting it done ( Ray & Rivers) then have a seat. I wouldn't want it any other way. 

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    Simply put, we see these guys once, maybe twice a week.  The coaches see these guys once maybe twice if not more a day.  There is a reason certain people play and certain people do not. 

     

    There is also a reason we all sit here with a brewsky in our hands typing about what we think should and should not happen while someone else makes the bucks to make that decision.  I trust the coaches to do what is best for the team, not just now, but in the future as well.  If that means more Hawkins and less Rivers so be it. 

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    You can't redshirt everybody, guys.

     

    No offense to Hawkins, but if in 3 1/2 years we don't have other young players on board who are as good or better than him ready to step in and replace him, then we're in big trouble.

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    You can't redshirt everybody, guys.

     

    No offense to Hawkins, but if in 3 1/2 years we don't have other young players on board who are as good or better than him ready to step in and replace him, then we're in big trouble.

     

    And no offense to you, but I think that's an unfair statement on a player we've seen play 11 (?) minutes. 

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    You can't redshirt everybody, guys.

     

    No offense to Hawkins, but if in 3 1/2 years we don't have other young players on board who are as good or better than him ready to step in and replace him, then we're in big trouble.

     

    And no offense to you, but I think that's an unfair statement on a player we've seen play 11 (?) minutes. 

     

     

    I wasn't trying to make it sound like he's a bad player. I certainly hope he's awesome, and I actually think he is going to be pretty good.

     

    I'm saying it'd be nice to have another good guard with playing experience heading into next year. Fuller is already going to be learning to play in Division I games this time next year, and it sounds like we may have a transfer or two coming in who will have to sit out the fall semester. We've seen what the adjustment period is like for new guys and it's pretty rough, so I'm all for Hawkins going through his growing pains now when we're not really going anywhere this year anyway.

     

    We want to be a regular NCAA Tournament team by the time Hawkins is a senior. All I was saying is that if we have reached that level in 3.5 years, then getting commits like Hawkins really shouldn't be that big of a deal.

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    Coz, if you go back and review the comments from the original exhibition game, most people noted that Hawkins played the best of all the freshman.  I have zero issues with the decision to redshirt Nick Fuller; he needs strength and another year to mature.  But Hawk has the strength and athletic skill set to play and play well this year. 

     

    He will get minutes and he will continue to improve.  I understand your angst in waiting this long to see him, but as others said, it was never his intent to redshirt this year.  It was simply a matter of when he would heal sufficiently enough to contribute.

     

    Fine but we've seen this show before with Wes and Ubel.  The kid looks like he could use a year in the weight room. 

     

    So far I've been less than impressed with Miles' roster utilization.

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