Nebrasketballer

https://twitter.com/HuskerExtraBR/status/335488160563875840

I think this is an awesome game for Nebrasketball to open PBA with! They are a HOT team right now, so there will be some buzz around that team and the Nebraska bball team would be jacked to play them and the students will be fired up. Plus, playing FGCU would make for a game that is about as exciting as it gets. They are the flavor of the week, so they will draw attention outside of Nebraska, because of all of the "Dunk City" hype during the NCAA tourney. Could maybe be an ESPN game. They also finished #2 in their conference last season going 26-11 (13-5) and have a legit chance to win their conference next season. That will help Nebraska's RPI alot. Miles understands the RPI system very well and will work the schedule to help them get to the tournament. I think Nebraska was the only team with a losing recrod this last season that had an RPI in the top 100. Also, it should be a winnable game for Nebraska and I think that it is important to open up the new arena with a winnable game. Plus, I think that make like 5 teams that made the sweet 16 last season that will be coming to PBA next season. Can't really complain about that...

Dunk City, welcome to Lincoln. Florida Gulf Coast, the fast-paced, high-flying, dunk-centric basketball team that captured the nation’s attention at last year’s NCAA Tournament and earned the imaginative “Dunk City” moniker, will be Nebraska’s first opponent at Pinnacle Bank Arena. A source with direct knowledge of Florida Gulf Coast’s schedule told the Journal Star on Friday that the Eagles will christen Nebraska’s new 15,200-seat arena. The source did not know the date or time of the game. http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/mens-basketball/husker-men-have-first-pinnacle-arena-opponent/article_733d9908-5181-5bc9-8f3c-d112d8a54142.html

https://twitter.com/huskerextra/status/335461830954733568

Yeah, I agree with that, but also, wasn't the problem with Edwards primarily an injury issue? Like a shoulder or knee?

Tim Miles has upgraded the recruiting for Nebraska basketball in the short time that he has been here. In the 2013 class, 2 players are ranked in the top 35 at their position and all of the high school players that he signed are ranked in the top 60 at their position. The transfer that he signed in the 2013 class has D1 experience. In the 2012 class, the players that he recruited were primarily transfers. 2 of the 3 transfers had D1 experience at BCS schools, one of which being Florida which made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. So far, 3 out of the 4 transfers that Miles has signed have D1 experience and there has been 1 JC transfer. 2013: 2 players ranked in top 35. Every player ranked in top 60. Transfer has D1 experience. 2012: 2 of 3 transfers have D1 experience. 2011: 0 players ranked in top 35. 2 Players ranked in top 60. 2010: 0 high school players. All 3 transfers were JC. 2009: 1 player ranked in top 35. 2 players ranked in top 60. All 3 transfers were JC. (Nebraska’s only top 35 player ended up leaving) 2008: 0 players ranked in top 35. 0 players ranked in top 60. 2007: 1 player ranked in top 35. 1 player ranked in top 60. All 5 transfers were JC. (Nebraska’s only top 60 player ended up leaving) In my opinion, it is pretty obvious that this class is the best class that has been signed at Nebraska in over a decade. There is obviously still need for further improvement and I think everyone here (myself included) is anxious for Nebraska to sign a stud big-man to play Center, but there is undeniable progress being made under Miles. You have to start somewhere and it doesn't happen over night... Below are Nebraska’s recruiting classes from the last few seasons. Each player is listed along with their rank at their position. ESPN only went back to 2007, so that is why I stopped there. 2013 Nick Fuller: #21 Tai Webster: #32 Nathan Hawkins: #58 Transfers: Leslee Smith (D1 experience) 2012 Shavon Shields #117 Benny Parker: #145 Sergej Vucetic: NR Transfers: Terran Petteway (D1 experience, BCS school), Walter Pitchford (D1 experience, BCS school, Elite Eight in NCAA tourney), Deverell Biggs (JC) 2011 David Rivers: #42 Corey Hilliard: #57 Josiah Moore: #68 Transfers: Dylan Talley (JC) 2010 Transfers: Andre Almeida (JC), Caleb Walker (JC), Kamyron Brown (JC) 2009 Christian Standhardinger: #33 Rayes Gallegos: #52 Brandon Ubel: #80 Adrian Coleman: #72 Transfers: Quincy Hankins (JC), Lance Jeter (JC), Myles Holley (JC) 2008 Eshaunte Jones: NR Christopher Nieman: NR 2007 Alonzo Edwards: #21 Brandon Richardson: #77 Cookie Miller: #97 Toney McCray: NR Transfers: Alex Chapman (JC), Steve Harley (JC), Shang Ping (JC), Ade Dagunduro (JC), Rishawn Norwood (JC) http://espn.go.com/colleges/basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/158/class/2013

I really don't agree with the post you and some others here referred to as a "troll," but I also don't understand why anyone who comes on here and vents frustration over what was unfortunately a very unproductive late period of recruiting for Nebraska gets labeled a troll. The poster conveyed his opinion in a way that folks obviously didn't care for, but that doesn't necessarily make him a troll. He could just be frustrated and concerned and failed to express it in the best way. Dissenting, frustrated opinions don't always equate to trolls. Posts like his are too frequently dismissed on this site. If you disagree with what he said, then explain why. Dismissing dissenting opinions as "trolls" is lazy and frequently inaccurate. Look at the rest of his posts... It's pretty obvious.

Is this class really Nebraska's best recruiting class in over a decade? Yes Fuller and Webster could be really good, but the lack of a true big man might be what keeps this class from being one of the best. Smith will be a big that fills a need, but I don't expect him to put up big numbers at all. Hawkins is a mystery right now as well. Hawkins played power forward on his high school team last year, so it is hard to tell how good of a guard he is going to be. Which Nebraska basketball class in the last decade has been better? Which class in the last decade has had 2 players ranked in the top 35 at their position? Which class in the last decade has had 3 players ranked in the top 60 at their position?

Is this class really Nebraska's best recruiting class in over a decade? Tai Webster: Ranked #32 at his position http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/169923/tai-webster “This is a definite coup for the Huskers,” ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla said in a phone interview with the Journal Star. Fraschilla said he watched tapes of all of Webster’s Olympic qualifying games, and has kept tabs on Webster through friends in New Zealand. If Webster was playing in the Unites States, Fraschilla said, he’d be a Top 25 recruit. “I’d be shocked if there were 25 better 17-year-old players in the States than this kid,” Fraschilla said. Webster is believed to be the youngest player to ever make the New Zealand national team. He averaged 13.5 points in Olympic qualifying play while shooting 52.5 percent from the field, including 62.5 percent from three-point range. Webster’s club team, the Auckland Pirates, advanced to the Under-19 New Zealand National League championship final, a game in which Webster scored 42 points. “I mean, you’re talking about some really great teams. Some high-level, NBA types, European professional players,” Fraschilla said. “The young man acquitted himself well. Really well.” Fraschilla described Webster as a strong, powerful guard who’s able to get to the rim. “He’s a throwback in that he’s not a point or a two, he’s a guard,” Fraschilla said. “He can score, he can drive, he’s strong, he can make the three, pass it. He’s a 6-2 guard that’s multi-skilled. He’s a skilled player. He’s not just an athlete.” Nick Fuller: Ranked #21 at his position http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/104934/nick-fuller Brian Snow (Scout's national basketball recruiting analyst) in an article "Five who could surprise" : "The native of Wisconsin is someone who can really shoot the ball on the wing, but he also has the ability to take his man to the rim off the drive." "Fuller has more athleticism than most give him credit for and is just an extremely tough kid. Also he has done battle against many of the top wings in the country, and usually has held his own. He could definitely be one of those under the radar type players who has a very good career and helps Nebraska make strides within the Big Ten." Nathan Hawkins: Ranked #58 at his position http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/169665/nathan-hawkins Leslee Smith: 6'8", 250 lbs, PF, Transfer with 1 year of D1 Experience

Is this class really Nebraska's best recruiting class in over a decade? Yes

I wouldn't be shocked if Pitchford did have to play Center next season, but if that is the case, then I think it is very likely that he will be 6'10', 250+ lbs by the start of next season. He was listed at 6'10", 230 lbs this season, so 250 lbs isn't too much of a stretch. I think though that since Vucetic is staying on the roster, Miles and his staff will do everything in their power do develop his strength and have him gaining weight. I would be surprised if the plan wasn't to have Vucetic at 250+ by the start of next season. If Vecetic can get up to 250+ lbs by next season, along with developing strength and conditioning, then I think he will play, which would allow Pitchford to start at the 4-Spot. Then Nebraska would be able to bring Smith and Rivers off of the bench to split time in the post. I expect that Smith (currently listed at 6'8", 250 lbs) will be somewhere around 6'8", 250-260 lbs next season. I would expect that Rivers (currently listed at 6'7", 190 lbs) will be somewhere around 6'7", 210-215 lbs next season. That is a group of post players that I think Miles will be able to work with, especially considering the length that will be added at the 2-Spot and 3-Spot on the floor, which wasn't available this season: Peteway (6'6"), Fuller (6'7"), Hawkins (6'5") Not to mention that Pitchford will be more skilled than most players at the 4 or 5 spots that will be guarding him, so he should be able to use that athleticism to his advantage. Maybe pull them out away from the basket to open up the lane, so he (and the other players on the floor) have more room to get to the rim. Is the roster situation that Nebraska is in right now ideal? No. But I would argue that it is much better than it was last season, which means that we have all seen Miles do some pretty good things with less. Miles and the staff will have to get by with what they have next season and work overtime on guys like Myles Turner and Zylan Cheatham in the 2014 class. I'm just as impatient as anyone. I want Nebraska to win an NCAA tournament game next season. Maybe that will happen. Maybe it won't. Generally speaking, these things don't happen in only one season. But Miles has successfully turned around multiple bottom feeders with considerably less resources than he has now at Nebraska. He has never been able to recruit to the best facilities in the country, in the best conference in the country, with a brand new arena that is sold out, all while being able to offer early playing time to a high caliber Center. He can offer all of that now. It's just up to us to be patient and allow him to do that. This isn't his first rodeo...

https://twitter.com/DeenaNEWatchdog/status/335127355217555457

Why? our 3 bigs are going to have a combined 5 min of d1 experience. I get what you are saying, but just because Pitchford didn't play much as a true freshman at Florida when they finished the SEC regular season with a 10–6 conference record, and lost to Kentucky in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, when they received an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed in west region where they advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Louisville, doesn't mean that he won't be a stud. There are alot of very quality post players that wouldn't not have gotten alot of playing time in that situation. Alot of talented players don't get playing time as true freshman on an Elite Eight caliber basketball team. I have heard multiple reputable sources, that after seeing him practice, say he has legit NBA athleticism and will end up in the NBA when he is done at Nebraska. Just because a player doesn't have a bunch of D1 experience, doesn't mean they can't be a legit player. Look at Andrew Wiggins (along with all of the other 1 and done players each season). Wiggins has 0 minutes of D1 experience, but I have a feeling that he will do alright. I'm not saying that Pitchford is as talented as Andrew Wiggins. I'm just illustrating that it's not as simple as looking at how many minutes of D1 experience a player has racked up when projecting the amount of success they will have in the future. Remember... Fuller, Hawkins, and Webster are Fr Pitchford, Petteway, and Shields are So Biggs, Rivers, and Smith are Jr These guys will all likely see playing time already this season and have plenty of time to rack up D1 playing time together

Dang. Would've been nice

It's warm outside, so why are you wearing gloves in the first place? And why are you on him?... Or are you saying that you will not take his gloves off of him? And if so, why would you take someone else's gloves off of them?

You've basically posted this same thing in the past... http://board.huskerhoopscentral.com/topic/2278-schnapps-expatriats/?p=28830 "Some march out the closer-to-home or alma-mater argument. But it doesn't hold water. As someone pointed out earlier during the spring recruiting process, every player has a home town. Its not an acceptable excuse for not signning a player. The same applies to ast coaches and alma maters." Wrong. I'm not sure if you are serious about this or not, but... I really don't know how you could be. It happens all of the time all around the country. For one thing, it is nowhere near the same thing to compare an athlete going to college for a few years to a coach making decisions about their career (which generally treated like as lifelong, or at least longterm, decision and often involves impact on family and kids). Are you telling me that you would be shocked if Scott Frost left Oregon if a job was available for him at Nebraska? It would be the same thing. Roy Williams had a pretty sweet deal at Kansas, but decided to leave one of the winningest programs of all time where McDonalds All-Americans are lining up to have a chance to play, because Kansas is a legit NCAA title contender on an annual basis. He left Kansas to go where? North Carolina. Why? Because that's where he grew up and that's where he played in college... Which is pretty much the exact thing you were talking about when you said : "Some march out the closer-to-home or alma-mater argument. But it doesn't hold water." It does hold water. Don't be ridiculous. "If Miles can't seal the deal on coaches it isn't reasonable to expect him to seal the deal with recruits." Wrong. It only took Miles a few months to assemble the best recruiting class that Nebraska has signed in over a decade.

Yeah, Nebraska is in on multiple highly ranked players in the 2014 class. It would be a huge upgrade of talent if Nebraska were to land any of the players that have been listed in this thread. In my opinion, Nebraska's #1 and #2 targets need to be Myles Turner and Zylan Cheatham, because they can help fill the huge void at the 4 and 5 spots. Nebraska could use an upgrade in talent at any position, but I really hope the coaches focus primarily on landing players to play the 4 and 5 spots.

Strickland, Henry T. And Bernard Garner

And if any more spots open up due to attrition, then I would imagine that these guys would be towards the top of Nebraska's list to fill additional spots: Malek Harris: 6'7", 170 lbs, Rivals150 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Malek-Harris-139675 Leon Gilmore: 6'7" http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Leon-Gilmore-141428

Sorry, I referenced Myles Turner in another thread about who Nebraska's top 2014 targets should be now that the 2013 class is pretty much done, so I bumped it so people didn't have to go all the way back and search for it.

bump

In my opinion: #1) Myles Turner: 6'11", 225 lbs, Center Rivals: 4-Star, #78 overall prospect in the 2014 class Link to Rivals profile: http://rivals.yahoo....s-Turner-134245 #2) Zylan Cheatham: 6'8", 205 lbs, Small Forward Rivals: 4-Star, #68 overall prospect in the 2014 class (I think he could continue to grow and play the 4-Spot) Link to Rivals profile http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Zylan-Cheatham-132968

I thought this was pretty interesting from the article too: Miles says he remembers watching an “Outside the Lines” episode on ESPN a few years ago, in which a Duke University grad student was interviewed about a study he had done: Which comes first, the winning or fan interest? “The study showed that programs that truly won, and sustained it, had fan support first and the winning came second,” Miles said. “That was a major draw for me to take this job.”

Haha. Yeah, he meant run and gun. I think this interview might have been done through text message or something...

Well, if I'm not mistaken, today is the last day of the late signing period. So, unless we get a kid to enroll (and check the right box on his UNL admissions application) in August without an LOI ... did we whiff? I'm still crossing my fingers for a last second surprise of a grad transfer to play the 5-spot, but I'm sure we are done. Now it's time for Vucetic to take his sleeping bag to the weightroom and camp out until practice starts next season. Should probably have meals delivered to him there hourly too. He has to get above 250 lbs by next season.