Nebraska #22 in sporting news preseason top 25.

[PimpMario]

In their next magazine Sporting News has Nebraska ranked #22.

 

Michigan, Michigan State and Creighton were not ranked.

 

It is crazy to think we have a shot of being ranked in the pre-season.  

 

After the injury to Smith I certainly wouldn't have voted us in the top 25.

[NeHoops]

I could  understand Michigan and Creighton not being ranked, but Michigan St?!

[PimpMario]

I could  understand Michigan and Creighton not being ranked, but Michigan St?!

 

I agree.  MSU lost A LOT but the name on the front of their shirt, coupled with their recruiting and just as importantly the coach on their bench leads me to believe that they will finish relatively high in the B1G.

 

Although, Izzo's teams usually get stronger as the season goes on.

[49r]

DELUSIONAL!

[colhusker]

DELUSIONAL!

And yet very COOL

[hhcmatt]

After the injury to Smith I certainly wouldn't have voted us in the top 25.

 

In the grand scheme of things Leslee is a role player. It's also probable that Sporting News doesn't know he's out of the year.

[Huskerpapa]

Who cares...the fact that Husker basketball makes it in a top 25 AND to have a first round type player on that team is worth celebrating.   It has been a lot of years since that has happened.

[HuskerFever]

Who cares...the fact that Husker basketball makes it in a top 25 AND to have a first round type player on that team is worth celebrating.   It has been a lot of years since that has happened.

 

I can't even count that high.

[huskerbaseball13]

We may not end up 22 in the end....but this can and should be used by the coaches on the recruiting trail this fall.  The loss of Leslee hurts but nothing we can't overcome.  We just need to play with the same type of energy as we did the last half of the year. 

[PimpMario]

 

After the injury to Smith I certainly wouldn't have voted us in the top 25.

 

In the grand scheme of things Leslee is a role player. It's also probable that Sporting News doesn't know he's out of the year.

 

 

No doubt that Smith was a role player.  He certainly wasn't as important as Petteway, Shields or Pitchford.

 

However it always hurts way more to lose a player, even a role player, when you don't have anyone to step in and fill that role.

 

IN addition the loss of Smiths minutes means that some of Pitchford and Shields minutes won't be as productive because they will have to play more out of position.

[hhcmatt]

 

 

After the injury to Smith I certainly wouldn't have voted us in the top 25.

 

In the grand scheme of things Leslee is a role player. It's also probable that Sporting News doesn't know he's out of the year.

 

 

No doubt that Smith was a role player.  He certainly wasn't as important as Petteway, Shields or Pitchford.

 

However it always hurts way more to lose a player, even a role player, when you don't have anyone to step in and fill that role.

 

 

We have Abraham and Hammond.

[PimpMario]

 

 

 

After the injury to Smith I certainly wouldn't have voted us in the top 25.

 

In the grand scheme of things Leslee is a role player. It's also probable that Sporting News doesn't know he's out of the year.

 

 

No doubt that Smith was a role player.  He certainly wasn't as important as Petteway, Shields or Pitchford.

 

However it always hurts way more to lose a player, even a role player, when you don't have anyone to step in and fill that role.

 

 

We have Abraham and Hammond.

 

 

I thought Hammond was going to redshirt and Moses is no Smith.  I think Smith was more important to us last year than some on letting on.

[Silverbacked1]

And possibly Brandon Walters.

[TheKamdyMan]

And possibly Brandon Walters.

 

hes for next year not this year.

[ShortDust]

And possibly Brandon Walters.

He's a 2015 recruit. Otherwise it'd be even better

[MandRHusker]

I don't think a preseason ranking of 22 is crazy at all. We return all 5 starters who should all be better than last year, some much better. Our only experienced non starter is Parker but we add some quality depth with Moses, Fuller, Tarin Smith and Hammond.

 

Based on what Miles and Co accomplished last year, who returns and some quality additions,  a preseason rating seems reasonable.

[Silverbacked1]

Well not in my world, people play when I want them to.

Oh look something shinny...

[Silverbacked1]

I don't think a preseason ranking of 22 is crazy at all. We return all 5 starters who should all be better than last year, some much better. Our only experienced non starter is Parker but we add some quality depth with Moses, Fuller, Tarin Smith and Hammond.

 

Based on what Miles and Co accomplished last year, who returns and some quality additions,  a preseason rating seems reasonable.

And don't forget Rivers.

[Huskerpapa]

Leslee played an important role, and he can still provide a subtle and not so subtle role this year as well.  By simply being with and around the team will prove beneficial.  He likely is already in the trainers room, the locker room, the weight room and everywhere else the team is.  He can still be vocal.  What he can't do is bang on the practice court...that indeed will be missed.

 

What Moses can likely replace is the overall stats.  He should be able to bang for 16 to 20 minutes a game.  That would replace Leslee's minutes.  From what I understand, he will be able to occupy space, protect the middle and rebound likely equal to, or perhaps even better than Leslee.  Scoring...who knows. 

 

Point is, we should be fine [stats wise,] and arguably perhaps even a bit better.  If Leslee can still provide that leadership/heart intangible, we should be improved over this past year.  At the very least, it seems to be a valid argument.  And that is before consideration is give to Hammond...

 

 

  GP GS MPG PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG ORPG DRPG APG TPG SPG BPG FPG #31 S. Shields 32 32 32.531 12.781 44.3 72.1 31.6 5.75 1.375 4.375 1.594 1.594 0.906 0.281 2.781 #5 T. Petteway 32 32 31.688 18.094 42.6 81.9 32.7 4.844 0.906 3.938 1.625 2.75 0.906 0.75 3.188 #15 R. Gallegos 30 18 28.2 7.3 36.4 75.0 33.5 2.0 0.2 1.8 1.4 0.567 0.833 0.133 1.867 #35 W. Pitchford 32 31 23.188 9.25 47.3 69.4 41.0 4.719 1.125 3.594 0.5 0.469 0.375 0.563 2.531 #0 T. Webster 32 30 22.781 3.938 30.4 61.9 17.1 2.063 0.438 1.625 1.969 1.813 0.75 0.094 2.313 #21 L. Smith 32 1 16.781 5.375 51.9 62.3 0.0 4.813 1.844 2.969 0.375 1.406 0.906 0.625 2.563 #2 D. Rivers 25 14 19.96 3.04 47.4 63.6 33.3 2.92 1.0 1.92 0.4 0.52 1.0 0.52 2.04 #3 B. Parker 32 2 14.906 2.438 47.8 87.5 0.0 1.031 0.063 0.969 0.906 0.406 0.938 0.031 1.531 #1 D. Biggs 15 0 20.533 9.933 42.7 67.2 35.3 3.333 0.867 2.467 1.533 2.267 1.0 0.4 2.8 #4 N. Hawkins 16 0 7.313 1.438 23.3 50.0 31.6 0.938 0.125 0.813 0.313 0.313 0.125 0.0 1.313 #12 M. Peltz 11 0 4.909 0.091 0.0 50.0 0.0 0.818 0.273 0.545 0.091 0.091 0.091 0.0 0.909 #14 S. Vucetic 7 0 2.286 0.571 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.571 0.143 0.429 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.143 0.0  
 
GP GS MPG PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG ORPG DRPG APG TPG SPG BPG FPG

[PimpMario]

I don't think a preseason ranking of 22 is crazy at all. We return all 5 starters who should all be better than last year, some much better. Our only experienced non starter is Parker but we add some quality depth with Moses, Fuller, Tarin Smith and Hammond.

Based on what Miles and Co accomplished last year, who returns and some quality additions, a preseason rating seems reasonable.

And don't forget Rivers.

I think rivers is counted as a starter.

[Norm Peterson]

It doesn't seem possible that Rivers is already a senior.

[ajb5856]

It doesn't seem possible that Rivers is already a senior.

Doesn't seem possible. But it's already year 3 of Miles, which also doesn't seem possible. And I remember the discussion on Rivers seeing minutes as a true freshman with Doc as coach. Time flies.

[49r]

Bleacher Report "experts" have us at #17:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2161938-preseason-ncaa-basketball-rankings-2014-15-br-experts-updated-top-25-poll

 

(it's Bleacher Report, so definitely take it with a grain of salt, but still)

 

17. Nebraska: What happened last season wasn't a fluke. The Cornhuskers enjoy one of the Big Ten's top home-court advantages. It also doesn't hurt to have a player like All-American candidate Terran Petteway.

 

 

Full list below, h/t to Phog.net for compiling.

 

1) UK

2) WI
3) KU
4) AZ
5) NC
6) Duke
7) FL
8) WSU
9) UVA
10) LOU
11) TX
12) Nova
13) Clones
14) Gonzaga
15) OU
16) SMU
17) Huskers
18) KSU
19) Mich 
20) Iowa
21) Harvard
22) VCU
23) Uconn
24) MSU
25) SDSU

[Silverbacked1]

And if Rivers should leave and then his min. As a soph. And then why isn't he playing and then he is playing great down the stretch.

We as fans have been all over the place with our thoughts on David, haven't we?

[49r]

And if Rivers should leave and then his min. As a soph. And then why isn't he playing and then he is playing great down the stretch.

We as fans have been all over the place with our thoughts on David, haven't we?

 

I've always liked the kid.  I'm hoping for big things for him for his senior year.