OurDecay

Gotta be honest...don’t like losing, but I’m sort of stunned by the (over)reaction to this game. NU showed me in the first half that they have the pieces to develop into a competitive team someday. At this point, that’s the goal. The key is some day. It’s not going to turn around this fast. The team in black tonight went 7-25 a year ago and is rolling out an almost entirely new roster that has barely played together. The team in white is a fantastic program and a legit top-10 team. You don’t get to skip steps and suddenly you are beating top-10 teams on the road. There are no shortcuts. We are clearly better than last year, but due to the weirdness of this year and the strength of the conference...we may have the same record. And we need to be prepared for that. This is a process. Have to be patient. Believe in Fred.

With regards to our transfers regressing to their 3-pt shooting numbers at prior schools, I have two words: Matej. Kavas. Track record may not be a great indicator. You have to look at level of comp, style of offense (did it create open looks?), and role (did they run plays for him). by every metric, we were right to expect Kavas to continue to be that 46% 3-pt shooter. The dude averaged that over two years as a starter and was 6-8, so you figured he could get his shot off. What we didn’t know was his mental makeup and how he’d fit. Poor guy struggled hard here.

Banton didn’t even play his best and still quietly fills the stat sheet. Banton, Allen, McGowens, Shamiel, Webster, and Mayen all look like suitable power-5 level players to me. Having Thor and Yvan as effectively your 7th & 8th guys tonight in terms of minutes is quite the luxury. We have massively upgraded from last year. Massively. It may not equate to a great record in conference play, but we are worlds better and we still have some nice reinforcements on their way too.

I like Thor too...but this year he has looked like a guy who used to be our most consistent player but has been passed by a team full of superior players. He came into this game shooting 22% from the field - worst on the team - and he is 0-2 today. He is doing that while averaging over 27 mpg too. I know his value is measured in other ways, but he hasn’t looked great this year.

Just came here to post this. Yes.

I think Cross and Yvan are fantastic talents with upside. Both are true frosh. One is getting into shape and the other won’t be 18 until like March. Yvan is a 6-9 kid that is averaging 5.5 PPG & 5.5 RPG (20.0 mpg) as a true frosh against taller & older players. That’s actually pretty good for this early in the season. Cross is a surprisingly skilled 6-8 kid is averaging 7.1 PPG & 4.1 RPG (19.5 mpg) as a true frosh in the same circumstances. These two freshman bigs contribute a total of 12.6 PPG & 9.6 RPG in a combined 39.5 minutes. If that was all from just one them, we’d be losing our minds. i wouldn’t change anything with their rotation next year. I’d make Banton our 4, and roll out Mack, Burke and probably Shamiel or Green depending on matchups. Mack is an elite PG. He makes people better around him.

Holy crap, his release is like butter. Efficient and clean. Goodness.

Updated thru 11/24: 11/9/19 vs. Suns: 40 PTS/5 REB/2 AST/1 STL 11/11/19 vs Blue: 20 PTS/10 REB/1 AST/5 STL 11/13/19 vs Lakers: 14 PTS/4 REB/5 AST/2 STL 11/15/19 vs Wolves: 36 PTS/6 REB/3 AST/2 STL 11/16/19 vs SkyForce: 16 PTS/0 REB/8 AST/1 STL 11/22/19 vs SkyForce: 27 PTS/12 REB/4 AST/1 STL 11/24/19 vs Charge: 25 PTS/2 REB/4 AST/2 STL Thru 7 G: 25.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.0 SPG He's currently the #4 scorer in the G League, behind 3 guys who have only played 4 games: Josh Gray (33.8), Marial Shayok (29.5), and Jared Harper (26.0). He's shooting 52.5% FG, 35.7% 3PT, and 75% FT. So, basically awesome.

Side note...I saw some folks pretty critical of Kavas. He was brought in to shoot 3-pointers, period. He is 40% from 3-pt range through 2 games. I think my issue with him is getting him more looks. We need to find a way to integrate him into our offense so he can get more attempts per game. He is averaging 2.5 3PTA per game. Comparatively: Jervay Green: 6.5 3PTA/G @ 23.1% Cam Mack: 5.5 3PTA/G @ 18.2% Kevin Cross: 4.5 3PTA/G @ 22.2% Dachon Burke: 3.5 3PTA/G @ 14.3% This is not the ratio you want to see. Kavas is career 44.6% 3-pt shooter across 86 Division I games.

Gotta be honest, even with the 0-2 start against buy-in opponents, I expected more patience and perspective around here. I mean...for goodness sakes. You are a Nebraska BASKETBALL fan. Pull yourself together. You have been through decades upon decades of disappointment and heartbreak. You are still here cheering. Don’t lose your resolve now after a couple losses. We got a real legitimate basketball coach. He’s drawing up plays that would work. His schemes are solid - great, even. But absolutely nothing works in basketball if you cannot shoot the basketball. And holy poop, we can’t. We can’t make layups, we can’t make free throws, we can’t make uncontested 3s. This is not a scheme issue. This is not an effort issue. I see the kids playing hard. They want to do well. The only solution to our issues are talent and time. We need both. A lot of both. Fred pulled a miracle to even manage a full roster given the time he had to work with. These are not cream of the crop recruits. And CBB recruiting is like a 2-3 year cycle. Relationships take time. I doubt most of these kids would have been a first choice for Fred. But here we are. But time is even more important. For a majority of the active roster, this is their first D1 experience. You know how when you pick up a couple freshmen and you have to slowly ease them into the season? That’s essentially our whole roster. Mack, Green, Drago, Cross, Curtis...these guys are all playing their first D1 minutes...ever. Even your grad transfers, Kavas and Cheatham, were both dealing with injuries last year. And they are adjusting to a new team. That doesn’t happen overnight. Burke hadn’t played a live game in two years and his off year was with a different coach and different teammates. And that might be the biggest thing. Team chemistry. Knowing roles. The kids don’t know, and Fred doesn’t even know yet. Who can he count on? Who should he send to the line to shoot a technical FT? Who is clutch? Who do you want taking the last shot? Who is your best defender? Who can get a rebound? There’s no magic formula. That all reveals itself over time. View all these losses as learning experiences. Some of these players will return next year. They will benefit from this process. Fred will learn his team better. I guarantee he knows his squad better today than before the season. And here’s the thing...they will get better. This team isn’t going winless. Have patience. You’ve been through worse. And it will all be worth it. RDK

I mean...Tim's first class: PF Leslee Smith, 6-8 - JUCO picked NU over SLU SG Tai Webster, 6-3 - Int'l Prospect - picked NU over LSU, Pitt, Wake, Virginia, SMU, St. Mary's SG Nick Fuller, 6-7 - picked NU over Minn SG Nathan Hawkins, 6-5 - picked NU over Albany, Lehigh, KSU, OkSt PG Tim Wagner, 6-3 - no other offers? Fred's first class: PG Cam Mack, 6-2 - #2 JUCO in Nation. Picked NU over Gonzaga, Texas Tch, UCLA, Oregon, USC, A&M, Utah SG Jervay Green, 6-3 - #3 JUCO in Nation. Picked NU over Houston, TCU (re-recruited by NU) SF Shamiel Stevenson, 6-6 - Transfer from Pitt. Picked NU over Arkansas PF Yvan Ouegraogo, 6-8 - Picked NU over Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, TCU SG Haanif Cheatham, 6-5 - Grad Transfer from FGCU. Picked NU over Arizona, Arkansas, Cincy, Va Tech SF Matej Kavas, 6-8 - Grad Transfer from Seattle. #7 3-pt shooter nationally in 2018-19. PF Kevin Cross, 6-9 - Picked NU over OkSt, Arkansas, TCU PG Samari Curtis, 6-4 - USA Today POY in Ohio. #9 scorer in state history. Picked NU over Xavier, Cincy, Va Tech SF Dalano Banton, 6-8 - (Sit-Out) Transfer from WKU. Picked NU over various. PF Derrick Walker, 6-8 - (Sit-Out) Transfer from Tennessee. Yo.

Looked through this thread and didn't see this posted yet. This is a really nice highlight reel put together by NBA Draft Junkies for Isaiah:

That film is....whoa.

DO WANT.

It is easy for us to forget that. Imagine being a Maryland fan. Nebraska is a ranked team that comes into your gym tonight with a starting five that is considered by some as the best in the league: - They have a 6-6 senior guard that is the #2 scorer in the conference at 19.6 PPG, and is a returning 1st team All-Big Ten player. He is an efficient scorer, gets your team in foul trouble, and is an 83.5% foul shooter. And he plays pretty good defense. Good luck! - Their PG is a 4-year starter that is averaging 13.6 PPG, 4.1 APG vs. 1.2 TOV, and is #6 in the conference in steals. Oh, and he is shooting 43.5% from 3-pt range on the year (which would be 4th in the conference if he had enough attempts). Hopefully you don't have to foul him at the end, because he's 87.5% from the line this year. Enjoy that. - Their 4-man is a former 5-star recruit who is averaging 14.5 PPG and 5.6 RPG, while shooting a blistering 54.3% from the field this season. He's a 6-9 guy who is also shooting 37.2% from 3-pt range. He's Nebraska's most consistent player. Feel free to guard him with whomever you choose. - Their 5-man is a physical freak who is averaging 10.1 PPG and 6.0 RPG, while also in the top-10 in the conference in both STEALS and blocks. He's 6-8 with like a 7-foot wingspan. Maybe you get lucky and he is limited tonight, maybe not. But you have nobody who matches up with him. Nobody does, really. - Their other guard is another former top recruit averaging 8.8 PPG, with a 2.2/0.8 Assist-to-Turnover ratio, and is shooting 41.0% from 3-pt range. He also 3rd in the conference at 1.7 steals/game. - Our first guy off the bench is a 41.3% 3-pt shooter. Good luck, Terps.

Nebraska cracks the Associated Press this week, coming in at No. 24. This is the first time the Huskers have been ranked in the AP poll since Nov. 17, 2014.In other ratings:KenPom: #21 (highest ever ranking)https://kenpom.com/NCAA NET: #9https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketbal ... t-rankingsBart Torvik T-Rank: #12http://www.barttorvik.com/#Next 5 Games:@ Minnesota (6-2, #55 KenPom)Creighton (6-2, #31 KenPom)Cal St Fullerton (3-5, #149 KenPom)SW Minnesota St (NA)@ Maryland (7-1, #32 KenPom)Big Ten in the AP Poll:#5 Michigan (8-0)#10 Michigan St (6-2)#12 Wisconsin (7-1)#18 Iowa (6-1)#19 Ohio St (7-1)#23 Maryland (7-1)#24 Nebraska (7-1)---#26 Purdue#35 Indiana

Purdue, umm, the victim of some ridiculous no-calls at the end of this game

Good to know!

Summarized: Former NUBB players elsewhere: Class of 2014: Tarin Smith [UConn] - 16.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.3 TPG Class of 2014: Jacob Hammond [out of basketball] Class of 2015: Bakari Evelyn [Valparaiso] - 11.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 1.5 TPG Class of 2015: Ed Morrow [Marquette] - 3.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 2.3 TPG Class of 2015: Michael Jacobson [Iowa St] - 16.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.3 TPG Class of 2016: Jordy Tshimanga [Dayton] - sitting out as transfer Class of 2016: Jeriah Horne [Tulsa] - 7.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.0 TPG

That athleticism is goofy. Good Lord.

UCF - Wichita St just had some drama

By the way, the only two players on this list that are transfers are Palmer and Copeland. All the rest are playing for the team that recruited them out of high school.

As a person who religiously follows football recruiting and rankings...basketball recruiting fascinate me. They tend to be pretty accurate. Check it out...Rivals ratings added: 2017-18 All-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Team As selected by Big Ten coachesFIRST TEAMMILES BRIDGES, MICHIGAN STATE - 5-stars, #10 in R150 (2016)James Palmer Jr., Nebraska - 4-stars, #99 in R150 (2014)KEITA BATES-DIOP, OHIO STATE - 4-stars, #26 in R150 (2014)Tony Carr, Penn State - 4-stars, #46 in R150 (2016)Carsen Edwards, Purdue - 4-stars, #91 in R150 (2016)SECOND TEAMJuwan Morgan, Indiana - 3-stars, #109 in R150 (2015)Moritz Wagner, Michigan - 4-stars (2015)Jae'Sean Tate, Ohio State - 4-stars, #79 in R150 (2014)Vincent Edwards, Purdue - 3-stars, #124 in R150 (2014)Ethan Happ, Wisconsin - 3-stars, #123 in R150 (2014)THIRD TEAMAnthony Cowan Jr., Maryland - 4-stars, #45 in R150 (2016)Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State - 5-stars, #6 in R150 (2017)Cassius Winston, Michigan State - 4-stars, #29 in R150 (2016)Jordan Murphy, Minnesota - 3-stars, #113 in R150 (2015)Isaac Haas, Purdue - 4-stars, #71 in R150 (2014)HONORABLE MENTIONLeron Black, Illinois - 4-stars, #38 in R150 (2014)Robert Johnson, Indiana - 4-stars, #48 in R150 (2014)Tyler Cook, Iowa - 4-stars, #74 in R150 (2016)Kevin Huerter, Maryland - 4-stars, #59 in R150 (2016)Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Michigan - 3-stars (2014)Nick Ward, Michigan State - 4-stars, #41 in R150 (2016)Nate Mason, Minnesota - 3-stars (2014)Isaac Copeland Jr., Nebraska - 5-stars, #23 in R150 (2014)Lamar Stevens, Penn State - 4-stars, #96 in R150 (2016)Mike Watkins, Penn State - 3-stars, #126 in R150 (2015)Dakota Mathias, Purdue - 3-stars, #147 in R150 (2014)So...of the 26 players that made the All-Big Ten teams, 23 were listed as Rivals150 players coming out of high school, and another one was a 4-star international player. The 1st team contains four 4-star players, and one 5-star.Discuss.

...have been good for Miles: HUGE SUCCESSES:Terran Petteway (Texas Tech):@ Texas Tech (1 season): 13.1 MPG, 3.1 PPG, 2.0 RPG@ Nebraska (2 seasons): 33.3 MPG, 18.1 PPG, 4.9 RPGNotable: unanimous 1st-team All-Big Ten in first year at NU; 3rd-team All-Big Ten in second year. Led NU to first NCAA tourney birth in 16 years. Declared early for NBA draft.James Palmer Jr (Miami):@ Miami (2 seasons): 12.5 MPG, 3.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.7 APG@ Nebraska (1 season): 30.7 MPG, 17.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.0 APGNotable: probable 1st-team All-Big Ten selection in first year at NU. Has averaged 19.3 PPG in 17 conference games.Isaac Copeland (Georgetown):@ Georgetown (3 seasons): 25.3 MPG, 8.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG@ Nebraska (1 season): 30.5 MPG, 13.0 PPG, 6.1 RPGNotable: leads team in total rebounds. Has shot 42% from 3-point range in 17 conference games.Andrew White III (Kansas):@ Kansas (2 seasons): 5.5 MPG, 2.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, .295 from 3PT@ Nebraska (1 season): 29.7 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, .412 from 3PTNotable: led NU in rebounding and was second in scoring in his only year at NU. Currently in NBA.Walter Pitchford (Florida):@ Florida (1 season): 1.7 MPG, 0.5 PPG, 0.3 RPG@ Nebraska (2 seasons): 25.1 MPG, 8.3 PPG, 4.6 RPGNotable: was key piece of NU's first NCAA tourney birth in 16 years, shooting 43% from 3PT in conference play that year (and averaging 10.0 PPG)Anton Gill (Louisville):@ Louisville (2 seasons): 7.9 MPG, 2.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.4 APG@ Nebraska (2 seasons): 22.0 MPG, 6.8 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.0 APGNotable: had first season cut short by injury. In his second year, was inserted into starting lineup mid-season in midst of run toward postseason tournaments.Evan Taylor (Samford):@ Samford (1 season): 22.4 MPG, 6.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.2 APG@ Nebraska (2 seasons): 25.2 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.8 APGNotable: was only a part-time starter for Samford, yet has started 40 games for NU across 2 seasons. Has developed into a defensive specialist for NU. Is currently shooting 48.4% from 3PT on the season.MODERATE SUCCESSES:Leslee Smith (SMU):@ SMU (1 season): 15.1 MPG, 3.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG@ Nebraska (2 seasons): 15.3 MPG, 4.6 PPG, 4.2 RPGNotable: severely limited by injuries throughout career at NU.Duby Okeke (Winthop):@ Winthrop (3 seasons): 14.9 MPG, 4.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG@ Nebraska (1 season): 7.2 MPG, 0.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 BPGNotable: offensively limited big brought in as an elite shot-blocker. As advertised, but too limited overall to warrant extended minutes.Moses Abraham (Georgetown):@ Georgetown (3 seasons): 10.7 MPG, 1.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG@ Nebraska (1 season): 10.2 MPG, 1.6 PPG, 3.4 RPGNotable: was unable to stick as a major piece of the rotation during a disappointing season.

If you take away the Wisconsin road game where he only played 17 minutes with foul trouble, here are Isaiah Roby's last 6 games: vs Iowa: 30 mins, 17 pts, 8 reb, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 1 TO @ Minn: 34 mins, 21 pts, 8 reb, 5 blocks, 2 assists, 1 TO vs Rutg: 27 mins, 10 pts, 11 reb, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 1 TO vs Mary: 32 mins, 11 pts, 10 reb, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 TO @ Illinois: 32 mins, 14 pts, 10 reb, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 3 TO vs Ind: 35 mins, 11 pts, 9 reb, 1 block, 2 assists, 2 TO For an average of: 31.7 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 TPG ...that'll play.