11/17/2013 - South Carolina State Report Card

[hhcdave]

OFFENSE: B+

 

It's weird to score 83 points and see five players in double digit scoring for the first time in nearly two years, and not feel completely satisfied.

 

But for some reason, that's how I felt offensively after this one, maybe because Nebraska seemed kind of sluggish at times and continued to take some questionable shots.

 

Overall though, 46% from the field and 72% from the free throw line are pretty good marks, as well as (obviously) the 83 points (albeit against SCSU).

 

How about the 2013-2014 debuts for Ray Gallegos and Deverell Biggs?

 

Gallegos put in 18 points on six three's, while Deverell Biggs scored 17 (though again, our PG's have to start making free throws - 6-10 from Biggs ain't gonna get it done this year). 7-11 from the line for Tai Webster was an improvement - that's one big thing to take away from this game - the point guard play. As in, Nebraska will be really solid this year with two terrific distributors who can also get to the basket and free throw line. Combined, 13-21 from the two - make that 17 or 18 of 21 and we've really got something.

 

Do I need to see a psychologist for as obsessed with harping on free throws as I am?!?

 

DEFENSE: C

 

That team should not have scored 31 points in the first half - that's just unacceptable.

 

Also, even 57 for the game is too high.

 

With the above mentioned, let's get to why the point total was a bit bloated (hint: it wasn't all on the defense).

REBOUNDING: F

 

Nebraska allowed the MEAC's South Carolina State to gather SEVENTEEN offensive rebounds.

Let me repeat - seventeen.

 

SCSU also out boarded the Huskers overall (42-36) which should never happen, even if NU shot over 10% better from the field.

 

Leslee Smith had a pretty nice game and brought down seven boards (including five on the offensive end).

 

BALL HANDLING: A

 

11 assists to 5 turnovers - pretty damn good.

 

Funny quote from Coach Miles after the game:

 

"Our turnover count is so low because we take bad shots before we have a chance to turn it over."

 

Touche - let's hope they keep going in.

 

COACHING: A

 

This is really a hard game to assess coaching on. The two teams were on completely different levels and the game was a snooze fest.

 

Nebraska won the game handily in the end, which is all that mattered, and finally played at full strength (minus Mr. Hawkins).

 

In other words, this almost feels like an "N/A" for this particular game.

 

OVERALL GRADE: B-

 

I didn't think Nebraska was particularly good in this game, but they still won by almost 30.

 

Offense and defense were shoddy at times, and the rebounding was putrid.

 

But everyone played and NU goes into the Charleston Classic at 3-0 with its roster at full strength and a chance to win at least 2 games. Do that, and you're looking really good heading into the last few tough non-conference games.

 

PLAYER OF THE GAME: TAI WEBSTER

 

2013-2014 PLAYER OF THE GAME TOTALS:

 

Tai Webster - 1

 

Terran Petteway - 1

 

Shavon Shields - 1
 

[doc1394]

Interesting choice of Webster as your player of the game, I probably would have given it to Biggs. 

[hhcdave]

I thought about Biggs a lot. Gallegos briefly. Even Leslee Smith got strong consideration.

 

I went with Webster just based on his improvements today from the stripe, getting there so often and playing so even keeled while not turning the ball over. Biggs would have been my second choice, followed by Smith and Gallegos.  

 

I also wanted to reward Webster for his play so far and give him his first "POTG" before giving it to a guy who had been suspended.

[tcp]

yeah, I had Biggs as my POTG as well. But I agreed with most of this report card.

 

And, no Dave you're not nuts for harping on free throws. I suspect that we're going to see a lot of shake out for the postseason determined by who shot free's well and who didn't, given the foul emphasis this year.

 

For us to do well in the B1G--given that guard play will be our strength by far--we *must* shoot well from the stripe to compete, because we're going to get eaten alive inside in the conference.

[hhcmatt]

Free Throws are going to win or lose us 5+ games this year.

 

FWIW I think 5 of those offensive boards were dead ball rebounds and a lot of SCST's shots seemed more like prayers....but that's a lot of second chance points and how they ended up getting more than 50 points.

[Huskerpapa]

I will say this about the defense, there were times we flat out played great defense and SC St. threw up a pray that was answered.  But other times, we had slow reactions to pretty predestrian moves.  Consistancy remains the key to this team.  We have a tremendous upside, but it will be interesting to see how we react on the road this week.  We should be a pretty darn good defense on the perimeter.  It should also be interesting to see if we choose to press at any point this year...

[Norm Peterson]

On his post-game, Coach Miles talked about that 5th turnover where Tai tried a half-court lob pass to Shavon on the break but it went over Shavon's head and he couldn't get to it.  He laughed about it and said he was already pulling Tai from the game but told him he'd make him run later.

[runsoastowin]

It should also be interesting to see if we choose to press at any point this year...

I bet that is something we will see this week in Charleston. Nice to have some wrinkles we haven't shown in film yet to break out against UMass or whoever.

[hhcmatt]

On his post-game, Coach Miles talked about that 5th turnover where Tai tried a half-court lob pass to Shavon on the break but it went over Shavon's head and he couldn't get to it.  He laughed about it and said he was already pulling Tai from the game but told him he'd make him run later.

 

I imagined the exchange going thusly:

 

Miles: WTF?

Webster in Australian Accent:  "We're up 20 coach.  What do you want me to do?"

[49r]

 

On his post-game, Coach Miles talked about that 5th turnover where Tai tried a half-court lob pass to Shavon on the break but it went over Shavon's head and he couldn't get to it.  He laughed about it and said he was already pulling Tai from the game but told him he'd make him run later.

 

I imagined the exchange going thusly:

 

Miles: WTF?

Webster in Australian Accent:  "We're up 20 coach.  What do you want me to do?"

 

 

Which would be odd....considering he's Kiwi....

[hhcmatt]

 

 

On his post-game, Coach Miles talked about that 5th turnover where Tai tried a half-court lob pass to Shavon on the break but it went over Shavon's head and he couldn't get to it.  He laughed about it and said he was already pulling Tai from the game but told him he'd make him run later.

 

I imagined the exchange going thusly:

 

Miles: WTF?

Webster in Australian Accent:  "We're up 20 coach.  What do you want me to do?"

 

 

Which would be odd....considering he's Kiwi....

 

 

I can't do a New Zealand accent in my head

[HB]

Regarding turnovers:  I don't want to turn this into a football bashing thread or debate, (and I am probably more positive on football than most these days), but it's pretty funny that both teams had the exact same number of turnovers! 

[49r]

 

 

 

On his post-game, Coach Miles talked about that 5th turnover where Tai tried a half-court lob pass to Shavon on the break but it went over Shavon's head and he couldn't get to it.  He laughed about it and said he was already pulling Tai from the game but told him he'd make him run later.

 

I imagined the exchange going thusly:

 

Miles: WTF?

Webster in Australian Accent:  "We're up 20 coach.  What do you want me to do?"

 

 

Which would be odd....considering he's Kiwi....

 

 

I can't do a New Zealand accent in my head

 

 

It's basically an Aussie accent...  

[49r]

And, just to be clear, I do understand there are important and significant differences in the New Zealand and Australian cultures and language.  I did not intend to offend Tai or Coach Smith, nor our guests cell and slowneasy, I merely wanted to make the joke that there are actually few Americans that understand or know that there are differences.

 

I would imagine there are plenty of New Zealanders and Australians who would be hard pressed to recognize the differences between Americans and Canadians, and yet we all know there are many.  In my mind I view New Zealand is to Australia as Canada is to the US.

 

Sort of the cooler, more scenic, and less populated version of the other.  Sounds quite appealing, actually.

[hhcmatt]

Highlights from the game

 

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[hhcmatt]

Biggs Post Game Interview

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Gallegos Post Game Interview

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