Likely Starters for UNK

[throwback]

From Barfknecht article, quoting Miles:

 

1. Freshman point guard Tai Webster
2. Senior shooting guard Ray Gallegos
3. Sophomore small forward Terran Petteway
4. Sophomore strong forward Shavon Shields
5. Sophomore center Walter Pitchford.

From what we've been hearing and saw at the open practice, no real surprises here to me.

 

Also: 

 

Pitchford missed a week of practice recently with a shoulder problem, but has returned to workouts this week. If Pitchford is hampered, Miles said, the fifth starter against UNK would be Leslee Smith or David Rivers.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20131027/HUSKERS/131028698/1002#husker-men-fall-in-secret-scrimmage

 

Just one more week!

[49r]

Kind of surprised to see Shavon at the 4.  Well, maybe not.

[Norm Peterson]

Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say the likely starters for UNK would probably be:

 

Taylor Shipley

Tyler Shields

Connor Beranek

Kendal Glidden,  and

Mike Dentlinger

 

But that's all pretty much just a guess on my part.

[FredsSlacks]

so Rivers is our backup center? People might want to lower the expectations a tad. If we finish with a better record than last year, I would be pretty satisfied with that.

[hhcmatt]

so Rivers is our backup center? People might want to lower the expectations a tad. If we finish with a better record than last year, I would be pretty satisfied with that.

 

This is why we're trying to land two centers for next year, btw.  If Pitch/Smith are out due to injury/foul trouble, here are the players on the roster listed at 6'7" or higher

 

Surge

Rivers

Shavon

Kye

 

At this point I could see Rivers getting the nod over Smith if he's practicing well and because we're playing Kearney.

[throwback]

We're kind of in the same boat we were in last year on that front

 

- when Ubel or Almeida were injured/in foul trouble, we went small and Rivers played the 5

- now when Pitchford or Smith are injured/in foul trouble, we'll probably have to play small with Rivers at the 5 again

 

I thought going small like that worked OK in short bursts last year, but when it had to go on for more than a few possessions, most teams were able to exploit it.

 

That info also pretty much spells out where Vooch is at in his development - not far enough along to help out even for a few minutes, leaving Rivers at the 5 as a better option.

[throwback]

Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say the likely starters for UNK would probably be:

 

Taylor Shipley

Tyler Shields

Connor Beranek

Kendal Glidden,  and

Mike Dentlinger

 

But that's all pretty much just a guess on my part.

Caught me - I plagiarized the topic headline from Lopers Hoops Central / Health & Sports Center Dungeon. 

[royalfan]

We're kind of in the same boat we were in last year on that front

 

- when Ubel or Almeida were injured/in foul trouble, we went small and Rivers played the 5

- now when Pitchford or Smith are injured/in foul trouble, we'll probably have to play small with Rivers at the 5 again

 

I thought going small like that worked OK in short bursts last year, but when it had to go on for more than a few possessions, most teams were able to exploit it.

 

That info also pretty much spells out where Vooch is at in his development - not far enough along to help out even for a few minutes, leaving Rivers at the 5 as a better option.

At least we are more athletic. 

[Norm Peterson]

so Rivers is our backup center? People might want to lower the expectations a tad. If we finish with a better record than last year, I would be pretty satisfied with that.

Rivers isn't our backup center.  He's actually the backup to the backup center.  Smith is the backup.  Pitchford is the projected starter.

 

Pitchford is last year's Ubel.  Except he can jump a lot higher and shoot a lot better from outside. 

 

Smith is last year's Almeida.  Except he can jump a lot higher and play for longer stretches than 5 minutes at a time (fingers crossed.)

 

Rivers is actually last year's Vucetic.  Except, well, he's nowhere near as tall as Vooch.  But he's also a lot more developed and has proven he can play inside and be at least somewhat effective.

 

Shields is last year's Rivers.  Except he's, well, Shields.

 

Petteway is last year's Shields.  Except with longer hair.  And a shorter temper.  And maybe a bit more quickness and ability to drive the ball.

 

Gallegos is last year's Gallegos.  Except he's a year older.  And worked on his off-hand dribble and his shooting during the off-season.

 

And Tai Webster is last year's Talley.  Except he's younger and he's from New Zealand.

 

So, calling Rivers the back-up at center isn't quite accurate and not really a reason to temper expectations for the season.  At least not in my view.

[Norm Peterson]

Let's display this comparison somewhat more graphically:

 

2013-14                     2012-13

Pitchford      ======       Ubel         (Pitchford some better, some worse than Ubes)

Smith          >=>=>=       Almeida      (Smith better athlete, hopefully more durable)

Rivers         >>>>>>       Vucetic      (This backup to the backup might get minutes)

Shields        >>>>>>       Rivers       (Self-evident fact)

Petteway       >=>=>=       Shields      (Shields was just a true frosh last year)

Gallegos       >=>=>=       Gallegos     (A year older should mean a year better)

Webster        <=<=<=       Talley       (Got to give the senior a bit of a nod here)

Peltz          >=>=>=       Peltz        (Healthier, more experience, FWIW)

Biggs          >>>>>>       Empty Seat   (Nuff said)

Fuller         >>>>>>       Empty Seat   (Nuff said)

Hawkins        >>>>>>       Empty Seat   (Still worried about Rivers being the backup?)

Vucetic        >=>=>=       Kurkowski    (OK, Kye is a walk-on who really didn't play)

 

That's my comparison, roster to roster, this year to last.  Wouldn't get worried about Rivers being in the rotation down low.

[49r]

 

Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say the likely starters for UNK would probably be:

 

Taylor Shipley

Tyler Shields

Connor Beranek

Kendal Glidden,  and

Mike Dentlinger

 

But that's all pretty much just a guess on my part.

Caught me - I plagiarized the topic headline from Lopers Hoops Central / Health & Sports Center Dungeon. 

 

 

If you wanted to be exactly accurate, it would be Lopers Hoops Central / Cushing Coliseum Dungeon  

[TheGov21]

From Barfknecht article, quoting Miles:

 

1. Freshman point guard Tai Webster
2. Senior shooting guard Ray Gallegos
3. Sophomore small forward Terran Petteway
4. Sophomore strong forward Shavon Shields
5. Sophomore center Walter Pitchford.

From what we've been hearing and saw at the open practice, no real surprises here to me.

 

Also: 

 

http://www.omaha.com/article/20131027/HUSKERS/131028698/1002#husker-men-fall-in-secret-scrimmage

 

Just one more week!

 

Not surprised by this at all.  Personally I would have thought Petteway and Shields would be flipped.  But in Miles motion offense I really don't think there is much of a difference between 3 and 4.   

[Huskerpapa]

I have a feeling we are not going to see a true center.  It will remind me a bit of when we had Bruce C at the "post" and we didn't really play anyone with their back to the basket.