uneblinstu's postgame chatter: vol 14; ed 24 - vs. Minnesota

[hskr4life]

We won.  Goal out of the last 4 was 2-3 wins, but after last Saturday, I thought 0-20 was a real possibility.  Will be interesting to see what we do with the monkey off of our backs now.

[The Polish Rifle]

Love watching Trey play all night, some Minnesota players are gonna have nightmares of him harassing them up and down the floor. Hope we can end the season strong. Win 3 of the next 5 and that's the first substantial progress I've seen in the Hoiberg era. Go back to looking like crap and this is just a "even a blind squirrel finds a nut" situation. 

[HuskerFever]

We're in some...different...company now.

 

Teams still with no conference wins (7 teams):

• 0-13 (4-20) - Western Michigan - Mid-American
• 0-11 (6-16) - Georgetown - Big East
• 0-11 (7-16) - San Jose State - Mountain West
• 0-11 (2-20) - Lamar - WAC
• 0-10 (2-19) - IUPUI - Horizon
• 0-7 (2-18) - Delaware State - Mid-Eastern
• 0-0 (10-12) - UC San Diego - Big West

 

Teams with 1 conference win (20 teams):

• 1-12 (7-17) - Nebraska - Big Ten
• 1-11 (7-16) - Northeastern - Colonial
• 1-11 (8-17) - UTSA - C-USA
• 1-11 (5-20) - North Dakota - Summit League
• 1-10 (7-15) - Tulsa - AAC
• 1-10 (3-18) - Oregon State - Pac-12
• 1-10 (7-17) - SIU Edwardsville - Ohio Valley
• 1-10 (6-18) - Georgia - SEC
• 1-10 (1-20) - Mississippi Valley State - SWAC
• 1-9 (5-18) - Charleston Southern - Big South
• 1-9 (8-15) - Marshall - C-USA
• 1-9 (7-18) - Pepperdine - WCC
• 1-8 (6-15) - Duquesne - A-10
• 1-8 (4-17) - Columbia - Ivy League
• 1-8 (6-16) - Southern Miss - C-USA
• 1-7 (5-16) - CSU Northridge - Big West
• 1-7 (5-15) - Cal Poly - Big West
• 1-6 (6-11) - CSU Bakersfield - Big West
• 1-6 (5-19) - Incarnate Word - Southland
• 1-4 (9-9) - UC Santa Barbara - Big West

[Norm Peterson]

I'm happy we got the W.

 

At times, things were clicking and we were hitting on all cylinders.

 

We were very fortunate that Minnesota played poorly and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the first half.

 

Defense looked pretty solid for the most part.

 

How many fricking layups can a team miss?

 

How many freethrows can a team miss?

 

Last night, we attempted to find out.

 

And the really positive side, I saw a couple of long-time HHC posters at the game last night who don't post much any more. But it was nice to see them. That's what happens when you slide down into the lower bowl, apparently.

[Ron Mexico]

2 minutes ago, Norm Peterson said:

I'm happy we got the W.

 

At times, things were clicking and we were hitting on all cylinders.

 

We were very fortunate that Minnesota played poorly and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the first half.

 

Defense looked pretty solid for the most part.

 

How many fricking layups can a team miss?

 

How many freethrows can a team miss?

 

Last night, we attempted to find out.

 

And the really positive side, I saw a couple of long-time HHC posters at the game last night who don't post much any more. But it was nice to see them. That's what happens when you slide down into the lower bowl, apparently.

You're a 200 level fan and they are 100 level fans..

[NUdiehard]

55 minutes ago, basketballjones said:

He's just... terrible... I don't get it. I feel like I have never (I'm sure some of you sleuths will scour through my post history and find something), or rarely, ever just come out against a player this directly... but my lord. He's atrocious. I truly don't understand the philosophy/decision here. 

 

I agree about Lat.  But what are the other options?  Wilhelm has been out all year.  The only other option at PF is Wilcher, who is about 6'4".  Combine Wilcher at 6'4 (and no vertical) with Walker at 6',7" (and no vertical), and ya all wonder why we struggle to rebound and defend.

[NUdiehard]

 

Trey was an absolute beast on the defensive end and his intensity and refusal to lose carried over to the entire team.  I don't think people give enough credence to how much losing him (and Wilhelm) set back this team this year.  With that said, Trey's offense is still way off since he came back.  It just has been difficult for him to get his timing and touch after missing so much of the season.  He was 2-8 on FG and 2-9 on FTs.  That is rough.

 

Verge was atrocious in the first have and electric in the 2nd half.  Wild swings.  Of course everything looks better when his often ill-advised shots actually go in.

 

Lat was 2-10 missed about 4 point-blank, wide open layups. 

 

If NU made half its layups and 70% of its free throws it wins this game by 30.

 

Kobe is super small and is not explosive and is not a PG.  That is why he is not a legit B1G player, but unfortunately NU doesn't have any other options.  I almost wonder if Fred will try some minutes with Trey at the PG just to see how it goes. 

[uneblinstu]

Watching the game this morning and last night is closer to what it it's supposed to look like (other than the free throw shooting). If that effort and intensity had been present for more of the year, things would be a lot different around here.

[NUdiehard]

4 minutes ago, basketballjones said:

Personally at this point, I would develop my young talent and see what Keon can do with extended minutes. What... worried we'll end up 1-12 in conference or something?

 

That's fine, I could maybe go for that.  But Keon is not a PF.  He is about 170 lbs soaking wet.   He would get abused on the defensive end by most teams. and I'm not sure playing him completely out of position (at PF) is "developing" him, but maybe it is worth a try.  

[throwback]

I'm just happy for the guys that they finally won. 

 

What a difference it makes when you actually give effort and talk on the defensive end.

[AuroranHusker]

15 minutes ago, basketballjones said:

They have him listed at 204 and Lat at 217... so who knows. Not like Lat isn't getting abused. Lat is also fourth (4th!) on the team in rebounding behind Verge (!) and 130lb Bryce McGowens. 

 

I chuckled when I read "130lb" 

 

Bryce and Alonzo get a lot of long rebounds since our opponent tends to crank up a lot of threes.

 

 

[AuroranHusker]

3 minutes ago, throwback said:

I'm just happy for the guys that they finally won. 

 

What a difference it makes when you actually give effort and talk on the defensive end.

 

Exactly. Now if they'd figure out how to bank in a layup, looking at you Eduardo & Lat. 

 

[uneblinstu]

• Wilcher started 1/9 from 3 in the first two games of conference play. He's shooting .488 since (21/41). I like watching him shoot.
• Walker leads the conference in fg%.

 

Edited February 10, 2022 by uneblinstu

[AuroranHusker]

20 minutes ago, uneblinstu said:

• Wilcher started 1/9 from 3 in the first two games of conference play. He's shooting .488 since (21/41). I like watching him shoot.
• Walker leads the conference in fg%.

 

 

Derrick Walker leads the nation in shooting percentage at 69.0% (over Purdue's Zach Edey, who's #2), D-Walk just doesn't have enough attempts to technically qualify for such an honor at this point in time... CU's center Kalkbrenner is in the same spot as D-Walk as far as not qualifying.

 

 

 

 

[hhcmatt]

To confirm, Alonzo Verge didn't get an assist to himself

 

[hhcmatt]

Box Score

 

[uneblinstu]

1 minute ago, AuroranHusker said:

Derrick Walker leads the nation in shooting percentage at 69.0% (over Purdue's Zach Edey, who's #2), D-Walk just doesn't have enough attempts to technically qualify for such an honor at this point in time... CU's center Kalkbrenner is in the same spot as D-Walk as far as not qualifying.

I heard the statement Robin made about DW returning a couple weeks ago. I don't know if that's reality or not, but it'd be nice if it did. That's a super useful piece to have in place.

[hhcmatt]

24 minutes ago, uneblinstu said:

• Wilcher started 1/9 from 3 in the first two games of conference play. He's shooting .488 since (21/41). I like watching him shoot.
• Walker leads the conference in fg%.

 

 

We're up to 30.9% from 3 as a team, 302 in Div 1.

[uneblinstu]

2 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

 

We're up to 30.9% from 3 as a team, 302 in Div 1.

The quartet I've brought up have shot it .399 since the KState game. Webster has fallen off the pace. Lat and Verge have picked it up. KT, CW, AV are all over .410. On a more complete team, KT and CW would serve as really nice role players.

Edited February 10, 2022 by uneblinstu

[AuroranHusker]

8 minutes ago, uneblinstu said:

I heard the statement Robin made about DW returning a couple weeks ago. I don't know if that's reality or not, but it'd be nice if it did. That's a super useful piece to have in place.

 

Agreed. D-Walk mostly brings NU a lot of energy and eats up space, which no one other than Wilhelm has been able to accomplish. Eduardo is improving, as well. Blaise Keita should be a nice complement to the interior along with Oleg next season...

 

 

[uneblinstu]

Just now, AuroranHusker said:

Agreed. D-Walk mostly brings NU a lot of energy and eats up space, which no one other than Wilhelm has been able to accomplish. Eduardo is improving, as well. Blaise Keita should be a nice complement to the interior along with Oleg next season...

I don't know how much to expect from Oleg, but Wilhelm, Walker and Kieta should be a nice front court. Hopefully Wilhelm will be ready to go by the start of the season, but I could see him needing some time to get back into game shape.

[Huskerpapa]

I am not a Lat fan.  Haven't been for two years.  I cringe EVERY time he dribbles.  I simply cannot believe how weak he goes to the rim, and I cannot believe how many lay ups and open look three's he misses.

That said, he played great defense last night.  Played help defense well.  Rebounded effectively and played hard.

I agree with basketballjones though.  I would like to see Keon eat up a number of Lat's minutes.  Not necessarily because of Lat's ineptitude, more so to gauge Keon's ability to play at this level.

I also wanted to give major props to Trey.  The dude left it all on the court last night.   That my friends met my expectations.   That should (and appears it did) flow through to the entire team!  His free throw shooting however, is a topic for another day ;)

Edited February 10, 2022 by Huskerpapa

[TourneyBound]

Kobe has just not been very good lately or for the most part all year.  Was really hoping for more out of him this year.

[AuroranHusker]

5 minutes ago, uneblinstu said:

I don't know how much to expect from Oleg, but Wilhelm, Walker and Kieta should be a nice front court. Hopefully Wilhelm will be ready to go by the start of the season, but I could see him needing some time to get back into game shape.

 

I'm not expecting a lot from Oleg, he's a 7' piece to the four guys in the 'C' room. I'm good with him being 4th out of 4.

 

 

[uneblinstu]

Just now, AuroranHusker said:

I'm not expecting a lot from Oleg, he's a 7' piece to the four guys in the 'C' room. I'm good with him being 4th out of 4.

And if he's as fluid as people say and Ed keeps developing, that could be a nice little situation.  Not likely that it will play out like that, especially if/when a change is made, but kinda fun to think about for a sec.