I'll just leave this here

[Norm Peterson]

2018-19 Skers

 

#38 Pre-season KenPom

 

Starters:

PG Glynn Watson 6-0 Sr.

SG Thomas Allen 6-1 So.

SG James Palmer 6-6 Sr.

PF Isaiah Roby 6-8 Jr.

PF Isaac Copeland 6-9 Sr.

 

Bench:

G Thorir Thorbjarnarson 6-6 So.

G Nana Akenten 6-6 So.

F Tanner Borchardt 6-8 Sr.

 

2023-24 Skers

 

#58 Pre-season KenPom

 

Projected Starters:

PG Jamarques Lawrence 6-3 So.

SG Keisei Tominaga 6-2 Sr.

SG Brice Williams 6-7 Jr.

PF Juwan Gary 6-6 Jr.

PF Rienk Mast 6-10 Jr.

 

Projected Bench:

PG Jarron Coleman 6-5 Sr.

SG CJ Wilcher 6-5 Jr.

SG Eli Rice 6-8 Fr.

PF Josiah Allick 6-8 Sr.

 

 

Edited October 19, 2023 by Norm Peterson

[OmahaHusker]

The thing that the 2018 team had going for it was the Core 4 played substantial minutes together throughout the entire season the year before. A lot of chemistry/cohesion with that team going into the 2018-19 year. The Copeland injury was a real buzz kill. 

Edited October 19, 2023 by OmahaHusker

[millerhusker]

Can honestly say I was not optimistic going into that season. We had some very good players, but success during those years was not sustainable for schematic reasons. I voiced that opinion to fellow Nebrasketball fans at that time and it wasn't received well. 

Norm, I think I remember you saying awhile back that (paraphrasing) the February-ish version of last year's team would beat any post-Nee Husker team, yeah? And it wasn't just because of the win/loss results. There's clearly a different feel when you're watching a legitimate good basketball team than watching a "flash in the pan" team temporarily riding momentum (see 2023 Colorado football). 

[Norm Peterson]

20 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

Can honestly say I was not optimistic going into that season. We had some very good players, but success during those years was not sustainable for schematic reasons. I voiced that opinion to fellow Nebrasketball fans at that time and it wasn't received well. 

Norm, I think I remember you saying awhile back that (paraphrasing) the February-ish version of last year's team would beat any post-Nee Husker team, yeah? And it wasn't just because of the win/loss results. There's clearly a different feel when you're watching a legitimate good basketball team than watching a "flash in the pan" team temporarily riding momentum (see 2023 Colorado football). 

 

One problem with the '18-19 team was they had no bench.

 

You can argue about which group of starters would be better between these two teams, but I'd take this year's bench over that one every day that ends in Y.

[royalfan]

Light years better coaching now as well 

[Handy Johnson]

It’s easy to forget Copeland was one of the Best Players we’ve ever had on Campus. 

[aphilso1]

Better depth this year, yes.  But also inferior at 4 out of the 5 starters' spots compared to 2018-19.  This makes me feel somewhat worse about our upcoming season.

[Norm Peterson]

1 hour ago, aphilso1 said:

Better depth this year, yes.  But also inferior at 4 out of the 5 starters' spots compared to 2018-19.  This makes me feel somewhat worse about our upcoming season.

I remember Tim Miles saying of that group, “I have four guys that anyone else in the league would gladly take“ or words to that effect. The problem with his team was the rest of the roster was mid-majorish. Talent dropped off precipitously after those first four.

[Dead Dog Alley]

3 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

 

One problem with the '18-19 team was they had no bench.

 

You can argue about which group of starters would be better between these two teams, but I'd take this year's bench over that one every day that ends in Y.

 

It turned out that they had a better bench than realized, except they didn't find that out until the last regular season game.

 

Not that Thor and Johnny would have been world beaters, but they could have provided some decent minutes.

Edited October 19, 2023 by Dead Dog Alley

[TourneyBound]

I remember that off season hoping Miles would pull someone in as a transfer or something..  I just knew our bench was awful and we needed any kind of depth he could get but it just never happened..  And then the injury happened and it showed just how bad our bench was..

[Norm Peterson]

5 minutes ago, Dead Dog Alley said:

It turned out that they had a better bench than realized, except they didn't find that out until the last regular season game.

 

Not that Thor and Johnny would have been world beaters, but they could have provided some decent minutes.

 

The lesson of the end of that season might instead be that you could take just about anyone and plug them in around Roby, Palmer and Watson, and have a pretty decent go of things. And Tim Miles did just about the best coaching job of his life in that last couple of weeks of the season.

[Navin R. Johnson]

Not sure how well that 18-19 team defended.

[Norm Peterson]

7 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

2023-24 Skers

 

#58 Pre-season KenPom

 

Projected Starters:

PG Jamarques Lawrence 6-3 So.

SG Keisei Tominaga 6-2 Sr.

SG Brice Williams 6-7 Jr.

PF Juwan Gary 6-6 Jr.

PF Rienk Mast 6-10 Jr.

 

Projected Bench:

PG Jarron Coleman 6-5 Sr.

SG CJ Wilcher 6-5 Jr.

SG Eli Rice 6-8 Fr.

PF Josiah Allick 6-8 Sr.

 

For comparison purposes:

 

2023-24 NW Wildcats

 

#40 Pre-season KenPom

 

Projected Starters:

PG Boo Bouie 6-2 Gr.

SG Ty Berry 6-3 Sr.

SG Ryan Langborg 6-4 Gr.

SG Brooks Barnhizer 6-6 Jr.

C Matthew Nicholson 7-0 Sr.

 

Projected Bench:

PG Jordan Clayton 6-2 Fr.

SG Justin Mullins 6-4 So.

SF Nick Martinelli 6-7 So.

PF Blake Preston 6-9 Gr.

 

Bouie and Berry make a really solid backcourt. But, honestly? I'd take our guys 100%.

[hhcmatt]

6 hours ago, royalfan said:

Light years better coaching now as well 

 

compared to the first three seasons of the HCFH era?

[hhcmatt]

For one game give me the 2018-19 team. 

For a season probably the 2023-24 team because you can arguably lose any two guys and still not have a major drop off

[Norm Peterson]

55 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

For one game give me the 2018-19 team. 

For a season probably the 2023-24 team because you can arguably lose any two guys and still not have a major drop off

 

Fair.

[Dean Smith]

Let’s come back to this at the end of the season. This year’s team hasn’t done anything yet. That 18-19 team had as much talent in the starting line up back to our Big 8 tourney championship team. 
 

I’ve never seen Mast play and I have high hopes for him and a couple others but let’s see them do it at the bank and then I’ll move them above that team. 

[Norm Peterson]

I think we'll know a lot more about how good we could be after we play Team Voldemort from just east of here.

 

Until then, it's primarily cupcakes we should have our way with.

[Dead Dog Alley]

6 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

 

And Tim Miles did just about the best coaching job of his life in that last couple of weeks of the season.

 

That time coincided with when it was clear that he wouldn't be retained.  Once that pressure was gone he did one hell of a job.  Maybe a coincidence, maybe not.

[49r]

11 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

I think we'll know a lot more about how good we could be after we play Team Voldemort from just east of here.

 

Until then, it's primarily cupcakes we should have our way with.

 

CFH has a history of choking on a cupcake or two in the past with our "most talented team ever".  Just sayin'

[Dead Dog Alley]

15 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

I think we'll know a lot more about how good we could be after we play Team Voldemort from just east of here.

 

Until then, it's primarily cupcakes we should have our way with.

 

Do we try to go uptempo against (Spawn of S)eighton, or do we control the pace and defend the hell out of them like what worked last year?  Can we do what we did last year without Griesel, Walker, and Bandoumel?

[cornfed24-7]

1 hour ago, Dead Dog Alley said:

 

Do we try to go uptempo against (Spawn of S)eighton, or do we control the pace and defend the hell out of them like what worked last year?  Can we do what we did last year without Griesel, Walker, and Bandoumel?

Both? 

[49r]

3 hours ago, Dead Dog Alley said:

 

Do we try to go uptempo against (Spawn of S)eighton, or do we control the pace and defend the hell out of them like what worked last year?  Can we do what we did last year without Griesel, Walker, and Bandoumel?

 

I think what really worked best for us is having them miss 30 three point shots.

[Art Vandalay]

4 hours ago, 49r said:

 

I think what really worked best for us is having them miss 30 three point shots.

Yes, we get no credit for an excellent game plan, good defense, and efficient offense.

[Tallbaby21]

That 2018-19 team got pounded on the boards. 270th in rebound margin. This year rebounding should be a strength.