MitchMcGaryMunchies

Reduced drag coefficient!!! In the media availability after the game, both Sam and Fred said that Brice had shaved the beard down to a moustache and was rocking that as of yesterday. Sam said he liked the look but no one else did. Too bad, it is "Movember" after all...

Keisei didn't see the floor again in the Mad Ants game this evening. It went to OT and they lost...we might not see him in closely contested games. But having said that, the Skyforce are winless thus far so maybe that would've been a good chance to catch him?

No Anfernee Simons and no Deandre Ayton tonight for the Blazers. No problem handling the T'wolves again. Dalano again scattered 12 minutes throughout the first three quarters and was all-in during the fourth when they pulled-away. Finished the game with 13 points in 24 minutes on 4-7 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 4-5 FTs, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and only 1 TO. With their dominant Q4 performance, Dalano finished with a team-best +21 +/- as well. He poked the ball away from Rudy Gobert on their last possession, then dribbled-down the shot clock, drove to the hoop, and got a layup plus a free-throw to close things out Oh, and guess who was back on the Blazers bench? My screenshot doesn't convey it, but Bryce looked very happy for Dalano when he sealed things at the end with his hoop and harm On a somewhat spiteful note, Luka Garza and Terrence Shannon Jr. also got to watch from the T'wolves bench.

Coach Hoiberg had said in his press conference last week that he worked the team really hard in practice on the Thursday before the Bethune-Cookman game. He thought that may have been one of the reasons we lacked effort and intensity and was going to adjust their practice schedule for this week. Hopefully we use the rest of this week for film work and shootaround so we aren't too gassed for St. Mary's. Thankfully, they don't seem to be super active at forcing steals and turnovers, but they've got a couple Lithuanians that can put the ball in the bucket.

Biggest difference I see in our win versus C Word's from a few days ago was the defensive intensity of our guards and limiting our turnovers. Steals: we stole the ball from FDU 10 times, CU only generated 2 steals. FDU stole the ball from us 6 times versus 9 times against CU. Turnovers: We turned the ball over 8 times and forced 17 turnovers. CU turned the ball over 14 times and forced 14 turnovers. That said, we gotta shoot the ball better from outside. Still averaging in the mid-20% for the season.

Minnesota just lost an ugly game to a somewhat decent North Texas squad 54-51. Minnesota shot 31.3% FG (15-48), 26.1% 3FG (6-23), and 68.2% FT (15-22). North Texas was even worse from the charity stripe at 56.3% (9-16).

Nebraska - 81 Fairleigh Dickinson - 67

Pretty decent night for Dalano in an easy win against the T'wolves. Didn't get the start but got some decent playing time in the first half and saw the court in all four quarters. Hit his first three shots (all three-pointers with high level of difficulty) but couldn't get his usual midrange game going. 12 points in 24 minutes on 4-9 FGs (4-6 3FGs), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, and 5 TOs. Some nice pick-and-roll action to assist Robert Williams and some nice cross-court passes for three-pointers. Link to shot videos: https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022400008&PlayerID=1630625&RangeType=0&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612757&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game Between Anfernee Simons ($25.9MM), Matisse Thybulle ($11MM), Scoot Henderson ($10.3MM), and Shaedon Sharpe ($6.6MM) the Blazers have a lot of money tied-up in four guards (almost 40% of the team payroll). Thybulle has been out with a knee injury all season. Simons only played five minutes last night and left the game with shortness of breath which is probably why Dalano saw so much playing time.

Bryce McGowens had another high utilization game in the G League on Sunday. Sadly, still a high number of turnovers 34 minutes, 24 points, 7-13 FGs (1-5 3FGs), 5-5 FTs, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 6 turnovers. Rip City had 28 total turnovers Doesn't look like Keisei got any playing time in the Mad Ants game.

If anyone can make it happen, we can

They also start a 6' 8" guy at the five. They have a 6' 10" sophomore, however he has zero rebounds on the season and has taken four-of-six shots outside of the perimeter. Thus far, the team's leading rebounder is a 6' 3" guard. He needs to start throwing himself some Tracy McGrady off-the-backboard passes so he can lead in assists too.

On a side note... if anyone opens a Nebrasketball bar, I've got the perfect urinal screens for you:

We need to find some teams ranked in the 400s next season to pad the non-conference schedule

Also, forgot that the G League season kicked-off last night. Bryce McGowens hasn't gotten any minutes with the Blazers, but he looks like he'll be a focal point for the Rip City Remix. He started and scored 18...7-16 FG (1-8 3FG), 2-2 FT, 2 boards, 3 assists, EIGHT TOs Indiana Mad Ants already played today and Keisei went 0-1 3FG, 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 TO. Rio Grande Valley Vipers play tonight (sadly at 7PM). Use the link below to watch if you wanna see some Huskers playing (should update closer to game-time): https://gleague.nba.com/game/mhu-vs-rgv-2052400012?view=pre-game