Jack as a starter, NOT Tai

[Handy Johnson]

Granted this was one of the better backcourts we'll see all year, but having Tai play as many minutes as he is this year AND next makes me queasy. Whatever he provides with on the ball defense he lacks in decision making, shot selection and an overall lack of awareness. Jack provides greater length, rebounding, and shooting. For a freshman, the moment doesn't seem too big for him. And yes I imagine Watson will be starting long before Conference play...  

[BannedAccount]

Everyone in an earlier thread wanted to crown Tai for his performance in Spain.  After watching those games and the exhibition game and first game I'm still not a believer.  He has no ability to create and hit a jumpshot, most of his drives result in TO's, and he just seems out of place on the court.  I don't know if Jack is the man to play the 2 guard spot, maybe move White to that position, but I do not like Jack playing the 5 as he was at times last night.  

[burgundy95]

All he shots Tai took went off the glass. How can you be that off? He has the talent and athleticism. I think it's all between the ears for him. Very skittish and is thinking too much out there. Just play and let the game come to you! I hope he can turn it around. We need him to be much better. 

[Norm Peterson]

You guys realize this was just one game, right?  And a game against a team with some of the best guards we're going to see all year.

 

I don't think anyone has "crowned" Tai with anything.  There have certainly been favorable observations about what we'd seen up until last night, but no one had anointed him the second coming of Cookie Belcher or anything.

[TheKamdyMan]

I would like to see it.  Of course I'd like to see Watson and Morrow in that lineup as well but doubt we will see that for a bit.

[jimmykc]

After reading the board today I believe Tai may qualify for the brand new HHC Sek Henry award.

[Coaches kid]

I agree with Norm that one game against a really good team is not enough of a "body of work" to dismiss Tai as a possible contributor on offense this year. That being said, it appears that if he can't make it to the rack off of the dribble, he has no other options in his offensive arsenal. He needs at least one other tool. I would think that with his athleticism, a pull up leaner in the lane or a teardrop runner of some sort would make his game way more effective. I hope he can develop something because his length and defense against big guards will be needed when we reach Big Ten play. 

 

We simply cannot have two people on the floor which pose no offensive threat. That is a recipe for disaster. That's why playing McVeigh, White and Shields at the same time may have to be an option Coach considers (with Watson at point). Against certain lineups where the opposing 5 is not an offensive threat, this could work, so you could get away with Hammond and Morrow splitting minutes at the 5, or maybe play with 5 out. We will see.

[Ron Mexico]

Every time Tai and Benny are in the game we are going to see this. Teams are going to dare them to hit jump shots. I trusts Benny's ball handling a lot more than that of Tai although the 2 of them accounted for 10 of our turnovers. Tai's role would be better coming off of the bench.

[cipsucks]

After reading the board today I believe Tai may qualify for the brand new HHC Sek Henry award.

 

Geesh, jimmy.  It's Sak Henry.....

[Huskerpapa]

In Miles I trust.  If anyone thinks for a second that Coach Miles didn't recognize the issues against Nova, you are either blind or stupid.  The point being, he will do what is best for the team.  If that is a change in the line up, then so be it.  If he chooses to go with the same line up, then I will stand and cheer for the players on the floor.  To bash a college kid is wrong.  Bash the coach who is getting the $$$'s not the kid who is only trying to perform. 

 

...and oh yes, I see the warts as well as anyone.

[Dean Smith]

I didn't see the hate coming for Tai. Yes, he had a really bad game but I have to admit it was Benny that had me yelling, "get him out off the floor" during the game. In the calm of the next day I can say nothing is as good or bad as you think it is at the time. Fans are the epitome of overreacting in both directions. The year will play out and the lineup may fluxuate as the freshmen get more seasoned but I think people need to face the fact that if we had players that were drastically better than Tai & Benny, Miles would be playing them already. We are who we are at this point and I'm still looking forward to the season even if there are going to be some bad days. I'll bet we have at least one huge upset victory this year.

[Handy Johnson]

I'm not trying to hate on Tai, I just believe he has a ceiling and he has reached it. Time for spot duty off the bench.

[hal9000]

 

After reading the board today I believe Tai may qualify for the brand new HHC Sek Henry award.

 

Geesh, jimmy.  It's Sak Henry.....

 

Correct, and Henry, or Harry, is the shortened form of Harold.  Therefore, I believe you'll find Harry, Sak as his listing in the media guide.

[Swan88]

This Rothstein tweet, retweeted by HHC, explains why Benny and Tai are starting and will continue to play major minutes during the early portions of this season:

[brfrad]

I will take what Tai gave us last night: 5 points 4 rebounds 4 assists 1 turnover 1-3 from 3.

[Norm Peterson]

I will take what Tai gave us last night: 5 points 4 rebounds 4 assists 1 turnover 1-3 from 3.

That's a line I could live with if he's able to do that as an average, night in and night out.  One out of three from 3 is OK by me for Tai.  Not a lot of attempts; a decent percentage (not horrible.)  We're not relying on him as a weapon, but then defenses would still have to respect him and account for him.

[huskerbaseball13]

I will take what Tai gave us last night: 5 points 4 rebounds 4 assists 1 turnover 1-3 from 3.

 

 

Tai has always done alright against mid major times.  Once we start playing Big Ten play or high majors like Nova he has been a liability.  We need him to perform when it counts the most. 

[Fullbacksympathy]

All seven of Iowa's top scorers played the most minutes.  That's what we need. 

 

Tai had 31 minutes (second only to Shields) and scored 5 points (25% fg) from the SG spot against inferior competition.  That's awful.  Watson, on the other hand, played 15 minutes and scored 7 (50% fg).  Just do the math.  We probably have another 15-20 point scorer if Watson logs 30 min.  Maybe he fouls out, but it would probably be more likely that he adjusts defensively.  Give him PT with leaders like AWIII and SS and he's probably going to get it figured out.  Hell, let him foul out and fail a few times--that's how they learn.

[Silverbacked1]

I would also have to say though that the guys Watson was guarding last night scored more than 5 points.  So maybe that is why he didn't play as much.

 

Tim pulled him pretty quick when that one kid blew by him and layed it up.  I don't think he got back on the floor after that.

 

He will score points, but he needs to stop somebody from scoring more, at least you do if you want to play for Tim, or at least look like you are trying to stop that guy.

[Hooper]

I will take what Tai gave us last night: 5 points 4 rebounds 4 assists 1 turnover 1-3 from 3.

 

I will too. What choice do I have? That doesn't mean I have to be content with a shooting guard who's afraid to shoot. I believe Norm illustrated the situation eloquently. To me, Tai views an open look like a game of hot potato. "No, I don't want it, YOU take it!!!"

 

We can't expect to give up open look after open look and run an efficient offense. You can't have guys petrified by the fear of missing shots. It's very damaging.

[Huskerpapa]

My understanding from those inside the program, is that teammates love Tai.  I can see why.  He is unselfish; he hustles his butt off; he does the dirty work; he defends; he rebounds well for a guard; he is the first to a teammate to give him a hand or high five; and so on.  His issues are certainly warts, unprovoked turnovers and a wayward outside shot.  Yet in practices he is not making those turnovers and he does make his shots.  Hmmm.  To me the glass is more than half full.  I am still a believer.  I believe his shot will get better and so too, will his judgment.

[Hooper]

I would also have to say though that the guys Watson was guarding last night scored more than 5 points.  So maybe that is why he didn't play as much.

 

Tim pulled him pretty quick when that one kid blew by him and layed it up.  I don't think he got back on the floor after that.

 

He will score points, but he needs to stop somebody from scoring more, at least you do if you want to play for Tim, or at least look like you are trying to stop that guy.

 

Watson's defense last night was some of the worst D I've seen at the college level in my entire time as a Husker fan -- true matador stuff. I attribute that partially to a fear of fouling based on his body language, but it needs to get a whole lot better or he's going to be victimized all year long and will be seeing a lot of bench time.

[Swan88]

Watson played only 15 minutes last night because of foul trouble. Ed Morrow played 17 minutes before fouling out.

The one truly disappointing fact from last night's game is that both Watson and Morrow saw foul-limited minutes. Those two, along with McVeigh, need to be getting big minutes in early games to force their learning trajectory steeply upward.

[nustudent]

I don't necessarily think Tai needs to be benched...but you simply can't play him and Parker together, especially for long periods of time.

 

Start Watson, take your lumps with him learning.   Heck....you take lumps with Parker and he's a senior.  Having another scorer in the backcourt only makes Tai better and less of a need for him to score.

 

Get Parker back to the role he thrives in....spark plug defensive guy off the bench

[jimmykc]

OK, that settles it. Any guy who finds squirrels fascinating deserves to start. (refer to Rosenthal's article in the Media forum if you are confused) Let's just hope Jack springs upon the Big 10 like a squirrel from a Christmas tree. (I'll let someone else embed the appropriate meme)