01/13/2013 - At Michigan State Report Card

[hhcdave]

OFFENSE: B+

 

Nebraska shot just 40% from the field and attempted only eight free throws, but with that said, NU scored a season high 56 points in Big 10 play.

 

Not only that, but 32 points in the first half was impressive and allowed the Huskers to make this a 40 minute game, which it was.

 

Speaking of impressive, David Rivers - HOW ABOUT THAT?!?!??!

 

The sophomore put in 18 points on a PERFECT 8-8 from the floor (1-1 from downtown) and even more impressive is the fact that he never came out of the game. That's right, Rivers played 40 minutes (as did Ray Gallegos).

 

Rivers earns our Player of the Game award.

 

Only negative offensively was when fatigue took over down the stretch, as well as that awful shot Dylan Talley put up with NU down one point and around 3 minutes left. 30 on the shot clock, no numbers, pull it out, don't take an off balance 16 footer! Andre Almeida was also especially poor tonight, which seems to be the theme throughout this season, though we don't know how banged up he is right now, so its tough to be too critical.

 

DEFENSE: B

 

I really thought Nebraska was pretty good defensively, especially without Brandon Ubel.

 

MSU was just too good down low and had NU had Ubel, this game could have easily swung the way of the Big Red.

 

I also think the above mentioned fatigue played a big role in Nebraska getting into foul trouble, thus allowing easy points at the free throw line AND making NU extremely small as guys continued to hit four fouls and ultimately, foul out (see Almeida and Shavon Shields).

 

REBOUNDING: A

 

Nebraska was out rebounded by only five (36 to 31) and matched the Spartans with nine offensive rebounds.

 

Again, considering NU had only ONE experienced big man (and two tweeners between 3's and 4's in Rivers/Shields), you take that.

 

BALL HANDLING: B+

 

The Huskers finished with a solid 12 turnovers, which is the goal in a difficult road enviornment.

 

Also, outside of a lazy pass from Gallegos (I believe), only one easy transition basket came as the imediate result of a turnover, so you take that, too.

 

COACHING: A

 

Coach Miles has been dealt 3/4 of a deck, but he continues to (on most nights) have this team competing and ready to play.

 

I like his creativity with starting lineups and bringing in Benny Parker as a spark plug at the point, while giving Talley the chance to run it.

 

I like his calls out of timeouts (as I mention almost every report card). Again tonight, he back doored MSU twice for one easy basket and another that could have been converted with a better pass.

 

I like him fighting until the end and I like how he seems to have fun while battling for his team.

 

I wish somebody who is a "true journalist" would do some investigative reporting about what is going on with Sergej Vucetic, however. Jordan Tyrance played TWELVE minutes today and even Trevor Menke got in the game. However, the non-redshirting Vucetic continues to be on the back of a milk carton.

 

Something is going on, whether it be a serious health problem, nagging injury or an awful miss on the recruitment (which I doubt). I'm guessing there's some health ailment but it'd be nice to know so we could quit speculating.

 

Be nice to find out more.

 

OVERALL GRADE: A-

 

Considering the circumstances, Nebraska played a terrific game.

 

Had they won, they got an "A+" and had they kept it just a tad closer, they get an "A."

 

Here's to a win on Wednesday night against Purdue - I think NU gets it done.

 

PLAYER OF THE GAME: DAVID RIVERS

 

2012-2013 PLAYER OF THE GAME RESULTS:

 

RAY GALLEGOS - 8

DYLAN TALLEY - 3

BRANDON UBEL - 3

DAVID RIVERS - 2

SHAVON SHIELDS - 1

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[49r]

Good to see David Rivers finally get comfortable with the game.  He is a completely different player from what he was last year.  Congrats, David.

[Huskerpapa]

Good report card.  If I had a disappointment today, it was with the play of Andre.  Perhaps his ankle is still bothering him, but his effort today was less than stellar.

 

(and to clarify, he wasn't bad on defense - but offensively -- yikes)

[cipsucks]

Dave, I don't think you can give an overall grade of A (-/+)  when we lose. 

[bigred4]

Ya that Talley shot hurt with about 2 minutes left.  Wish he would have drove in or set up the offense.  Also Gallegos missed that wide open 3 a couple possessions earlier.  Their guy was 0-10 and made a huge 3 to put them up 4 with under 2 to go.  Just the way the game goes.  Good effort tonight and we need to play like that the next couple weeks because the next 4 are "winnable"

[tbowman]

I thought Almeida played solid defense.  Michigan State was much more effective in the paint when he was out of the game. 

[GATA]

I don't think there's a whole lot to the Vucetic story. He's just not good enough, and today's game was winnable. He would have gotten murdered by those Michigan State bigs.

 

Ideally, he would be playing more, but I think Miles is trying his darnedest to win a game and doesn't believe he can with Vucetic.

[brfrad]

I don't think there's a whole lot to the Vucetic story. He's just not good enough, and today's game was winnable. He would have gotten murdered by those Michigan State bigs.

 

Ideally, he would be playing more, but I think Miles is trying his darnedest to win a game and doesn't believe he can with Vucetic.

I do understand that he might just not be good, but just his length would have to make it a little more of an obstacle for Nix than Tyrance and Rivers were offering down low.  If he really was not a good enough to start the season, and you knew he was not good enough, than why play him?  Why not redshirt him?  If your not going to give him any meaningful minutes this year, it's a lost year.  We go into next year with a 6'7"  forward with the most experience for a post player.

[AuroranHusker]

Shields had a few moments while Rivers had a lot of moments ~ nice to see both of those fellows play so well in place of Ubel in the lineup.

 

Wish NU could have had a few three's go down during the stretch run. Didn't happen this time, maybe next time...

 

Great effort on both ends of the floor by the boys in RED!

[brfrad]

We really lost the game because our free throw defense let us down.  

 

They seemed to be missing a bunch of free throws early, but made most of them down the stretch.

[PAhusker]

grade on coach's shirt tonight?

[TheKamdyMan]

Rivers and Shields really showed some amazing flashes this afternoon that make things bright for the future.

 

At the other end of the spectrum I truly think Parker will be on the outs looking to the future.  Love the kid and his tenacity but he seems to have regressed from the beginning of the year until now.  I mean with Peltz out for the year you'd think his role would expand but it has almost gotten smaller.  Unless he develops any type of offensive game, besides taking it to the basket once a game and usually missing it, he will be the odd man out.  

[uneblinstu]

If the talent we'll be adding is what we've been told it is, Parker doesn't need to develop any offensive game one lick.  He needs to not turn the ball over put his teammates in the best position possible to score and play solid defense.  We need his offense this year, but probably not so much in the future.  I think he'll be better suited for what Miles wants to run as things develop anyway.  We don't really have a true point guard on the roster or coming in anyway.  I don't think Parker's going anywhere.

[GATA]

Rivers and Shields really showed some amazing flashes this afternoon that make things bright for the future.

 

At the other end of the spectrum I truly think Parker will be on the outs looking to the future.  Love the kid and his tenacity but he seems to have regressed from the beginning of the year until now.  I mean with Peltz out for the year you'd think his role would expand but it has almost gotten smaller.  Unless he develops any type of offensive game, besides taking it to the basket once a game and usually missing it, he will be the odd man out.  

 

Been saying that for a while now. I think his upside is of a backup Big Ten point guard, but I think he ends up looking around for a better opportunity for playing time after next season. I hate to write off a kid so quickly, but I just haven't seen many positives out of his game this season. If we want to climb the ladder in the Big Ten, we have to improve tenfold at the point guard position.

[atskooc]

Coach Miles' tie: C-.

[kldm64]

When I played basketball, we were taught to feed the hot shooter.  Rivers didn't miss the entire game but yet only took 8 shots.  Talley tends to force alot of shots for some reason.  Not sure why they didn't look to Rivers more this game and ride the hot streak at least until he cooled off.  Hard to find any fault with the effort other than a few shot selections by Talley.  Sometimes I think he forgets there are 4 other players on the floor as well.  Make it easy to guard him when shot clock is down to under 12 seconds, he will take the shot and not pass it.  I was really hoping to pull that one out as would have been a huge win.  I'll be there on Wednesday to watch us get our first Big 10 win against Purdue.

[Handy Johnson]

With Ubel out, you had to know Andre would step up big time. 0 points, 5 fouls. Love Rivers, love Shields, they actually do GATA. 

[hugh42]

When I played basketball, we were taught to feed the hot shooter.  Rivers didn't miss the entire game but yet only took 8 shots.  Talley tends to force alot of shots for some reason.  Not sure why they didn't look to Rivers more this game and ride the hot streak at least until he cooled off.  Hard to find any fault with the effort other than a few shot selections by Talley.  Sometimes I think he forgets there are 4 other players on the floor as well.  Make it easy to guard him when shot clock is down to under 12 seconds, he will take the shot and not pass it.  I was really hoping to pull that one out as would have been a huge win.  I'll be there on Wednesday to watch us get our first Big 10 win against Purdue.

Rivers was knocking down open looks when he got them, but I don't think we would have wanted to try to force the ball to him.  His opportunities came within the flow of the offense and he made the most of them.  I hope his confidence continues to grow and with that, so will his game.