Thoughts From An Old Friend

[hhcdave]

I am BEYOND CLOUD NINE to this point of the basketball season with this team, the direction of the program and the results in general of these first hand full of games.

 

Let me go on record as saying I was the exact opposite at the end of last season. I felt generally pessimistic about our freshman (incoming sophomores), the turnover of assistants and key players, and while I never gave up or lost hope with Miles, became skeptical for the first time in a long time.

 

I couldn't be more on the other end of the bipolar spectrum at the moment.

 

Gotta give guys like NORM credit who were always gung ho about this team. Although, Norm is the kind of fan (the best kind) that likely was also gung ho about Dan Heimos and Justin Boeker led clubs, but I digress.

 

The growth of Glynn Watson developing his outside shot and the extra confidence is staggering.

 

Tai Webster has stuck it out and grown more in 4 years than any player I can remember in recent history. He has become the player we all thought he'd be when Fran Frischilla proclaimed him a Top 30 type player going into his freshman year.

Ed Morrow - MY GOSH. I'm wondering how much the injury slowed him down last year because this guy is a MONSTER. Did anyone else notice that MAN CHILD one handed rebound he slapped home last night in the second half? The guy looks like a STUD in the making. I don't remember this kind of athleticism from a big since...................... was Venson Hamilton that athletic?

 

Jack McVeigh is going to be a VERY good player for us - I've seen he's gotten a lot of negativity due to his defense not being the best the last couple of nights and shots not always falling, but this kid has major upside. I'm not discouraged at all.

 

I wish Jacobson would quit shooting three's - that's going to make me lose hair - but other than that, he looks great and has obviously put in the work in the weight room. He looks fantastic when he shoots the ball where he should - mid-range and in!

 

Off the bench, I think Roby reminds me of another Roby.... Richard.... from Colorado... I think this kid has NBA upside.

 

Jeriah Horne needs to get a few more minutes because he looks like a man child. Like a young Larry Florence.

 

Jordy just as advertised. NBA upside, raw as hell. Probably a lot like a kid named Mikki Moore, who Danny once told me his biggest regret was not red shirting. He'll be special by the end.

 

Anton Gil - I read someone here say he shouldn't be in the rotation? Really? What are you smoking? The kid has big time potential to fill it up from downtown - let's not forget he's been injured and been way behind all fall. He will be in our starting lineup at some point, I'm quite sure of it, perhaps in place of McVeigh.

 

Evan Taylor - only guy on this team that's a project/an offensive liability. I feel like they want him to be this defensive stopper and that's why he plays so much, but I'm not certain he IS that stopper. See a very nice 11th/12th man next year and a great team first guy. Reminds me of Joe Holmes. He's only guy on this entire roster (outside of Fuller) who I see as a reach. And guess what - EVERY Big 10 team - even MSU or Indiana or Michigan or Wisconsin - all have a couple "reaches" on their rosters.

That we have come this far with talent and athleticism blows my mind.

 

I kid you not, this is going to be a SPECIAL team. Maybe not this year as far as W/L's go - but FOR SURE next year and beyond.

 

And in the meantime, don't be surprised one bit if this team sneaks into the NCAA's this year. I'm convinced NIT is absolute floor for this team and Sweet 16 is the upside. Laugh if you want.

 

Those are my thoughts. This team looks like a big time team and we now have size and athleticism to match up with just about anyone.

 

GO BIG RED!!!

 

-Your Old Friend Dave

[Norm Peterson]

I've been thinking for awhile this team looks like a tourney team.  Vibe is not the right word but they just have that kind of appearance, in terms of the way they play and the personnel, etc.  They just have the look of a tournament team.

 

Regarding Boeker and Heimos: The three Jucos Collier picked up weeks after he was first hired -- Boeker, Kedrick Ford, Danai Young -- were my first indication we hired the wrong guy; and I thought Dan Heimos deserved more playing time.

[jimmykc]

Nice to have you stop by, Dave. I hope you are correct in your evaluation of this year's team. I'll flip from the negative to the positive side if we can get past Va.Tech today. They will definitely be another bubble team and beating them may squeak us by them on selection day for one of those "play in" games. Otherwise I'll continue to expect NIT for this year.

[NeeandMe]

Agree with most of this, but I'm slightly more tempered.  I'm not ready to get excited about more wins just yet, but am thrilled at the very real possibility this team is in every game until the end.  Coming into the season I would have guessed we'd watch several games that were over after the second media timeout; it certainly looks like I was wrong about that.  I agree with jimmy, today's game will tell us a lot. 

[Silverbacked1]

26 minutes ago, NeeandMe said:

Agree with most of this, but I'm slightly more tempered.  I'm not ready to get excited about more wins just yet, but am thrilled at the very real possibility this team is in every game until the end.  Coming into the season I would have guessed we'd watch several games that were over after the second media timeout; it certainly looks like I was wrong about that.  I agree with jimmy, today's game will tell us a lot. 

That  is what this team has given me right now the no quit atittude.  I can live with growing pains, but just keep trying and playing hard and good things will happen.

 

I just hope we don't run out of steam buy the end of the year and can stay healthy.  But am very, very, very happy.  It is also nice to talk talk to those friends that more on the casual side and they seem even more excited than usual.  I don't have to try to persade them to follow the team like in the past.

[Huskerpapa]

Good to hear from you Dave and agree with most of your observations.  My only disagreement is the bit about MJ shooting 3's.  The kid can hit the three and when he starts hitting them, it will have an extremely positive impact on our offense.  Then again, maybe not

Edited November 27, 2016 by huskercwg

[cozrulz]

NIT bubble is about the best I expect from this team.  Conference play is a grind on top of a difficult non-conference.  Today and Creighton are must-wins.