OFFENSE: C-
Nebraska, for its standards, and considering the competition, was only slightly below average. Though again, when you have three blind mice taking all of your players of note out of the game with foul trouble, and allowing Indiana to hand check like nobody's business, body us on shots, etc. how can you expect better than what we did?
Nebraska finished 36% from the field and the no doubt Player of the Game is Dylan Talley, who put in a team (and game) high 16 points.
I also think David Rivers played immensely well in this, logging 36 minutes and while only going 6/4, I was impressed with little things he did.
Nebraska just couldn't get any kind of shot or offense going with Indiana's pressure and big men never being able to be a part of this game.
DEFENSE: B+
Again, considering Nebraska had no low post players available for half of the contest, they had little choice but to go to a zone, and Indiana lit them up for 50% from downtown (8-16) and thanks to Nebraska breathing, got the foul line 18 more times than NU (29 to 11).
Nebraska played "A" level "D" in the first half and "C" level in the second.
As you can see, I feel strongly that this is a tough game to "grade" because of the bush league, whack ass officiating.
REBOUNDING: B
See above. Hardly any big guys in the game. Getting out boarded by twelve (36 to 24) wasn't too bad, all things considered.
BALL HANDLING: D
Nebraska was getting mugged all night, yes, and were no doubt worn out from the press and little depth due to foul trouble.
Still, it was a pretty poor effort, with NU turning the ball over eleven times in the first half and for the night, fifteen.
I do want to point out that Benny Parker has been playing better lately, including tonight. Again, like Rivers, he doesn't have a sexy line (4 points, 1 assist, 1 turnover) but I thought there were some positive things hapening.
COACHING: A-
I love how Nebraska came out and competed. They looked loose, confident and ready. It was nice seeing Shavon Shields rise up and nail a jumper. Talley was a stud, especially early. Rivers looked good. Nebraska really looked the part of good in the first ten minutes.
Then reality set in, with the much better team playing much better AND whack ass mickey mouse officiating pushing them to a blow out.
Small but I said to myself at under 4 timeout in first, "you kept us in the game Tim by stealing a few minutes out of Ubel. Get him out now." Soon after, he picked up his third which changed the game since Miles kept him on the bench to start the second (down 9, a bad move, too).
Also, not impressed with Creen allowing his team to run a possession (though they threw the ball out of bounds) with under :35 left. Why the hell would you not run the clock out up almost 30? That was weak. I hope Miles and staff remembers that.
OVERALL GRADE: B
I didn't think Nebraska played bad tonight. There were quite a few very encouraging things that I saw. I like our head man an awful lot. I like how his team competed and played. I thought our guys did a very nice job.
Do I think we win the game with fair officiating? Of course not. Indiana is the far superior team and wins this game in Bloomington 19 out of 20 times (or 20 out of 20 with these blowhards blowing the whistle).
Still, I think Nebraska keeps this game within 15 if they get some hand checks called on Indiana, some bodies on Indiana called during their shots and if Indiana didn't get a foul every time somebody breathed.
There were some God awful offensive foul calls in this game, and all went against Nebraska.
Now, a bold prediction. We beat Michigan State Saturday. Book it.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: DYLAN TALLEY
2012-2013 PLAYER OF THE GAME RESULTS:
RAY GALLEGOS - 9
DYLAN TALLEY - 6
BRANDON UBEL - 5
SHAVON SHIELDS - 3
DAVID RIVERS - 3
JORDAN TYRANCE - 1
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