uneblinstu's postgame chatter : vol 17; ed 31- Iowa

[millerhusker]

The poor defensive games this year have all started with not being able to keep ball handlers out of the lane. Iowa made a lot of their initial points in the paint. From there, everything opens up and you're not going to keep up with them unless you can score with them. Mix in Brice not being aggressive at all and Connor being ice cold and you have a recipe for disaster. 

 

 

This season really comes down to being atrocious AT HOME against the bottom tier of the league. 

Against the top 5 teams, we were 0-6. Just not enough talent to match them and most of those were on the road.

Against the middle tier teams (6 through 10), we were 5-1. All of these teams are likely in the tournament. 

  Oregon will be a 5ish seed. UCLA and Illinois 6-7 seeds. Indiana and Ohio St probably 10-11 seeds. Also Creighton an 8ish seed. Beat em all. 

Against the bottom tier, we were 2-6.  And 0-4 at home against these teams. None of these teams are even close to the bubble. If you just win a couple of these home games, you're in for the second year in a row and the program seems like it's rolling. 

 

This comes down to a couple things. One, just not enough shot makers. Countless times per game, one of Rollie, Morgan, Uhlis, Meah, Berke would catch the ball on the perimeter within the flow of the offense and there was not even a thought of a shot attempt. Last year, in all these spots you had 35-40% three point shooters who would let if fly with confidence. 

Everything about a basketball team - and especially a Hoiberg team - flows better when shots are falling.

This might not be popular, but I think the struggles can also be attributed to player leadership. Really not meant to be a shot at Brice and Juwan, it's just not in their nature. They've even said it in multiple press conferences. As a coach, I'm not sure how you could further motivate your players against those bottom tier teams with a tourney bid on the line. Motivation and consistent fight wasn't an issue last year for the coaching staff. Mast and Allick have the leadership gene. Wasn't an issue two years ago either. Walker and Griesel have the leadership gene. I have no doubt we'll be a better shot making team next year. Having Mast back will help with leadership. Need to find a few portal players who fit both the culture and the scheme. 

Edited 4 hours ago by millerhusker

[Bugeaters1]

1 hour ago, cornfed24-7 said:

I have no idea if there needs to be a  significant increase in commitment to Nebraska NIL for us to be successful or not. Meaning I have no idea how competitive we actually are.

 

My gut feeling,based on absolutely nothing, is we are average to  slightly above average.

 

This season didn't feel like we were that far off. It felt like this was a oddly constructed team with weird pieces from the get go for me.

 

Do we really need to tweak things that much? I don't think we do. Seems like the problem this year is we overcompensated for last year.

 

Also it needs to be stated my optimism completely hinges Mast being back. If that changes you will immediately notice the tenor of my posts change to despair and gloom

 

 

 

*This was supposed to be a response to @GhostOfJoeMcCray so this may seem kinda random

I break out the gloom despair and agony on me song at least twice a season over on the womens side. There are some people you have talk off of the cliff.

Edited 8 hours ago by Bugeaters1

[hskr4life]

1 hour ago, Nighthawk said:

I'm at the ER.  Left game with 5 minutes left in first half.  Crossing fingers that it's a kidney stone. But waiting on results.

Im sorry man— always things bigger than basketball out there. Hopeful you get positive results.

[HB]

This was a bad roster.   Unathletic and can't shoot.   Anything else is over analysis.  

 

Not about heart or effort.   It's about talent.  17th best roster in the league.   Had a chance to overachieve, by winning a few of the close games.   Ultimately settled about where we should.   Good floor coaching and effort had us in the running to get a bid, but we digressed to about how many bullets we had in the gun.  A first team all Big 10 guy and total dude, and a guy who was a dude most of the time despite playing hurt, and then problems.   Not enough to survive in this league.  

 

The portal needs to be much better this year than last, or we're gonna be at the bottom again.    Hopeful we do better there this time around.

[MichHusker]

Just now, HB said:

This was a bad roster.   Unathletic and can't shoot.   Anything else is over analysis.  

 

Not about heart or effort.   It's about talent.  17th best roster in the league.   Had a chance to overachieve, by winning a few of the close games.   Ultimately settled about where we should.   Good floor coaching and effort had us in the running to get a bid, but we digressed to about how many bullets we had in the gun.  A first team all Big 10 guy and total dude, and a guy who was a dude most of the time despite playing hurt, and then problems.   Not enough to survive in this league.  

 

The portal needs to be much better this year than last, or we're gonna be at the bottom again.    Hopeful we do better there this time around.

Only needed to hit on role players last year and couldn't do that. This year we need studs

[HB]

3 hours ago, hhcscott said:

The program has a trust issue...every year we get glowing reports from the media and staff of the incredible talent, growth, and camaraderie of the team. And then a 12-2 start gets us dreaming. Then we Nebrasketball the heck out of the season with our droughts, our inability to not foul or draw fouls, and the abundance of awkward opposing bench players having career night to counter any good plans we had. 

I can't even say I am a "fan" anymore, it's more like going to a tragedy where there are some amazing performances, and moments of optimism, but by the third act all hope is dead.

 

That record never had me dreaming.   We didn't pass the eye test even then.   And it was obvious we were very poor at point guard.    You better be good at the point if you want to be any good in the college game.

[millerhusker]

10 minutes ago, MichHusker said:

Only needed to hit on role players last year and couldn't do that. This year we need studs

Disagree. We tried to get studs and swung and missed. Brice and Juwan are best as role players, but stars in their role as they were last year. Brice as an efficient, smooth three level scorer. Juwan as a do it all glue guy, with a focus on defense and rebounding. That's exactly what they were on an 8-seed last year. 

[fr8-train]

3 hours ago, Busch Light said:

I see it going one of three ways…
 

If Nebraska cared or had any expectations at all, they would not retain Fred. They would bring in a new coach and start investing more money into players. If Nebraska cared some, they would bring back Fred and pay for better players. If Nebraska doesn’t care at all, they will retain Fred and give him a similar player budget next year. 
 

I fully expect Fred to come back and to have a similar budget. That’s what Nebraska basketball is. 

 

Not sure how many coaches are contributing to their team's NIL funds, but for as much as Fred is making he could certainly afford to boost whatever is available at NU and, in turn, help himself keep his job and salary flowing.  

[HB]

2 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

Disagree. We tried to get studs and swung and missed. Brice and Juwan are best as role players, but stars in their role as they were last year. Brice as an efficient, smooth three level scorer. Juwan as a do it all glue guy, with a focus on defense and rebounding. That's exactly what they were on an 8-seed last year. 

 

Brice is a role player?   He's a first team all Big 10 guy.  How many of those have we had here?  

[fr8-train]

3 hours ago, hhcmatt said:

 

That's the trajectory I've been seeing regardless of the outcome.

 

And do the school he admires a favor by not making pay a huge buyout

[MichHusker]

4 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

Disagree. We tried to get studs and swung and missed. Brice and Juwan are best as role players, but stars in their role as they were last year. Brice as an efficient, smooth three level scorer. Juwan as a do it all glue guy, with a focus on defense and rebounding. That's exactly what they were on an 8-seed last year. 

I was referencing the guys we brought in last off season for this year's team. I may have done a bad job of making that clear

[millerhusker]

Just now, HB said:

 

Brice is a role player?   He's a first team all Big 10 guy.  How many of those have we had here?  

I made a post about this last week, but there are no successful teams in college basketball with a ball dominant player who has a player archetype of a three level wing scorer who doesn't regularly create for others. 

Wing scorers are either role players on successful teams (like Brice was last year) or studs on mediocre teams in today's college basketball. Those players on good teams are often future draft picks, but they're absolutely role players at the college level. Will Riley is a good example and he's the closest thing to Brice in the Big Ten. Put him on Penn St's roster and he's averaging 20. 

I'm not knocking Brice at all. I love Brice. One of the best we've ever had at Nebraska. He's done an incredible job of playing the role that he had to play for this team. 

[hhcmatt]

32 minutes ago, HB said:

and a guy who was a dude most of the time despite playing hurt,

 

Juwan Gary at the rim, rebounds per game
2022-23: 65%, 6.5 rpg

2023-24: 67%, 6.1 rpg

2024-25: 57%, 4.7 rpg
 

[Huskerbballfan]

15 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

I made a post about this last week, but there are no successful teams in college basketball with a ball dominant player who has a player archetype of a three level wing scorer who doesn't regularly create for others. 

Wing scorers are either role players on successful teams (like Brice was last year) or studs on mediocre teams in today's college basketball. Those players on good teams are often future draft picks, but they're absolutely role players at the college level. Will Riley is a good example and he's the closest thing to Brice in the Big Ten. Put him on Penn St's roster and he's averaging 20. 

I'm not knocking Brice at all. I love Brice. One of the best we've ever had at Nebraska. He's done an incredible job of playing the role that he had to play for this team. 

This is potentially the most idiotic thing I have ever seen

[millerhusker]

10 minutes ago, Huskerbballfan said:

This is potentially the most idiotic thing I have ever seen

Please provide the data 

 

Upon further review, I couldn't help but notice this post you made 14 months ago...

 

"Brice Williams is the biggest waste of a scholarship I have ever seen"

 

GBR

Edited 6 hours ago by millerhusker

[huskerbill85]

1 hour ago, nuhusker7 said:

It would be idiotic to fire hoiberg. Do not let two bad games against Minnesota and Iowa to end the year make us go nuclear. 
 

We needed more shooters. It’s impossible for us when we have 3 guys out on the court who can’t shoot from outside the cylinder.

37-82 in the big 10

[hskr4life]

Now that I’m home— wanted to post some thoughts about the crowd and atmosphere today.

 

It was just off in PBA today. Someone mentioned Brice seems to be feeling the weight of the entire season today. Honestly, I think it was everyone. PBA was quiet from the jump. We were up 9-2 but I’ve heard PBA louder down 9-2. The students didn’t show behind the hoop. The crowd was pretty slim for senior day announcements. The screen shot of our recruit felt like weird timing. Even the two former players coming on the screen and trying to get us pumped was off. Even their energy was just… tired.

 

I don’t know how to describe it, but I hope we can get that PBA magic back next year. It truly can be a special place.

[basketballjones]

6 hours ago, hhcmatt said:

 

It's almost always worse when you start over. Arguably that's different now with the way the portal works.

I feel like everyone generally understands the year after you make a change can sometimes be a step back. 

[basketballjones]

3 hours ago, millerhusker said:

but there are no successful teams in college basketball with a ball dominant player who has a player archetype of a three level wing scorer who doesn't regularly create for others. 

Wing scorers are either role players on successful teams (like Brice was last year) or studs on mediocre teams in today's college basketball.

I’m not gonna lie - I have absolutely no idea what you’re saying here. Can you clarify?

[hskr4life]

Was Fran lying through his teeth here, trolling, a little of both?

 

Unless the dude has dementia, this is just asinine to say.

[AuroranHusker]

Just now, hskr4life said:

Was Fran lying through his teeth here, trolling, a little of both?

 

Unless the dude has dementia, this is just asinine to say.

 

I'm sure he was just referring to Brice. You know, it is the coach who should get all the credit. 

 

[hskr4life]

 

Need the Major League “He’s still a dick” GIF for this one.

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

43 minutes ago, hskr4life said:

Was Fran lying through his teeth here, trolling, a little of both?

 

Unless the dude has dementia, this is just asinine to say.

To be fair, much of the Ohio State game was high level. 
 

today was more like high school level. 

[HB]

1 hour ago, hskr4life said:

Was Fran lying through his teeth here, trolling, a little of both?

 

Unless the dude has dementia, this is just asinine to say.

 

Douche thing to say in the midst of a 5 game losing streak, and 6 of 7, or whatever the hell it is.  

[busticket]

9 hours ago, hhcmatt said:

 

It's almost always worse when you start over. Arguably that's different now with the way the portal works.

I would be fine with it if they decided to make a change.  Fred has been given ample time to right the ship and while better than his horrific start, it feels like we have hit a big wall.  
 

Making a change would at least show that we are serious about being competitive.  And as you said, NIL makes it different than it used to be.  I suspect NIL dollars would be more available as people invested in the program will be excited for the change.  Watching these late season collapses is rough on the fans.  And the defense just isn’t working.  If we don’t do something I fear apathy will set in.  And with that it will be harder to get NIL.