MICHIGAN GAME DAY THREAD

[longtimefan]

I guess I disagree with you on Brown's development.  I don't know why she wouldn't have gotten better each year.  To this day, it still pisses me off that Coach Williams basically pushed the kid out of the program.  In her freshman year you could see she was a very talented player.  She could get a good shot anytime she wanted.  She should have started sometime during her freshman year and definitely her sophomore year.  She was far far superior to our other starting guards.  I'll never understand our coaches thinking.  

[mwm89]

23 minutes ago, longtimefan said:

I guess I disagree with you on Brown's development.  I don't know why she wouldn't have gotten better each year.  To this day, it still pisses me off that Coach Williams basically pushed the kid out of the program.  In her freshman year you could see she was a very talented player.  She could get a good shot anytime she wanted.  She should have started sometime during her freshman year and definitely her sophomore year.  She was far far superior to our other starting guards.  I'll never understand our coaches thinking.  

I understand your take on this.  My thought has generally been that it was the opinion of the staff perhaps that she did not "fit the culture" of the rest of the team.  What am I implying?  In part maybe that it was thought that Leigha wanted her shot regardless of what they wanted to do on offense (a bit of a ball hog?).  Also perhaps she did not relate well to the rest of the team (in the locker room, etc.) because of this.  In this I am trying to think back to 2 yrs. + ago and relying on a very imperfect memory.  It was conjecture and a hunch at the time that has stayed with me.  This would lead to a discussion of "culture": what is it exactly and how important is it in a program compared to other things?  That in turn would lead to a TLDR type of post so will past at least at this time.  Am curious if anyone else has any thoughts on this matter. I realize it's all water under the bridge either way.  Just thought I'd respond.

Edited February 12, 2023 by mwm89

[huskerfrank]

Brown shot 42% for us her 1st year and 43% her 2nd year while averaging between 1.5 and 2 assists per game each of those years. Now she shoots 55%. She had 10 assists today, and 10 passes would have been a month's worth for us. Different system, development, minutes...probably a combination of all 3. She looked to score every time she touched the ball for us and took terrible shots often. Now she lets the game come to her and deserves all the credit......although she still flops and whines a lot.

[Red Don]

2 hours ago, longtimefan said:

We are lucky to be only 5 at the half.  We are playing our usual game of dumb passes for turnovers.  I wish Shelly and Haiby would stop dribbling under the basket and throwing lousy passes that either go out of bounds or get picked off.  They have done it all year.  We seem to struggle to get uncontested shots off. Doesn't seem like we have much of an offense.  I wish Coach Williams would not recruit  post players that don't have good post moves. Seems like every team we play does.  We seem to always have posts that want to shoot  fall away shots near the basket.  Bourne is the only one who has some good moves for easy layups.  If a girl doesn't have the drop step moves going right or left  in  high school, they seem to never be able to learn it in college.  Mendelson has been a big disappointment.  She just can't finish under the basket.  Hopefully we hit our 3's and they can't buy a  basket in the 2nd half.

 

Like @Cazzie22 and @mwm89 I agree with your critique, but Mendelson is far from the only one who has trouble finishing in traffic (she is also an early enrolee, she otherwise would have been HS Sr instead of a college freshman).  The rest of the critique seems largely coaching/player development related. 

 

I think we are a different team without the aggressive play of Allison Weidner, who, along with Sam, can strongly drive to the rim.  For some reason we don't seem to be able to spread the floor as effectively as Michigan, allowing them to pack the paint and seem like most of our shots are through a forest of arms.

Edited February 12, 2023 by Red Don

[Tom Jones]

1 hour ago, mwm89 said:

Mendelson has been a big disappointment.

I am reluctant to bag on an 18 year old playing against more experienced opponents. Reluctant, yes, but i am going to overcome it. In the last several games she simply has not contributed - not anything as far as i can see. In the waning minutes of the first half against Illinois, in the course of a little over one minute, she cost us the last possession of the first half by getting a pointless offensive foul and then a few seconds later fouled an IU player who then made the two free throws.  Today she had one rebound, two turnovers and one missed shot near the basket. What perplexes me is that in her first few appearances, she was good - showed promise. 

[fred1212]

she's been getting coached up

[Neb Nets]

38 minutes ago, Tom Jones said:

I am reluctant to bag on an 18 year old playing against more experienced opponents. Reluctant, yes, but i am going to overcome it. In the last several games she simply has not contributed - not anything as far as i can see. In the waning minutes of the first half against Illinois, in the course of a little over one minute, she cost us the last possession of the first half by getting a pointless offensive foul and then a few seconds later fouled an IU player who then made the two free throws.  Today she had one rebound, two turnovers and one missed shot near the basket. What perplexes me is that in her first few appearances, she was good - showed promise. 

Agree with this take. Maggie M showed great promise in her first game back in Dec. and has since become less and less relevant to the team. I know she’s very young, I know she’s unpolished and raw in terms of not having a lot of college-level coaching yet. I get that and that’s why I didn’t expect her to come in and be an offensive force this year. But still…6’5 is still 6’5. Plus, she’s a middle blocker in VB so you know she’s got jumping abilities. Given that, I was expecting Maggie to be more of an imposing figure on the defensive end this season. I thought with her height and her hops, she’d be a more formidable shot blocker and rebounder than she has been thus far.

 

But again, to be fair, she’s very young. She could come back next December and show great improvement. I hope so. 

[Redhac]

Per the NE roster site, below is Mendelson's  high school experience before NE.   Many of our other b-ball players had similar high school experiences which have not come to fruition at NE for various reasons including coaching and type of defense or whatever.  She does not have the bulk that many  Big Ten inside players have so she gets bounced around a bit.

 

Before Nebraska
As a basketball player at Fremont High School, Mendelson led the Silverwolves to the 2021 state championship with a perfect 26-0 record as a sophomore in 2021. She averaged 14.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.9 blocks while starting every game. She collected 15 points and 14 rebounds in the state title game. 

In her final high school season as a junior, Mendelson led the Silverwolves back to the 2022 UHSAA/Mountain America Girls Basketball State Championship game by averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds over 26 games on the season. In the state title game, Mendelson had 25 points and six steals in a 67-65 double-overtime loss to Lone Peak at BYU (March 5). Fremont finished 24-3.

Mendelson had 14 points and seven boards in a state semifinal win over Westlake (March 3), after putting up 19 points and 15 rebounds in a victory over Bingham (March 1).

As a freshman, Mendelson averaged 8.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
 

[huskerfrank]

With regard to MM, nothing that happens even in the highest level volleyball games or practices translates to basketball.  Volleyball players are crazy athletic, but the very last thing they are is physical.  There is no contact, no pushing, no shoving, no fighting for position, no elbows, etc......there is a net in the way after all.   If she can be great at both all the more power to her and she does not seem to have an issue pushing and shoving, but the games could not be more different from a skill set perspective. 

[All About the Corn]

MM is still 17, not 18 til April. Hard to work on things mid season so I will give her a pass.

Edited February 12, 2023 by All About the Corn

[redsteve]

By age, and class level MM's supposed to be in high school. I've seen her US national team Basketball play. She didn't look the same as she has now. Confidence was way higher.

 

She didn't have a "normal" college freshman summer of basketball preperation......to get up to the speed of college basketball. It has hurt her progress more than I thought it might.

 

It seems she hasn't caught up to the intensity and speed of the college game, to the point it all slows down to her.  I kind of see it as just not playing enough.  Put her in for two minutes then take her out. Play maybe less than 10 min at best. (4 min today)   Who could improve in that scenario?

 

Hope she comes back next season. Believe she jump up a step or two. She's got to much BBall IQ to do otherwise.

 

Also we miss Weidner because of her aggressiveness, offensively and defensibly.....but a  big deal ..we miss her consistent 10-15 pts per game.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2023 by redsteve

[HUD]

I will be the last to criticize MM as we have many more experienced players doing a lot of stupid things every game.

 

This season is not over.  We have played well on the road at Maryland, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan all highly rated teams.  At this point I will only criticize Amy because she started the season with 9 healthy scholarship players.   With the present portal this is unacceptable.  If you go back and review, many of these games were lost because of an inferior bench.

[NUtball]

From the little bit I've seen of MM, she does not elevate at all with the ball, thus more polished players who may be an inch or 3 shorter are still able to block/affect her shot.  We know she's got the ability to jump, being on the VB team, but I wonder if she just hasn't made the proper adjustments to the college game for many of the reasons stated above, plus the fact that in high school she probably never had to jump when she had the ball near the hoop.  Probably towered over almost all of her competition.

[Neb Nets]

59 minutes ago, HUD said:

At this point I will only criticize Amy because she started the season with 9 healthy scholarship players.  

Bingo. Gross mismanagement of the roster and the use of available scholarships. 

[All About the Corn]

For those that watched on BTN+, nice to see Bourne and Kiser exchange a few pleasant words before the opening tip. Played better but as pointed out, we do not have a deep bench. Michigan was without Phelia, and Kampschroeder and still have players to turn to. I do think Brown just did not mesh well with Williams, and maybe a few players that do mesh well with Williams so it was better for her to move on. Plus easier for her parents to see her in person. Also credit to KBA for seeing Brown as a point, it was a bit of a gamble and has paided off well for them. That would be one thing about Williams, if Brown would have stayed, doubt Amy would have made such a move. If we can play this way at MN it should be a win. But with this team, feel like I am Forrest and his box of chocolate's. 

[redsteve]

11 hours ago, HUD said:

I will be the last to criticize MM as we have many more experienced players doing a lot of stupid things every game.

 

This season is not over.  We have played well on the road at Maryland, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan all highly rated teams.  At this point I will only criticize Amy because she started the season with 9 healthy scholarship players.   With the present portal this is unacceptable.  If you go back and review, many of these games were lost because of an inferior bench.

 

Prefer to stay way from criticizing individual UN players. These are 17-20+ girls that I  have to believe they're doing the best they can with the tools God gave them, and the coaching they have received over their lifetime.

Players that get to Div. 1 level haven't just got off the bus. Sure some are more productive at certain tasks, than others. Can that really be a surprise to anyone? 

 

The coaching deal is a whole different subject. At this level their paid big bucks to do a job. Recruit, team management, teaching, game management, roster stuff, spokesman,  etc etc etc

 

Edited February 13, 2023 by redsteve

[whoopdeedoo]

a bit of good news maybe? MM will most likely need the bb schollie for next season as there are none available for vb (at least that is what i was told). only way she might get one at nebraska is if a player or two would bail and just wants to concentrate on vb. however, portal is always there (well, not ALWAYS there, but, you know what i mean).

 

with the NCAA tourney being very slim, i would consider giving MM more playing time. find a way to keep her on the court---more than just a handful of minutes. no, she is not built like AM, or czinano but she isn't built like Coley either. and, no negativity towards Coley.

 

illinois has the easiest final stretch. purdue is a bit tougher.

i just don't think huskers can afford another loss to anyone.

Edited February 13, 2023 by whoopdeedoo

[12dozen]

What MM has done before age 18, is amazing.  In my own experience, a lot of physical and mental growth took place between ages 17 and 20. I'm sure at 17, she is leap years ahead of where I was at that age.  The future for this young lady is so bright.   Regarding scholarships; with NIL money, I'm hoping she will have options to take her own path, be that volleyball, basketball, or both.

[HUD]

I think the only way MM will give up BB is if she feels she needs more development time for VB and a scholarship opens in that sport.  I would bet that her expectations for this season are a lot more in line with reality then some of the WBB fans.  

[hskr4life]

Keep in mind too— MM has been “going” pretty consistently since like July/August.  Pretty much no breaks.  That’s like an MLB timeframe.  Her body could be wearing down just a little bit.  Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

[mwm89]

On 2/12/2023 at 3:59 PM, Tom Jones said:

I am reluctant to bag on an 18 year old playing against more experienced opponents. Reluctant, yes, but i am going to overcome it. In the last several games she simply has not contributed - not anything as far as i can see. In the waning minutes of the first half against Illinois, in the course of a little over one minute, she cost us the last possession of the first half by getting a pointless offensive foul and then a few seconds later fouled an IU player who then made the two free throws.  Today she had one rebound, two turnovers and one missed shot near the basket. What perplexes me is that in her first few appearances, she was good - showed promise. 

I simply want to amend this by saying the quote "Mendelson has been a big disappointment" are not my words but someone else's.  My response was in regard to post moves around the basket.

[Jakesbff]

On 2/12/2023 at 2:25 PM, Red Don said:

 

Like @Cazzie22 and @mwm89 I agree with your critique, but Mendelson is far from the only one who has trouble finishing in traffic (she is also an early enrolee, she otherwise would have been HS Sr instead of a college freshman).  The rest of the critique seems largely coaching/player development related. 

 

I think we are a different team without the aggressive play of Allison Weidner, who, along with Sam, can strongly drive to the rim.  For some reason we don't seem to be able to spread the floor as effectively as Michigan, allowing them to pack the paint and seem like most of our shots are through a forest of arms.

How can you expect mendelson to do anything in the amount of time she’s afforded. Same with hake. They both should have bigger roles and shouldn’t be scared of being yanked at the drop of a hat. Nothing to do with a 17 year old. 100 percent coaching and game control. 

[Jakesbff]

On 2/12/2023 at 2:59 PM, Tom Jones said:

I am reluctant to bag on an 18 year old playing against more experienced opponents. Reluctant, yes, but i am going to overcome it. In the last several games she simply has not contributed - not anything as far as i can see. In the waning minutes of the first half against Illinois, in the course of a little over one minute, she cost us the last possession of the first half by getting a pointless offensive foul and then a few seconds later fouled an IU player who then made the two free throws.  Today she had one rebound, two turnovers and one missed shot near the basket. What perplexes me is that in her first few appearances, she was good - showed promise. 

She’s still 17. 

[Tom Jones]

i stand corrected on her age. It's just difficult to understand why her play in her first few games seemed so promising. 

[Jakesbff]

1 hour ago, Tom Jones said:

i stand corrected on her age. It's just difficult to understand why her play in her first few games seemed so promising. 

It’s difficult to have promising play when you don’t get to see the floor, get in any type of rhythm.  They should have red shirted her if they wernt gonna use her. My comment was really in response to the person who said she was a “big disappointment “. That seems like a harsh comment when she really hasn’t had any minutes.  

Edited February 16, 2023 by Jakesbff