uneblinst's postgame chatter: vol 16; ed 34- Texas A&M

OK, guys, hear me out here:

I know that you can't do the "what if" stuff and it works both ways, BUT ...

In the first half, they waived off a Keisei bucket and clearly incorrectly called him for travelling. Count that basket. Now, we're only down 12 at half.

In addition, Josiah Allick missed 5 layups in the first half. Point blank. If he makes just 3 of those, now we're only down six.

For the game, they shot an unbelievable 13 of 23 (56.5%) from beyond the arc. Let's say they just shoot a torrid 40%, which is still 12% better than their average and 5% better than they shot against Houston. That's 9 of 23. That's 12 points difference. Maybe they get a couple of offensive rebounds off those misses and get 2-point put-backs. That's still 8 fewer points on their end.

So, instead of losing 83-98, that puts it at 91-90, good guys on top.

My point is we weren't as bad as the final score made us look AND the game really came down to them being way uncharacteristically hot from deep.

And to add to this point, that same team, shooting a more ordinary 35% from deep, just took a #1 seed to OT.

That's who we lost to.

4 minutes ago, Norm Peterson said:

OK, guys, hear me out here:

 

I know that you can't do the "what if" stuff and it works both ways, BUT ...

 

In the first half, they waived off a Keisei bucket and clearly incorrectly called him for travelling. Count that basket. Now, we're only down 12 at half.

 

In addition, Josiah Allick missed 5 layups in the first half. Point blank. If he makes just 3 of those, now we're only down six.

 

For the game, they shot an unbelievable 13 of 23 (56.5%) from beyond the arc. Let's say they just shoot a torrid 40%, which is still 12% better than their average and 5% better than they shot against Houston. That's 9 of 23. That's 12 points difference. Maybe they get a couple of offensive rebounds off those misses and get 2-point put-backs. That's still 8 fewer points on their end.

 

So, instead of losing 83-98, that puts it at 91-90, good guys on top.

 

My point is we weren't as bad as the final score made us look AND the game really came down to them being way uncharacteristically hot from deep.

 

And to add to this point, that same team, shooting a more ordinary 35% from deep, just took a #1 seed to OT.

 

That's who we lost to.

+1, been saying this, Norm. The overmatched athleticism thing is true, but it's being a bit overblown. Creighton and Clemson are overmatched athletically in just about every Big East/ACC game they play, but they're really good at what they do and make teams play their game. We kinda made A&M play our game. They want to muck it up on both ends in a 40 minute rock fight. We want to increase the pace and get in a three point shooting contest with a team like that and play the efficiency game. 9 games out of 10,  that A&M team is not going to make 6 of their first 7 threes in the first 10 minutes of a game. As you said, if they just miss a couple of those and we make some uncontested layups that's a completely different game. They missed 13 freaking free throws in the first 21 minutes against Houston. Sounds horrid, but that's more normal for them than what they did against Nebraska. 

I'm pretty sure we'll be a bit longer and more athletic next year. But we're still going to focus on just continuing to get better and better at what we do. 

6 minutes ago, millerhusker said:

+1, been saying this, Norm. The overmatched athleticism thing is true, but it's being a bit overblown. Creighton and Clemson are overmatched athletically in just about every Big East/ACC game they play, but they're really good at what they do and make teams play their game. We kinda made A&M play our game. They want to muck it up on both ends in a 40 minute rock fight. We want to increase the pace and get in a three point shooting contest with a team like that and play the efficiency game. 9 games out of 10,  that A&M team is not going to make 6 of their first 7 threes in the first 10 minutes of a game. As you said, if they just miss a couple of those and we make some uncontested layups that's a completely different game. They missed 13 freaking free throws in the first 21 minutes against Houston. Sounds horrid, but that's more normal for them than what they did against Nebraska. 

I'm pretty sure we'll be a bit longer and more athletic next year. But we're still going to focus on just continuing to get better and better at what we do. 

We need to find a way to attack zones better than to try to have Juwan Gary dribble between closing defenders.

We need a freak athlete rebounder to take Josiah Allick's spot in the rotation.

I like Rienk Mast's assist numbers but it would be nice to have a starting PG who can lead us in assists so that Brice can move back to his more natural 2-guard spot. And he'd probably appreciate the opportunity to take C&S threes.

And I'd like another 6'6 athletic wing who can play lock-down D, attack the rim off the dribble, and shoot at least adequately from deep.

1 hour ago, Norm Peterson said:

OK, guys, hear me out here:

 

I know that you can't do the "what if" stuff and it works both ways, BUT ...

 

In the first half, they waived off a Keisei bucket and clearly incorrectly called him for travelling. Count that basket. Now, we're only down 12 at half.

 

In addition, Josiah Allick missed 5 layups in the first half. Point blank. If he makes just 3 of those, now we're only down six.

 

For the game, they shot an unbelievable 13 of 23 (56.5%) from beyond the arc. Let's say they just shoot a torrid 40%, which is still 12% better than their average and 5% better than they shot against Houston. That's 9 of 23. That's 12 points difference. Maybe they get a couple of offensive rebounds off those misses and get 2-point put-backs. That's still 8 fewer points on their end.

 

So, instead of losing 83-98, that puts it at 91-90, good guys on top.

 

My point is we weren't as bad as the final score made us look AND the game really came down to them being way uncharacteristically hot from deep.

 

And to add to this point, that same team, shooting a more ordinary 35% from deep, just took a #1 seed to OT.

 

That's who we lost to.

Wow  had no idea it was 5 layups..  i was thinking 2-3.  Was he a little too over amped maybe..

11 minutes ago, TourneyBound said:

Wow  had no idea it was 5 layups..  i was thinking 2-3.  Was he a little too over amped maybe..

I went through the play-by-play. It surprised me, too. I thought it was only 4. But 3 of them were uncontested, point-blank misses. And I'm not blaming Josiah for the loss. I'm only pointing it out to make the point that the teams were a little more evenly balanced than the score. The hit a bunch of shots they ordinarily miss and we missed a few that should have been near 100% makes.

10 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

 

We need to find a way to attack zones better than to try to have Juwan Gary dribble between closing defenders.

 

We need a freak athlete rebounder to take Josiah Allick's spot in the rotation.

 

I like Rienk Mast's assist numbers but it would be nice to have a starting PG who can lead us in assists so that Brice can move back to his more natural 2-guard spot. And he'd probably appreciate the opportunity to take C&S threes.

 

And I'd like another 6'6 athletic wing who can play lock-down D, attack the rim off the dribble, and shoot at least adequately from deep.

Anyone in the portal now that you'd take as the PG?

Finding one's identity is certainly a take. Building off one's success is another take. Honing the team around the best of the best we just saw in Memphis seems more than prudent. No one's saying that NU will completely change the paradigm. A slight adjustment needs to be made, that's why I say that Juwan is likely replaceable more than BRICE or RIENK. NU needs a dude or two who can unequivocally get a bucket at the rim, often that wasn't Juwan. Allick tried to be a dude, but a few times he just seemed to fall slightly short of that task. Not due to effort or anything inherently wrong. Elite athleticism can be coupled with elite shot-making and elite passing. They're not mutually exclusive. I think Fred & Co. will find a way to make the team better and more athletic at certain spots. Obviously Keisei was a unique guy, so maybe NU needs a 6'-5" shooter who doesn't have to take such difficult shots because the taller, more athletic dude can just rise up & shoot it.

11 hours ago, arliepro said:

Anyone in the portal now that you'd take as the PG?

The kid from Harvard.

22 hours ago, TourneyBound said:

Wow  had no idea it was 5 layups..  i was thinking 2-3.  Was he a little too over amped maybe..

Same, a bitter pill for Jo, too. His final competition, he was fierce out there on the court. Loved everything he brought to this team, wish it'd been 2 years, tbh. That Jackwagon had him for 1 in N.M.

Post game presser

On 3/26/2024 at 9:27 AM, Norm Peterson said:

OK, guys, hear me out here:

 

I know that you can't do the "what if" stuff and it works both ways, BUT ...

 

In the first half, they waived off a Keisei bucket and clearly incorrectly called him for travelling. Count that basket. Now, we're only down 12 at half.

 

In addition, Josiah Allick missed 5 layups in the first half. Point blank. If he makes just 3 of those, now we're only down six.

 

For the game, they shot an unbelievable 13 of 23 (56.5%) from beyond the arc. Let's say they just shoot a torrid 40%, which is still 12% better than their average and 5% better than they shot against Houston. That's 9 of 23. That's 12 points difference. Maybe they get a couple of offensive rebounds off those misses and get 2-point put-backs. That's still 8 fewer points on their end.

 

So, instead of losing 83-98, that puts it at 91-90, good guys on top.

 

My point is we weren't as bad as the final score made us look AND the game really came down to them being way uncharacteristically hot from deep.

 

And to add to this point, that same team, shooting a more ordinary 35% from deep, just took a #1 seed to OT.

 

That's who we lost to.

Great points, Norm. Missing those layups had a substantial effect on the game. I'd have to go back and look, but I was at the game and it seemed like every time we missed those easy shots, A&M came back and scored on the next possession. The misses were demoralizing and caused us to press on the offensive end. Allick played and fought so hard, but his missed layups hurt us. 

As for the pieces we need to add next year, we need to have an athletic shot altering forward to play alongside Mast (if he returns). While he was able to be a facilitator on the offensive end, it was evident that A&M didn't fear getting their shots blocked once they got in the lane. Not every team we play will have Relaford/Obaseki type guys, but when we do have that type of match up, it would be nice to have a guy who could put some fear in them at the rim. Kyle would the type of guy to be helpful in that area. 

We also need a big guard/wing who can stay in front of the basketball at an elite level. Juwan is a good defensive player, but I don't think his lateral movement is elite. He was matched up on those A&M guys many times, and he did not do a great job of keeping them out of the lane. From what I remember from Ulis, he may help us there. Having a true point guard will also allow Williams to play off the ball, and I think he could see a leap in his game if given that chance.   

On 3/23/2024 at 12:17 AM, HB said:

Gary looked way off from the start.  The one player who should have fit in with A & M’s athleticism.  Worst game of his Nebraska career.  

The thing I wonder about this a few weeks later is that I find it odd that a guy who spent a lot of the year jacking up 3pt shots didn't take one against a team that gave up 3s at a higher rate than most anyone in the country.