chuck.bentjen

Both Jessica and the Huskers are better off for the decision Jess made to transfer. I'm not sure she would have ever really been coachable here. Amy wanted her to post up, which Jess essentially refused to do. 

Definitely well deserved. In the stretch, teams were really keying on her defensively. She did a great job under a lot of pressure. She will only continue to get better.

I agree that we're likely going to run up and down the court next season.  We certainly have the players to do that.  If Rachel Blackburn is totally healthy, she will be a solid presence down low.  Grace is really a three, but I thought she came a long way down the stretch last season.  With a year under her belt, I expect her to provide some solid minutes.  Adding Janay and Bria will help the uptempo a lot.  Coach loves to run and gun, but didn't have the personnel to really do that last season.  I can't wait for the season to start.  I think we are going to surprise some folks!

I've known Brian a long time and did get to meet him several times. May he rest in peace.

I believe that’s coach Love. I love the swim move.


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think it's safe to say will be the most athletic team huskers will have faced so far. monk and cosper (guards) appear to be the most consistent scorers. size-wise, teams match-up pretty well. might be a game where it would be nice to have janay and nicea ready---but, it is what it is.

Sure, we have a long way to go.......the point is we're heading in  the right direction.  And it may take another recruiting class or two to get into the competitive position we need to be in the B1G, and have a chance to be a top 25 team.
 
We'll see of course. The travel to that point(s) is the thing to watch now.  The next game with Arkansas should show a lot of where we've developed to so far. They're well coached and a fast team we'll need to defend.
 
 

Addition by subtraction is real   Cudos to the staff for having the guts to embrace it last spring   A lot of staffs wouldn't have   The program is now very healthy and in the begin phase is a steady upward climb. 1)  Lots of talent in the underclassman, 2) good recruits coming in, and 3) leadership teaching the young talent how to go to workevery single day by the upperclass     All 3 elements r critical.  Program >team> individual = healthy program.  Enjoy the upward journey   Won't be straight up without natural hiccups but definitely headed up 

What u r referencing Huskerfrank r player and team growth issues that will occur over time.  It's not a chemistry issue. The kids like each other, respect the program and each other,  want to be here for the right reasons and are learning how to work and play.   That's  how the foundation is laid.  Then it will build from there.  

It clearly isn't Coach Amy's scheme to live or die with three shooting. She has said so, and her past teams indicate that too. But it is a part of the plan, and we have several that can shoot from long distance.  In today's basketball, men and women, 3's are raining down. 
 
In the last game several players were driving to the basket....it obviously has been emphasized in practice.  Coaches overall team scheme isn't fully in place yet, not enough time or games yet.  But it is clearly on going.....she has said so in press conferences/articles.
 
Hanah and Bria  have been making assists with regularity.  While it's early in the season, I'd guess they're leading the team in assists, and that's one of the primary goals of a point guard in Coaches scheme. (most teams obviously)  As a team we're making far more assists than our opponents thus far.......may have been one of their weaknesses.
 
Team chemistry.....the players clearly enjoy playing together. Particularly compared to the last couple of years.  The ego thing is in check, they're sharing the ball.  The fast beak in the last game with Bria and Maddie was classic basketball.  It seems to me anyway, one of the big reasons the team is turning around is the improvement in chemistry...players/players  and players/coaches.

I like what I am reading about this team but caution that when top teams are encountered NU will struggle.  But, it’s a new beginning and looking forward to see the Husker in person.

What is clearer now then coach Williams first year here is what type of team and recruits she wants.  We have shown improvement in many areas but will not know for awhile how far up the ladder of success we can climb until we get our injured players back and fully incorporated into the lineup.  That includes how well Rachel's knee's hold up.  We are in the stage of getting more experience for everyone and hopefully will not have any new injuries. 
 
Something that I have noticed so far this year is that many of the players are taking the opportunities that are there and not trying to force things.  Most teams improve throughout the season but since we are so young our upside going forward may be higher then a veteran team on how much we can improve.

I've known Brian a long time and did get to meet him several times. May he rest in peace.

I pretty much expect the following players to be the starters:
 
1 - Bria
2 - Hannah
3 - Nicea
4 - Rachel
5 - Kate
 
With that lineup, we will play a lot like we did last year, but I believe with a little more discipline.  I suspect Kate to play lower than Jessica did, which I know was something Coach was trying to get Jess to do. 
 
I suspect Janay, Taylor, and Maddie to be the first off the bench.  Maddie was really starting to get it at the end of last season and was gaining some confidence.  She's a very good athlete overall.  I believe that Grace will play some 4 again this season, although she really sees herself as a 3.  I think we will see her get some opportunities there.  It just depends on how her development progresses over the summer.  I think she too showed some improvement toward the end of the season. DW will play the same role she did last year.  Jazz and EW will get some playing time.  I suspect, like last season, Coach will design some plays to get her some open looks at 3s.  
 
I also suspect there may be times when we play pretty our fastest and most athletic players and run it up and down the court.   So I'm thinking Bria, Janay, Hannah, Maddie or Taylor, and Nicea -- but that sort of thing I think would be limited to pretty specific situations.  I doubt we try that at UConn, for example.
 
I'm really, really looking forward to the season.  I think Coach has done a pretty good job of starting to turn things in a different direction.  We'll see how far she can take us.

I agree that we're likely going to run up and down the court next season.  We certainly have the players to do that.  If Rachel Blackburn is totally healthy, she will be a solid presence down low.  Grace is really a three, but I thought she came a long way down the stretch last season.  With a year under her belt, I expect her to provide some solid minutes.  Adding Janay and Bria will help the uptempo a lot.  Coach loves to run and gun, but didn't have the personnel to really do that last season.  I can't wait for the season to start.  I think we are going to surprise some folks!

That's okay we are going to run those fat big girls to death these next few years.  Can't rebound or play much D when your only at half court.
 
Didn't we see that somewhere this year...

It's interesting that Sam McKewon recently shared the same delusions in a recent World Herald article.  Ok -- so it was a stretch to say Darrien improved significantly.  She did have some good minutes down the stretch (very few).  I like pretty much everything else I wrote in my original post.  I'm not predicting we'll be in the top of the league by any means, but I think we are going to be better than we were this season for several reasons:
 
1)  we will add four players to the floor who are proven scorers:  Janay averaged 13 PPG her last season of play, Bria averaged 13 PPG her last season of play, and Rachel averaged 9 PPG during her freshman season, and Taylor Kissinger is plainly and simply a shooter --  Bria also averaged 4 APG
 
2)  Janay and Bria both have Nicea like athleticism and are good on the ball defenders 
 
3)  Rachel is a very, very solid player -- whether she can hold up to the grind of a long season and the B1G is certainly a question -- which is why we need some help there -- I will acknowledge she has to work very hard in the offseason
 
4) Maddie has not yet lived up to her potential but showed some flashes down the stretch.  I think she will continue to grow and thrive in this system.
 
5) I totally disagree with you on Grace Mitchell -- she's going to be very good because she's very solid fundamentally.  She wasn't too sure she belonged out there at first but again started to show some flashes down the road.  We have to remember she played out of position this season as well. 
I feel that will be the nucleus of next year's team.  Jazz, RCJ, and Woody will contribute but will strictly be role players. 
 
Finally, without saying more, I believe team chemistry got a shot in the arm this week.
 
It's easy to predict failure and fun if you're wrong.  I've never taken the easy road and never will.
 
 

I think that having Jess on the team and being the center of most things hindered us a bit in getting additional forwards to come here.  I think we will get a Juco or 5th year player to come in now as there will be plenty of opportunity to play.

FWIW I think we'll be better next year also.  Than this year. Which shouldn't be hard, it was one of the worst teams to ever take the floor at Nebraska.   Own it, Shawn.  
 
Agree with Sam on the guards.  Hoping for stepped up recruiting.  

Maybe. Depends on if everybody sticks around/together for 2-3 years. This is the Big Ten, not the ACC or SEC. 
 
By 2018-2019, this is gonna be a real nice group of guards. That's a start. It'd help to find a functional JUCO post or transfer post.  

That's been my question all year, even before JS leaves. (meaning for next year, with possibly Burns not playing. If she can't play that puts us another year away from where we're trying to get to)
 
Don't think you can win in B!G without a strong inside presence. Don't know that we'll be strong enough in just one new year of recruiting/play to win consistently, without a good center . Certainly strong guard play is vital but all the top teams, not just in B1G, do have strong inside play.
 
But ....the but....UConn didn't really have a starter that was a classical style big center this year ...but had a wealth of guard combo forwards with loads of talent, that can rebound and run the floor. Sure not yet but maybe that's where Coach Amy is trying to go eventually. So, if your strong with combo players like UConn ??  We'll see on that one.
 
Yea like Silver said....lots of nothing but good possibilities ahead. Could well be ....with out JS we'll move ahead & progress faster. In my experience of the old day of coaching ....different sports...a problem child can kill the team chemistry, no matter the sport.
 

Fair assessment.

I don't share your optimism but I want it to be so.  The two transfer guards have to be an improvement over this season.  NU has a long climb to approach relevance.  It will be interesting to see how much time Coach Williams is granted.  Patience will be required.  

More fun to think positive, at least it is for me.

It's interesting that Sam McKewon recently shared the same delusions in a recent World Herald article.  Ok -- so it was a stretch to say Darrien improved significantly.  She did have some good minutes down the stretch (very few).  I like pretty much everything else I wrote in my original post.  I'm not predicting we'll be in the top of the league by any means, but I think we are going to be better than we were this season for several reasons:
 
1)  we will add four players to the floor who are proven scorers:  Janay averaged 13 PPG her last season of play, Bria averaged 13 PPG her last season of play, and Rachel averaged 9 PPG during her freshman season, and Taylor Kissinger is plainly and simply a shooter --  Bria also averaged 4 APG
 
2)  Janay and Bria both have Nicea like athleticism and are good on the ball defenders 
 
3)  Rachel is a very, very solid player -- whether she can hold up to the grind of a long season and the B1G is certainly a question -- which is why we need some help there -- I will acknowledge she has to work very hard in the offseason
 
4) Maddie has not yet lived up to her potential but showed some flashes down the stretch.  I think she will continue to grow and thrive in this system.
 
5) I totally disagree with you on Grace Mitchell -- she's going to be very good because she's very solid fundamentally.  She wasn't too sure she belonged out there at first but again started to show some flashes down the road.  We have to remember she played out of position this season as well. 
I feel that will be the nucleus of next year's team.  Jazz, RCJ, and Woody will contribute but will strictly be role players. 
 
Finally, without saying more, I believe team chemistry got a shot in the arm this week.
 
It's easy to predict failure and fun if you're wrong.  I've never taken the easy road and never will.