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I'll admit, I was very critical of him early on this season. When he transfered from Texas Tech, I thought he was just a David Rivers type player (and not just because of the hair). Boy was I wrong. At first, I didn't know what to think of the guy, but now I'm really starting to love having him on our team. His shot selection was, and at times still is, interesting to say the least. But he seems to have toned down the jacking of low percentage shots of late. He's scored 20+ in three straight games and 4 of the last 5. In those 5 games, he is 34-70, damn near 50% from the floor, and is 11-22, right at 50%, from 3. Of course he is also 22-26 (85%) from the FT line. These kinds of numbers are even better than you can ask of big-time scorers. I know we get caught up complaining about our lack of big men and why some marginal at best players don't play over other marginal at best players, but hey, when have we had a guy with this kind of offensive ability? He can drive, he can shoot with guys in his face, he can shoot off the dribble, he can draw fouls and he almost always makes his free throws. He is a potential All-Big 10 First Teamer, maybe not this year, but in the future. And he is only a sophomore! I hope Petteway can keep playing like he is and that the last we saw of Deverell Biggs continues, as they will be a fun 1-2 combo to watch the rest of this year and next.

Biggs did that too. It was pretty much the end of the comeback attempt and effectively the game. Then again, if he had made it, we might be talking about what a ballsy play it was... I wouldn't. A good shot is not determined by whether it goes in or not. One thing that puzzled fans when I coached high school was when they would hear me get on a player for a shot they made. Most people think a made shot must be a good thing. A made bad shot just encourages them to take more bade shots. A bad shot is a bad shot. If you noticed Miles had a player going to the scorer's table before Petteway's shot hit the rim.

NU 71 OSU 64

Honestly, Norm, I did. I had the privilege of watching her play, a fair amount. Saw her score 47 against Skutt, but missed her getting 54 against Scottsbluff. I also saw Ivy and Robinette a fair amount. I really did think we hit a home run by getting Hooper, at the time. I am not surprised by the player she has become. In fact, I am a little disappointed (don't take this wrong--I think she is awesome as a player; one of the alltime Husker greats--so thankful to have her). But at the time (senior year in high school), I thought she could be a program changer; perhaps she has been. I thought she could be an All-American--she might be at the end of the year. Specifically, I thought she would develop the drive better than she has. That is the one area Griffin clearly was better than Hooper. At the end of Hoop's junior year, she had a ways to go with rebounding, defense, and driving the ball. She improved quite a bit with rebounding and defense after her stint with the US World University team. She has improved somewhat in scoring off the dribble, but it is still a hole in her game. I would have to search the internet to bring back Hooper's offers and interest, but she had some good programs after her; including Stanford. Actually, I don't believe Robinette could have gone anywhere she wanted. Steph Jones had more interest from the Uconns of then world than did Robinette. When he was recruiting Robinette, Sanderford told me point blank that Kendra Wecker was considerably better than Robinette, but there would be no telling anyone in Nebraska that. If he had to pick one, it would have been Wecker. I don't think Sanderford was the only coach who figured that out during recruiting. Me thinks there could be an urban bias to talking about Ivy/Trotter/Kellogg. Hooper lived in the middle of nowhere, 45 miles from a class B school. Didn't have as many AAU/Club opportunities as some others. But watching her back then, it was pretty easy to see--a very special, comes along only once in a long while type of player.

I've seen much better shot selection from him since the holiday tournament and have seen Miles show him a quick hook every time a questionable shot goes up. The team needs him to shoot but his shots need to come within the offensive flow. With continued "guidance" from Miles during games he is doing a much better job of that.

Corey Brewer was a 6'9" 2 guard. Pitch doesn't hit that outside shot enough and doesn't slash well enough that he can be 6'10" shooting guard though.

You'd waste your 3 questions on one of the last guys on the bench? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb8eC5Q_VJk

he's going to be a high first rounder because he's a legit big with above average skills and you rarely come across that anymore, especially in the USA. How he does in the NBA is anyone's guess (obviously).

Congratulations. Hope your shoulder is OK. If you go back looking for the post you had about people bitching and moaning, I hope you notice that people weren't complaining about Petteway's ability. People were complaining about his decisions. And some possible attitude issues. Those things have come around. So, I would suggest that it's not so much that "others are starting to feel [the way you felt] too" so much as it is that Petteway has improved in areas where people had concerns. Think of it this way. If Brian Diaz had come back for his senior year and started dunking the ball and playing aggressive, the people who had criticized him before would probably have started heaping praise on him. But it wouldn't be because THEY had changed.

I was a primary defender of Petteway during the tourney when people were all over him. Some saying we would be better without him. Obviously that was absurd. However, I don't think he has improved much since then like some do. He is still taking the same shots. He is just making more than he did down there. What I want to see is him become a team leader. A guy that does the dirty jobs. Like lead the charge on defense. He is not leading like I would like. If he wants to be the man on offense with the green light to make plays, then I would like to see him take charge on defense. We are far more capable of playing better defense than last year. We need an identity, and I think it starts with him on both ends. While it seems absurd, we still can go 8-8 in the league. Then win a couple games at the tourney and we are in the conversation. How well we can learn to buy in on defense will dictate those chances. And lets face it, we are going to have to be a school that thrives on defense to be good year in and year out. That is how Wisconsin has turned into a major factor. We have to be able to play that end. And I am very frustrated with what I have seen.

realtime's good for morale, but that's about it. It loves SoS above and beyond the call of duty. We're making progress, and in solid chunks. That's all I care about. 150 to 120 to now in double digits. That's concrete improvement, but this time, we're getting better AND younger, which is something we just hadn't been doing.

some Ohio State university - 74 THE University of Nebraska-Lincoln - 58

During Hooper's freshman year when Alliance won state, she had pretty good talented teammates (all seniors but one). The point guard played for Doane College and another girl went to Chadron St. but I don't believe she stayed with it. That said, her next 3 years she had basically no help. The others girls, except maybe one player with maybe average talent, were way below average. She carried her team to state the next 3 years. I think Hooper would of won 3 more state titles if she only had a couple of average players on her teams.

Interesting discussion, Norm. Certainly Ivy had a WAY better supporting cast, as you mention. Hooper had nobody. I mean nobody. And still, she got her team to State, and her senior year they actually won two games (the second one being the 3rd place game). And Hooper faced every bit as many triple teams and junk defenses as Shepard does. So, I won't concede that Ivy was a better high school player than JHoop, but obviously she was very good. I lean (1) Hooper-Shepard, (2) Ivy, (3) Stephens-Robinette. Although based just on high school play, Steph Jones was pretty impressive as well.

I have backed Petteway from the beginning. I wish I could find the post I had about how people would always bitch and moan we didn't have a guy that could just attack the way he does, but then complained when he would sometimes take a bad shot. I personally have liked him from Day 1. Glad others are starting to feel that way too. He's a guy that we haven't had in quite some time. The nice thing is, he is only a sophomore. Time to only get better.

Agree with everything you said. His 3pt selection has frustrated me. I know the guy can make it, but some of the attempts are beyond boneheaded. Last game he took a 3 that made me want to throw my remote through the TV. It was right as we were starting to make a comeback...TP takes the ball and launches a 3 from 2 feet beyond the line only a few seconds in. Something tells me that wont change.

I agree. He seems to have settled into the offense more. Also, he's one of the best transition players NU's had in quite some time.

Keep your children out of the parks ladies and gentleman as Doug McDermott looks to outscore Christian Standhardinger.

HB, what you say is true. As far as how she's turned out, Hooper is just a terrific, terrific player. Best yet based on college. I was speaking more of what they did in HS, though. I was going to say something about Katie Robinette being in that category. Obviously, Katie's college career left a little to be desired. But as a HS kid, Katie was in that stratosphere. But, for what they've done post-HS, yes, JHoop has to be on the top of the list right now. She deserves to have her jersey hanging from the rafters at PBA when all is said and done. Based on college career, JHoop absolutely at the top. Based on HS, though, Maurtice was in a separate category. And I'd have said Maurtice was probably the best girls HS player ever in Nebraska until you get a load of what Jess Shepard is doing as the primary option on a Fremont team that some say wouldn't be any good without her. I'm blown away. More blown away than I was watching 9th grader Katie Robinette lope up the floor like a gazelle while playing for South Sioux. Ivey wasn't alone on her Central team. Her teammate Jessica Haynes was also a terrific player who, I believe, ended up at Arizona for college. Robinette similarly was surrounded by D1 talent her 4 years at South Sioux. Neither of them faced double- and triple-teams and still managed to put up Shepard's numbers against quality opponents. Wow. Just ... wow.

Norm, I agree with you that Shepard is qutie impressive. I first saw her play as a freshman, and was amazed. However, I respectfully submit that Hooper is currently the best player to come out of a Nebraska high school, rather than Ivy. Shepard may ultimately become that person, but people should appreciate Hooper this year, as she is a very special player, and one that doesn't come around often.

And Jess Shepard is only a junior. Man, she puts up crazy numbers. And it's almost more impressive if she can do it for Fremont as sort of the only weapon (getting double- and triple-teamed) than when she did it for Southeast. This girl is truly impressive. Hands down the best player I've seen come out of Nebraska HS since Maurtice Ivy (and quite possibly the best ever.) Very short list of players in her orbit.

I don't follow Walt, but it's not uncommon for players to tweet personal stats. The people following Walt are going to be friends, family and fans. They are interested enough to follow him, so why wouldn't they be interested in how he's playing? 140 character PSA and he managed to comment on his game as well as make a diplomatic statement.

Can we put this thread to rest...Five pages on a kid who decided not to come here, who isn't going to transfer here; is a bit overkill. Perhaps we should start one on Gesell now?

I would rather see Rivers play rather than Gallegos. I cant wait until Gallegos graduates and we never have to see is untapped potential ever again!!!