Norm Peterson

So many questions. Beginning with "where's Brice Williams?"

Did you know that, in his freshman season at Western Kentucky, Dalano Banton averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 15.1 minutes per game? In his freshman season at Dayton, Mike Sharajvamts averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 23.1 minutes per game. For comparison.

If the worst thing about aging was having a compulsion to tell people to get off your lawn, it wouldn't be all that bad. But ruining cocktails? I draw the line.

I'd say you reach out to Wilcher and whichever one commits first you take. And not the other one. I don't know how you make room for two more primary ballhandlers.

Four new guys in da house (with pictures taken and posted.) They have Rienk Mast listed at 6'10 and 240#. 2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster - University of Nebraska (huskers.com)

We have enough 'ships for both, but what would that do to an already packed guard room?

Least shocking news I've seen in awhile. After UNC had a 5-star PG in the '24 class reclassify to '23, I figured this was gonna happen.

Same. Although a Manhattan produces just as good of a cocktail with fewer steps. Key is having good, solid ice.

Good news. Better news is if we land him. But at least you can take Pitt and Indiana out of the equation. Of those three remaining schools, we probably have the best opportunity for what he needs: an open spot and high level competition to prove himself against. Memphis already has a 2023 4-star PG signed, another PG commit through the portal, a couple of SG commits and SF commits. To add to what they brought back. SF plays in a weak conference (WCC) and fills their non-con schedule with mid-majors. So, if the objective is to show what you can do against a higher level of competition than what he'd see at Dayton, SF doesn't seem to fit the bill. IMHO, that makes us his best option. Fingers very crossed.

You mean the south where kudzu is common? That south?

Good point.

No, that's probably not necessary. I think he just has an issue with me. He's been down-arrowing my posts for about the last two months and I think it goes back to an exchange I had with him about a year ago where one of our fellow longtime board members made kind of joke about our program that seemed to take a back-handed slap at special needs people, and snake falls called the guy a dick. I tried to suggest there might be a more innocent explanation, and snake falls was not mollified and told me to tell my "little joke" to the players and coaches. Well, first of all, it wasn't *my* joke. But, second, instead of backing off and saying "OK, I see what you're saying; still it seemed a little offensive, but OK" he just continued the terse exchange but redirected it at me. And that's when I called him a little bitch. I should not have done that. That was over the line on my part. And, for that, I apologize. This thread took a turn I was not expecting.

The recent post from @k3s3i indicating he hoped Eli Rice would be at least average at 3-point shooting reminded me of an old post of mine from a couple of years ago discussing the difference between competence and proficiency, and lamenting that our current lineup featured too many players who were inept at an essential skill for their position: So, whether you agreed or disagreed with the post back then, the questions I have now are two-fold: 1. Do you look at the current roster and find guys who are inept at an essential skill for their position?; and 2. How do you rate the current roster in terms of skills essential to their position and whether they are inept, marginal, competent, proficient or expert? FWIW, I look at our roster for this upcoming season and, on paper, seems to me, for the first time in the Hoiberg era, we can field a rotation where not a single shooting guard is expected to be inept at 3-point shooting. And at least a few should be somewhere between proficient and expert. That's some progress.

It's apparently one of his strengths. Obviously, the HS 3-point line is closer and generally there's some transition adjustment moving to the college level. But I'm going to speculate that he's at least competent if not proficient.

I think he's an ideal fit. Fingers very crossed. This one will really disappoint me if we don't get him just because I just see him as being such a good fit for the role we have here.

I agree with the sentiment that, for his role, would love to see him at Nebraska. He's has the size of a Griesel or a Banton. Has good vision, good passing skills. He's a better ball handler than Griesel and he's a better shooter than Banton. Other teams appear to be looking at him as a forward. We're obviously willing to let a tall kid like this with ball skills to play point. He has awesome length for a PG. He seems to know just when something opens up for him to attack. Just seems to have that feel. But he doesn't seem like a guy who's overly concerned about getting his. Good vision. Good feel for the game. He's the guy who could replace Derrick Walker's assists with Keisei. They both (he and Keisei) make really good, sharp, aggressive cuts. And Mike shows the ability to hit teammates with backdoor passes, and you just get the sense that he and Keisei would have really good chemistry. Of all the portal entrants where we've made their top 3 or top 5 this year, this kid has me most excited. Would love to get him here.

Trip is HUGE this year because it always takes about six games for the guys to get in synch with each other (or, if you're a Creighton fan, "get in sink with each other.") It takes a certain number of games for the players to figure out where the points are going to come from and who the leaders on the team are going to be. How do all the moving parts fit together? The guys won't have a feel for that until they play some games together. There's generally an adjustment period and it will be nice if some of that adjustment period occurs overseas when the games don't count.

Yep. The guys who left were at the bottom end of the roster and were unlikely to make a move. And we kept the most important guys who didn't graduate AND added some good pieces in the portal. With still a shot at one or two REALLY good pieces.

Whoa, whoa, wait, who gave you permission to deprive me of my unbridled fantasy? I've got him inked into the starting lineup for next year. In Sharpie!

From SI: Sharavjamts was measured at a quarter of an inch shy of 6-foot-9 at the Nike Hoop Summit, with an 8-foot-8 standing reach. The measurements are certainly intriguing for someone with the potential to shoot from the perimeter and run your offense on a primary level. *** The intrigue and buzz has a lot to do with his unique combination of skills and size. At nearly 6-foot-9, he can play as a jumbo point guard who is not just able to create for teammates, but also to space the floor with tremendous consistency, being a threat from beyond the 3-point line. https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/nba-draft-scouting-report-daytons-mike-sharavjamts#gid=ci02adf018000026d0&pid=usatsi_19496984

PG

He's like Dalano Banton but a better shooter. I was somewhat lukewarm on Ahron Ulis, I hate to say. His assist stats didn't jump off the page. Not a terrible shooter, but not great. Not the elite kind of PG you might hope to pick up. But THIS kid. This kid is the package I would have wanted to begin with. All those other PG transfers we looked at would have been OK. But THIS kid has some special qualities. Would LOVE to see us land him.

NBA Draftroom projects him in the '24 or '25 draft and ranks him among PGs as follows: 2025 PG Rankings Johnuel Fland – 6-3 – White Plains, NY Freddie Dilione – 6-5 – Tennessee Bruce Thornton – 6-2 – Ohio State Sergio de Larrea – 6-6 – Spain Elliot Cadeau – 6-2 – North Carolina Miro Little – 6-4 – Baylor (Finland) Mike Sharavjamts – 6-8 – Dayton (Mongolia) Egor Demin – 6-7 – Russia Garway Dual – 6-5 – Providence Zoom Diallo – 6-4 – Tacoma, WA Jalik Dunkley-Distant – 6-6 – Canada Jabari Phillips – 6-3 – Arizona Jeremy Fears – 6-2 – Michigan State ZZ Clark – 6-2 – Nashville, TN Zion Harmon – 5-11 – Bethune-Cookman

Yeah, I really like this kid. Looks to me like he could fill a Sam Griesel role as the tall PG. Has good handles, good vision, anticipates well, sees the floor, and cuts really well. He shot well enough from deep as a freshman. Could probably be mid-30s as a sophomore. At 6'8, can post up smaller guards like Griesel did. Probably needs to add some beef, but he's just going to be a sophomore. I could see him being a PG for us.

Decent list of schools. I like this kid. A lot. Not the best rebounder at his height, but he can slash and he can shoot from outside. And he's 6'8. Gets a reasonable amount of assists per minute, too.