Game Day Essentials: Game #2 at Villanova

Anyone have any thoughts on what the rotation will be tonight?

Also

Ah huh. 

I'm guessing it will be a short rotation unless we get in foul trouble.  I could see just 8 or at most 9 people getting minutes tonight with the starters (other than Hammond) getting to play a ton of minutes.

Anyone have any thoughts on what the rotation will be tonight?

 

Also

Probably the same as last game with white and shields getting a lot more minutes. benny and tai will need to step to stay in the starting lineup.

It will be interesting to see McVeigh's role tonight.  This is a game where his outside shooting and length will be very valuable, but his lack of quickness and athleticism could become a problem on defense.  Can he guard one of their athletic wings?  it will be a tough match up for him tonight?

Curious whether and how much Miles will double in the post.  Nova's center sounds like a quite a load and will be a significant challenge for Hammond, Morrow or anyone else to guard 1 on 1. Yet, if we help, susceptible to 3 ball which is their specialty.

Will Nebraska try to play uptempo or slow it down in the half court?  If we play fast, it may allow us to get some quick and easy buckets.  But it may also play right into Nova's hands and we could be down 20 before we know it.   

Probable Starters

Nebraska           stats

No. Name ******            Yr. Ht. Wt.     G/GS PPG RPG Other

0 Tai Webster        G     Jr   6-4   196  1/1   2.0   4.0   1.0 apg

3 Andrew White     G     Jr   6-7   216  1/1  18.0  1.0   0.0 apg

24 Jake Hammond F     So 6-10  235  1/1   4.0   3.0  1.0 apg

31 Shavon Shields G/F Sr  6-7    225  1/1 13.0  3.0   2.0 apg

32 Benny Parker    G    Sr  5-9    175  1/1   0.0  1.0   6.0 apg

Nova           stats

No. Name ******              Yr. Ht. Wt.    G/GS PPG RPG Other

1 Jalen Brunson        G   Fr  6-2   199  1/1   12.0   2.0   4.0 apg

2 Kris Jenkins            F   Jr   6-6   240  1/1   14.0   7.0   2.0 apg

3 Josh Hart                G   Jr   6-5   202  1/1   10.0   6.0   3.0 apg

15 Ryan Arcidiacono G   Sr  6-3   195  1/1   12.0   3.0   4.0 apg

23 Daniel Ochefu       F   Sr  6-11 245  1/1   16.0  10.0   2.0 bpg

This is from the Huskers.com 'Game Notes' section, but does not include our Deep Bench and Incoming freshmen, who are likely to contribute significant minutes! 

(Sorry but I didn't have time to make a chart of all the Husker Players who might play  )

Imo the most important key for us is that we attack their zone well. They are better in man usually but are going to want to play lots of zone against us to keep both 'bigs' underneath (they don't want their forwards defending the perimeter). We need to drive well and force them to abandon the zone and then whoever is playing the 4 when Nova is in man (Shields/McVeigh) needs to be able to hit from range enough to draw Jenkins out and make Ochefu defend the paint more one on one and open up rotation behind the slashing lanes where we can use our length to create shots. They are going to likely get in the low 80's even with us doing well on Defense - It comes down to wether we can do the same. That means frustrating their defense and forcing them to defend outside in. We can do it but it won't be very easy.. and it still may not be enough if they are hot deep.

I predict we will win if they are only able to shoot 1 for 33 from beyond the arc like our first opponents.