uneblinstu's Post Game Chatter: ed 8, vol 3 - Delaware St.

[throwback]

Game replay coming up on B1G Network at noon

[Huskerpapa]

Watching Morrow, I think Molinari needs to spend an entire practice one-on-one with him on defensive fundamentals.  The guy has gotten away with pure athleticism and willpower to this point, but I've also noticed some glaring lack of boxing out and balance defensively.  He has the potential to be one of the most disruptive defenders we've ever had here, and if he gets his fundamentals down, he's going to be terrifying. 

 

I think the same of Watson.  Coach Mo needs to work with him on those deficiencies as well.  Both freshmen have the blessing of long arms, but it doesn't matter how long your arms are if you never learn to move your feet.  We need them both to play a lot if we're going to be any good this year.

 

Lastly, at this point, I think it makes way more sense from a +/- to have Watson, White, Shields, McVeigh, and Morrow out there as much as possible.  Yeah, maybe we'll give up some points, but we'll score a ton of points as well.  I don't buy it that Shields can't guard the 2.  Take a step back and make someone shoot over 6'7".  I'm willing to live with this given what we'd produce on the other end.  If it stalls, you can always shake it up with two great defenders in Benny and Tai to buffer the D a bit. 

 

I also agree with feeding the post.  I really feel like Hammond has some offensive skill that's going unnoticed, and it's not like he's a selfish player so there wouldn't be a black hole issue.  Feeding the post is akin to running the football--it keeps the defense honest. 

Is there a belief that such coaching is not taking place now?

[lanigan123]

I think post entry is taught, but it's a very hard skill to do well. With all our shooters, it would help greatly to be able to post it and swing it out.

[Dean Smith]

I think post entry is taught, but it's a very hard skill to do well. With all our shooters, it would help greatly to be able to post it and swing it out.

Just like anything else, it gets easier the more you do it. It's a skill that can be taught like any other. At that point, it's not that tough a thing to do.

[Norm Peterson]

 

I think post entry is taught, but it's a very hard skill to do well. With all our shooters, it would help greatly to be able to post it and swing it out.

Just like anything else, it gets easier the more you do it. It's a skill that can be taught like any other. At that point, it's not that tough a thing to do.

 

Agree 100%.  Practice it.  Get the footwork down in practice.  Then, in game situation, it's like hitting a button and muscle memory does the rest.  But you have to practice the post moves over and over in practice. 

 

You want to learn a lefty hook?  Great!  You can do it!  But you have to dedicate some practice time to it.  And if you never work on post moves in practice, then there's precious little chance you'll be able to successfully execute any in a game.

 

Oh, and, by the way ...

 

The two post moves where Ed Morrow was called for fouls (and baskets were waived off?)  Yeah.  Those would have counted as actual baskets in B1G play.  They wouldn't have whistled Ed on either one of those.  And those were some -- give him credit -- pretty nifty moves.

 

Problem for Ed is one of the turnovers he had came from getting the ball in deep and then trying to face up to the basket in traffic.  He has to understand that your body helps seal off the defender from the ball.  You don't necessarily want to face him.  It's fine if your 15 feet away from the basket, but if you're only 5 feet, then use your quicks (and some moves you've worked on in PRACTICE) to create some space to get the ball away.

 

I think Ed has a tremendous amount of potential and as long as he's not asked to play center, he will be a fantastic 4 for us over the next several years.  Very excited about his potential.