Leslee Smith

[Norm Peterson]

Another list...

 

http://www.jucorecruiting.com/2013-juco-top-100-player-rankings/

Kevin Thomas is ranked #23 on that list.

[nebrasketball10]

 

 

 

 

It definitely seems as though we're heading in the right direction. Time will obviously tell. But if we would've signed/offered Hawkins, Smith and Sai with Doc or BC, it would've been par for the course. The others have some higher offers, but no one out of the ordinary. I think we competed with OK St for Shang Ping!!

But again, I feel as though we are heading in the right direction. I'm just going to refrain from "best class since _____!" talk.

The difference is that in the past when Nebraska has signed guys like Hawkins, Smith, and Atewe they didn't sign guys like Tummala, Fuller, and Webster to build around them.  It's not like Nebraska has never has good players/role players.  The issue is that they didn't have big time playmakers/scorers/go-to guys playing around them.  There have been plenty of guys that have played for Nebraska in recent years that would have done just fine on other teams like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio St, Minnesota, Michigan St, etc.  There is no doubt in my mind that guys like Brandon Ubel, Toney McCray, Brandon Richardson, Sek Henry, Lance Jeter, Eshaunte Jones, Ryan Anderson, Ade Dagunduro, etc. could have seen playing time on some really good teams, because I think they have all been pretty good players.  It's just that Nebraska didn't have big-time scorers on the floor with them, so alot of times they were forced to do more than their skills allowed, and many times they were forced to play out of position.

 

I don't think the issue is that Nebraska can never sign any players that are the same caliber as some of the players they have had over the last few years.  I think the issue is that when they sign this caliber of player, they need to sign a few playmakers/scorers/go-to guys (Sai Tummala, Nick Fuller, Tai Webster) to place around them.  That way the role players can play their roles, instead of being forced to do more than what their skills allow, and instead of being forced to play out of position.

 

Agreed 100%. But we're assuming these guys will be scorers/go-to players. Sai's best offer is BYU. Fuller was offered late by Wisconsin, I think. Webster is a big question mark - offers from Pitt and St. Mary's. It's not like we've never beat out the Pitt's and St. Mary's of the world for a recruit (although Pitt is admittedly a pretty good team to beat out).

 

I agree with Norm that the film on Fuller (and possibly Sai) suggests that they could be good. But I will not assume they can be go-to players - especially as underclassmen - until I see them. I'm also excited about Webster, but anyone who has watched the most recent film of him (and the competition in it) knows that Webster is far from a guarantee.

Sai is a 6'7", 215 lbs, he can handle the ball well, he has a good mid-range jumpshot, can stroke the 3, can finish above the rim, can play with his back to the basket and has solid post moves.  Add that to the fact that he has spent a year with Michigan and the coach said that he was the most athletic player on their team aside from Trey Burke.  There are not many teams in the country on which Trey Burke would not be the most athletic player.  That Michigan team that he was a part of is in the sweet16 this season, so I feel confident saying that he has been around big-time basketball and will not have to spend any time getting used to the speed of the game.

 

Bronson Schliep was the most athletic guy on our team for multiple years. Didn't say much. He has definitely been around big-time basketball, big-time players, a good coach... but he will DEFINITELY need to spend time getting used to the speed of the game. He never saw the floor at Michigan, and is currently playing JuCo. Again, I like the guy's film (albeit against weak competition), but I'm not buying that he's some stellar recruit that ONLY us and BYU are in on.

He played against a sweet 16 (maybe elite 8) team everyday in practice... That's about as good of competition as a player can face...

 

Practice speed does not equal game speed no matter what team you're on.

[Nebrasketballer]

Really?  That's odd, because I hear former Husker football players say all the time that their practices were higher level of competition than games.

[Hooper]

Really?  That's odd, because I hear former Husker football players say all the time that their practices were higher level of competition than games.

 

Ha! Maybe in the 90s...

[Nebrasketballer]

Really?  That's odd, because I hear former Husker football players say all the time that their practices were higher level of competition than games.

 

Ha! Maybe in the 90s...

yeah

[Norm Peterson]

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

[Nebrasketballer]

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

This

[nebrasketball10]

Really?  That's odd, because I hear former Husker football players say all the time that their practices were higher level of competition than games.

 

Ya, really. Basketball can't be compared to football. If you spend any time watching college practices, you know the speeds don't compare. If for no other reason, it's because you rarely go 1's vs. 2's in season like the former Nebraska football players you mentioned used to do (under Osborne, in the 90s... not anymore).

 

The scout team represents the upcoming oppenents (you have 2 or 3 days to prepare). So you have 1s vs. the players that never play. As you go through the other team's sets, you go *maybe* half speed, and then go "live" for a short period with frequent "STOPS!!" so a coach can point out how to better defend something. Scout team players are trying to represent someone they aren't - they're not playing "their game" to hone their abilities.

[nebrasketball10]

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

 

My only point in the Schliep comparison is that just because a coach says a player is extremely athletic doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. As I've said before, I tend to agree with your analysis of Sai and believe he's better than Bronsen RIGHT NOW. I was just pointing out that being extremely athletic doesn't always mean a lot. Looking back, the Nebrasketballer used the athleticism along with a number of other supporting points. I would still say his year at Michigan doesn't say much regarding his abilities.

 

But who would you have put as a better athlete than Schliep? All-around? I was only there for his last 3 years... and don't you DARE say Kyle Marks.

[Nebrasketballer]

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

 

My only point in the Schliep comparison is that just because a coach says a player is extremely athletic doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. As I've said before, I tend to agree with your analysis of Sai and believe he's better than Bronsen RIGHT NOW. I was just pointing out that being extremely athletic doesn't always mean a lot. Looking back, the Nebrasketballer used the athleticism along with a number of other supporting points. I would still say his year at Michigan doesn't say much regarding his abilities.

 

But who would you have put as a better athlete than Schliep? All-around? I was only there for his last 3 years... and don't you DARE say Kyle Marks.

Jason Dourisseau

[nebrasketball10]

 

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

 

My only point in the Schliep comparison is that just because a coach says a player is extremely athletic doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. As I've said before, I tend to agree with your analysis of Sai and believe he's better than Bronsen RIGHT NOW. I was just pointing out that being extremely athletic doesn't always mean a lot. Looking back, the Nebrasketballer used the athleticism along with a number of other supporting points. I would still say his year at Michigan doesn't say much regarding his abilities.

 

But who would you have put as a better athlete than Schliep? All-around? I was only there for his last 3 years... and don't you DARE say Kyle Marks.

Jason Dourisseau

 

Schliep had a higher verticle, quicker shuttle time and was much stronger than Dourisseau. Never tested 40s or any straight-line running, but guessing Bronsen would've beat him there, too.

[Nebrasketballer]

 

 

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

 

My only point in the Schliep comparison is that just because a coach says a player is extremely athletic doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. As I've said before, I tend to agree with your analysis of Sai and believe he's better than Bronsen RIGHT NOW. I was just pointing out that being extremely athletic doesn't always mean a lot. Looking back, the Nebrasketballer used the athleticism along with a number of other supporting points. I would still say his year at Michigan doesn't say much regarding his abilities.

 

But who would you have put as a better athlete than Schliep? All-around? I was only there for his last 3 years... and don't you DARE say Kyle Marks.

Jason Dourisseau

 

Schliep had a higher verticle, quicker shuttle time and was much stronger than Dourisseau. Never tested 40s or any straight-line running, but guessing Bronsen would've beat him there, too.

Pretty Sure Jason Dourisseau brought the backboard down vs Tennessee.  That's more athletic than anything I ever saw Shliep do.  Also, you're talking about testing, not athleticism on the court duing a game with the ball in the player's hands.  And again, comparing Tummala to Schliep doesn't hold water.  Tummala's athleticism is only valuable, because he can handle the ball well, he has a good mid range jump shot, he can stroke the 3, and he has good post moves.  It doesn't matter if a player can jump out of the gym or run faster than everyone else, if they can't do anything with the ball in their hands.

[nebrasketball10]

Lol bringing the backboard down because the piece that holds it in place was loose does not make someone a great athlete. I understand that I am going mostly off of testing and things from practice (although Schliep played in plenty of games and showed superior athleticism). But that's what Beilein was going off of in the comment you referenced.

 

I agree that Sai appears to be more talented (against relatively weak competition). My point isn't to say that Sai is another Bronsen Schleip. My point was that you can be the most athletic guy on a team without it meaning much. Tranlating that into success on the court against B1G talent is what we're concerned with.

[Norm Peterson]

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

 

My only point in the Schliep comparison is that just because a coach says a player is extremely athletic doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. As I've said before, I tend to agree with your analysis of Sai and believe he's better than Bronsen RIGHT NOW. I was just pointing out that being extremely athletic doesn't always mean a lot. Looking back, the Nebrasketballer used the athleticism along with a number of other supporting points. I would still say his year at Michigan doesn't say much regarding his abilities.

 

But who would you have put as a better athlete than Schliep? All-around? I was only there for his last 3 years... and don't you DARE say Kyle Marks.

Kyle Marks. 

[uneblinstu]

We never saw Wilkinson's full potential.

[Concrete]

The only reason I care about Sai's athleticism is because he's a pretty small 4.  His offensive skillset appears to be solid from the tape we've seen, but the athleticism makes him an intriguing and viable prospect because it will allow him to have a chance at being a solid presence on offense AND defense.  At his size, if he wasn't a great athlete he would have no chance at playing the 4 in the Big Ten because he would get massacred trying to play defense.

[Nebrasketballer]

The only reason I care about Sai's athleticism is because he's a pretty small 4.  His offensive skillset appears to be solid from the tape we've seen, but the athleticism makes him an intriguing and viable prospect because it will allow him to have a chance at being a solid presence on offense AND defense.  At his size, if he wasn't a great athlete he would have no chance at playing the 4 in the Big Ten because he would get massacred trying to play defense.

Agreed

[Norm Peterson]

Well, at the beginning of the season I would have agreed with what Concrete said.  But then I started looking at the rosters of other Big 10 teams and I'm not so sure.  Aside from a couple of teams like Michigan State, you have teams in this league who don't overwhelm you with size at the 4.  Skill?  Sure.  Athleticism?  Yep.  Size?  Mmm, maybe not so much.

[Concrete]

I guess I didn't mean to say the size of Big 10 4's would be overwhelming.  I meant that at his current height and weight, he wouldn't have a chance if he wasn't athletic.

 

You can have a large guy with not as much athleticism be effective by just over powering the slimmer 4s, or you can have a smaller guy with superior athleticism that can keep up witht he smaller guys.  You can't really make a living being small AND unathletic, though.

[Norm Peterson]

I guess I didn't mean to say the size of Big 10 4's would be overwhelming.  I meant that at his current height and weight, he wouldn't have a chance if he wasn't athletic.

 

You can have a large guy with not as much athleticism be effective by just over powering the slimmer 4s, or you can have a smaller guy with superior athleticism that can keep up witht he smaller guys.  You can't really make a living being small AND unathletic, though.

 

True.

[nebrasketball10]

 

I don't agree with the comparison between Sai and Bronson Schliep, by the way.  I think Bronson was a good athlete.  I don't think he was our best athlete at any point in his 4 years but for a guy with hit length, he was certainly good.  Bronson's problem was that he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot.  Poor kid had no touch.  And he was a little lean to play the 4 and bang.  Sai can shoot.  His stats back that up.  And against bad competition?  Well, he had 20 in their playoff game in the NJCAA national tourney.

 

My only point in the Schliep comparison is that just because a coach says a player is extremely athletic doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot. As I've said before, I tend to agree with your analysis of Sai and believe he's better than Bronsen RIGHT NOW. I was just pointing out that being extremely athletic doesn't always mean a lot. Looking back, the Nebrasketballer used the athleticism along with a number of other supporting points. I would still say his year at Michigan doesn't say much regarding his abilities.

 

But who would you have put as a better athlete than Schliep? All-around? I was only there for his last 3 years... and don't you DARE say Kyle Marks.

Kyle Marks. 

 

 

ARGGG!!! Lol that guy's "athleticism" was SOOO overrated because he could sky. That was it. he was SLOW. No straight-line speed, no quickness, took him forever to "get his jump off" (couldn't dunk in traffic). But he jumped over someone in a dunk contest!

[Silverbacked1]

Well then, I guess Miles isn't the answer and we are going  to suck because we really can't get anybody that will take us to the next level.

 

And I was truly hoping we were starting down the right path.

 

Oh well maybe after the next 4 years of crap we will be able to bring the "right" guy.

[leonidas]

Well then, I guess Miles isn't the answer and we are going  to suck because we really can't get anybody that will take us to the next level.

 

And I was truly hoping we were starting down the right path.

 

Oh well maybe after the next 4 years of crap we will be able to bring the "right" guy.

 

Oh, Silverback.  If there's a person that uses emoticons more than you, I've yet to see him.

[hskr4life]

Well then, I guess Miles isn't the answer and we are going  to suck because we really can't get anybody that will take us to the next level.

 

And I was truly hoping we were starting down the right path.

 

Oh well maybe after the next 4 years of crap we will be able to bring the "right" guy.

 

Oh, Silverback.  If there's a person that uses emoticons more than you, I've yet to see him.

 

Is this a challenge?

 

Cause I will win.

 

It may make this board hard to read though. 

 

In which case you would have many people looking at me like this...

 

I would have to be very  in how many faces I use.

 

I just hope people would  and  and not get all  and

[Silverbacked1]

Bite me