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I have no idea what kind of a player he is, but I saw him at the Special Olympics Camp and I can say with certainty he is an absolutely great person.

Some things don’t need a joke. Some things are good and wholesome and can be appreciated for what they are.

At the end of the day, the world needs more great people than it does basketball players......

Walker, man. He gets it.

You are kind of a dick, guy.

100% agree. Positionless basketball is a narrative to keep AAU kids and parents happy. Btw, before anyone says anything, 5-out offense doesn’t mean positionless.

Well this thread went to shit.

I think what 49r meant to say was "Elisjaha Dicken can hit 80% of his shots from 40 yards. Why can't the Huskers do the same from 15 feet?" Easily offended, have at it!

I think it was just a self-deprecating joke that fell flat. I, @49r, and some others, have found it especially difficult to feel our usual optimistic selves going into this coming season. I don't think he was trying to crap on anyone's feel goods.

Fair enough, and I want to reiterate that this was a very cool thing the guys did. I'm sure it was a great day for everyone involved.

I see what you did there.

Update on Banton: https://www.yahoo.com/now/dalano-banton-is-improving-where-it-matters-most-182508299.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIJBvrI3KaGCuKdLbNTwvrNq2fQo_9bIKQALhf1OjCGbrz0668BW8D3zI1vRb15Zm5Zb8fioPFB29CIVQEQI9otb1RVCUoZ9mEn7iSBsnsxSwFSHlERseRn5nNkX_UOrvhkVUXHojUbf3vN0DEaxdaoDLczrFXoJOTgbVBkX3aeK

https://huskers.com/news/2022/7/18/womens-basketball-shelley-shines-at-nba-summit.aspx

It took me awhile to catch up with my friend (death in the family etc) but here’s the main takeaway: The First Team was, Blaise, Walker, Griesel, Gary & Bandoumel. Looks like Fred is ready to Go BIG or Go Home. Wilcher, Briedenbach look very differently physically than last season. Lloyd is as polished as we’ve been told & for whatever it’s worth, the guys really seem to get along & LIKE each other.

Yeah I actually don't want to hear that. He's in his sixth year and has never been a shooter. I have no doubt that he can make them in practice (there were reports of this during his redshirt year as well). Big difference when the bullets are flying. I'd want each player to focus on their own defined role and get as good as they can possibly get in that role. The positionless basketball narrative has been very overblown the last few years. Too many players try to be a (mediocre) jack of all trades at everything, and don't ever fully develop any one skill. They become poor to average at everything and don't have a single skill they're above average to elite at. The three NBA teams that have fully embraced positionless basketball are Houston, Orlando and OKC. It's no surprise these are the three worst 3 point shooting teams in the league. They acquire impressive athletes whose measurables look good on paper and attempt to make everyone shooters. Rather than finding actual pure shooters, point guards who can get them the ball, big guys who can draw the defense in, good screen setters, etc. The most successful teams - at every level - absolutely still have very defined roles for all of their players. They do not play positionless basketball. Golden State, Pheonix, Memphis, Kansas, UNC, Michigan St, etc. All these teams have centers who can't shoot worth a lick. Klay Thompson is a 3 and D shooting guard and that's it. They don't even let him dribble. Chris Paul and Dajuan Harris cannot play any other position than a pass first point guard. Kevon Looney, David McCormack and Marcus Bingham can't walk and chew gum at the same time. These teams are just collections of players with specific skills pieced together to form units that work and complement each other. Just like any other successful teams that exist in any setting, sports or otherwise. Derrick is above average in his role offensively. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Just hone it to make it even better. We just need more guys to be above average in different roles. Then piece them together. When we tried to make Terran Petteway a PNR point guard his junior year, he and the team really struggled.

In Lat's defense, he never got to play against Nebraska in a game, which would have brought his 3-pt FG% up dramatically.

Y'know, instead of the usual "chemistry is better than last year and the guys know we have the talent to win" or similar pap, I'd love to see one of these pundits write, "The players know there's a lot of skepticism among the fans, and big talk going into the last few seasons has basically fallen flat. They know they have to prove it on the floor for fans to start believing in this program again and they want the fans to know, heading into the season, they're all working hard to control the things they can control, and if success eludes them again this year, it won't be for lack of effort."

I mean, first of all, very cool of Derrick to do this. He's become one of my favorite Huskers of recent times. But the jokes kind of write themselves here don't they? First one that comes to mind is: "Finally. The Huskers have found some competition more on their level!"