OK, serious question here.

[Norm Peterson]

In light of Kent Pavelka's tweet yesterday ("Watching #Husker hoops scrimmage. Way deeper, more athletic, skilled. I likey!"), I went back and looked at the way people had split the squad into two teams for the Red/White scrimmage.

 

Here's how I broke it down:

 

RED SQUAD:               WHITE SQUAD:

G - Deverell Biggs       G - Benny Parker

G - Ray Gallegos         G - Tai Webster

G - Shavon Shields       G - Terran Petteway

F - David Rivers         F - Nick Fuller

F - Walter Pitchford     F - Leslee Smith

 

Kye Kurkowski            Sergej Vucetic

Nathan Hawkins           Jordan Tyrance
Trevor Menke             Mike Peltz
                         Tim Wagner

 

Question #1:  Is my Red team better than last year's team?

 

Question #2:  Is my White team better than last year's team?

 

Question #3:  Could we field two squads that would each be better than last year's team?

 

Reds, an older, more mature and experienced Gallegos, Shields and Rivers, and swap Biggs for Talley and Pitchford for Ubel.

 

Whites, an older, more mature Benny Parker, plus presumptive starters in Tai Webster and Terran Petteway, a smooth scorer in Nick Fuller, and a burly, athletic Smith manning the middle.

[Silverbacked1]

On paper I would have to say yes.

But will know more at the end of the season, to see how we play it out.

[FredsSlacks]

On paper I would have to say yes.

But will know more at the end of the season, to see how we play it out.

agree. there is going to be a player or 2 that doesn't live up to the hype.

[hhcmatt]

 

Question #1:  Is my Red team better than last year's team?

 

Question #2:  Is my White team better than last year's team?

 

Question #3:  Could we field two squads that would each be better than last year's team?

 

Reds, an older, more mature and experienced Gallegos, Shields and Rivers, and swap Biggs for Talley and Pitchford for Ubel.

 

Whites, an older, more mature Benny Parker, plus presumptive starters in Tai Webster and Terran Petteway, a smooth scorer in Nick Fuller, and a burly, athletic Smith manning the middle.

 

I think the Red Squad brings more offensive firepower to the game but last year's squad gets the nod for defense.  Talley was used as a defensive stopper in addition to everything else whereas the book on Biggs has always been "...if he put more effort into defense."  Pitchford should easily bring more offensive firepower than Ubel and hopefully can anchor that inside as well if not better.  Pitchford easily has more athleticism than Ubel?  Does he have anywhere that level of GATA?

 

White squad?  No idea.  Is Tai Webster the best player on the court or is he a freshman who need to catch up to the competition?

[Handy Johnson]

Yes & Yes. What is really refreshing is filling out 10 names and not one of them played at a class B school.

[hskr4life]

 

On paper I would have to say yes.

But will know more at the end of the season, to see how we play it out.

agree. there is going to be a player or 2 that doesn't live up to the hype.

 

 

I mean this is a two way street.  There may or may not be a player or two that doesnt live up to the hype.  But who knows if Serj or Hawkins breaks out.  Would be nice if no one did not live up to the hype though.

[Huskerpapa]

I will remove my rose colored glasses for a few minutes and provide a dose of reality.  I will then put those rose colored glasses back on and maintain my geekfest until a time to be determined.

 

Walter Pitchford...he played paltry minutes for Florida and then transferred.  We are counting on Walter for significant minutes, scoring, leadership, rebounds, et al.  What should we really expect?

 

Gallegos...played a lot of minutes for and was our main scoring threat...will he hoist prayers this year or will he shoot a much better percentage?

 

Petteway...He was a role player for Texas Tech.  He averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds for a rather pedestrian team.  We have heard a number of positive reports about his practice habits...will he be a difference maker right away?

 

Shavon...two words...sophomore jinx...Hope it doesn't happen, pray that it doesn't happen, but it has happened before.

 

Benny...two words...last year.  Hope that he is better, but if he isn't...

 

Biggs...terrific in HS, terrific in Juco, but oftentimes it takes a season or a major portion of a season to get your basketball legs under you.

 

Smith...same as Biggs, but had a reputation of being a bit, uhhh lazy.  He certainly looks the part...but...who knows.

 

Rivers...showed nice improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year.  That improvement must continue.  Will it?

 

Webster, Fuller, Hawkins...we have heard enough to be excited.  Will they be as good, or better than billed?

 

Serg...he has to be better than last year...right?  Right?  RIGHT?

 

So, there is a lot of promise, but as many, if not more questions that need to be answered.  So I am cautiously optimistic, but I do not want to be overly bold.  Oh what the heck, NCAA tournament or bust.  There, my glasses are back on and adjusted.

[Swan88]

 

Walter Pitchford...he played paltry minutes for Florida and then transferred.  We are counting on Walter for significant minutes, scoring, leadership, rebounds, et al.

Nebrasketball has a significant risk / reward opportunity with Walter Pitchford, in light of his Florida pine-board experience. If Walter can become a "significant minutes, scoring, leadership, rebounds, et al" kind of player this season, then Miles and Co. will deserve renown for turning a previously-underdeveloped talent into an effective B1G player. Such a result could become a powerful tool in recruiting future players!

[Donkey]

Hmmmm

 

 

 

Walter Pitchford...he played paltry minutes for Florida and then transferred.  We are counting on Walter for significant minutes, scoring, leadership, rebounds, et al.  What should we really expect?

 

Pitchford was a Freshman at Florida.  Most Freshman come in needing strength and conditioning to play a full NCAA schedule.  There are exceptions to the rule, but those players usually head off to the NBA pretty quickly.  Pitchford is two years older and has had a full year in the Nebraska strength and conditioning program.  He SHOULD physically ready to play significant minutes.  

Production largely depends upon his comfort with the system.  Considering it has been almost 18 months since he last suited up for a game, it may take him a few games to get back into the groove.  I think his production will be based upon his game day match ups.

 

Leadership?  Not sure but he does have a good rep within the team.

 

Gallegos...played a lot of minutes for and was our main scoring threat...will he hoist prayers this year or will he shoot a much better percentage?

 

Rey is a volume shooter and will need shots to get moving.  I think his shooting percentage will improve because other teams will not be able to smother him with two defenders or always put their best perimeter defender on him at all times. Let Rey find his spots, penetrate down the middle, kick out to him and let Rey shoot.  

 

Petteway...He was a role player for Texas Tech.  He averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds for a rather pedestrian team.  We have heard a number of positive reports about his practice habits...will he be a difference maker right away?

 

Every team has a "glue" guy who may not be a difference maker per se but simply makes everyone around him better.  Think Shane Battier.  I think Petteway may be that guy.  

 

 

Shavon...two words...sophomore jinx...Hope it doesn't happen, pray that it doesn't happen, but it has happened before.

 

If the reports of his development are true, Shavon may turn out to be the best player recruited by Doc.

 

Benny...two words...last year.  Hope that he is better, but if he isn't...

 

He should be better. The better question would be how much playing time will he get?

 

Biggs...terrific in HS, terrific in Juco, but oftentimes it takes a season or a major portion of a season to get your basketball legs under you.

 

I have no feel for Biggs at all.  Listening to people talk about him, he seems to be a paradox for me.

 

Smith...same as Biggs, but had a reputation of being a bit, uhhh lazy.  He certainly looks the part...but...who knows.

 

He is brought in to do two things: (1) rebound; and (2) defend.  We will find out quickly whether he is lazy.

 

Rivers...showed nice improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year.  That improvement must continue.  Will it?

 

See Shavon.

 

Webster, Fuller, Hawkins...we have heard enough to be excited.  Will they be as good, or better than billed?

 

Other than Webster, give Fuller and Hawkins time to develop.

 

Webster we need at PG.

 

Serg...he has to be better than last year...right?  Right?  RIGHT?

 

Wait . . . Serg is still with the team?  Based upon numerous statements from board members, he and Benny were supposed to be gone.  Did I read something wrong here?

 

Seriously though, Serg, like Benny can only improve.

[Huskerpapa]

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you say Donkey...but we are banking on projection for the most part.  That can lead to disappointment.  But count me in the group of those that think this roster is going to bring much improved results...I was just trying to provide a bit of a reality check.

[49r]

Three words for ya, cwg.

Tim

Frickin

Miles

[Huskerpapa]

In Coach Miles I trust

[Norm Peterson]

I will remove my rose colored glasses for a few minutes and provide a dose of reality.  I will then put those rose colored glasses back on and maintain my geekfest until a time to be determined.

 

Walter Pitchford...he played paltry minutes for Florida and then transferred.  We are counting on Walter for significant minutes, scoring, leadership, rebounds, et al.  What should we really expect?

 

There are a lot of guys who woulda sat at Florida who woulda played for us.  He's been developing under Miles for a year and a half since leaving Florida.  Brandon Ubel started for us as a just-turned-18 true freshman and he didn't have the offers Walter had.  Pitchford is about as old this year as Ubel was last year.  Had he come here straight out of HS with no redshirt like Brandon did, Walt would be a senior this year.  Pitchford has more time under Miles now than Brandon had playing last year.  And he has two years of full-blown practice/development under two upper D1 coaches.  I think if you had to place odds on it, you'd have to say the chances are Pitchford will be able to cover the loss of Ubel.

 

Gallegos...played a lot of minutes for and was our main scoring threat...will he hoist prayers this year or will he shoot a much better percentage?

 

Few players regress.  You gotta figure the normal progression for a kid when looking ahead to the season.  Ray was a much better player coming back last year than when he was a soph.  His improvement should continue though perhaps not as striking.

 

Petteway...He was a role player for Texas Tech.  He averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds for a rather pedestrian team.  We have heard a number of positive reports about his practice habits...will he be a difference maker right away?

 

Petteway was solidly in the rotation at Tech as a true freshman averaging something like 15 minutes/game.  He'd have started for us last year if he'd been eligible.  

 

Shavon...two words...sophomore jinx...Hope it doesn't happen, pray that it doesn't happen, but it has happened before.

 

Sophomore slumps happen.  But, more often, players improve.  You have to be expecting the worst in order to really fear that happening to Shavon.  In other words, it doesn't require rose-colored glasses to expect Shavon to be a better player going into his sophomore season.  Rose-colored glasses would be necessary to project him as all-conference, but not to expect that he'll step on the floor a better player this year than he was last.

 

Benny...two words...last year.  Hope that he is better, but if he isn't...

 

Fortunately, we have options where Benny is concerned and if he isn't better, we'll still be OK.  But that is NOT to say I think Benny won't be better.  There was a lot of pressure on Benny last year.  He's had a year to adjust, settle in, and get more comfortable.  And he won't have the pressure he felt last season being expected to start as a true freshman -- and then getting benched.

 

Biggs...terrific in HS, terrific in Juco, but oftentimes it takes a season or a major portion of a season to get your basketball legs under you.

 

As with Benny, we'll be OK regardless.  Biggs is a terrific athlete and that won't change.  He wasn't a great shooter before but that might change.  Don't forget, he's not your usual juco.  He's had an extra year to adjust to the D1 game and Miles.  I don't see him needing the usual 2/3 of a season to get up to speed.  Whatever he is, that's what we'll see probably pretty much right off the bat.

 

Smith...same as Biggs, but had a reputation of being a bit, uhhh lazy.  He certainly looks the part...but...who knows.

 

I didn't read lazy.  I read "lacks aggression" when I read the articles on Smith.  A fair reading suggests that's something he's put behind him.  His stats certainly improved in the 2nd half of last season.  He did play a year of D1 before juco but there is still likely to be an adjustment period.

 

Rivers...showed nice improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year.  That improvement must continue.  Will it?

 

I think a year of getting a ton of minutes last season could really pay dividends for David.  He could be a surprise player for us.  I think he's a bit forgotten in all the hype surrounding the transfers and the freshmen.  Don't forget this kid, though.  At worst, he'll be a solid role player adding a level of depth we were sorely lacking last season.

 

Webster, Fuller, Hawkins...we have heard enough to be excited.  Will they be as good, or better than billed?

 

Man, if they're even somewhat close to as good as they've been billed, we're going to be a much improved team.

 

Serg...he has to be better than last year...right?  Right?  RIGHT?

 

If we see Serg at all, it will be because he's a much-improved player.

 

So, there is a lot of promise, but as many, if not more questions that need to be answered.  So I am cautiously optimistic, but I do not want to be overly bold.  Oh what the heck, NCAA tournament or bust.  There, my glasses are back on and adjusted.

Nice thoughts, CWG, but let me put some rose-colored tint back in those glasses.