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Posted

Some things we know.  Some things we've been told.  Some things I'm just guessing at.

 

Things we know:

 

  • Matt Atewe came for an official visit at Nebraska sometime around the weekend of January 5-6, 2013.
  • Leslee Smith came for an official visit earlier this week.

 

Things we've been told:

 

  • Early in January, an unidentified Husker player informed the coaches he intends to ask for his scholarship release.
  • Matt Atewe was originally going to announce his college choice on his birthday in early March and later changed it to March 30.
  • Nebraska extended an offer to Smith mid-March, after Atewe's birthday announcement date, which was  postponed.

 

Things I'm just guessing at:

 

  • Atewe comes for his official visit in January and maybe asks about the possibility of redshirting, saying he feels physically ready to go but could probably use some "coaching up" since his prep school experience seemed to be lacking in that regard.
  • Miles maybe say he's not sure.  He was looking for Atewe to be able to help out right away next year.
  • Atewe says, that's cool, but I'll have to consider my options.
  • Shortly after Atewe's visit, unidentified player tells Miles he's going to seek transfer.  Miles calls Atewe to inform him a spot may open up that would allow him to recruit another big and, if he gets one, that would maybe provide opportunity for Atewe to redshirt.
  • Atewe says he's willing to push back his original plan to announce early March on his birthday in order for Nebraska coaches to see if they can find another big.
  • Mid-March, Nebraska extends offer to Leslee Smith after watching him all season.
  • Smith comes in for visit, informs Husker coaches that he likes what he sees and is 99% sure he'll commit but wants to talk things over with his juco coach.
  • Husker coaches inform Atewe they believe they have a commit from a juco big man that would allow Atewe to redshirt his first season and then be a freshman when that juco big man is a senior, projecting that Atewe would step into a starting role as a RS Soph.

This would balance classes a bit, with Smith adding another member to the junior class (making three) and Atewe, as a redshirt, effectively falling into the 2014 class.  Coaches probably feel that a Smith with a couple of years of college experience would be able to provide more help off the bat than an Atewe right away anyway and that Atewe's down-the-road upside makes a redshirt something well worth exploring.

 

Just a guess.  Thoughts?

Posted

I'm still singing the same tune, Norm, which is that Leslee Smith likely represents a replacement/upgrade for Vooch, who I happen to believe won't be around next season.

 

I attribute the postponement of Atewe's decision to him simply not feeling as though he was ready to make a decision. After all, he still hadn't made all of his intended visits at that point.

Posted

I'm still singing the same tune, Norm, which is that Leslee Smith likely represents a replacement/upgrade for Vooch, who I happen to believe won't be around next season.

 

I attribute the postponement of Atewe's decision to him simply not feeling as though he was ready to make a decision. After all, he still hadn't made all of his intended visits at that point.

I agree with your theory Hooper

Posted

This could be the case, but I would be surprised if Atewe was mature enough at this point to realize that he may need a redshirt year to develop.  That is something that he may not realize until he gets to Lincoln and gets on the floor with the other players.  I think most recruits just assume that they are ready to get on the floor, because they have done well against high school competition they have faced up to this point.

Posted

I'm still singing the same tune, Norm, which is that Leslee Smith likely represents a replacement/upgrade for Vooch, who I happen to believe won't be around next season.

 

I attribute the postponement of Atewe's decision to him simply not feeling as though he was ready to make a decision. After all, he still hadn't made all of his intended visits at that point.

I agree with your theory Hooper

what is the reasoning for giving up on Vucetic? Is it strength and conditioning?

Posted

 

I'm still singing the same tune, Norm, which is that Leslee Smith likely represents a replacement/upgrade for Vooch, who I happen to believe won't be around next season.

 

I attribute the postponement of Atewe's decision to him simply not feeling as though he was ready to make a decision. After all, he still hadn't made all of his intended visits at that point.

I agree with your theory Hooper

what is the reasoning for giving up on Vucetic? Is it strength and conditioning?

Personally I'm not giving up on Vucetic at all. I saw him scrimmage and he looked pretty good. But given the scenario that someone has to leave to make room for Smith, I think Vucetic is the most likely. He is on a team that desperately needed bigs and barely played. I could see him becoming discouraged and deciding to move on to a lower level of competition. I'm not even saying that the staff asks him to leave. If someone truly did request a transfer in January it could very well be Vucetic. Add in the fact that we are now interested in bringing in another big in this cycle and, to me, it points to Vucetic.

Posted

 

I'm still singing the same tune, Norm, which is that Leslee Smith likely represents a replacement/upgrade for Vooch, who I happen to believe won't be around next season.

 

I attribute the postponement of Atewe's decision to him simply not feeling as though he was ready to make a decision. After all, he still hadn't made all of his intended visits at that point.

I agree with your theory Hooper

what is the reasoning for giving up on Vucetic? Is it strength and conditioning?

Because he is 7'1" and only weighs 230 lbs.  At 7'1" he realistically needs to gain 40 lbs and an incredible amount of strength to be any sort of factor.  I don't think that it's about either Vucetic or Parker, because I personally would be surprised if either one had a scholarship next season.  Neither one of the two has the physical build and/or skills to be sucessful in the B1G.  They could maybe do a little better in a mid-major conference that is less physically demanding. 

 

If both Vucetic and Parker scholarships open up:

 

Miles could still potentially get a grad-transfer in this class that would only have 1 year of eligibility (in addition to Atewe, Tummala, and Smith), so that spot would open up again next year, in addition to the spot currently held by Gallegos, which would give Nebraska 2 available scholarships for the 2014 class.

Posted

I've mentioned his before, but I think that Vucetic and Parker would want to hang around for next year to be on the first team to play in the new arena.

 

Diaz and Ubel both managed to put on about 20 lbs, so I do not see why Sergej could not.

 

Elliott Eliason was 235 in high school and is now 260.

 

7'1 guys are very rare. I'd rather keep vucetic than parker.

Posted

I've mentioned his before, but I think that Vucetic and Parker would want to hang around for next year to be on the first team to play in the new arena.

 

Diaz and Ubel both managed to put on about 20 lbs, so I do not see why Sergej could not.

If Vucetic put on 20 lbs, then he would still have 20 lbs to go.  He is 7'1"!!!  250 lbs would be a good target weight for a Center if he is 6'9" or 6'10", but not 7'1". 

 

And maybe Miles doesn't force either of them out of the door...  Maybe he just pulls their scholarships and says "These are the criteria for you to hold a scholarship.  If you meet these criteria, then you will have a scholarship."  If they don't want to be considered a walkon until they meet that criteria, then they are free to transfer. 

Posted

I've mentioned his before, but I think that Vucetic and Parker would want to hang around for next year to be on the first team to play in the new arena.

 

Diaz and Ubel both managed to put on about 20 lbs, so I do not see why Sergej could not.

If Vucetic put on 20 lbs, then he would still have 20 lbs to go.  He is 7'1"!!!  250 lbs would be a good target weight for a Center if he is 6'9" or 6'10", but not 7'1". 

 

And maybe Miles doesn't force either of them out of the door...  Maybe he just pulls their scholarships and says "These are the criteria for you to hold a scholarship.  If you meet these criteria, then you will have a scholarship."  If they don't want to be considered a walkon until they meet that criteria, then they are free to transfer. 

I've said this before, but Tyson Chandler is 7'1 235 lbs. I'm not saying Vucetic can be half as good as him, but I'm not sure he has to put on that much weight to be effective.

 

I think it's more about burning fat and gaining muscle with Sergej.

Posted

Dude if Vucetic was even half as athletic as Tyson Chandler, then yes, he could probably find his way onto the court at 7'1", 250 lbs.  His game is completely different though.

 

http://www.slamonline.com/online/media/slam-tv/2012/11/tyson-chandler-dunks-on-the-brooklyn-nets-video/

A better example might be Spencer Hawes. 7'1 245.

Same with him.  I got nervous for Vucetic the few times I saw him run down the court without the ball even.  Can you imagine him trying to take the ball coast to coast?  Yikes!

 

Posted

 

I'm still singing the same tune, Norm, which is that Leslee Smith likely represents a replacement/upgrade for Vooch, who I happen to believe won't be around next season.

 

I attribute the postponement of Atewe's decision to him simply not feeling as though he was ready to make a decision. After all, he still hadn't made all of his intended visits at that point.

I agree with your theory Hooper

what is the reasoning for giving up on Vucetic? Is it strength and conditioning?

 

People talk a lot about his weight, but what's interesting, as I've pointed out here before, is that the guy who was the template for a player like Vooch, Vlade Divac, played his NBA career at 7'1", 243. Check his Wikipedia page.

 

That's only 7 lbs. heavier than Vooch. Now, obviously, Vooch needs to get stronger, but I don't believe he has the speed and quickness to do what Miles wants him to do defensively. I may be wrong, but I suspect I'm not.

 

Here's the bottom line: if we take 3 in the late period, that puts us at one over the limit. The math doesn't lie. When you're one over the limit, someone has to go, and there are only two legitimate candidates that I can think of for players who would be candidates to leave: Benny Parker and Sergej Vucetic. 

Posted

While we talk about height and weight issues for a big man...it occurred to me none of you have bought up one obvious player...

  • Mikki Moore
  • #31
  • Forward-Center
 
2012-13 Preseason Statistics PPG 0.0 RPG 0.00 APG 0.0 EFF --
Born: Nov 4, 1975
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight: 225 lbs. / 102.1 kg.
Prior to NBA / Country:
Nebraska / USA
Years Pro: 13

 

In no way am I claiming Vouch's bball skills compare to MM.

Mikki was/is extremely athletic, wiry strong.

 

Just pointing out the height and weight similarity.

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