B1G Media Day Oct. 10

[AuroranHusker]

[millerhusker]

I was worried they'd make Keisei go. Glad they didn't. He's understandably still real uncomfortable in interviews and we have a handful of guys who are impressive in front of a microphone. 

[AuroranHusker]

 

Tominaga seems to be busy putting up shots. . .

 

 

[Handy Johnson]

Lots of memories for Fred in that Building. Too bad his players are too young to have seen that ‘04 Wolves Squad that could’ve/should’ve Won an NBA Title with a healthy Sam Cassell. 

[throwback]

10:10 and 1:20 on BTN for NU today

 

 

[throwback]

 

I missed the start on BTN, but that's probably just as well because I would've slept through the 8:30-8:39 a.m. CT portion. You think they'd put someone with a personality -- any personality -- up there first to get everyone started on the right note. Swing and a miss on that one.

 

Juwan Howard not in attendance? (EDIT: Apparently he had a heart procedure in September so didn't make the trip.)

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by throwback

[49r]

I can't believe it's media day already.  Sheesh.

[throwback]

General feelings listening to the first few coaches:

 

• I missed Gard, but zzzzzzzzz
• Pikiell - I'm always impressed with him - feels they're going to be a solid team yet again - what he's done with that RU program is amazing
• Willard - He thinks they're making a big jump talent wise and with their physicality - not shy about raising the expectations
• Rhoades - Has no idea what he's in for - at least he's well aware of PSU's pecking order in the league - they're heading back to the bottom with a thud
• Holtmann - Quietly confident - for a dude who went 5-15 a year ago at a school that doesn't tolerate 5-15, you'd never know it

Edited October 10, 2023 by throwback

[The Polish Rifle]

40 minutes ago, throwback said:

Rhoades - Has no idea what he's in for - at least he's well aware of PSU's pecking order in the league - they're heading back to the bottom with a thud

I had completely forgotten that Shrewsberry bolted for ND.

[throwback]

Here's what Fred had to say - apologies for typos : 

 

• Minneapolis is always one of my favorite places - great to be back
• Enjoyable group to coach
• We compete every day
• Were able to take a lot of new faces to Spain and was great for them
• Job is easier for us coaches when the team is ready to work every day and loves to compete
• 9 players on team with 4+ years of experience playing college basketball
• Like the way we finished the year last year - gave us great momentum
• That momentum allowed us to get impactful transfers over the offseason
• Impressive physicality and toughness with this group
• Gary is important to have back - worked on his shooting a lot - has been great thus far in training camp
• Allick saw success Griesel had last year & we were fortunate to get him - tenacious player, great rebounder - has worked on his shot a lot and will be able to stretch the floor
• Mast has a physicality and toughness - works so hard we almost have to slow him down - great rebounder
• Williams is going to be able to work as a point because of ball handling - can score at all three levels - great rebounder who can heat it up offensively
• Keisei was a huge benefit to our team having him come back - such a unique player - guys follow him because of the way that he plays
• CJ is having a great preseason - in best shape he's been in
• Sam had a great last half of the season - developing more and more confidence
• Lawrence is shifting positions & playing almost exclusively at the point - want him to continue to be aggressive there while also balancing running the entire show - he's still learning that and it'll probably continue into the first part of the season
• Diop - incredible athlete with tons of upside - may play meaningful minutes as a true frosh
• Rice - led us in scoring in Spain

 

Questions
HOW HAVE NEW PIECES BLENDED WITH OLDER PLAYERS?

Last year's team set the culture - flipped it - we have a very mature group of guys. Can't say we have any one particular leader, but we have a committee of leaders. Blending players in the portal is just part of the deal in college basketball now. We have a lot of guys who've started a lot of games, and with the culture we have set up, the new guys are taking it to another level. We fought through injury adversity last year and thrived, and I think this team will do the same in fighting through any adversity.

 

HOW TO GET GUYS TO ACCEPT ROLES ON A DEEP TEAM?

Good challenge and good problem to have - need to figure out the rotation. Scrimmaged last week & again this Thursday, that's where we figure out the rotation. Mixing up the teams regularly to see who fits well together. We can put a lot of combinations on the floor - small skilled lineups or large physical lineups. We haven't had this ability to mix things up like this since I've been here, especially the physicality and big lineups. We talk a lot about role acceptance, I'm confident our guys will do that.

 

WHAT GOES INTO THE IDEA OF SEEKING EXPERIENCED PLAYERS?

We seek out players who the fan base can get behind. I talked last year about how enjoyable that team would be to watch because of the way they played so hard. I think if we had stayed injury free, we'd have made the tournament - diving after balls, taking charges, played with a great toughness. I talk to our staff about finding those types of players & they've done a great job. This is an important year to take the next step. This group that will continue to fight, no matter what happens on the floor. Excited about this group & I think our fans will enjoy watching this team.

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by throwback

[TourneyBound]

No mention of Boogie...?

[hhcmatt]

1 hour ago, ConkintheCorner said:

No mention of Boogie...?

 

I have no idea how much Boogie is playing this year but seems noteworthy that Hoiberg brought up Brice playing some point and not Boogie

[hhcmatt]

 

[throwback]

1 hour ago, ConkintheCorner said:

No mention of Boogie...?

Yeah, with things like this, you never know if coaches are sending a message or if they're just speaking without notes and forgot someone. Fred doesn't seem like the type to forget things, though.

 

[throwback]

 

[Norm Peterson]

2 hours ago, throwback said:

 

• Job is easier for us coaches when the team is ready to work every day and loves to compete
• 9 players on team with 4+ years of experience playing college basketball
• Like the way we finished the year last year - gave us great momentum
• That momentum allowed us to get impactful transfers over the offseason
• Impressive physicality and toughness with this group
• Gary is important to have back - worked on his shooting a lot - has been great thus far in training camp

 

 

Facts

Edited October 10, 2023 by Norm Peterson

[throwback]

Sit down with Fred, Mast, and CJ:

 

TEAM THAT NO ONE WANTED TO PLAY AT THE END OF THE YEAR - HOW?

 

Fred - players deserve that credit for building a chemistry and culture that we could fight through the injury adversity - built a mindset of defense and toughness - after we lost 2 primary guys who were the heart and soul of that defensive team, we needed other guys to step up - Lawrence, Sam, CJ, all had big games - just the culture and chemistry that these guys built allowed us to fight through adversity and to build momentum for finding impactful transfers and freshmen - really helped attract guys who will help us in a big way.

 

CJ - Testament to our coaches for setting the standard to meet every day - Griesel and Walker were guys who led by example, they played hard so we followed suit - testament to consistency.

 

WHAT MADE NU ATTRACTIVE?

 

Mast - How they showed in Feb their promise for the future - the way they played fit in well with my style of play, how coach likes to run offense, and how they play hard defense - I like to pass and play smart, but also play physical - try to bring a lot of versatility.

 

TEAM PLAYED ONE WAY AT BEGINING OF YEAR, PLAYED DIFFERENTLY LATER IN THE YEAR, YOU'VE HISTORICALLY PLAYED FAST, WHAT'S THE IDENTITY THIS YEAR?

 

Fred - Still figuring it out - we're playing fast right now in practice - I think we have the personnel with Mast & Allick, guys that can really shoot - bigs that can stretch the floor in the trail position - opens driving lanes - when we've had that element in my offense at Iowa St & Chicago, it works - Walker led us in assists - but Mast is a shooter too - we had a potent offense last year with Keisei out there, but we had to play more zone, and we were able to flip the way we played middle of the year.

 

KEISEI, GREAT SUMMER, BUT DESCRIBE HIS LEVEL OF CELEBRITY IN LINCOLN?

 

CJ - Not just on campus, it's everywhere in the country I go - Keisei is a household name - our fans are the best fans in the country, so every one is on a celebrity status, but he's on another level - we came in together, so i'm happy to see him receive his due

 

SUDDENLY HE FLIPPED A SWITCH, IT WAS CRAZY

 

Fred: It really was remarkable - he's not just a great shooter - 2nd in B1G in 2-pt FG % - that just shows how well he cuts and moves without the ball - he was the focal point for defenses, but he still found a way to get his points - what he did this summer on national team is carrying over now with us - he's so level headed - not very many guys get a tweet from Curry, but he just stays level headed - lot of fun to see him have success. - We go into opposing arenas and they are in awe of this guy, great to see.

[TourneyBound]

From Robin Washut:  Hoiberg forgot to mention Jarron "Boogie" Coleman during his main podium interview when talking about Nebraska's point guard position. He clarified that Coleman was very much in that mix. The Ball State transfer was one of NU's top two ball handlers in practice right now, along with Jamarques Lawrence.

Edited October 10, 2023 by ConkintheCorner