Leaderboard

Y'know, one of the things I get frustrated by is people who basically say that a player's skillset when they arrive on campus is what it is and will and can never change. We talk about this with respect to shooting technique and how some people say not to mess around with or try to change a guy's shot and how the important thing is whether it goes in or not. Listen, people said the same exact thing about Taylor Martinez's throwing motion. I remember some sort of press conference deal where Tim Beck was defending the way Taylor Martinez threw the ball before this year and saying what counts is if he gets the ball where it needs to be when it needs to get there. But the problem was that his mechanics affected his ability to put the ball where it needed to be and when. There is a fundamental relationship between the two. And they acted like it was something immutable that couldn't be changed. So, what does Taylor do? Summer before his junior year of college, he goes out to California and works with a guy and improves his damn mechanics. And all last fall, every televised football game, the genius announcers would talk about Taylor's improved mechanics and what a difference it's made in his throwing. And I wanted to say, "well DUH!" Of course it makes a difference. Sad thing is, Taylor was supposed to go out to California the summer before that but instead spent it in Omaha learning how to run the option with Eric Crouch. Not that Eric ain't a great player, but it's Taylor's throwing that needed the work and he finally got it after being in the program for 4 years. So, Ray Gallegos takes a redshirt year. And spends time working on his shot. And, while it might not seem like it's had a lot of impact, I think that it has. He's facing a lot more defensive attention than he ever has before and he's able to hit shots while closely guarded. I wish Brandon Ubel would have spent a summer working on overhauling his shot. A guy his size who hits 80% or better from the stripe ought to be able to stroke it at least half that good from beyond the arc. I think his mechanics held him back. I honestly do. But, back to Ray. It's getting late, but it's not too late, for Ray to work on his ball handling. It'll take work. I think his coaches could probably devise things for him to do to work on being a better ball handler and learn how to take his defender off the dribble. It won't happen by osmosis and it won't happen if he doesn't work on it. But I don't believe that it CAN'T happen. I believe it CAN. I just am not sure it will. But, if it does, then all the people who think highly of Ray and think he'll contribute greatly next year will be right. What Ray lacks is a second tool. Take away his perimeter shot and he doesn't hurt you. Hedge every screen, force him to his left, but stay in his jock and he's not going to burn you for a lot of points. He has one year left to take his game to the next level. I don't think there's any legitimate reason, with his athleticism, why he can't become a threat to slash and get to the rim. But it's up to Ray. It's ALL up to Ray as to what kind of player he wants to be. And, if he just brings shooting to the table next year (on the offensive end) well, we'll have guys on the roster who will be able to shoot more effectively. So ... what's it gonna be, Ray? Are you going to be satisfied coming back next year as just an older version of what you were this year? Or are you going to add another tool to your arsenal. It really is that simple.

I think a player can refine and improve slightly on his skills. But at this stage, it's highly unlikely you see a total overhaul. Using Martinez as an example...you saw him look drastically different against lesser competition but he took steps back and reverted back to form at times against. Gallegos has been playing ball for probably 15 years now and is a finishing his 4th season as a division1 basketball player. If he's not a good ball handler now...he won't be next year. Can he improve? Sure. But I don't think it's realistic to expect wholesale changes at this point.

I agree 49r, but these are 17 and 18 year olds. I'm not sure many people on this board realize what it is Jordans represent to some kids. It's not Nike, it's Jordan. Go look at prospects twitters or whatever, they're FULL of pictures of their Jordans. It's more than shoes to some kids. I went through a shoe collecting phase (sounds ridiculous saying it now), but I dropped several thousand dollars on shoes (mostly nike and jordan) within a years time. It's not easy to explain, but like any kind of collection it becomes an obsession. When a kid decides they want to go to a school that is sponsored by Nike or Jordan, they instantly have the ability to acquire these shoes without spending 150-200 on them. They can wear the most popular shoes on the big stage. They can get the limited colorways they dreamed about as a kid. Yes, I'm being serious. That's the disgusting stranglehold Jordan Brand has on the basketball shoe market.

Fair enough, Norm. Silverbacked seems like a good dude, and I'm not trying start trouble here. Most of you guys have been here a lot longer than I have. Also, I may argue passionately for my opinions, but that doesn't mean I'm mad at anyone. I just have strong opinions and expect that people will be prepared to defend their positions just like I defend mine. This process has often caused me to rethink opinions when they don't stand up. I feel that's healthy. Everyone should have their opinions questioned and be prepared to justify them rationally. Still, when these types of discussions go on, I dare say there's not a guy here who actually believes he's a decision maker about Nebraska basketball. We're not sitting here actually planning how players are going to be used next season, because no one cares what we think anyway. Silverbacked is definitely right about that. However, these discussions don't stem from a delusion about control. They stem from curiosity, interest and passion. Everyone here is emotionally invested in this basketball program and cares about its future. Speculation about that future is part of the fun for me, and probably for many others here, regardless of whether or not our opinions don't align with the coaches'. Of course Tim Miles isn't asking for my opinion, or for anyone's opinion here. That doesn't mean we can't hash this stuff out for hours, though, however futile an exercise that may be.

Nope, just trying to stifle good conversation once again. Your post was virtually verbatim of what you posted a couple of weeks ago when people were having a good discussion in the "David Rivers, Shavon Shields, Nick Fuller, Terran Petteway" thread on pg. 3: In all seriousness we just have to wait and see what the coaches want to do. We can talk all we want, but it really doesn't matter because nobody listens to us but us. What you're essentially saying when you make posts like this is that any discussion about the future of the team's personnel and where/how they may be play is pointless and that fans shouldn't engage in such wasted energy, but should instead just sit around with their mouths shut until the coaches see fit to tell us how things are going to be. To me, this is the antithesis of what sports message boards are all about. We may not know what we're talking about and could be off base, but it's still fun to have these types of discussions, and for the life of me I can't figure out why you feel the need to counsel people that they're wasting their time and should just wait and see what the coaches are going to do. Sorry if I'm coming down on you, but when I saw you post the exact same thing again yesterday, I didn't care for it any more than I did the first time you posted it. It's a pet peeve of mine, and it's not what message boards are all about.

How much for a "lap dance"? From a child? Probably 5-10 years.

Would LOVE for this to happen. It would kill Creighton's baseball program. Really would not help out Nebraska much regarding baseball as we already get our pick of the litter of instate talent. But, the 5 fans that program has was pretty vocal when Nebraska moved to the Big 10 saying it would be the end of NU baseball because nobody would want to play us and recruiting would take a major hit. Those have both proven to be false in a VERY short amount of time. Nebraska may play the hardest non-con schedule in the NCAA this year...plus preseason ranked #1 Arkansas is visiting Lincoln. Texas is rumored to make a return trip next year. Also, this staff has brought in quite possibly one of the best recruiting classes in a long time. They are bulldogs on the recruiting trail Creighton would make the jump for the money....and it would bring more recognition to their team and league. As right now nobody really gives a damn about the Mo Valley. With that said, the drawbacks are there also. Every single team in that conference will be willing to spend spend spend on basketball.......and every other team will have a local recruiting base to recruit from. Creighton does not have that...and in the Valley Creighton has advantages over other schools when it comes to spending and facilities. That will no longer be the case...they will not have to play a grinding schedule instead of playing cream puffs every other game in league play. Gosh, it must be nice to know everything and be so smart; even being able to predict the future for Nebraska and Creighton.