Room for Improvement

[Norm Peterson]

Wasn't sure what to call this thread.  Had some thoughts specifically about Ed Morrow but feel free to contribute any similar thoughts about any of our players.

 

 

Basically, was watching Ohio State vs. Maryland today and the thought struck me about how valuable a player like Ed Morrow would be IF ...

 

With his length and athleticism, he could be a real difference maker if he was good for more than just the occasional put-back off an offensive rebound.

 

If he could drive, if he could shoot from mid-range, if he had a few combination post moves, he could be a huge factor for a team that might really be able to do some damage in this league.

 

He is more than athletic enough to play at a high level in the B1G.  What he lacks is offensive skill.  And I don't know whether he's just not capable of shooting or if he doesn't work on it.  During warm-ups, though, when other players are practicing pull-up Js and spin dribble layups, he's dunking. Like Every. Single. Time.

 

And he needs to get his head in the game. 

 

In the LJS this morning, they quoted Miles talking about how he pulled Ed from the game after Ed made a series of mistakes that were specifically part of the game plan.  (I used to get irritated with people for criticizing Doc for supposedly having players on a short leach and yanking them after ONE mistake -- reality is you have no idea how many mistakes the player might have made unless you sat in on the film sessions, etc.) 

 

Ed can't keep doing that.  We need an athletic guy like Ed who can wheel and score on the other guy.  And we need someone who doesn't get yanked because he didn't pay attention to the scout or the game plan.

 

Whether Ed can work his way up to the kind of skill of the league's more elite power forwards is anyone's guess.  He has the physical tools to do it.  Only Ed can answer if he has the will to do it.

[royalfan]

I have been wondering many of these exact same things. 

[AuroranHusker]

Jack was having some difficulties earlier in the conference season with defensive positioning, and McVeigh seems to have worked his way back into the mix in a B1G way.

[49r]

There's always room for improvement with freshmen.

 

 

Which is why I'm so excited about the future of the program.  They're this good already, just imagine what they'll be like as juniors and seniors!

[Norm Peterson]

There's always room for improvement with freshmen.

 

 

Which is why I'm so excited about the future of the program.  They're this good already, just imagine what they'll be like as juniors and seniors!

There's room for improvement, yes. 

 

Next question is can they?

 

Question after that is will they?

 

Watson is a special player and, while he has soom room for improvement, his improvement is just a matter of refining what he already has and letting the game slow down for him.  Not that the game is moving too quickly for him, but that the more experience he gets, the better he's going to be, just as a natural process of getting an even better feel for the game -- what he can exploit and when to do it, etc.

 

I've talked a lot already about Jacobson.  Not because I think he sucks or something, because I certainly don't think that.  He's obviously good enough to win a starting job at the 5 (though the competition for the spot was not as stiff as we'd like.)  What he lacks the most right now, probably, is explosiveness.  He'll never be a "wow" athlete, but he could close the gap a little bit with some off-season work.  I'd love to see him develop his jump shot because I think he has the potential to be a Brian Conklin-esque outside shooter.  A 6'9" guy who can bury threes could be a real asset.

 

McVeigh just needs to gain some muscle.  His shot isn't as consistent as it could/should be, but I see him as being a guy for whom that shot will come around.  And he's pretty crafty near the basket as well.  He just needs to get bigger.  And, by adding muscle, he should gain speed, quickness and explosiveness, which he also needs.

 

The one that "worries" me is Morrow.  With his pure athleticism and length, he could really be an elite player if he can focus on developing the tools that he lacks.  I'd like to see him, during warm-ups, working on some of those skills.  We already know the kid can dunk.  Rather easily in fact.  But can he shake a defender with a spin dribble and lunge toward the basket for a layup like Shavon Shields practices doing during warm-ups?  He has such huge upside, I'd hate to see him not develop the skill to go along with his other tremendous attributes.

[twinswingohuskers]

Well, if anyone was still wondering if we need a big the Purdue game should have set those thoughts aside.   Even if Morrow continues to develop(and I think he will)we still need someone in the middle to have a defensive presence, otherwise we will continue to get owned teams like Purdue with legitimate centers.

[brfrad]

My player that needs some tough love, is Jake Hammond.  With this roster, how is he getting zero playing time?  He needs to live in the gym and weight room during the summer. 

[Fullbacksympathy]

I can't really speak on Ed until he's at the 4.  A lot of his fouls/position problems/lack of points is due to the fact that he's not supposed to be guarding the 5 or be boxed out by a 5.  Look what he does when a 5 isn't boxing him out:

 

 

You just can't do that to centers at Ed's size.  

 

Ed still reminds me of Rodman.  DR was serviceable as a defender against centers, but he was an absolute nightmare against 4s on the glass.  He didn't have any of the offensive skills you mentioned, and he was a true game changer because of his disruption.  The other thing playing the 4 would do is allow Ed to roam and help defensively.  None of his skillset is used in that area when a 5 just sits on him every possesion.  

[Donkey]

My player that needs some tough love, is Jake Hammond.  With this roster, how is he getting zero playing time?  He needs to live in the gym and weight room during the summer. 

 

Hammond can live in the gym and weight room from here to eternity and it will mean little if he does not improve his mental toughness.  It would not surprise me if Hammond transfers at the end of the season.  

 

Morrow has gone through growing pains no doubt, but he really is a 4 playing the 5.  Miles really has no other choice except to play Morrow at the 5 unless Shields is out for a breather.  

[atskooc]

 

My player that needs some tough love, is Jake Hammond.  With this roster, how is he getting zero playing time?  He needs to live in the gym and weight room during the summer. 

 

Hammond can live in the gym and weight room from here to eternity and it will mean little if he does not improve his mental toughness.  It would not surprise me if Hammond transfers at the end of the season.  

 

Morrow has gone through growing pains no doubt, but he really is a 4 playing the 5.  Miles really has no other choice except to play Morrow at the 5 unless Shields is out for a breather.  

 

He could play Jacobson at the five and Morrow at the four.

[hal9000]

 

There's always room for improvement with freshmen.

 

 

Which is why I'm so excited about the future of the program.  They're this good already, just imagine what they'll be like as juniors and seniors!

There's room for improvement, yes. 

 

Next question is can they?

 

Question after that is will they?

 

Watson is a special player and, while he has some room for improvement, his improvement is just a matter of refining what he already has and letting the game slow down for him.  Not that the game is moving too quickly for him, but that the more experience he gets, the better he's going to be, just as a natural process of getting an even better feel for the game -- what he can exploit and when to do it, etc.

 

I've talked a lot already about Jacobson.  Not because I think he sucks or something, because I certainly don't think that.  He's obviously good enough to win a starting job at the 5 (though the competition for the spot was not as stiff as we'd like.)  What he lacks the most right now, probably, is explosiveness.  He'll never be a "wow" athlete, but he could close the gap a little bit with some off-season work.  I'd love to see him develop his jump shot because I think he has the potential to be a Brian Conklin-esque outside shooter.  A 6'9" guy who can bury threes could be a real asset.

 

McVeigh just needs to gain some muscle.  His shot isn't as consistent as it could/should be, but I see him as being a guy for whom that shot will come around.  And he's pretty crafty near the basket as well.  He just needs to get bigger.  And, by adding muscle, he should gain speed, quickness and explosiveness, which he also needs.

 

The one that "worries" me is Morrow.  With his pure athleticism and length, he could really be an elite player if he can focus on developing the tools that he lacks.  I'd like to see him, during warm-ups, working on some of those skills.  We already know the kid can dunk.  Rather easily in fact.  But can he shake a defender with a spin dribble and lunge toward the basket for a layup like Shavon Shields practices doing during warm-ups?  He has such huge upside, I'd hate to see him not develop the skill to go along with his other tremendous attributes.

 

Generally players I've watched at Nebraska have improved their game each year they are here, although we've seen it where sometimes players regress after a promising start (Joe McVay and Jarone Boone come to mind).  Some improvements happen more drastically early on, while others it seems to take them until their senior year.  And some may plateau by the time they're sophomores and never really seem to improve beyond that.  I've never been sure if it is because each player is different, or if it has to do with how they are developed while they are here, but it is probably some of both.

 

That said I've got this good feeling that these four freshman can and will improve dramatically from this year to next year. 

 

I agree with all of your assessments and would only add...

 

With Watson he may improve enough that he'll have an opportunity to leave early for the NBA.  That's a long way off I know, but if he gets even better with his 3 point shot....

 

I like your idea of Jacobson being like a stretch four, but also I remember him as having some nice post moves watching his H.S. highlights.  Seemed like he has a nice spin move in his arsenal on the low post, as well as a nice fade away.  But it's a little tough to utilize these right now when you're posting up against 6-11.  

 

What I'd like to see Jack develop is a pull up jumper.  He's got a set shot 3, nothing much mid-range.  Yes, with some weight training and bulking up he might be able to improve his first step toward the basket and either take it on in, or pull up for the J.  Would like to see him with some Jared Uthoff-esque skills by the time he is a senior. 

 

Morrow is certainly athletic, but agree, what are his offensive skill sets?  I haven't really seen much.  No doubt due to his playing out of position.  Does he have a front to the basket game?  And if we do get a "play right away" big, how much are Morrow and Jacobson competing for the 4 spot?  Ed has the definite edge on athleticism, but Jacobson has the edge on offense right now.