How good are we?

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

Just now, cornfed24-7 said:

I think it's a fair opinion. It's more a matter of sample size. Can Essegian keep doing it? Can he average 20pts in BigTen play? We shall see. 

 

I know you weren't trying to imply this, but Keisei averaged 15.5 ppg against Big Ten teams last year and 14.5 as a junior. 

 

Connor averaged 12.7 ppg against Big Ten teams as a true freshman playing in Greg Gard's system...

Edited December 3 by GhostOfJoeMcCray

[millerhusker]

14 minutes ago, cornfed24-7 said:

I think it's a fair opinion. It's more a matter of sample size. Can Essegian keep doing it? Can he average 20pts in BigTen play? We shall see. 

My opinion was partially based on Connor's true freshman season at Wisconsin, which statistically wasn't too far off from Keisei's senior (5th) year. 

Even if Connor's 3P% drops 7% - equal to Keisei's percentage last year - I still think it's a conversation, as Connor is slightly better in many other aspects of the game. 

What set Keisei apart (aside from his shot making ability) was an inherent feel for the game that is pretty rare at this level, which allowed him to play much faster/quicker than he would be in a combine setting. But as someone else said, Essegian's b-ball IQ is pretty high up there, as well.

[millerhusker]

3 minutes ago, GhostOfJoeMcCray said:

 

 

Connor averaged 12.7 ppg against Big Ten teams as a true freshman playing in Greg Gard's system...

Connor shot 23 threes in the last 2 games... he has to be so elated with his decision to transfer.

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

In my opinion, Keisei is unmatched in his ability to ignite a crowd and create energy in the arena with his timely shot making. He is also probably better than Connor at creating his own 3 point shot out of nothing.

 

Connor is better at everything else. 

 

Connor is 20-45 right now after 7 games. Keisei didn't hit his 20th three until game 10 last year and he was 20-60 at that point. 

Edited December 3 by GhostOfJoeMcCray

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

Just now, millerhusker said:

Connor shot 23 threes in the last 2 games... he has to be so elated with his decision to transfer.

 

Connor has hit 6 threes two games in a row. Keisei's career high was 5. 

 

[Norm Peterson]

2 hours ago, millerhusker said:

I have a controversial opinion that I hesitate to post here, but here goes... Connor Essegian is a better player than Keisei.

 

However, Keisei could light a fire under a team, and a whole arena, unlike any player we've had here since probably T Lue. Momentum and belief is worth a lot in college basketball. 

 

Forgot I'd said this:

 

 

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

Just now, Norm Peterson said:

 

Forgot I'd said this:

 

 

 

In the post-Creighton highlight video, Fred and the team were all calling him "Motion Connor" in the locker room. It's pretty clear Fred has been coaching him hard to understand he has to move without the ball if he wants to be successful. And it's working. 

[bigred4]

2 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

 

Don't look now, but Andrew Morgan is hitting at 40% (small sample size, but still.)

 

Nevertheless, point taken. We need a semi-volume shooter hitting high 30s in addition to Essegian and Williams.

I don't know if he shoots it enough to be the that option, but if he hits 35+ % (shot 36% last year but only 1 attempt a game) then maybe he should be shooting more.  Could be Gary...he always seems to hit some big ones but his strength is going to basket.  Rollie/Sam/Ulis will get open looks and will have to hit some of them.

[Vinny]

16 minutes ago, bigred4 said:

I don't know if he shoots it enough to be the that option, but if he hits 35+ % (shot 36% last year but only 1 attempt a game) then maybe he should be shooting more.  Could be Gary...he always seems to hit some big ones but his strength is going to basket.  Rollie/Sam/Ulis will get open looks and will have to hit some of them.

I hope it’s Berke once he’s healthy.

[cornfed24-7]

54 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

My opinion was partially based on Connor's true freshman season at Wisconsin, which statistically wasn't too far off from Keisei's senior (5th) year. 

Even if Connor's 3P% drops 7% - equal to Keisei's percentage last year - I still think it's a conversation, as Connor is slightly better in many other aspects of the game. 

What set Keisei apart (aside from his shot making ability) was an inherent feel for the game that is pretty rare at this level, which allowed him to play much faster/quicker than he would be in a combine setting. But as someone else said, Essegian's b-ball IQ is pretty high up there, as well.

I don't disagree with you. I think it's entirely possible. I'm just in more of a wait and see mode. But he looks likes it's a real possibility.

[49r]

3 hours ago, millerhusker said:

I have a controversial opinion that I hesitate to post here, but here goes... Connor Essegian is a better player than Keisei.

 

However, Keisei could light a fire under a team, and a whole arena, unlike any player we've had here since probably T Lue. Momentum and belief is worth a lot in college basketball. 

 

I will add in to the chorus saying I don't think this is a controversial take at all.

 

There are two things that Keisei had here that Connor doesn't seem to at least so far:

 

1).  As others have mentioned Keisei had that flair and showmanship that made him just a joy to watch work.  Connor is just efficient and will get you that sneaky 22 points, and that's obviously not a bad thing.  Keisei would light up the scoreboard and let you know about it.  Also not a bad thing.

2).  Keisei had a really great passing big man (both Derrick and Rienk) to play that two man game with.  Jury's out on whether Berke or Andrew can play that role as well.

 

I am kind of rubbing my hands together thinking about Rienk and Connor on the floor together.  Hope we get to see that next year.

[cornfed24-7]

1 hour ago, GhostOfJoeMcCray said:

 

I know you weren't trying to imply this, but Keisei averaged 15.5 ppg against Big Ten teams last year and 14.5 as a junior. 

 

Connor averaged 12.7 ppg against Big Ten teams as a true freshman playing in Greg Gard's system...

Yeah I was too lazy to go and look it up. The 20pts was from 2 years ago when all the injuries hit and Legend of Keisei Tominaga began

[millerhusker]

11 minutes ago, 49r said:

 

I will add in to the chorus saying I don't think this is a controversial take at all.

 

There are two things that Keisei had here that Connor doesn't seem to at least so far:

 

1).  As others have mentioned Keisei had that flair and showmanship that made him just a joy to watch work.  Connor is just efficient and will get you that sneaky 22 points, and that's obviously not a bad thing.  Keisei would light up the scoreboard and let you know about it.  Also not a bad thing.

2).  Keisei had a really great passing big man (both Derrick and Rienk) to play that two man game with.  Jury's out on whether Berke or Andrew can play that role as well.

 

I am kind of rubbing my hands together thinking about Rienk and Connor on the floor together.  Hope we get to see that next year.

Rienk, Connor and Berke. Look out. 

[AGHANSEN]

 I think this team will be better overall, but will finish with a worse record.

The Big Ten is significantly better this year. 

I would be shocked if we win more than 12 games like we did last year.

 

We have more depth, size, and Big Ten experience.

The biggest thing to monitor will be our 3pt shooting. 

 

We were 3pt reliant last year, but this year we can win in multiple ways.

 

 

[49r]

5 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

Rienk, Connor and Berke. Look out. 

 

Edited December 3 by 49r

[Husker4theSpurs]

I think we could be better, but I don't think we will be. Who would win head to head between this year and last year? Harder to say ... if you made me wager I don't think we will make the NCAAs this year so does that make this team worse than last year's?

Inconsistent shooting and lack of athleticism could be our weaknesses. I'm hoping I'm wrong!

Edited December 3 by Husker4theSpurs

[Cazzie22]

I am reluctant to make an opinion until after I see how we fare against Sparty and IU. I like what I see but have we played anyone yet?  I see us about the same but with potential to be a dangerous team. 

[hhcmatt]

How real is us getting to the FT line and how real is the rebounding? The Creighton game was very promising for the FT line but let's start playing teams that play more than 0 to 1 post players and see what happens.  The defensive effort against North Florida was encouraging to see us put forth effort against a lesser opponent.

[HuscurAdam]

6 hours ago, cornfed24-7 said:

I went with "about the same" . But I think that's our floor. It looks like we're trending "a little better" with the possibility of going even higher. I'm too snake bitten to vote them higher at this point. Need to see us play some higher competition in BigTen play before I tear down the wall that protects my heart from Husker Basketball.

 

I'm just re-posting this instead of using different words to say the exact same thing as the reasoning for my vote.

[HuscurAdam]

1 hour ago, GhostOfJoeMcCray said:

 

Connor has hit 6 threes two games in a row. Keisei's career high was 5. 

 

 

Isn't this at least partly due to the fact we had more options to shoot those 3's last year? We had 3 other guys that could get hot and give you 4 or 5 threes in a game last year.  

[millerhusker]

22 minutes ago, HuscurAdam said:

 

Isn't this at least partly due to the fact we had more options to shoot those 3's last year? We had 3 other guys that could get hot and give you 4 or 5 threes in a game last year.  

Connor attempted 8 threes against North Florida. Skimming through Keisei's game logs, he attempted 8 or more threes at least 20 times in his Husker career. 

[Buglem]

To me, clearly better than last year. Our ability to rotate players at the post will be huge in the BIG. Our lack of depth last year hurt us in many games. I hear the argument about not having athleticism but we have a lot of length. That can overcome some of the athleticism. We also have Juwan playing at a different (higher) level of intensity and productivity. As he goes, this team goes. And Brice is better than last year and appears to be on track to average 18+. I'm probably drinking too much big red Kool-Aid but I fully expect us to be in the tourney and a better seed than last year.

[Vinny]

45 minutes ago, Buglem said:

To me, clearly better than last year. Our ability to rotate players at the post will be huge in the BIG. Our lack of depth last year hurt us in many games. I hear the argument about not having athleticism but we have a lot of length. That can overcome some of the athleticism. We also have Juwan playing at a different (higher) level of intensity and productivity. As he goes, this team goes. And Brice is better than last year and appears to be on track to average 18+. I'm probably drinking too much big red Kool-Aid but I fully expect us to be in the tourney and a better seed than last year.

I think even our athleticism went up from last year. Getting to line 20.7 times per game vs 14.7 last year, rebounding margin is better, +5.4 vs +0.4. I know our competition is about to significantly increase, but those are our numbers right now.

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

15 hours ago, HuscurAdam said:

 

Isn't this at least partly due to the fact we had more options to shoot those 3's last year? We had 3 other guys that could get hot and give you 4 or 5 threes in a game last year.  

 

Not really. Keisei averaged 6.3 three-point attempts per game last season and made 2.4. Connor is averaging 6.4 three-point attempts but making 2.9. 

 

 

 

[cozrulz]

best i've ever seen.