03/06/2013 - Minnesota Report Card

[hhcdave]

OFFENSE: B-

Nebraska didn't shoot the ball well from the field (36%) and once again couldn't get the ball inside for much production out of Brandon Ubel (the majority of his 15 points were created off of isolation off of the dribble) and Andre Almeida (only 4), but luckily, NU was 16-20 from the line (80%) including by my count, making its final fourteen free throws in a row as a team. That was the difference in this game - foul shooting. NU = 80% MU = 50%. Both teams shot the same amount of free throws (20) so NU's 6 more points were clearly the backbreaker.

The Huskers had tremendous spacing the first ten minutes of the game, though that seemed to deteriorate from time to time, most notably in the middle stages of the second.

Ball screens were plentiful and with a purpose and outside of not involving our big men the last half of this conference season, I think the offense has been pretty good based on our limitations.DEFENSE: A

Nebraska was tremendous defensively, holding Minnesota to 38% from the field and just 51 points.

And even though the Gophers left a number of "gimme's" at the foul line, MU's offensive rebounding in a lot of ways neutralized that, giving Minnesota several extra points (the Gophers had 14 offensive boards).

So really, its a "legit" 51 points allowed, is what I'm trying to say.

While Ray Gallegos was quiet offensively in this one, I think he deserves a lot of praise for his work defensively. I haven't seen him go that hard on "D" all season.

Also, our Player of the Game is just that because of his work defensively, Andre Almeida. Sure, the pick and roll got him a few times and sure, Trevor Mbakwe took it at him from time to time, but without Almeida stepping up for Ubel in the first half and Shields in the second, there is no way in hell we win this game. He is our Player of the Game, which I'm sure will cause debate, but since the majority here don't want shared Player of the Game's anymore, I can't do Ubel and Almeida. I'm giving it to Almeida, because he BY FAR exceeded expectations tonight.

REBOUNDING: A+

For an undersized and underathletic Nebraska team to TIE Minnesota on the boards (34 to 34) is impressive.

For NU to do it in foul trouble, and without the services of David Rivers and Shields in the clutch, and Ubel in the first half, is incredible.

OUTSTANDING JOB by NU tonight, outside of the four offensive boards off of free throws and 14 overall.

BTW, kind of sad that Talley had the best box out of the night, allowing Rivers to grab a defensive rebound off of a free throw late in the second half. Talley shows 'em how its done and is the MVP of this team.

BALL HANDLING: B

Even though the phantom 5 second call was complete BS and 3.5 seconds, tops, you CAN'T let that happen with two timeouts. Awful play.

Also, some unforced turnovers by Ubel throughout the game hurt.

Overall though, 10 turnovers, you can live with it!

COACHING: B+

Two minor complaints about coach tonight.

1. You have TWO TIMEOUTS - use one on the Benny Parker possession with a minute left, when there were 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, seconds and he had nowhere to go. Right in front of you, in a 3 point game, call a timeout.

2. You have TWO TIMEOUTS - use one after the phantom 5 second call. I think you HAVE to foul Minnesota there once Mbakwe has the ball until 5.0 seconds left - foul him. You certainly can't allow a wide open three that would have sent it to OT, where we would have lost by 4-6 points. At least call a "TO" and think about it. I didn't like not using one there, at all.

Otherwise, Miles milked 40 minutes of his team, which scratched and clawed its way to a win. Gritted its teeth. Grinded it out. He got the game to the 40 minute mark by the skin of his teeth, barely having any players left.

He made a nice adjustment to go into the "2/3 zone", though it didn't end up working. Nice call, however.

Great call to get Gallegos and Talley some wide opens jumpers out of timeouts and half.

I love our head man - just didn't like his game management at the very end.

OVERALL GRADE: A

That is Nebraska's "signature win" for the season, and a TREMENDOUS WAY to send the "Bob" out. As that final three pointer went up by Minnesota, that would have tied things, in the past, you feel like it would have gone.

But somewhere in the rafters of that building, NU had the ghosts of its past around, and smiling down one final time. It was as if there was no way NU would lose its final game in that building.

I like to think that somewhere, Jack Moore was watching, and maybe, just maybe, he got a finger tip on that shot.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: ANDRE ALMEIDA

2012-2013 PLAYER OF THE GAME RESULTS:

RAY GALLEGOS - 10

DYLAN TALLEY - 10

BRANDON UBEL - 5

SHAVON SHIELDS - 4

DAVID RIVERS - 3

ANDRE ALMEIDA - 1

JORDAN TYRANCE - 1

Album: 2013-03-06 Minnesota

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[Huskerpapa]

Nicely done Dave.

[husker8282]

I completely agree with Andre Almeida as player of the game, he really played with a lot of passion tonight and it couldn't have happened to a better guy, very happy he was able to contribute in his last home game.  This season hasn't probably gone the way he would have wanted.

[GATA]

Not sure I would have fouled Mbakwe with 5 seconds left. They were destroying us on offensive rebounds on missed free throws in the second half.

[hhcmatt]

Good to see Andre getting the make up call from his Big 10 POTW snub

[Norm Peterson]

That was an awesome defensive possession in the last minute when they were working for a 3 ptr and we just didn't give them an open look.  Finally, they had to chuck one up there, missed everything but then got a fortuitous bounce with a guy right there to catch the missed shot and put it in for an uncontested layup.  But the denial of the 3 look in that possession was tremendous defense.

[atskooc]

Almeida's block out on the last missed three was awesome.  He had his back turned to the basket and just walked his guy out of the way.  He made no attempt at getting the ball; he was simply making sure his guy wasn't going to get it. 

 

I laughed!

[Handy Johnson]

What a tremendously satisfying win for those Seniors & Husker fans everywhere. As a Big Red Alum living in the Twin Cities this "W" will be the gift that just keeps on giving!

[nebrasketball10]

Not sure I would have fouled Mbakwe with 5 seconds left. They were destroying us on offensive rebounds on missed free throws in the second half.

Agreed

[tcp]

I"m one of those guys who thought this was Brandon's crown jewel as a husker. The last few minutes were the Ubel show, and it was a terrific thing to see. Hats off to all the seniors, since this rally was their win collectively.

[aghusker]

I agree with not fouling Mbakwe at the end, we had given up at least 3 offensive rebounds off of missed foul shots and they were only shooting 3 for 12 from beyond the arc before the shot, Miles correctly played the percentages.  But, you do have to call a time-out on the baseline before the five second infraction gets called, especially when that officiating crew is known for making the game about themselves versus the actual players (remember the Illinois game).  Big props to El Grande Andre for stepping-up and playing big minutes, and to Ubel for sliding to the four after Shavon fouled out and scored two big old fashioned three point plays, he hasn't played much from the four spot lately, he made that adaptation look easy, and gave us a big win to close out the Bob!

[colhusker]

Hard to argue the Rebounding grade given we evened things out on the boards last night after how badly they beat us on the boards up there.  Had we boxed out on FT we outboard them.

[PimpMario]

Offense was B-?  Hopefully next year we have higher standards.

 

I liked that you gave POTG to Andre although truthfully it was probably Ubel.  But we wouldn't have won that game without our top 7 because we need them all.  I was really worried that Talley was going to foul out.  Who would have come in then?

[Norm Peterson]

Offense was B-?  Hopefully next year we have higher standards.

 

I liked that you gave POTG to Andre although truthfully it was probably Ubel.  But we wouldn't have won that game without our top 7 because we need them all.  I was really worried that Talley was going to foul out.  Who would have come in then?

No problem.  We would have just shifted Benny and Tyrance around and brought in "The VOOCH!"

[royalfan]

Good report card, although I would have given the player of the game to UBEL.  He was sensational tonight.  Hit a big three to give us some cushion early in the 2nd half, and then some very tough minded drives late against good athletes in the paint.  Andre was pretty good though as well obviously. 

[Tallbaby21]

I'm one who thinks Talley should probably get POTG he just does a ton has the ball for 80% of the time, is forced to create, pass, rebound and defend bigger players. He's a 3 playing point and we routinely keep it under 13 turnovers somehow.

[HuskerBB]

I"m one of those guys who thought this was Brandon's crown jewel as a husker. The last few minutes were the Ubel show, and it was a terrific thing to see. Hats off to all the seniors, since this rally was their win collectively.

 

I have never been as big a Ubel fan as some on here  but to me I thought Ubel was the player of the game by far.  To me player of the game is the best player - not the one who exceeds expectations by the greatest amount.  Ubel just put the team on his back at the end and willed them to this win.

[royalfan]

I am with you there.  The things he is doing are truly amazing.  Hell of a job by Miles to develop this guy into a do everything player.  Whatever we need, he does.  I like your train of thought.  I still would barely give it to Ubel over him, but I completely get where you are coming from. 

 

 

I'm one who thinks Talley should probably get POTG he just does a ton has the ball for 80% of the time, is forced to create, pass, rebound and defend bigger players. He's a 3 playing point and we routinely keep it under 13 turnovers somehow.

[uneblinstu]

I'm featured fairly prominently in two of those pics in the album...