The Petteway Factor

[Wayne Pesek]

On one hand, I'm sort of glad to know there's an explanation for his frustrating behavior this year.  On the other hand, I hate what the source of that frustration is.  Anyone who has been close to cancer (and these days, it seems as though that includes almost everyone) knows how it can beat you up psychologically.  His mother's situation was also the first thing I thought of when I heard the comment from Coach Harriman.  I was hoping that wasn't it, hoping for something like girl trouble instead.  From the what Miles said, it sounds like some of his teammates were also not aware of what might  be going on with him, not just  us wackos on evil message boards.  I think his sharing this with the team is bound to be a good thing.  He doesn't have to carry the burden by himself.  Hopefully, this will relieve some of the pressure and he can enjoy playing basketball again.  There have been many times this season when it appears as though he isn't having fun.  This revelation might explain why.  I hope he can play with a little less pressure now, and that basketball gives him a bit of a respite from his troubles.  And wishing nothing but the best for his mother.

[hal9000]

I also would like to see how TP would fit in with a team which has other scoring options. I would think pro scouts might like to see this too. The pressure of being the sole "scoring option" for this team has to be a mental burden. Shields seems to have a different mind set and although he is a good scorer, seems to fit in to the "dependable best buddy" role comfortably. However, family situation, financial considerations, possibility of injury, and projected draft position will ultimately be the deciding factors rather than the fate of the program here next year.

Totally agree.  I think this will take a lot of the scoring burden that seems to be weighing on TP this year.  Wasn't near as much of an issue last year, as others were stepping up and scoring as well.  Terran is going to do what's best for Terran, but I really really hope he come's back next year. 

 

Think what kind of an offense we'll have next year, with TP, White, Shields, a rejuvenated Pitchford, and maybe one or two of the new players.

[Silverbacked1]

Now I hope he goes off for like 40 and we roll Purdue.

[Wayne Pesek]

Don't know if this has already been posted, so sorry if everyone has already seen it.  A good explanation from Terran and Coach Miles.

 

http://www.huskers.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3722201&db_oem_id=100

[Noah121]

This reminds me of Kelsey Griffin's (and my) junior year, when she was not playing up to her potential because of worrying about her dad, Jim, who had cancer.  Of course, homesickness was a much more pernicious thing for her, all the way from Alaska.

 

He was in remission, if I recall correctly, by the Creighton game of my senior year. 

 

The worry about her dad definitely affected her basketball play, but didn't cause her to get overly aggressive.  It's one of the things that makes men and women different in terms of responding to emotional distress.

[Husker Fan]

This team would struggle SO much without TP.  I get that he wears his emotions on his sleeves.  I get that he can sometimes get too emotional.  I get that he sometimes needs to calm down.

 

I also get that this team would be a damn mess without TP.  TP will go down as one of my favorite Huskers of all time! And quite frankly I get so sick and tired of people bitching out TP!  Who the hell else is going to get shots late in the shot clock?  Who else is going to drop 19 PPG, bust his ASS night in and night out for his teammates?  Who else is going to guard the best player on the court a lot of times?  Who else put this team on his back last year and took us to the NCAA tourney? 

 

Sorry to vent, but I get so damn tired of people bitching about TP.  When TP is gone, I want all of you bashers to think damn hard about how much we miss that dude.

Boy is he talented.  And you are correct, we lose a lot of games without him.  But we may be a better TEAM without him, as far as better team chemistry.  If we don't think the other players see what Miles allows TP to get away with??????  Can't be condusive to great team chemistry.

[HB]

This team would struggle SO much without TP.  I get that he wears his emotions on his sleeves.  I get that he can sometimes get too emotional.  I get that he sometimes needs to calm down.

 

I also get that this team would be a damn mess without TP.  TP will go down as one of my favorite Huskers of all time! And quite frankly I get so sick and tired of people bitching out TP!  Who the hell else is going to get shots late in the shot clock?  Who else is going to drop 19 PPG, bust his ASS night in and night out for his teammates?  Who else is going to guard the best player on the court a lot of times?  Who else put this team on his back last year and took us to the NCAA tourney? 

 

Sorry to vent, but I get so damn tired of people bitching about TP.  When TP is gone, I want all of you bashers to think damn hard about how much we miss that dude.

Boy is he talented.  And you are correct, we lose a lot of games without him.  But we may be a better TEAM without him, as far as better team chemistry.  If we don't think the other players see what Miles allows TP to get away with??????  Can't be condusive to great team chemistry.

We are no way, shape, or form a better team without TP, as far as anything.

[hal9000]

 

This team would struggle SO much without TP.  I get that he wears his emotions on his sleeves.  I get that he can sometimes get too emotional.  I get that he sometimes needs to calm down.

 

I also get that this team would be a damn mess without TP.  TP will go down as one of my favorite Huskers of all time! And quite frankly I get so sick and tired of people bitching out TP!  Who the hell else is going to get shots late in the shot clock?  Who else is going to drop 19 PPG, bust his ASS night in and night out for his teammates?  Who else is going to guard the best player on the court a lot of times?  Who else put this team on his back last year and took us to the NCAA tourney? 

 

Sorry to vent, but I get so damn tired of people bitching about TP.  When TP is gone, I want all of you bashers to think damn hard about how much we miss that dude.

Boy is he talented.  And you are correct, we lose a lot of games without him.  But we may be a better TEAM without him, as far as better team chemistry.  If we don't think the other players see what Miles allows TP to get away with??????  Can't be condusive to great team chemistry.

 

I disagree.  I think Miles gives all of his players a lot of freedom when it comes to taking shots.  As for Terran's emotions, Miles has, to his credit I believe, been very forgiving because he knows him a lot better than we do, and has accepted that that's who he is.  It's just a different coaching philosophy.  There's always going to be lines to cross.  Some coaches choose to draw a single line for the entire team and if someone crosses it he gets benched.  Other coaches, and I believe Miles is one, recognizes that each player is different and needs to be handled with different gloves.  

 

As I stated above, I think we'll be a better team with him next year, chemistry wise as you say, with Terran and (hopefully) better scorers on the floor with him.

[Silverbacked1]

If he is such a bad guy why has he been voted team captan by his teammates this and last year.

Also when I played I know there was different rules for different guys, that is the way of life. Look at all the guys in jail, did they all do the more than somebody who is doing less time or didn't get put in jail at all?

So unless we are there at practice every day and eating with the team, hang out with them, going to classes with them, absolutely know for sure we need to quit guessing.

[hhcmatt]

 

This team would struggle SO much without TP.  I get that he wears his emotions on his sleeves.  I get that he can sometimes get too emotional.  I get that he sometimes needs to calm down.

 

I also get that this team would be a damn mess without TP.  TP will go down as one of my favorite Huskers of all time! And quite frankly I get so sick and tired of people bitching out TP!  Who the hell else is going to get shots late in the shot clock?  Who else is going to drop 19 PPG, bust his ASS night in and night out for his teammates?  Who else is going to guard the best player on the court a lot of times?  Who else put this team on his back last year and took us to the NCAA tourney? 

 

Sorry to vent, but I get so damn tired of people bitching about TP.  When TP is gone, I want all of you bashers to think damn hard about how much we miss that dude.

Boy is he talented.  And you are correct, we lose a lot of games without him.  But we may be a better TEAM without him, as far as better team chemistry.  If we don't think the other players see what Miles allows TP to get away with??????  Can't be condusive to great team chemistry.

 

 

I get what you're saying and if you want to look at chemistry look at last year's team before and after Biggs left.  Miles sat him for disciplinarian reasons and ultimately dismissed him from the team.  Biggs was talented but the team seemed to play better without him.

 

Here's the thing about TP though,,,he's a guy that players on the team look up to not only because of his ability but his relentless commitment to team and effort. We're talking about a team chemistry issue based on your emotional leader going through personal issues...not a malcontent bringing down the team. I'm not sure how TP riding the bench without explanation to the team improves our team chemistry though. It certainly doesn't lead to a better team nor record.

[RailyardBum]

Referencing the topic of benching TP when his emotions get out of control. They sat him down for a short time during the 2nd half vs Wisky to settle him down and have done it in other games as well. Harriman talked about it a little too in his interview on the Ticket that sometimes they do need to sit him down. It's tough to take him out of the game more than a minute or 2 though, because we are an even bigger offensive disaster without him on the floor.

[PeltzFan12]

Guys, I know we see Terran on the court and from an outsiders perspective, that's all we have to go on, as far as judgement.  As per usual, there's typically more to the story.  I know this isn't an excuse for many, but it does shed a significant amount of light into his personal situation.  Sometimes it's easy to forget that these guys are 18-22 year old young men dealing with life issues besides basketball.  My 8 year old son attended a few Husker basketball camps in the past and he was lucky enough to have Terran as one of his "coaches".   I can't say enough good things about how he was engaged and focused on those kids.  It wasn't something that he did 50% or 60%.  A few months passed, and my son attended the Husker buddies event.  Terran and Shavon both recognized my son and took the time to ask him how he was doing in school and with basketball, really cool stuff that college kids don't have to do.  Terran also took the time to work with my boy on a couple of dribble moves. In all of my conversations with Terran, he's been very courteous and respectful.  I know we haven't always seen that in regards to some of the emotions out on the court, but he's an emotional guy.  Thoughts and Prayers to him and his family.

[hhcmatt]

 

FWIW, I don't think Miles was specifically talking about message boards nor talking about this one, which I doubt he reads. (others from the program do though). and don't recall a lot of specifically overboard criticism here. I have seen/heard a lot worse on other boards as well as social media or the radio. Not to pat ourselves on the back too much, but we're a little bit more committed than the "blame the coach/best player without digging deeper" crowd that hangs out elsewhere.

 

Petteway gets talked about more than anyone because he's so polarizing though I don't think he takes significantly more grief than guys like Gallegos or whomever the lightning rod for any particular season has taken. TP's game has flaws and his personal life shouldn't stop us from discussing it. However, he should receive the same level of civility that should be afforded to all the students on our teams.

 

There are always going to be positives and negatives coming out of a place like this. Overall I feel this site is a net positive on several levels towards our players and university. If I didn't feel that way, I wouldn't be here.

[hhctony]

I posted on Facebook and will continue to believe that Terran Petteway might be one of my all-time favorite Huskers. I think that says something because my high school years were 1991-1994 when we made the tournament all four years. Petteway has changed the trajectory of this program and the expectations. For that, I'll always be thankful. As Miles said, "He bet on Nebraska when nobody else would."

[HuskerFever]

"He bet on Nebraska when nobody else would."

 

Or better yet I hope it becomes...

 

"He bet on Nebraska so that future players will."