Leaderboard

Over on that other board Robin provided an Elbert update stating that he going to put out his final list on Thursday. We already knew that but then there's this nugget. Robin text Elbert's AAU coach asking if they are stilling planning on visiting Ohio State Sept. 27-29 and the response was "Don't know yet". Can't wait for Thursday.

Hmmmm Walter Pitchford...he played paltry minutes for Florida and then transferred. We are counting on Walter for significant minutes, scoring, leadership, rebounds, et al. What should we really expect? Pitchford was a Freshman at Florida. Most Freshman come in needing strength and conditioning to play a full NCAA schedule. There are exceptions to the rule, but those players usually head off to the NBA pretty quickly. Pitchford is two years older and has had a full year in the Nebraska strength and conditioning program. He SHOULD physically ready to play significant minutes. Production largely depends upon his comfort with the system. Considering it has been almost 18 months since he last suited up for a game, it may take him a few games to get back into the groove. I think his production will be based upon his game day match ups. Leadership? Not sure but he does have a good rep within the team. Gallegos...played a lot of minutes for and was our main scoring threat...will he hoist prayers this year or will he shoot a much better percentage? Rey is a volume shooter and will need shots to get moving. I think his shooting percentage will improve because other teams will not be able to smother him with two defenders or always put their best perimeter defender on him at all times. Let Rey find his spots, penetrate down the middle, kick out to him and let Rey shoot. Petteway...He was a role player for Texas Tech. He averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds for a rather pedestrian team. We have heard a number of positive reports about his practice habits...will he be a difference maker right away? Every team has a "glue" guy who may not be a difference maker per se but simply makes everyone around him better. Think Shane Battier. I think Petteway may be that guy. Shavon...two words...sophomore jinx...Hope it doesn't happen, pray that it doesn't happen, but it has happened before. If the reports of his development are true, Shavon may turn out to be the best player recruited by Doc. Benny...two words...last year. Hope that he is better, but if he isn't... He should be better. The better question would be how much playing time will he get? Biggs...terrific in HS, terrific in Juco, but oftentimes it takes a season or a major portion of a season to get your basketball legs under you. I have no feel for Biggs at all. Listening to people talk about him, he seems to be a paradox for me. Smith...same as Biggs, but had a reputation of being a bit, uhhh lazy. He certainly looks the part...but...who knows. He is brought in to do two things: (1) rebound; and (2) defend. We will find out quickly whether he is lazy. Rivers...showed nice improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year. That improvement must continue. Will it? See Shavon. Webster, Fuller, Hawkins...we have heard enough to be excited. Will they be as good, or better than billed? Other than Webster, give Fuller and Hawkins time to develop. Webster we need at PG. Serg...he has to be better than last year...right? Right? RIGHT? Wait . . . Serg is still with the team? Based upon numerous statements from board members, he and Benny were supposed to be gone. Did I read something wrong here? Seriously though, Serg, like Benny can only improve.

Yes but Vooch is going to turn heads this year!

Another Aussie stud. High majors looking at him. Sounds like he's just as good, if not better than Bolden and he could be ours to lose. Harriman is an absolute rock star. Pinder is a 6-8 forward and he came over from Australia and is down at Sunrise in Kansas. Harriman has a strong connection with the coach at Sunrise Christian Academy and it was a collaboration to put Pinder there. The Sunrise coach said that if it wasn't for Nebraska, Pinder wouldn't be there. We have the hook up with Harriman on board. This is from Robin: http://nebraska.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1550787 He also says Miles is headed out to Nevada this week to visit Bolden.

Look out! I'm doing it again!!! But another thing on Nebrasketball, reading that Pitchford article made me laugh. The kid sat not only Florida's bench, but every other bench of the school that he went to including whatever DII and DII, NAIA, whatever (who cares) school, but as stated earlier on here, he is supposedly the savior of the program. I also laughed that he thinks he is going to change his attitude of scoring 20 and 10 rebounds and losing, to scoring 4 and winning. For a guy that has sat the bench that much and wants to prove himself, and yet 'save' the program, his attitude isn't going to change. He sounds like a Chris Balham type. So, yeah, I guess he will blow our minds. And Mike Peltz, I hope they increase his offensive workload. He should be shooting 30 times a game to score his 3 points a game. That guy is so invaluable to his team that even when he hurt his knee, I didn't hear one Husker fan ask me, "Where is Mike Peltz?" And to be honest, I am 99% sure that it is because no fan knew more than 2 players on that team.

Glad I could be the first to offer up this expected reply

I'm not sure this bodes particularly well for a couple of current Huskers. But it appears to bode pretty darn well for the future of the program, by golly.

For what it is worth, I heard that Jeff Culhane is now in Russia.

The Haymarket Hangout

Dimes, I propose that the next T-Shirt should be Tim Miles' "Rules of Basketball". Just wanted to plant that seed. And I think the best part of it is we could probably get around the Collegiate Licensing problem easier with that design.

"The Hayloft" is good. I like "The Corn Crib" too. I think anything Haymarket or Railyard themed would be appropriate. Honestly though, I think we're over thinking it. "Husker Hoops Forum" is plenty good, and it goes well with Husker Hoops Central. IMO.

One advantage of members only...it makes people sign up (and perhaps participate) rather than lurking, which I did for quite a while until I realized I needed to join to get the info I wanted about recruits.

The Bank Vault

The Vault

To accommodate Bo, I humbly suggest the Devaney F-----g Dungeon.

Must mean he's headed to Auburn?

Correct Norm, but if they could get a commitment from Kia Nurse I think they for sure make room. I actually think they've changed their focus more so now to the 2015 class. On paper the 2014 class is without a doubt turning out to be Yori's best class since she's been here. I'm still in shock that we went into enemy territory and got a commitment out of Kaylee Page. It just blows my mind that she picked us over Oklahoma St and KU. I can't ever remember the top high school player in the state of Kansas opting to "go north" so to speak for college. Nebraska is starting to develop a reputation of getting players who didn't have offers from the so called "big named" women's basketball schools and developing those players to get to the next level. When you can get the top player from Kansas and a few of the top players in California to commit it speaks volumes about what this program is doing and where it's going. I guess we could call this the "Lindsey Moore" class. The 2015 class to go along with Jess could actually be better than this years with the interest we're already starting to garner from top recruits nation wide. Hopefully our off season recruiting next season will be as fun and interesting to watch as this season's was.