Comfort zone in recruiting

[royalfan]

Obviously big men that are excellent are harder to find.  There are fewer of them.  So my quesiton is, will Miles get more comfortable attacking them harder as the time marches on after coming to the realization that he is having success on the perimiter, at least on paper?  I think he may be finding a lot of success with his targets out there and he is more comfortable identifying perimiter talent and closing on them.  I am just hopeful he learns what types of bigs we need and can figure out a way to get those kinds of players here.  Not sure I made any sense whatsover, just curious what others think of the current recruiting plan and if it needs to be tweeked a shade to the bigger guys, given the somewhat ease of success on the outside.  Obviously it is a tricky deal as you want to make damn sure you are strong at the positions your scheme revolves around.  I certainly trust Miles, so don't want this to come off negatively. 

[hskr4life]

I think just an average big man or two (Moses and Leslee can hold you down if you are strong on the outside.  We have seen this with this team so far.  We just have to wait for that one big man to bite so we can be great.  Who knows when that will be.  I think Hammond will be one of those ok big guys that can hold you down in a year or two.

[FredsSlacks]

as of now, we lose leslee and moses and have nobody over 6'8 coming in.

 

it seems very likely at least 1 player will transfer/leave, so that will be our chance to get a big guy.

[ajb5856]

The thing I see with Miles and the type of player he likes is that they are long players with multiple skill sets. He loves the 6'6"-6'8" wing type player that can play multiple spots. He loves shooters and he loves them even more if they are left handed. I dont know for sure but maybe he feels like he can win without an elite post. You're right, good big men are few and far between. The elite type, there are maybe just several a year that will be studs. Maybe Miles knows his odds of getting one of the few (they usually go to Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky) are basically zero so he really hits the skilled perimeter guys hard and figures he can win with just s serviceable "big". That's kinda my thought, is that his offense is really tailored to that skilled wing player. I think a lot of this discussion is a little premature anyhow. By next year, Hammond may be that serviceable big already and may turn out better than we expect. He was Rivals top 150 at one point at the time he signed. Maybe Morrow comes in and does some nice things in the paint next year. Maybe Jacobsen does some nice things. Kind of all over the place but 1) Maybe Miles offense doesn't need an elite big and 2) maybe it's too early to to tell for some of the current "bigs" and incoming potential paint players.

[AuroranHusker]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if/when NU signs a 'big' this spring w/ a JUCO or another grad transfer after that in the summer like Moses... and, of course, there's always a possibility of a traditional transfer like a Pitch or an Agau-type after the season is over. Highly doubt the Huskers don't grab a bigger 'big' before next year...

[ajb5856]

as of now, we lose leslee and moses and have nobody over 6'8 coming in.

it seems very likely at least 1 player will transfer/leave, so that will be our chance to get a big guy.

I see what you're saying but we have 6-8, 6-8, and 6-7 coming in, and that extra possible spot you mention to possibly grab a big this spring.

[royalfan]

To try to be more clear on my point, I wonder if Miles will be more aggressive on big men due to the success he has had on the perimiter.  I would assume that there are several other perimiter guys that he liked that we will not have room for.  I am curious if he will shift the focus just a touch knowing he can probably still land perimter guys he likes, to try and land slightly better bigs. 

 

That being said, I am certainly in the camp that we can win without elite bigs.  But landing one every once in a while would sure help. 

[Huskerpapa]

I do believe he has to get the "Moses" type player here.  Given the type of offense and defense that we like to run, we need that big body who can own the paint on the defensive end and set picks and get to the hoop occasionally on the offensive side.  Moses and Leslee both fit the bill this year.  Next year...we do not have that BIG on our roster.

[AuroranHusker]

Personally, I'm not sure that Nebraska needs a top-shelf big, unless it'a Frank Kaminsky clone. A guy who goes from 6'-4" to 6'-9" in a summer (from "The Journey" tonight). If NU ever does have a big in the mold of a Maric again, it would seem kind of odd (for whatever reason).

[Dean Smith]

If you like to win trophies, then good post players are really helpful. I'm not following the, "Miles doesn't want...We don't need..." Comments about post players. We DESPERATELY need someone who can add a post up game to this team. Losing is not the end if the world and winnings doesn't mean we have no more problems. Many times tonight the offense looked just as lost as earlier in the year. The high-low from Rivers to Pitchford was fine art to my eyes. When you HAVE to get a basket a post threat makes such a huge difference. If we are going to be a consistently quality/tournament team, we need a consistent tournament quality post game.

[hhcmatt]

We do need some elite post players if we want to go from good to elite. We don't need to be elite to win a tourney game so hopefully we can build the sort of momentum it takes to land these guys and we can continue to fake it until we make it.

If we can't grab elite 6'11-7'0 guys we should get those 6-8/6-9 240-250# guys...which are exactly what Leslee and Moses are. (hopefully healthy)  Hopefully Morrow and Jacobson put on some weight because neither guy is currently listed over 215#

 

At this point I think we need more shooting and hopefully we have recruited that. If our strategy is to pull a big man grad/JUCO let us hope it's a good strategy.

[bobcat402]

Percentage wise alone humans beings over 6'10 are rare, The ones that can walk and chew bubble gum and play basketball are  elite top 20 players, we came close with ERobinson, real close, and we get close again, just have to be patient, but we do need a big man that can score in the post, it makes everything easier, draws fouls, when shots are not falling throw it inside and get easy points, changes opposing offense just being on the floor. 

[jimmykc]

I think Egwoo, or whatever his name is, from Illinois is a prime example of the type of guy we need to look for every few years. He only scored two points but played 30+ minutes for a reason. I think most decent Div.I programs have a legitimate chance of locating someone like him and can leave the "one and done" bigs on the table for KU or Kentucky to worry about.

[Fullbacksympathy]

Anyone notice Walt playing bigger lately?  The last two games, he's still proving a deadly threat from outside, but I'm seeing him finish near the bucket more, and it's glorious.  Even when he went to the rim and fell down on the dribble last night, it was a good aggressive play.  A little more composure (comes with practice) and he has an easy finish there.  It's really nice having Moses and Leslee back in the lineup though because Walt is a VERY good 4 who can play the 5 when he has to. 

 

I think we fielded a lineup that was 6'9"-6'10"-6'7"-6'7"-6'2" at one point.  It makes a huge difference defensively when your 6'7" guards can switch and help on the perimeter.  One healthy big makes us go from a small team to a big team with virtually the same lineup. 

[Norm Peterson]

Fat Elbert has scored just 2 points in LSU's last 5 games.  He had elite size, but not much eliteness otherwise, apparently.  Hopefully, LSU's bag men didn't have to spend too much on him.  Should have saved more of that money for Skal Labissiere.

 

While it's true that that human beings 6'10" or taller are exceedingly rare, it is also true that human beings of any size capable of playing upper-level D1 basketball are also exceedingly rare.  It's just a fact that when you get to this level of competition, there aren't a lot of people in the world capable of playing at this level.

 

But, then, there also aren't a lot of teams that compete at this level, so it kind of balances out.

 

In thinking about this topic, I think one of the real misfortunes in Leslee Smith getting injured was that Jacob Hammond was not able to redshirt.  Because he hasn't played a lot of minutes, I would imagine some might say he's probably not that good anyway.

 

But, in the few minutes of action I've seen him in, he showed decent quicks for a guy his size, reasonable athleticism and, honestly, some pretty reasonable skill.  He grabbed an aggressive board or two during the action he's had.  Seems to have some feel for the game.  And I think he could develop into a player who could give us some good minutes, grab some boards and even manage to score some points.

 

I agree strongly with Dean Smith.  We need a big.  Not only to give you a scoring option inside but also to defend the bigs our conference foes will inevitably be able to send out against us.

[Fullbacksympathy]

Good point on Hammond.  I see nothing but a good player there.  I think he's a legitimate prospect, and that he'll pan out well.  Bold prediction:  he'll lead the BIG in blocked shots one season. 

 

I mean, I'm seeing a SUPER high shot-blocking IQ. 

[Donkey]

Based upon what Miles has done in the past and what he is doing now, Miles' recruiting seems to fall into three categories:

 

1.  6'5" and below players: focuses on focus on ball handling and passing.  Shooting skills are a bonus.

 

2.  6'6"-6'8" players: focus on scoring ability.  

 

3.  6'9" and above players: Rebounding and blocking shots emphasis.

 

Please note that that players recruited by Miles must be good defenders.  

 

Assuming the above strategy is the case, most of the 6'9" and above guys targeted by Miles are great athletes who are not great (maybe not even good) offensively but are committed to rebounding and defense.  This focus would allow Miles to recruit a wider range of big guys.  As long as Miles offensive philosophy works, I am good with that type of focus.  Its similar to what Duke has done in the past. 

[Norm Peterson]

Hammond needed the redshirt year to bulk up a bit and develop.  But I think he has some tools and a platform to build on.  I hope he spends his free time at Hendricks developing a couple of go-to low-post moves.  Take the video of that Rivers move from last night, from all the angles it was filmed from, and put it on an endless loop and just have it play during study hall every night.  Perhaps they can absorb it by osmosis.

[Norm Peterson]

Based upon what Miles has done in the past and what he is doing now, Miles' recruiting seems to fall into three categories:

 

1.  6'5" and below players: focuses on focus on ball handling and passing.  Shooting skills are a bonus.

 

2.  6'6"-6'8" players: focus on scoring ability.  

 

3.  6'9" and above players: Rebounding and blocking shots emphasis.

 

Please note that that players recruited by Miles must be good defenders.  

 

Assuming the above strategy is the case, most of the 6'9" and above guys targeted by Miles are great athletes who are not great (maybe not even good) offensively but are committed to rebounding and defense.  This focus would allow Miles to recruit a wider range of big guys.  As long as Miles offensive philosophy works, I am good with that type of focus.  Its similar to what Duke has done in the past. 

6'9" athletic guys with rocks for hands come in as back-ups even for Miles.

 

I want Derrick Chandler:  tall, athletic, with some skill, and a little bit mean.

[Huskerpapa]

Derrick Chandler, Kamani Ffriend, Venson Hamilton, Carl McPipe, Chuck Jura...

[hhcmatt]

I think Egwoo, or whatever his name is, from Illinois is a prime example of the type of guy we need to look for every few years. He only scored two points but played 30+ minutes for a reason. I think most decent Div.I programs have a legitimate chance of locating someone like him and can leave the "one and done" bigs on the table for KU or Kentucky to worry about.

 

He absolutely shut down the paint for a lot of the night.  At one point Shields drove into the lane and tried to angle in a shot while falling down to avoid a block. He missed poorly.

[lanigan123]

I think he has been aggressive. That being said, do you grab a 6 10 guy just to grab one or do you grab a better wing? Nebraska has recruited and offered several bigs, several highly rated guys. I think they add some height next year. Also, please name me the big UConn had last year when they won it all? Not many teams have great bigs. If you look at the top 150 offer list of bigs Nebraska has offer d many of them. I really like Barrett Benson for 2016. He would be a great get.

I think the better big will happen, but I don't mind taking a really good wing over a below average big.

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska has recruited and offered several bigs, several highly rated guys. I think they add some height next year. 

 

Great point...2016 wasn't on my radar yet but it's on the coaches'.  Check out the list of centers we have offered here.

We're going after some big fish....hopefully we can do enough on and off the court to attract at least one of these guys.

[lanigan123]

Yes and beyond those we offered Isaac Humphries who will be a center, not a forward. Also shown some interest in Joey Brunk. All guys who are 2016. I don't think its a lack of trying.

[royalfan]

So perhaps the focus is indeed shifting to bigs a little more, like I think it should slightly.  I am confident Miles knows what he is doing, but he hasn't really coached at a level like this yet where pretty solid big men are needed to win, if not really good ones.