basketballjones

Uhhhhhhh.... Hmmm good question. First reaction would be no. It'd be a gamble, but Kyler Erickson did start for them this year by the end of the year. So who knows.

Borchardt originally came here for school so I doubt he transfers. I bet Trueblood shops around to see what is available and makes a decision based on that. Johnny is a good basketball player. I'd be really disappointed in him if he gave up his talent and didn't find a smaller school to play for.

Good for him. I'm prepared for the downvotes, so bring them on, but I very much did not enjoy watching him attempt to play the game of basketball. Hope the best for him. Hope were moving onto bigger and better players.

I hope he has a huge summer

Bill Bryne tweeted out last night that he tried everything to get Bill Self to Lincoln.... Suppose that's relevant

Just superb

Pictures did not show up very well, have to click on them to see closer.

Offensive Efficiency Rankings of Sweet 16 Teams: Gonzaga is ranked 23rd, Maryland 25th, and A&M 33rd, Syracuse at 52nd, Wisconsin at 88 Average Ranking = 19.313 (Average Ranking when you take out Wisconsin = 14.733...) Defensive Efficiency Rankings of Sweet 16 Teams: Oklahoma is ranked 18th, Syracuse 21, Gonzaga 22nd, Miami 31st, Maryland 36, Oregon 43rd, Indiana 55th, Iowa State 94th, Duke 109th, and Notre Dame at 172nd Average Ranking = 40.875 (Average Ranking when you take out Notre Dame = 32.133...) This year, at least, being efficient and being able to put the ball in the hoop is more important than guarding. Does defense win championships? I'm not so sure... I think being able to crank up and "bring it" and make plays in crunch time is super important. And you need to be able to do something to attempt to take away what the other team is doing. But offensively, you have to score the ball, and be efficient doing so. This year at least

Well, can we get him to transfer? Ha

They run the game clock, they keep stats, they run businesses, they raise children,,,honestly, why couldn't you train and trust them to run a shot clock? Shot clock operator doesn't think ball hits the rim, refs think it does but none of them see shot clock get reset so now comes the delay in deciding how much time to put on shot clock. Now do the refs put more time on the game clock since there was violation? What if player picks up foul in those few seconds that there should've been violation? Does foul not count? This is just like adding more government regulation. The more you add the more issues that will arise. You are just adding more things for the officials to watch when they should be reffing the game. All that and it would lead to more bad basketball. The better you are, the faster you can play. If you're not at that level, playing faster just leads to more mistakes. And the vast majority of high school players I've seen in this state are not ready to play at a faster tempo. they need to do whatever they can to get teams from stalling for an entire quarter. nobody wants to watch that. I'm not saying they need a 30 second shot clock, but 45 seconds would make sense. High school basketball is a different animal all together. I'm sure not everyone will agree with me but high school basketball is about giving kids an opportunity to play the great game of basketball. It's not supposed to be a money maker for the school and it's not supposed to be for anyone's viewing pleasure. I like high tempo basketball and tried to coach teams to play that way and sometimes I was successful and sometimes... But they weren't playing so I could coach and they're not playing so you can watch. The game should have rules and be officiated in such a way that it best benefits the student-athletes. I don't think a shot clock is is their best interest. I've seen coaches and referees who think the game is about them and I'm sure most of us have seen parents/fans that certainly act like they are owed something. Paying your entry fee to a high school game is not like paying to go to a professional sporting activity. The game should be designed around how can we provide more opportunities for players to play and not what will be the most entertaining for fans. I feel we should just be happy that they allow us in to watch the games. I don't think anybody is saying that the kids have to play fast, but the dribble around and hold the ball simply because you can do so isn't necessarily teaching them much either. I would buy the idea that teams were incapable of playing quicker if they were constantly playing school with higher levels of athleticism. However, as you noted, most of the state is rural in nature, so that means that the smaller schools are playing against other smaller, rural schools. I find it hard to believe, with a straight face, that the kids from rural areas are incapable of running their offense against other kids from rural areas in 40 seconds or less. It isn't that they can't do so, it is that they CHOOSE not to do so, especially when they get a lead. It is this same sort of stall ball at the college level that led to the introduction of the shot clock.Incidentally, the real Dean Smith did just fine even after he was no longer allowed to run his patented 4 corners offense. If I were to counter Dean, I'd be typing much of what you said. But then I ask myself, would a 40 second shot clock even be worth it, or even change anything? That's still an eternity... But then I also feel a 30-35 is too short and will just encourage more pressing and more frantic games. So who knows, I suppose...

They run the game clock, they keep stats, they run businesses, they raise children,,,honestly, why couldn't you train and trust them to run a shot clock?Shot clock operator doesn't think ball hits the rim, refs think it does but none of them see shot clock get reset so now comes the delay in deciding how much time to put on shot clock. Now do the refs put more time on the game clock since there was violation? What if player picks up foul in those few seconds that there should've been violation? Does foul not count? This is just like adding more government regulation. The more you add the more issues that will arise. You are just adding more things for the officials to watch when they should be reffing the game.All that and it would lead to more bad basketball. The better you are, the faster you can play. If you're not at that level, playing faster just leads to more mistakes. And the vast majority of high school players I've seen in this state are not ready to play at a faster tempo.What a better way to get them to that level then... Simply making players play faster will never make them better players. It takes more than that. High school basketball is a different animal than college and pro and it should be enjoyed for what it is. Trying to make it what it is not will just make it a bad version of what it is not. Nebraska is a rural state meaning most basketball teams are from small schools and you just are never going to get the majority of schools at that level to a place where they can play at the speed necessary to be successful with a shot clock. And it may not seem like it it Nebraska, but Class B is small school basketball. Very fair point, Dean. I see what you are saying...

They run the game clock, they keep stats, they run businesses, they raise children,,,honestly, why couldn't you train and trust them to run a shot clock? Shot clock operator doesn't think ball hits the rim, refs think it does but none of them see shot clock get reset so now comes the delay in deciding how much time to put on shot clock. Now do the refs put more time on the game clock since there was violation? What if player picks up foul in those few seconds that there should've been violation? Does foul not count? This is just like adding more government regulation. The more you add the more issues that will arise. You are just adding more things for the officials to watch when they should be reffing the game. All that and it would lead to more bad basketball. The better you are, the faster you can play. If you're not at that level, playing faster just leads to more mistakes. And the vast majority of high school players I've seen in this state are not ready to play at a faster tempo.What a better way to get them to that level then...

Nailed it with Ade comparison. And I'd take a whole team of Ade's. And I can't help but emphasize that South literally does not run "an offense." They're 5-out dribble drive, pass, cut, drive and kick or drive and dump. They're very unselfish and everyone is driving to help out everyone. If AA played for Fremont, per say, they'd run everything through and around him. I just don't see (without knowing any inside or behind the scenes info) how you pass on Wingett. 6'8" lefties who can go both right and left, with jumpers, and length/athleticism don't grow on trees in your back yard very often.

I've said this all year (not on here but just in general) that South is nowhere near the team that people think they are. They were just much more athletic than any other team this year and they defended their way to a state title. Their offensive ability is below average in my opinion for as good as people give them credit for. The people that compared this team all year to the Central teams and calling South the "New Central" are just crazy. I graduated 2010 and played at the class A level and can say with confidence that the Omaha Central team of that year would beat this South team by double digits and I'm pretty confident in saying that. I think this South team is very athletic and has a few good defenders on their team, but I was never all that impressed with them throughout this year. Correct, Akoy's central team beats these guys 7/10 times. Down year for class A basketball at the top. Teams much closer than normal.

Very interesting. Suppose this is why eye witness testimony sucks - two people see different things.My biggest flaw when it comes to recruiting/projecting - I'm an idealist and see kids for what I think they can be. It's a strength and a weakness. I'll overlook a lot of game weaknesses if I see the stuff I want. Very hard for me to overlook character flaws, however.

No on your first point (for selfish personal reasons). I'd rather see something like, if you make it to state two years in a row with "x %" of kids returning you should have to bump up a class. Or if you've made it x times out of so many years you need to bump up.Been saying your second point for years.... Encourage schools to time their spring break with state basketball so it doesn't interfere with school

Trust me when I say I have not earned that compliment yet. And your observations are just as worthwhile as mine. What game did you watch? Serious question. Because he had a poor game against Fremont, where his midrange game did fail him. Comparison to Kyle Marks couldn't be any further off, fwiw. He's a 3 at the next level, and his shot will be just fine, fundamentals are there, handles will be fine. Remember he's just a junior, playing on a team that doesn't necessarily (or at all) work through him or get him shots. They pressure and get steals, then just play dribble drive 5 out on offense. Whoever scores, scores, almost exactly like Central a few years ago (sans a big man). Also sat out all of last year. Is he a 5-star? No, not what I'm saying. But I fully believe assuming things go as plan, he can be a very solid player for us.

Ah, cool. Good. Or not good?

I had not heard this before I posted this question. However, I THINK I could tell you exactly what's going on because I've dealt with this situation before. But I'm not going to speculate or accuse anything here. Wait and see, I suppose....

Board members who observed the most beautiful thing the state of Nebraska offers - what were your thoughts? I'll go first! Players: • A. Arop is the real deal. Love his game. Beautiful stroke, long, athletic enough, adds an element we don't have in a beautiful midrange game. Plays hard, great teammate. Will need a year or so to adjust to actually playing help defense and gap/pack principles. Concerns - health. I don't know why, maybe because of his injury, but he just looks like he has bad knees. Hope I'm wrong. • Ed Chang, please come to Nebraska. Something about that shooting stroke and ball skills at his height make me think he could be special. Along with Arop, needs a professional to work with him in the off season on lower body development. Those super long, tall dudes can develop knee problems if they don't develop a love for the weight room and body development. • David Wingett- you guys know my stances on Nebraksa kids. Take a chance on them before taking a chance on someone else. Thoughts from the board - what is holding us back? Grades? Anything else? He's a lefty who can dribble, shoot from anywhere (it's developing), and he's athletic enough. Much like Arop/Chang - needs some serious weight room development. But he's a legit 6'7", 6'8". • Caleal Walker - grades are the issue I believe. Will have to go to a JUCO. Can he go to a prep academy? Like Khyri Thomas? Needs some work on his stroke, but his athleticism and instincts are incredible. I'd be developing a relationship with the young man and just seeing where it goes. Maybe he turns out to be a player? You never know... The basketball I hate zone. Nebraska needs the shot clock. Although the shot clock might encourage more teams to play zone. So I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Elmwood-Murdock put on a fundamental offensive clinic vs Winnebago at the Devaney. Beautiful to watch. That's all I have for now.

I would not complain what so ever if we offered DW from Winnebago

He's hitting 39.1% of his 2pt jumpers this year, which isn't too shabby. However, when you look at his 70.8% make rate at the rim and 35.2% 3pt rate (52.8 eFG%) one can see why anayltics guys hammer on shots in the paint or at the 3. But not only that, if you're taking shots a foot inside the three point line, just take the 3 pointer. If it's 50% more valuable than a 2, and he shoots 34.7% from 3, he's have to shoot 52% on that jumper before it becomes as efficient as the 3. I don't know how close to the rim he has to get to that mark, but that's the whole analytics argument. Dakich doesn't like it. That's his perogative, I guess. There are nuances to this argument I'm leaving out, I get that, but the shot that he likes so much where he takes a step inside the arc (and White does it a lot, too) isn't a wise one, IMO...100% correct

And no one else would touch the ball......... Which I'm totally fine with.

Watson is really good. His best skill is his ability to navigate and create on ball screens. Something that Benny Parker never figured out in 4 years, which will go down as one of my biggest frustrations in "Nebraska Player Development History." But also makes me ask myself if it's even a skill you can develop, if a freshman comes in and already can do it.

Your logic is indisputable. I'm convinced.