Nebraska ranked 17th in the CBSSports.com 2014-15 Ridiculously Early Preseason Top 25

[Norm Peterson]

Walt needs Dean Smith to go down and spend an hour or so per day showing him some combination moves in the low post.

 

Getting it done in the post is not just about quickness.  It's about quick decisions and knowing what move to make just by feel without even having to think about it.

 

It's like how a dinosaur like me got better at Temple Run 2.  Eventually, you figure out that you have to duck under the fire.  When you first see fire, it takes you too long to think whether to go over or under it and so you run into it instead and get scorched, game over.  But, after a little bit of repetition, you get to a point where you can think ahead.  Fire means duck.  When you see it, you duck.  You take "stopping to think" out of the equation.

 

And so it is with posting up.  Back the defender down, feel where he is, immediately go into your move.  If it's not there, then go into your counter move and if that's not there, kick it back out.  But you have to work the moves enough in practice that it's just second nature.

 

Walt has the quickness and the athleticism as well as the shooting touch to be deadly down low if he decided to be.  Not saying he should never work the perimeter anymore.  Not saying we should be running the ball through the low post all the time like we always tried to do with Maric and Jorge Brian Diaz.  But there are times where that opportunity will be there and we need guys who can take advantage of it. 

 

Several times this year, we had the ball entered to the post and either Smith or Walt tripping over their own feet, not able to get a shot.  Love to see that change.

[GATA]

With Walt's size, athleticism and outside shooting, I'd love to see him add a couple of post-up moves. If he can do that, he might be a poor man's Rasheed Wallace, which would be exceptional!

[Norm Peterson]

With Walt's size, athleticism and outside shooting, I'd love to see him add a couple of post-up moves. If he can do that, he might be a poor man's Rasheed Wallace, which would be exceptional!

And also the dribble drive, which is something Miles had wanted him to add to his arsenal.  With his quickness, he could have some success trying to take opposing bigs off the dribble.  He just needs to learn to drive and finish.

[GATA]

With Walt's size, athleticism and outside shooting, I'd love to see him add a couple of post-up moves. If he can do that, he might be a poor man's Rasheed Wallace, which would be exceptional!

And also the dribble drive, which is something Miles had wanted him to add to his arsenal.  With his quickness, he could have some success trying to take opposing bigs off the dribble.  He just needs to learn to drive and finish.

I will say this, though, I find it difficult to rate how athletic Pitchford is. No doubt he can jump, he seems fast, but he's so darned robotic with the ball that either he's not the most graceful or natural athlete or he's simply thinking too much.

[Tallbaby21]

Anybody see Walt talking to the Admiral in San Antonio after our game?

[49r]

Huskers come in at #23 in the Sporting News' early 2014-15 rankings.

 

 

This is the second poll they did...the first one came right after the final four (we did not appear in that one) and then updated today to account for roster changes.

[FredsSlacks]

Huskers come in at #23 in the Sporting News' early 2014-15 rankings.

 

 

This is the second poll they did...the first one came right after the final four (we did not appear in that one) and then updated today to account for roster changes.

 

If you are an ncaa tournament team and return 95% of your roster + at least 4 new additions as of now,

 

you deserve to be in the preseason top 25.

[HuskerFever]

Huskers come in at #23 in the Sporting News' early 2014-15 rankings.

 

 

This is the second poll they did...the first one came right after the final four (we did not appear in that one) and then updated today to account for roster changes.

 

Shouldn't you have posted this in the "Ridiculously Slightly-Less Early Preseason Top 25" thread? I just can't wait until we just make it in the "Regular Season Top 25."

[49r]

 

Huskers come in at #23 in the Sporting News' early 2014-15 rankings.

 

 

This is the second poll they did...the first one came right after the final four (we did not appear in that one) and then updated today to account for roster changes.

 

Shouldn't you have posted this in the "Ridiculously Slightly-Less Early Preseason Top 25" thread? I just can't wait until we just make it in the "Regular Season Top 25."

 

 

In addition to the KenPom thread, we'll need to have someone maintain a rankings thread too, eh?

[Norm Peterson]

Sucks being good, huh?

[Huskerpapa]

Cheers Pub in Boston also has us in the Top 25...

[49r]

Gary Parrish says....

 

Final thought: The idea that I could reasonably pick the Nebraska Huskers to finish second in the Big Ten -- in men's basketball!!!! -- is surprising even to me, and I'm somebody who always thought Tim Miles would do positive things in Lincoln.

 

But Nebraska second?

 

In men's basketball in the Big Ten?

 

It just sounds kinda crazy, doesn't it?

 

 

Conference Catchup: Wisconsin is an obvious favorite to win the Big Ten