unelinstu's postgame chatter: vol 15, ed 9: Creighton

10 hours ago, hhcmatt said:

 

The style of this game doesn't seem much different from what we've done all year. Pound and ground.

 

I haven't looked but that has to be the slowest pace we've played all year. Didn't crash the offensive boards by design. And that has to be up there with the least amount of 3's we've taken. He also didn't stop going away from what was working (which is a staple of Fred's). 

5 minutes ago, basketballjones said:

I haven't looked but that has to be the slowest pace we've played all year. Didn't crash the offensive boards by design. And that has to be up there with the least amount of 3's we've taken. He also didn't stop going away from what was working (which is a staple of Fred's). 

If we're talking possessions, this was the fastest pace game we played this year sir.

4 year

4 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

 

If we're talking possessions, this was the fastest pace game we played this year sir.

 

 

4 year

 

Pace isn't just dictated by possessions. Creighton shot 40 3's, so of course we're gonna have a lot of possessions. We walked the ball up every single possession and were ridiculously patient all game long. 

For those keeping track at home, Derrick jumped in the air for the tip off. 

Derrick tip-offs

Jump: 2

Wait and see: 2

Mood of a confused fan base today 

https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/28103

The only ranking that matters. And we start out at #59. Not bad. 

26 minutes ago, basketballjones said:

Pace isn't just dictated by possessions. Creighton shot 40 3's, so of course we're gonna have a lot of possessions. We walked the ball up every single possession and were ridiculously patient all game long. 

Sure which is why I also highlighted the Average Possession Length (APL) of our offense.  You'll see that the amount of time we spend on defense is relatively the same as it's always been.

Defensive APL

1 hour ago, hhcmatt said:

 

It took addition by subtraction from the coaching staff to stop putting together bad rosters. I think you'd see a different Bryce on this team of responsible veterans.

[Matt Abdelmassih has entered the chat.]

5 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

 

Sure which is why I also highlighted the Average Possession Length (APL) of our offense.  You'll see that the amount of time we spend on defense is relatively the same as it's always been.

 

Defensive APL

 

Least amount of 3's taken all season in a game last night. 

Least amount of offensive rebounds.

Tied for most steals. 

Game was won by slowing it down, walking it up, not taking bad/quick shots, and hammering it inside. Then getting back and forcing Creighton to play a half-court game. Which they could absolutely not figure out our back-side rotations. I am not sure I have ever seen that many passes stolen on air in a P5 game. 

Defense, effort and focus are so important.   Do you realize, we beat Creighton, on the road, despite only three players (Greisel, Walker and Gary) having decent offensive games.  All others combined to shoot about 20%.

I'm telling you, if we keep this going...

7 minutes ago, basketballjones said:

Least amount of 3's taken all season in a game last night. 

Least amount of offensive rebounds.

Tied for most steals. 

 

Game was won by slowing it down, walking it up, not taking bad/quick shots, and hammering it inside. Then getting back and forcing Creighton to play a half-court game. Which they could absolutely not figure out our back-side rotations. I am not sure I have ever seen that many passes stolen on air in a P5 game. 

I think that's a great game plan for Creighton. I don't think that's the same game plan we should or will use in the rest of our games. Generally speaking though for this team slower is better.

h/t to Reddit...

55 minutes ago, Norm Peterson said:

OK, guys, y'all need to re-up your prescription for Lithium. Get rid of the high highs and the low lows.

 

I mean, this was just one game. Let me repeat that: Just. One. Game.

 

It's gonna be a slog of a season and every conference opponent is really good. Every single one. And we don't have any more talent on this roster than we did when we lost to Memphis.

 

So, I mean, slow your roll just a little ...

 

9-4 over the last 13? No. I did not realize that. That's pretty impressive actually.

 

Anyway, I don't want you guys to get too carried ...

 

Three straight wins against ranked teams? Is that some kind of record? It is? Whoa. That's pretty wild.

 

Still, I would just caution ...

 

Fred has two of our five all-time wins against ranked teams on the road? What the actual fuck? Are you serious?

 

Holy shit! I had no idea.

 

Um, I mean, try to temper your expectations because ...

 

Jesus Christ Northwestern beat Michigan State on the road last night?!

 

Um

 

don'tdoitNormkeepcalmdon'tfallforitthere'salotofseasonlefttoplayandwe'restillNebrasketball

 

Can we at least keep the "bubble watch" discussion to a minimum until after we beat Iowa on December 29?

 

Thanks

 

Dammit, Norm.  It's like the stock market.  Until the final bullish optimist capitulates, the bear market isn't over.   Once that happens, it's nothing but up.   Until that optimism dial gets  out of hand, and then a correction.   Even Norm got melancholy, and that was the key to our recent success.   Don't do this to us, Norm!  

It is amazing how Fred can go from being the worst coach in Nebraska history to a coaching genius who can recruit and utilize his personnel masterfully in the space of one game. As Norm has noted, it is a long season and a lot can happen, but it certainly is better than the dismal outlook I had before our Florida State matchup. And I think he has provided a fine blueprint on how other teams will begin to play Creighton this year-if they can figure out a way to hold Francisco Farabello in check.

16 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

Tough weekend for that school to the east. First, their #4 seed volleyball team gets upset in a season-ending loss in the NCAA volleyball 2nd round.

 

And now this.

 

You gotta feel for them, man. That's rough.

 

For at least half them, their volleyball team survived the weekend.  

12 hours ago, Nebrasketball1979 said:

 

If we go 9-4 over the next 13, we will be dusting off the bubble watch thread and debating seeding in the tournament.  I really hope we can speak that into existence!

I don't think we have enough scoring, but will gladly put together the games of interest and how to watch thread if we are in the conversation.  

1 minute ago, royalfan said:

 

I don't think we have enough scoring, but will gladly put together the games of interest and how to watch thread if we are in the conversation.  

Yeah, agree completely but fortunately defense travels.  We certainly need to avoid the injury bug with Walker and Griesel and then win a bunch of rock fights.  On the flip side though, we did win a game in which Tominaga and Wilcher shot a combined 2-12 and hit zero three pointers so maybe there is still a little hope offensively.

16 hours ago, millerhusker said:

Purdue will be #4 when they come to Lincoln next weekend. PBA will be rocking. 

The stars have aligned for me to make this game.

My son was set to wrestle in an all day HS JV tournament at Fort Calhoun on Saturday, however just found out today that tournament was moved up one day to Friday. I'll have to take a half day of vacation to watch him wrestle, but it is well worth it to watch us play against Purdue on Saturday.

Want to point out one moment I noticed that makes me think this team is different and I won't get it exactly right bc I haven't rewatched. During our drought after going up 41-32 the pace had really sped up and either Bando or Gary got a defensive rebound. It would have been easy to push it back down the floor but he signaled to Sam to slow it down and then passed him the ball. Small thing but having Sam, Bando, Gary and Walker, all old guys who have played big games makes a huge difference in those danger times. 

2 hours ago, hhcmatt said:

 

I think that's a great game plan for Creighton. I don't think that's the same game plan we should or will use in the rest of our games. Generally speaking though for this team slower is better.

I can't see other teams defending us the way Creighton did - particularly not after yesterday.   I would expect that if we try to isolate Greisel and let him back in other teams will help off the perimeter on either Sam or Derrick and not let them just play a 2 on 2 game.   That will force us to kick it out - and that is when we will have to make the 3's that should result.    I would also expect other teams to pressure the ballhandler alot more and make it much more difficult to get us into those isolation plays.    But certainly agree also that is our best strategy when available and it is a thing of beauty when we can get Sam and Derrick 2 on 2 around the basket.

11 minutes ago, Ron Mexico said:

The stars have aligned for me to make this game.

My son was set to wrestle in an all day HS JV tournament at Fort Calhoun on Saturday, however just found out today that tournament was moved up one day to Friday. I'll have to take a half day of vacation to watch him wrestle, but it is well worth it to watch us play against Purdue on Saturday.

Will be a true David and Goliath matchup. Purdue is #1 in this week's ESPN Power Rankings. As they should be. They made Gonzaga and Duke look silly. We averaged 8 wins/season the previous three seasons. They'll already have 9 wins by next weekend and it's not even Christmas yet. Their center is about 9 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than ours and he's the current frontrunner for national POY. They have shooters galore. And a coach who will be in the hall of fame. 

But, for some reason this just feels like the 2004 Kansas game that I somewhat expected Nebraska to win, for no good reason whatsoever. Just happens sometimes in college basketball. 

Win or lose, it'll be a magical atmosphere in that arena. 

13 hours ago, throwback said:

Never in a million years did I see a game like this coming at any point this season against a highly ranked team. Not sure if Fred tweaked something major to get this buy-in from the guys, or if the addition by subtraction by removing a certain assistant who likes to speak on podcasts is the driving factor, but it's really working.

 

Lets just keep this one in our back pocket for now. At the end of the season it would be nice to force feed some crow.

36 minutes ago, Ron Mexico said:

The stars have aligned for me to make this game.

My son was set to wrestle in an all day HS JV tournament at Fort Calhoun on Saturday, however just found out today that tournament was moved up one day to Friday. I'll have to take a half day of vacation to watch him wrestle, but it is well worth it to watch us play against Purdue on Saturday.

Yeah, I will be there with you.  The stars also aligned for us from a youth sports perspective and we will be driving in from Colorado.  Should be a great environment, especially after we knock off Indiana as well!