BT Powerhouse: Three Reasons Nebrasketball Will Be Better in 2013

[49r]

Let's face it- Nebraska hoops isn't exactly a storied program, and the transition from being trampled by Kansas to being trampled by 9 good teams in the B1G has been much more difficult on the hardwood than the gridiron. But every cloud has a silver lining, even out in Tornado Alley, so let's see if we can find a few for the Cornhoopers.

 

 

---read the article here---

http://www.btpowerhouse.com/2013/9/3/4667522/Nebraska-basketball-nebrasketball-2013

[Norm Peterson]

OK, three more reasons.

 

More size:  We gave up Ubel and very limited availability of Almeida and replaced them with Pitchford and Smith.  That's not really a two for two exchange.  Almeida was so limited in minutes he could play, it's more like exchanging 1 for 2.  This year, we'll have at least two serviceable players 6'8" or taller and 230# or heavier.  And if Vooch has developed to any significant degree, it might three such players.  We have also added size at the wing position with Petteway and Fuller.  The only place we're conceivably shorter is at the point guard where 6'5" Dylan Talley spent the better part of last year.  But, take the combined height of Tai Webster and Deverell Biggs and they probably have about 2 inches on Talley and Benny Parker from last year.  Plus, the word is that Shavon Shields has gotten taller.  So, even our returning kids may add some additional size.

 

More athleticism:  Are you kidding me?  Andre was as big as a tree and just about as mobile.  So, we're trading out Almeida (snort), Ubel and Talley for Pitchford, Smith, Petteway, Fuller, Hawkins, Webster and Biggs.  That is a significant athleticism advantage for the '13-'14 group.  Of the group who graduated, the most athletic was Talley and he was fairly but not impressively athletic.  Ubel was OK and Andre was, charitably speaking, not.  Every discussion I've seen about the players who sat out last year is that they're impressive athletes.  Far more athletic across the board than the players who are gone.  And the newcomers sound like they're also an impressive group of athletes in their own right.  The only newcomer whose athleticism might be in doubt is Hawkins.  But the rest are all reasonably athletic or better.

 

More depth:  Miles didn't play just five players for an entire half of basketball last year with no subs because he wanted to.  He did it because he had to.  Well, no more.  This year, he's going to be able to play around with combinations, fit personnel to situations, rotate players to keep their legs fresh, and sub to gain match-up advantages in ways he could only dream about last year.  This year, from all indications, we have at least two viable options at every position on the floor.  He may choose to go with a more limited rotation and only play his best 8 or maybe 9 players.  But it'll be his choice to limit the rotation.  That choice won't be forced upon him.  Last year's roster was like giving Rembrandt a palette of only Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber and Cobalt.  This year, Rembrandt gets the whole box of 64 crayons.  And dude, our coach is an artiste.

 

Looking forward to it.  Last year at this time, it was like a kid waiting for a spanking.  This year, it's like a kid waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve.  You know what's coming is going to be a lot of fun and it just seems like it'll never get here.  But when it does, boy oh boy.

[Norm Peterson]

And how about 3 more reasons.

Four of our 7 newcomers won't have the normal learning curve. Pitchford, Petteway and Biggs have already had a year with Miles under their belts. Plus two summers of extra workouts. Sure, it's not the same as playing in games, but it absolutely has to reduce the amount of time it'll take for them to get in the flow and up to game speed. Plus, Petteway and Smith have played D1 ball before. Measurably. Smith averaged 15 minutes/game as a freshman at SMU and Petteway averaged 13 minutes/game as a freshman at Texas Tech. Smith's time at SMU should reduce the amount of lag time that it usually takes a juco player to adjust to the D1 game. He's had his feet wet already.

 

The talent level of the newcomers is an upgrade.  OK, this is not something that is objectively measurable and I have to go by what others have reported, BUT ... given what we've been told about all the new guys, you have to know that there has been a significant talent upgrade over what we've had in a loooong time.  For starters, just accept the fact that Nick Fuller is damn good.  Wing of the year in Wisconsin HS basketball last year, just like Wisconsin's Sam Dekker was the year before.  From the video I've seen and the numbers he put up, IMHO, he was erroneously left out of the Rivals 150 for the 2013 class.  Second, we've heard what Fran Fraschilla has said about Tai Webster being a top 25 player if he'd played in the U.S.  We could assume for the sake of argument that Fran exaggerated just a bit.  Even so, he'd still be an upgrade.  No one has ever said anything like that, with a straight face or otherwise, about any of our past recruits.  And if you look at his video and check the numbers he put up in the NZ professional league that included former NCAA D1 players, he clearly has some game.  And finally, we know what writers have observed about Pitchford and Petteway.  Assuming that stuff is even partially true, we've upgraded the talent for this season.

 

The home court advantage will be better.  We've gone from a 13,000 seat Devaney Center that was barely half filled most of last season to a roughly 16,000 seat arena that is sold out for the season.  That equates to more noise and a more intimidating home-court environment without even trying.  Plus, with Jadler hard at work with the new and improved Red Zone, the place should be rocking.  Just the addition of 6,000 extra mouths making noise, though, by itself, will make the crowd louder, get the team pumped up more, and thereby make us a tougher out at home.

[Norm Peterson]

Still no response, huh?  Wow.  Ok, how about these three reasons we'll be better this year.

Shavon Shields. He's a year older, more experienced, and bigger than last year. Plus he played a high level of ball over the summer. One of our best players from last year should be even better.

Shooters. We have more of them this year. Kinda takes the pressure off of Ray when there are other guys on the team who can drop daggers from long range.

Shirts, shorts and shoes. Bringing back the blacks might not make us play any better. But we'll look cool. Besides, it kept the whole "sh" thing going after Shavon and shooters.

Someone else please take it away.

[ajb5856]

I agree with all 12 reasons. Shall we make a game out of it now? Everyone should rank the reasons 1 through 12...

[49r]

I've got three reasons for you Norm.

 

1).  Tim

2).  Friggin'

3).  Miles

 

How about them apples?

[Norm Peterson]

I've got three reasons for you Norm.

 

1).  Tim

2).  Friggin'

3).  Miles

 

How about them apples?

That's actually the first reason given in the article linked above.  You know, the article that you posted.  Except the friggin' part.  

[Bugeaters1]

I've got three reasons for you Norm.

 

1).  Tim

2).  Friggin'

3).  Miles

 

How about them apples?

You forgot that shields kid 49er, And how you like him.

[TheKamdyMan]

1. TM

2. CH

3. CS

4. KH

 

4 has an arrow pointing ^ and could easily take over #2 shortly but these 4 reason are why Nebrasketball is on the rise.

[49r]

 

I've got three reasons for you Norm.

 

1).  Tim

2).  Friggin'

3).  Miles

 

How about them apples?

You forgot that shields kid 49er, And how you like him.

 

 

Okay, three more then...

 

1).  Shavon

2).  Friggin'

3).  Shields

 

...what's not to like?  

[lang]

We are all with you Norm !!    Sorry for the silence.  I know for me, I'm usually so mesmerized by your knowledge, wit, and general posting prowess that I have nothing to add.

 

But I'll add this lame little riddle.   If he (Miles) can do that with that, I bet he can do this with this.   It's kind of a philosophic generalization that you pretty much covered in a more detailed way in your reasons above.

[trickey]

Still no response, huh?  Wow.  Ok, how about these three reasons we'll be better this year.

Norm, sorry for the silence...however, if I read and post to often from work, when I should actually be working! I may not be able to afford the new tickets I upgraded to in the lower bowl!

Wish I was retired and surfing ...

not quite there...just like this program, yet I am convinced we are both close!