NoladrianSephier

Kent and Jake really talking up Frager

Nope. I will always assume the worst in people and never look at context. Can't change me. 😎

The only reason that Allick's 3pt% wasn't atrocious was because he was wide open every time he took one. He was a relatively weak finisher and lacked touch. 
 
He was an athlete, however. But that can and will be replaced. 

Add another one to the list of games where I (irrationally) have been frustrated with Brice in the first half for seeming to calm and cool, almost appears uninterested. Only in the second half those exact same qualities make him the most important player on the team battling through tough stretches.
 
I love watching guys like Josiah and Keisei who put every emotion out on display. But we need guys like Brice.

Absolutely.  I think the kid has lost about 30lbs over the last two seasons.  That's serious dedication with a body type like CJ.  Hard work paying off on both ends.  He's finishing way better at the hoop as well with just a little more elevation.  A little more bounce from outside.  But defense is where he's really become a complete D1 player.  

Most of this has been focused on his offense (which has been great, to be sure), but I feel like his defense has also improved since last year. He feels like a lot less of a liability out there. He's got a big enough body to really fit in well with the scheme and has been part of some of the runs where we've clamped down. Would be interested in other's thoughts on this as I know a lot of you see way more of what's happening than I do.

Now we just need Eli Rice to take a page out of that playbook and earn himself some more minutes.

Most of this has been focused on his offense (which has been great, to be sure), but I feel like his defense has also improved since last year. He feels like a lot less of a liability out there. He's got a big enough body to really fit in well with the scheme and has been part of some of the runs where we've clamped down. Would be interested in other's thoughts on this as I know a lot of you see way more of what's happening than I do.

Now we just need Eli Rice to take a page out of that playbook and earn himself some more minutes.

Most of this has been focused on his offense (which has been great, to be sure), but I feel like his defense has also improved since last year. He feels like a lot less of a liability out there. He's got a big enough body to really fit in well with the scheme and has been part of some of the runs where we've clamped down. Would be interested in other's thoughts on this as I know a lot of you see way more of what's happening than I do.

Now we just need Eli Rice to take a page out of that playbook and earn himself some more minutes.

Reink Mast. My man! Welp, I picked against us again. But I had to. While I may not be SUPERstitious I am in fact a little stitious 😉 And since I let the darkness take over me for the NW game and pick against my team It is now my sworn duty to keep picking the Huskers to lose. 

Kinda surprised by the anger and dismay from folks about this loss. 
 
This is NOT “same old Nebraska”.  Same old Nebraska hasn’t ever been here, coming out to a half-dead road crowd after beating the #1 team in the country by 16 three days prior.
 
ANY team - and I do mean any - was going have a letdown there.  And there is not enough of a talent delta to overcome it.
 
Teams come out flat.  Lose on the road.  Coaches get outcoached.  It happens.  It’s a 31-game season.  And I have to tell you, there’s a 4-game stretch coming down the road that looks like an 0-4 deal (look at our schedule, you’ll see it).  But that doesn’t mean we can’t still go 22-9 and be a safe tourney pick.  So let’s all just keep our poo together. This wasn’t one of the games projected as a win, folks.
 
Sure, you could say it was a “winnable” game.  So is any game.  Michigan St, Kansas St, Indiana, and Purdue were likely losses and went 4-0 against them.  So let’s not lose perspective.
 
We will give Rutgers a good game.  They will be ready to go.
 
I swear, some of you act like you haven’t been a masochist NUBB fan for very long.  If you have, you should know better and enjoy the 13-4 start!
 
GBR!

By the way, don't look now, but our non-seniors look like this:
 
PG Jamarques Lawrence, So
SG CJ Wilcher, Jr
SG Brice Williams, Jr
PF Juwan Gary, Jr
PF Rienk Mast, Jr
 
SG Sam Hoiberg, So
SG Eli Rice, Fr
SG Ramel Lloyd, Fr
PF Matar Diop, Fr
PG Ahron Ulis, Jr
 
Oh, and we already have a couple of high-ranking shooting guards signed for next year. Both lefties. Like Keisei.
 
👀

Well it wasn't going to be until now!

For those who are unfamiliar, the name of the school is pronounced 'doo-cane'

Good or great passing teams can certainly beat it with quick passes around the horn, especially resulting in tough to get to the corner.  Illinois game at home last year comes to mind.  They really had the ball popping and your rotations just cannot get there when that happens.   All in all though, I love the scheme.  We don't give up very many easy paint points, which I am very fond of, especially since the time they moved the 3 point line back a good bit.  

This bracketology site has us as a 5 seed:
https://www.allmysportsteamssuck.com/ncaa-college-basketball-live-machine-learning-bracketology/
 
We're 20 in their computer rankings:
https://www.allmysportsteamssuck.com/ncaa-college-basketball-live-computer-rankings/
 
Maybe we should replace KenPom in this thread with this site? 🤔

So I’ve watched it twice and agree with the sloppy passing / turnover and poor defense for sure. What never stood out to me was guys playing hero ball. I mean it happens to every team every game at least a few times. Who did you see doing that? I know Fred wants Brice posting up so I’m not counting that. Just curious, maybe I missed a few.

I think you've described it pretty well, and I also am not a huge fan of that concept in general. I think where they're coming from is if you look at the roster, there isn't a ton of lateral quickness or strong one-on-one defenders, especially when you're playing 2 or 3 of Tominaga, Williams, Wilcher and Coleman together. They'd probably struggle to stay in front in a more conservative scheme, and I think they'd have a tough time closing out under control to shooters out of traditional help positions. They also don't have a traditional rim protector (like Creighton with Kalkbrenner; they also chase guys off the line and funnel ball-handlers into mid-range shots or to Kalkbrenner at the rim, but they're less hectic in the way they do it because they have a two-time DPOY on the back line). So they try to offset that by flying around and speeding teams up. That works against bad teams and will catch some others off guard, but I think back to the game at Michigan State last year - it seemed like they know exactly what to expect and picked them apart. 

This was a bit harder to judge as I catch myself comparing how bad we could beat up a team that our northern rival beat up Tuesday evening.  Anywho...
* Mast was a dude tonight.  He will have to be guarded all over the court, which will really open the lane for everyone.  He also is a very good teammate.
* Josiah with another thunder dunk.  He had a more pedestrian game, but he does the little crap that everyone else benefits from.  Missed some bunnies; but I trust that will not happen as much moving forward.
*  Eli played better, as did Brice.
*  I thought our backcourt, in general, struggled a bit tonight.  Shot selection, some sloppy passes, below average ballhandling/turnovers resulted in a game that could have had a much larger margin.
Free-throw shooting looked good, and then it didn't which was sort of a microcosm of the entire night.  Tough to complain about a blow out win; but we need to continue to improve if we want to get to the elite 8. 😉
By the way, once again a shout out to the student section who once again is showing a lot of progress.  Now if We could just fill the other seats...perhaps  doing a much, much better job distributing free t-shirts to other areas of fans would help.  I swear the same people get shirts each game 🤬
 
 
 
 
 

I will not necessarily chip at the refereeing group tonight, just the one ref who forgot how to breathe out of his nose and as a result blew his freaking whistle non-stop.  Hard to get game flow when play is constantly stopped on picky ticky-tac calls.
 
Also was sort of strange seeing Sam totally blow out a shoe.  It happens, but I am still shocked when it happens.  I actually thought he blew out an ankle when it occurred.  Sort of cool that he tossed the shoe remnants into the student section. 

Not the prettiest game but I’m seeing progress from this year to previous. We have upgraded size and talent at some key positions. Dare I say, I think JL is still trying to figure out his new role this season. He seems to be pressing at times out there. Coleman is interesting. Good length, could alter shots and be a good rebounder. But he also can be lazy with the ball, or I guess careless.
Mast and Allick > Walker and Wilhelm
Cant fully assess until 2 starters are back - assuming Gary starts.
 

Totally agree with this!!  When he came in first half it was 11-8 and then we went on a run….

Agree that Hoiberg needs to be higher. He is on the court because of things that can't be measured.

Well then here's to making ourselves a bigger fish this year!

Hoiberg was *quite literally* the best player on the court yesterday. That won't be true very night, but he can absolutely play a big role at this level.