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If you viewed other teams with the same watchful eye as we do Nebraska, I don't think you'd be so down on our roster. I mean, we could potentially snag the starting point guard for one of those top half teams (and an 8 seed in the tourney) and Husker fans are disappointed about it. Do you think this roster is better, worse or about the same as it was last year? We weren't that far off last year. Won 5 or 6 games against tourney teams. And another couple wins against bubble teams. Handled Creighton in Omaha, who was a few seconds away from a final four. Beat two ACC teams. Had zero bad losses. Took a #1 seed to overtime. Went 9-11 facing one of the tougher conference schedules since joining the league. None of this was a fluke. We were every bit as good as many teams in the tournament. If we had Northwestern's or Penn St's non-con schedule, we would've been dancing like they did. Looking around the league, the conference won't be as tough next year, top to bottom. We'll also have an easier non-con schedule. Losing Griesel and Walker obviously hurts. But I see some upgrades on the roster. And I see some continuity and guys who should be better versions of themselves next year. Getting Allick would be a big upgrade from what we got out of that spot last year.

Lest we become too serious about our preseason predictions, it may be instructive to consider last year's Kansas State Wildcats, who were a Great Eight team who could well have won it all. Preseason, they had two returning players, one of whom was a 5'8,160 lb. point guard who was 25 years old, played at Ark Little Rock for three years and was suspended for disciplinary reasons there, and backed up a point guard who transferred to Miami for NIL money. Their other key player was one who wanted to come to Nebraska but was not allowed. Plus, they had a first year coach in the nation's toughest conference. I'm betting there was not much enthusiasm about a successful season. Just a reminder that anything is possible in college basketball at this time of year.

Or you could look at it another way. I think we have a starting 5 that can play anywhere. PG - Lloyd (just for argument sake) excellent size and was ahead of Lawrence before redshirting. Top 100 type talent who looks to have added strength in the RS year. Keisei - Every team would love a shooter like him Willams - an athletic 6’7” shooter from all three levels could play on most any other team Gary - part time starter on a sweet 16 top 4 SEC team so safe to say he can play on high level team Mast - Perfect post for what Fred likes to do. Many P5 team options Reserves - J Lawrence, recently listed as a break out candidate in the BIG and ave double digits down the stretch. Would have lots of P5 options That is 5 very good players and 6 if Lloyd is legit, that can play on a tourney team. Add the unknowns, Blaise stays healthy, WB takes a leap, We sign another guard (Ulis who I’m not big on but still was a starting BIG player on a tourney team), Allick who is being recruited by a final four team. Rice, athletic 6’7” shooter could be a contributor. Add another transfer who is high level. If 2-3 of those happen I like our chances. I get it we’ve been beat down but it’s not like we were that far off last year and we’ve added 2 real nice pieces and bring back a nice foundation.

A center for one. Mast is a nice inside-outside option, although maybe he's better suited for 4. WB and Keisei Keita are just hopes at this point, that one will develop and the other will be healthy. I also think we need a PG and don't buy the "positionless offense" argument. The only way this team can win is to play defense and at a slower tempo. We need somebody running a half-court offense, a floor general and a guy who can create shots late in the clock. I also think we need at least one of them to be a scoring option. Another unpopular opinion: Keisei exploded at midseason and averaged over 17 ppg in the last 10 games, but I think the league was caught completely off guard by his emergence. This season, he'll be the focal point for planning on every game, and it remains to be seen how he can handle that grind over 30 games. I'm not saying he's going to fall off a cliff, but I think we need more options when an opponent shuts him down. I'll repeat what I said earlier about that 9-man rotation: That is not an NCAA tournament team. I count one guy who could start for a top-half Big Ten team, 4 who could make a rotation and 4 who would not play, unless you add "but he may be healthy," "but he may develop," "but he may shoot better" or "but he may be really good, even though he's never played a game in college." We're building on a 16-16 team that lost 3 starters. This roster doesn't look like it's capable of making the jump needed to get to the NCAA. Pray for Fred to him a couple of home runs in the weeks ahead.

During the NU exhibition VB game yesterday against Wichita St. John Cook wore a mike during the second set and talked to the announcers about a variety of things. One of the questions one announcer asked him was how was Maggie readjusting to VB after playing WBB. He said she is doing great and that playing basketball has really helped her in volleyball. He says many of his great players in the past like Jordan Larson played both sports in High School. He said the transition from BB to VB is easier then vice versa. He said she came in great condition from all the running in BB so he is having his volleyball players do more running. By the way the VB game was fun to watch. He is building a great team. All five new freshmen play at a high level. They will be taking a 2 week trip to Brazil and play some top teams there. This all happens before the fall practice season starts. WVB portal reopens tomorrow for two weeks.

On one blocking jump in the middle, Jackson leaped so high that the top of the net, was about even with her arm pits as has been said else where...but she was that high. The whole freshmen class of 5 is absolutely outstanding. They looked like 2nd+ year college players. They all left HS early to enroll in Jan. (like Maggie did) Maggie has improved over last year...volleyball. It's not new to her now. She's up to speed...not kind of timid. Harper Murray may be the next super star. Reminds one of Jordon Larson. Good for volleyball in the state. The outdoor match will be unreal.

I didn't see the play, but I would think that overturning it would be very difficult especially with the limited camera view.

Role players are often a good get if they're in the mold of an Evan Taylor. That's how I see it.

mast is not guarding 4s in the big, he will play the 5 just fine

We're a weird group of fans. Because of our history, we've been conditioned to be pessimistic about our prospects, but we still show up by the thousands.

...and remember, Maggie is the same age as those incoming freshmen.

Last year on one of the posts on this sight somebody had a picture of Jackson going for a block and her armpits were above the top of the net. She is very quick and can just hang in the air surveying where she wants to place the ball with her long arms. I don't think I have ever seen anything like it. Cook was asked if she can reach 11 feet vertically and he said no but not far off. Her and Maggie will have a real battle for the starting Middle blocker to go along with Allick.

Radio guys didn't think so.

I did listen to that interview. Interesting comments, for sure. And dang, did you see middle blocker Andi Jackson?! 6’3” and can leap like nobody’s business! I don’t know if she could dunk a basketball or not, but I bet she could come closer than anyone else on the VB or WBB teams.

An 8-run inn. is just what the doctor ordered. Huskers up 9-zip after 4 inn. NU has scored 29 unanswered runs against those pesky Gophers.

I'll disagree with a bit of what you said, but I understand where you're coming from. The roster isn't complete yet, so there's still time. First, Mast will definitely play the 5. Part of the reason Cincy backed off him is because they didn't see him as a 4. He's the best option to play the 5, and forcing him to play the 4 takes away one of the better individual and team defenders on the team in Gary, and likely pushes him to the 3, which he doesn't have the on the ball skills to play. PG is on the way, and I think everyone else feels the same way. They need a PG in a bad way. Lloyd and Lawrence can run it, but need someone with experience there who has actually ran that spot. Keisei will get teams first look in scouting reports, as he should, but he did over the last stretch of the season also. Didn't stop him then. Fred also found great ways to get him open with how often he was on the move. Also, over last off-season he added more variety to his game with getting better at finishing around the rim. Let's see what he adds to his game this off-season, as he's going to be pushing for a 2 way contract/g league at the NBA level after next season. He'll be determined. I don't think there's an "exact" way to play and win. Forming your offense to fit the personnel needs to be the move, not the other way around. Last year was a contrast in Fred's typical play style based on personnel they had, mainly Walker and Sam griesel. I think it'll be a bit faster tempo this year, PG dependant. Probably not as fast as the first few years though. Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

Will Walsh doing what we need our Sunday guy to do.

I don't disagree with any of your points. But, I could see this being a situation of the whole being better than the sum. Not unlike last year. And does it look like a lock tournament team? No. Does it look like a last 4 in tournament team? I am not convinced it's not. Ok I lied. I reread your post. I disagree with one point. Keisei is an unstoppable force that will have to be game planned against every game. He will be even better than last year. Take it to the bank.

I believe Matt Damon said it best in The Departed, "I'm fucking Irish. I'll deal with something being wrong for the rest of my life."

I'm pretty optimistic going into the season, but you made me go back and look. Predicted 14 before the season started. FWIW I believe Hoiberg gets it done here

Much better and need to do the same thing today. At least the NET should like our MOV…… oh wait.

For me, i want a PG and Breidenbach to develop. That would be enough

When is the last day to enter portal?? Things sure seem quiet for Nebrasketball. Still hoping for a transfer or 2

No, he doesn't need a scholarship. His dad can cover the bill easily.

Ha, he does the same for me even after 30 years. That guy has a memory

I love “bab’s” as my friends and I still call it. The owner to this day still remembers me by my order not my name whenever I’m in town, lol. “Ah!!! Spicy z-plate my friend, how are you?”

a hearty congratulations to Gabe earning a spot on the NDSU Track & Field team!!