uneblinst's postgame chatter: vol 16; ed 12 - North Dakota

This is a game we easily could have lost.   North Dakota came in and gave us a good shot.   They played hard and played well and I actually think they will do well this year.  #4 and #20 could play for anybody IMO.    Taking that shot and having to battle back to get the win despite not having Mast will do us more good in the long run than a blowout win would have done.   Loved the scoring boost we got from CJ and having 6 guys in double figures.   Rebounding was a big issue in the first half and we did get after the boards much better once we got some momentum in the 2nd half.   Teams do lose these kinds of games - even good teams - so getting the W is enough for me tonight.

1 hour ago, 49r said:

Didn't get hurt too bad in KenPom after this one.  Only dropped 4 spots to #49.  (But I'd expect them to maybe fall a couple more by morning)

As I predicted we're already down to #52

Watching our body language coming out of halftime, I was not optimistic ... solid win. This was worse than a typical trap game in terms of opponent etc imho. Glad we pulled it out.

42 minutes ago, HuskerFever said:

 

I don't......know how to feel about this.

He might be thinking of two years ago. 

•  
• With the win, Nebraska improved to 10-2 on the season, matching the program’s best 12-game start since 2018-19
• Nebraska put six players in double figures tonight, the first time Nebraska has done that since also putting six players in double figures against Minnesota on Feb. 25, 2022.
• Nebraska overcame a 14-point second-half deficit, NU’s largest comeback since overcoming a 17-point deficit against Wisconsin on Feb. 11, 2023. Prior to tonight, NU’s largest comeback of the season was seven points against Michigan State.
• Juwan Gary posted his second straight double-double and third of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
• C.J. Wilcher led Nebraska with a season-high 16 points, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. His previous season high was 13 on two other occasions, most recently against Rider on Nov. 13.
• Wilcher’s effort was the 10^th double-figure effort from NU’s bench in 12 games and tonight marked the fourth time this season NU’s leading scorer came off the bench
• Wilcher also hit a season-high four 3-pointers in the win, as his previous season best was also three against Rider
• Nebraska is now 21-4 under Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points, including 16-1 over the last three seasons.
• Nebraska hit 11 3-pointers on the night, the sixth time this year NU has had double-digit 3-pointers.NU is 6-0 in those contests.
• North Dakota outrebounded Nebraska 42-38 and is just the third team to outrebound Nebraska this season.

It was clear early on that NU without Reink Mast was going to struggle to find interior points, but they changed things up & Allick decided that he could actually just go up over UND and score tonight. It was dicey but I'd rather they struggle and prevail, than watching 'em crap the bed like NU has been prone to do in these type of trap games. I think this coaching staff that Hoiberg & Co. have assembled are a good mix of offense, defense, & moxie.

I'm felling very hopeful after a close call as opposed to being worried that they're not going anywhere (as in the past, particularly the 1st few years under Fred). I believe that this year's version of Hoi-ball is a good team as the coaches have put together gritty players capable of weathering the storm when all is not going well. I think Brice, Keisei, & CJ all need to be able to co-exist to create opportunities for one another. This trifecta of shooter-scorers can help turn the tide when things don't seem to be going well. I'm optimistic. GBR

46 minutes ago, Husker4theSpurs said:

Watching our body language coming out of halftime, I was not optimistic ... solid win. This was worse than a typical trap game in terms of opponent etc imho. Glad we pulled it out.

...and then they start out the 2nd half with a made three.  I can tell you that my body language was pretty pathetic as well.

Just a strange night overall.

walking across the bridge to PBA, I’m wearing a light jacket and the wind isn’t tearing away little pieces of flesh from my face, in late December. Nice.

Then KT’s girlfriend does the first national dash for cash, does not do a 360 prior to moving, and somehow manages to find the cash. Slim chicken for Keisei tonight!

Then the guy singing the national anthem starts in a high key and immediately sings the wrong line, and then repeats the same line later. He still managed to pull it off.

After a lackluster first half, they roll out a 2nd grade class from Holling Heights elementary in Omaha as the halftime activity. Guy rolls the dice and gets just one half court shot, who promptly drains it. 
Then we go down 14 and I think Samford, Incarnate Word, Florida A and M, etc…..

But we settled down, Allick starts bullying his guy and different guys spark little runs. 
love that CJ honestly says the past teams he’s been on here would’ve probably just given up, but this years team is different. 
We go down 14 and come back and win

Crayton goes up 14 and then loses…

10 wins is 10 wins!!!

My first thought is that Gary is the adult in the room.  He just is different than anybody else we have and frankly when he’s rolling he is a nightmare matchup.  But his presence and how he handles himself in pressure moments is awesome.  He’s the guy I want with the ball at the end when we need a shot in March to win our first ever tourney game.

Second thought, is that CJ Wilcher is the least-athletic looking good athlete we’ve had in a while.  His movements and his mannerisms are all awkward…but time and time again this year he will have these big moments (put backs inside against much taller players, clutch 3s out of nowhere) that remind you “oh yeah…glad we have that guy”.  I have no earthly clue how he gets some of these inside shots to go down.  But he does.  He never makes it look easy.

To me the story of this team is the depth and effort. We have enough viable players that we can miss a key player or have a guy have an off night (KT, BW) and yet have enough talent on the roster that somebody else steps up.  The occasional big 3 from Sam is a good example.

Wilcher had a up and under layup where it appeared he jumped exactly 2.3” off the floor and it somehow went in without getting blocked tonight 

11 minutes ago, Faux Mike Peltz said:

Wilcher had a up and under layup where it appeared he jumped exactly 2.3” off the floor and it somehow went in without getting blocked tonight 

In 20 years, he'll be pissing guys off playing rec ball somewhere with those same moves and ups! Old man game for sure!

Maybe I'm the only one who found this out last week but C.J. is short for Caleb Jefferson.

Enjoy this video:

Last night it seemed glaringly obvious that not having a true point guard is a problem.

36 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

Maybe I'm the only one who found this out last week but C.J. is short for Caleb Jefferson.

We need a “shocked” reaction for posts like this. No other reactions will do this post justice.

At least it doesn't stand for "Can't Jump". (Just kidding C.J., if you read this.)

It didn't look like we could stop them the first half. I was worried even if we'd start scoring the ball better in the second half, we dug too deep a hole to climb out of.

Such was my fear when, lo and behold, they push the lead from 10 to 13 almost right away.

And then something  clicked ...

As I was driving home, I realized we still have not played a really good 40 minutes of basketball.  Maybe versus Oregon State, but there were still lapses in that game.

If we continue to grow and improve, we can be a pretty darn good.  We are missing some parts that may prevent us from being elite; but there are a lot of good teams that fall into that same category.

One question, who here believes Keisei is 100% healthy?  21 minutes last night left me shaking my head.  People can complain about his antics (there were none last night), complain that he doesn't pass (oh yes he does...perhaps too much), that he doesn't defend (maybe not elite; but average or better with some big plays), and other various complaints; but defenses game plan around him and he electrifies the crowd that is in need of stimulation.  Not that I have thought about it much.

5 minutes ago, NUdiehard said:

Keisei only played 21 minutes, which is 3 minutes LESS than Sam H.  Is this still of product of Keisei's ankly injury?  Is Keisei still  not in shape enough to play more extended minutes?  Or is this by design? 

 

Admittedly, Keisei did not have a great game last night, and he did force some shots.  But is he forcing some shots because of his limited playing time?  

 

Does Fred feel that his limitations on defense outweigh his potential on offense?  Sure seems so for many games this year, which is odd.  Honestly, I have rarely watched and felt like Keisei is getting seriously exposed on the defensive end.  And we are going to need Keisei to get hot during league play, he is such a potential dynamic offensive weapon.  Curious to see how this all plays out.  

 

Will Keita play a single minute this year?  If Mast is out for more than a couple weeks, NU could really, really use him.  But it just does not seem to be in the cards.  

 

Nice to escape with a win last night.  And we should be able to comfortably win against South Carolina State.  But the following game is Indiana at home, a virtual must win, and it is hard to imagine a win without Mast unless something drastic changes between now and then.  Or, as said above, a massive offensive explosion from someone like Keisei. 

Man, we must of simultaneously been typing this up...

2 minutes ago, Huskerpapa said:

As I was driving home, I realized we still have not played a really good 40 minutes of basketball.  Maybe versus Oregon State, but there were still lapses in that game.

If we continue to grow and improve, we can be a pretty darn good.  We are missing some parts that may prevent us from being elite; but there are a lot of good teams that fall into that same category.

One question, who here believes Keisei is 100% healthy?  21 minutes last night left me shaking my head.  People can complain about his antics (there were none last night), complain that he doesn't pass (oh yes he does...perhaps too much), that he doesn't defend (maybe not elite; but average or better with some big plays), and other various complaints; but defenses game plan around him and he electrifies the crowd that is in need of stimulation.  Not that I have thought about it much.

To me, the biggest difference with Keisei this year compared to the end of last year is his cutting. 

Seems to be less crisp on his cuts, maybe a step slower, which is all it takes to change an easy layup into a 6 footer trying to finish in traffic.

Now, is it lingering ankle issues? Or could some of it be not having the same connection like he & Walker had going? Probably some of both.

Yes to both questions Crush. Ankle injury and no Walker. 

50 minutes ago, Faux Mike Peltz said:

Yes to both questions Crush. Ankle injury and no Walker. 

This seems like an obvious fix. Can't the athletic trainers just get him a walker?

I bet half the people in the lower bowl have one in their garage. Or attic.

There's probably a few of the Shim-Shams who don't need theirs anymore.

Sorry, too soon?