Tarin Smith is N

[Norm Peterson]

He might not displace Terran in the starting lineup, but he could take Gallegos' place.  A lot depends on how good of a transfer big man we get and whether Walt stays at the (sort of) 5 or moves to more of a 4, which would knock Rivers out of the starting role he had when he took Gallegos's starts.  Either way, there still may be room for Tai in the starting lineup and I'm not yet ready to bet against it.

[Hooper]

He might not displace Terran in the starting lineup, but he could take Gallegos' place.  A lot depends on how good of a transfer big man we get and whether Walt stays at the (sort of) 5 or moves to more of a 4, which would knock Rivers out of the starting role he had when he took Gallegos's starts.  Either way, there still may be room for Tai in the starting lineup and I'm not yet ready to bet against it.

 

Yeah, I agree that there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle. I have to believe they'll put the best five on the court next year. One thing every configuration of the line-up needs, though, is a true PG, and Miles likes Tai more as an off-guard than as a true PG. To me, that gives Tarin a very high probability of starting next season. Whether or not Tai would remain in the starting line-up as a 2 guard remains to be seen. I'd say there's a pretty decent chance of that happening depending on how he improves from now until next season. Of course, we'll have to see who's added to the class.

 

I just feel that Tarin, being the only true PG on next year's squad, has a very good chance to be a starter.

[doc1394]

So the Huskers are going to have a freshman starting point guard for three straight seasons? I'd rather just see Benny start and establish that defensive prescence from beginning.

[TheKamdyMan]

So the Huskers are going to have a freshman starting point guard for three straight seasons? I'd rather just see Benny start and establish that defensive prescence from beginning.

 

I see it the other way.  Benny is a spark plug, a change of pace guy if you will, and the majority of the time those guys produce better coming off the bench.

[Timforthewin]

Tarin Smith just tweeted this at Ayegba Moses Abraham. Gotta think he's N too!

[uneblinstu]

 

So the Huskers are going to have a freshman starting point guard for three straight seasons? I'd rather just see Benny start and establish that defensive prescence from beginning.

 

I see it the other way.  Benny is a spark plug, a change of pace guy if you will, and the majority of the time those guys produce better coming off the bench.

 

Sometimes those guys develop into more than that. Benny's got a chance and should be given it to be more than just a spark plug. He's earned that.

[Norm Peterson]

Tweeted that this morning?  Looks like Tarin will need to charge his phone soon, bro.

[Norm Peterson]

 

He might not displace Terran in the starting lineup, but he could take Gallegos' place.  A lot depends on how good of a transfer big man we get and whether Walt stays at the (sort of) 5 or moves to more of a 4, which would knock Rivers out of the starting role he had when he took Gallegos's starts.  Either way, there still may be room for Tai in the starting lineup and I'm not yet ready to bet against it.

 

Yeah, I agree that there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle. I have to believe they'll put the best five on the court next year. One thing every configuration of the line-up needs, though, is a true PG, and Miles likes Tai more as an off-guard than as a true PG. To me, that gives Tarin a very high probability of starting next season. Whether or not Tai would remain in the starting line-up as a 2 guard remains to be seen. I'd say there's a pretty decent chance of that happening depending on how he improves from now until next season. Of course, we'll have to see who's added to the class.

 

I just feel that Tarin, being the only true PG on next year's squad, has a very good chance to be a starter.

 

And I don't know enough about Smith yet.  We'll see what happens.  I think Tai will improve enough in the off-season that it will be hard to keep him off the floor.

[TheKamdyMan]

 

 

So the Huskers are going to have a freshman starting point guard for three straight seasons? I'd rather just see Benny start and establish that defensive prescence from beginning.

 

I see it the other way.  Benny is a spark plug, a change of pace guy if you will, and the majority of the time those guys produce better coming off the bench.

 

Sometimes those guys develop into more than that. Benny's got a chance and should be given it to be more than just a spark plug. He's earned that.

 

 

Then my question back would be if hes earned it, and somehow developed the ability to shoot beyond 12 feet in a game, why wouldnt it be best to keep him as the 6th man?  We all know the second unit lacked scoring ability last year.  Walt, Terran, and Shavon can score, they need a facilitator.  If Benny can now score we need him on the floor when the other options are taking a breather.  Manu Ginobili is a perfect example of a guy thats capable of starting but is better served coming off the bench.  I dont see that from Benny as a comparison but feel that the role is better suited for him to get more production there than if he was starting and having to give up the rock.

[uneblinstu]

 

 

 

So the Huskers are going to have a freshman starting point guard for three straight seasons? I'd rather just see Benny start and establish that defensive prescence from beginning.

 

I see it the other way.  Benny is a spark plug, a change of pace guy if you will, and the majority of the time those guys produce better coming off the bench.

 

Sometimes those guys develop into more than that. Benny's got a chance and should be given it to be more than just a spark plug. He's earned that.

 

 

Then my question back would be if hes earned it, and somehow developed the ability to shoot beyond 12 feet in a game, why wouldnt it be best to keep him as the 6th man?  We all know the second unit lacked scoring ability last year.  Walt, Terran, and Shavon can score, they need a facilitator.  If Benny can now score we need him on the floor when the other options are taking a breather.  Manu Ginobili is a perfect example of a guy thats capable of starting but is better served coming off the bench.  I dont see that from Benny as a comparison but feel that the role is better suited for him to get more production there than if he was starting and having to give up the rock.

 

Maybe that's the case, and that's fine, every team needs guys that come off the bench and contribute, but I'm not going to limit him to that role. I think it's going to be an interesting battle over the offseason and in the fall to see who emerges at that PG spot. I just think Benny should be (and will be) given the opportunity to compete to be more than the sixth man.

[bball23]

You know what the beauty of all this is?  That guys are going to have to COMPETE for minutes next year which in turn makes your team better.  They work harder, practice harder, etc....I honestly could care less who starts, I think its one of the most over-rated things in sports.  Tell me who ends the game?  Plays in crunch time.  Those are the guys I worry about.  Sure some guys get a kick out of hearing their name announced over the loud speakers in the starting lineup...but honestly, what's it matter?  Give me 5 solid guys to give me that last 5 minutes of the game.  Or those 5 guys that can stop a run, make a big shot, get a key defensive stop...

[bball23]

No matter what position Tai plays next year, I firmly believe he'll come back a much better player.  And I, for one, am not going to bet on seeing him out of the starting lineup.  I think we'll see a much better Tai Webster next year in all facets of the game.  My only hope is that Pitchford and Smith improve as much.

Norm, couldn't agree more.  I'm with you 100% on this.  I was just telling a co-worker today that too many people have "given up" (and that may be too harsh) on Tai....Tai in my eyes is still going to be damn good.  Guy has the tools, body, potential.  Just last year was a tough adjustment for him.  He now knows what to expect and will work on that this summer.  Some people also were saying Petteway early in the year was "killing our team" "shoots too much" etc.....I (and not to toot my own horn) immediately posted that for years NU has lacked that "go to" guy in which Terran was trying to be.  He proved a lot of people wrong on how good he is.  I expect Tai to show great improvements from this year to next.  Look at how many times Tai was able to get to the rim but simply couldn't finish....if he can get just a tad stronger and now knows what to expect he can make that adjustment.  I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Tai is a 8-9 PPG guy next year, 3-4 assists and just does what is needed for us to do well.

[hhcmatt]

 

What are the odds Smith starts in the Fall? I'll say 80/20 he does.

I will come back to this once we see who all ends up in the fold.

 

 

I'd say more like 20/80 at the start of the year, 80/20 at the end of the year.  

We have 7 guys with game experience coming back from a NCAA tourney team and he's going to need to outplay Benny.

It's going to be tough for any of the new guys to initially crack the starting rotation.

[HuskerFever]

Tweeted that this morning?  Looks like Tarin will need to charge his phone soon, bro.

 

You can't just start going around throwing "bro" out everywhere...you have to earn it.

 

Peltz didn't make it on the All-Bro team for nothing. Tarin is young, he'll learn.

[Handy Johnson]

I'm interested to see where Nick Fuller will fit into all of this, PT, rotations, etc. I'm also convinced Miles will bring in a JUCO 2/3 that will  step right in and help. I too think Tai has a big upside,  many people where simply swayed by what Fran Drescher said of his "Top 25" status.

[Hooper]

Tai should be much better next year. The staff told people at gatherings that part of Tai's shooting struggles were associated with them changing his shooting mechanics during the season. They made the decision to tinker with it during the season knowing that it could negatively impact his shooting, which it appears to have done. They didn't want to wait to correct it. Hopefully his shooting takes a major step forward next season. 

 

I still believe that Tai's progress will really be hindered by going back to NZ this summer. He needs to stay in Lincoln and work out with his teammates. If Tai goes to NZ, his chances of starting next season drop dramatically in my opinion, and I don't believe the staff would be too thrilled about it either.

[gobigredbrah]

[Hooper]

When I read quotes like the one below, I feel Miles is telling us fairly clearly what his mindset is. He felt the 2013-2014 squad lacked a true PG and doesn't see either Benny or Tai as a true PG. That's why I feel Tarin will probably start for most of next season. Obviously, a lot can happen between now and then, but I'll be surprised if we don't see Tarin in the starting line-up. Benny, to me, will continue to have the same role next season as he did last season -- a spark off the bench.

 

“I think a true point was a big priority,” said Miles, entering his third season. “We’ve got some guys who can play the point, and we’ve got some guys who really excel in certain areas. You look at Benny Parker, who’s an awesome defensive stopper, but we need a guy who, on offense, also could do some things to set other guys up and yet make plays for himself. I think Tarin can do that.

[Silverbacked1]

Nice!

[AuroranHusker]

I'm interested to see where Nick Fuller will fit into all of this, PT, rotations, etc. I'm also convinced Miles will bring in a JUCO 2/3 that will  step right in and help. I too think Tai has a big upside,  many people where simply swayed by what Fran Drescher said of his "Top 25" status.

 

Well, now all I can hear is that crazed-hyena laugh from that TV show "The Nanny"....

 

 

 

[bTW, it's Fran Fraschilla]

[jimmykc]

Glad you picked that up Auroran. I was about to ask about Roseanne Barr's take on Tai.

[hhcmatt]

 

I'm interested to see where Nick Fuller will fit into all of this, PT, rotations, etc. I'm also convinced Miles will bring in a JUCO 2/3 that will  step right in and help. I too think Tai has a big upside,  many people where simply swayed by what Fran Drescher said of his "Top 25" status.

 

Well, now all I can hear is that crazed-hyena laugh from that TV show "The Nanny"....

 

 

 

[bTW, it's Fran Fraschilla]

 

 

I'm 99% sure he did that on purpose

[Handy Johnson]

I try to make sure you guys are paying attention...

[The Coach]

I still don't know why they would mess with Tai's shooting mechanics - the kid shot 62% from 3s during the Olympic trials.  Leave his shot alone.

 

I really believe 90% of shooting is mental/confidence.  Heck, I've seen plenty of female players with "questionable" form that shoot lights out.  Having a consistent and comfortable release is the most important thing.

[Hooper]

I still don't know why they would mess with Tai's shooting mechanics - the kid shot 62% from 3s during the Olympic trials.  Leave his shot alone.

 

I really believe 90% of shooting is mental/confidence.  Heck, I've seen plenty of female players with "questionable" form that shoot lights out.  Having a consistent and comfortable release is the most important thing.

 

Tai's shooting performance in the Olympic trials was a statistical anomaly that was not duplicated either at Westlake Boy's School or the Waikato Pistons. I wouldn't use that small statistical data set to support the premise that Tai's shooting was just fine. Obviously, the Nebraska staff disagreed.