basketballjones

I really hope Kobe comes back if he really wants to. I love and appreciate Thor, but I think it's time to move on. I've said my piece.

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Back in the day when I did basketball recruiting, we had a tool that we used to evaluate players and how much we would give in scholarships. How would you guys evaluate our current team or our recruiting class? By the way, this tool forced us to go beyond watching highlight tapes or open gyms. Makes you go see them in person or watch full game film. You can't analyze a lot of this by just open gyms or highlight tapes. 5 Areas: 1. Basic Fundamentals - Self explanatory. Dribbling, shooting, catching, 3rd grade basketball camp stuff. Grabbing the ball with two hands, outside hand passing. Being shot ready. Jump stops, pivots, proper finishing footwork. Head up while dribbling. Things like using ball screens, Euro-Steps, both hand finishes, etc... have kind of become basic fundamentals at the college level. Basic man2man principles. Common (2-3, 1-3-1) zone fundamentals. I could list more but I think you all get it. 2. Secondary Fundamentals - Knowing score and situation. Naturally spacing the floor. Knowing when to be selfish and when to not even hesitate about passing to the next guy. When/where to move on drives and give passers windows. Knowing what you're doing with the ball before you catch it. Executing at a snap of a finger whether you're going to rim drive or create drive based off of close-outs and teammates positioning. Passing while moving full speed into help. Hitting skips and opposite corners while driving. Executing different close-outs on moments notice and switches. Understanding of what other teams are trying to do offensively and defensively. 3. Size - Somewhat more complicated than just pure height, but obviously positionally related. Does the player have a "college athlete body," i.e., can they put weight on and get stronger (broad shoulders, long levers, big hands can be indicators). But Length plays a factor here, as does strength (in a way). For example, if you're 5'11" but you've got a 6'5" wingspan, usually something a coach can do with that. Or if you're short, but you're an absolute bowling ball, it can all factor in. 4. Functional Athleticism - Lots of guys are fast, quick, and can jump high. Can the player use it in the game? This can help "by the measurable" unathletic player too. Iowa and Wisconsin have had a ton of guys that wouldn't impress at a combine - but they have no problem finishing, driving by, getting their shot off, guarding, or getting rebounds. It actually works the other way too. I've been around many dudes who could put their face on the rim, but never dunked in a game because they just functionally did not know how to use their athleticism in a live situation. 5. Intangibles - Do they want it? Are they disciplined? Do they understand the weight room isn't a voluntary participation thing? How do they respond to criticism and hard coaching? How do they communicate with their teammates? Do they do well in school and treat people with respect? Do they bring energy or do they suck energy? Can they execute offensive sets, and those that have been drawn on the marker board?

What?

Sweet. Awesome. When that leads to us not being last place in the Big Ten please let me know. For now, my conclusion is still what I am going with - I don't think you can be a really good team if he is your best/go-to player.

Ding. Ding. Ding **Melo wasn't "Melo" in college. He played a role on that team, much like he does when he goes and does USA Olympic stuff.

I'm not sure that goes against my argument that he doesn't allow others to get in the flow. Wait, I said I'm done for the day! *logs out*

Sure hope you're right. But I'm not sure how great of a sign it is that your best player has to be "suspended," to get things right. And then after he's "got right" we're still 1-6. With that win coming from the 12th place team in the conference. Alright, I'm just arguing to argue at this point, so I'm out. Must have not got much sleep.

We had 38 points in the first half, 28 of his. When he scored 13 in the second half, the rest of the team scored 32.

Define hate....? I don't "hate," Teddy Allen. I am incredibly proud of the person he seems to have become after all the trials and tribulations of his youth and early career. He's also been the one fun thing to watch about this Husker squad this year. However - I do not believe that a team with Teddy Allen on it, taking most of your shots, and being your "guy," can ever be good. That's not hate. That's my opinion based off of experience and observation. He's streaky, inconsistent, and plays out of the flow of the offense. If he is not making shots, you're donezo because he's gonna keep shooting. And if he is, most of them just come at random times from random places, and no one else gets in the flow (see, Penn State from two nights ago).

I said I'd take their record/recent history in a heartbeat. Still took until year 5 to be above .500 in conference. Also....... going back to my original point.... They had behemoth Adam Woodbury their two best years of that run. Also 6'9" Aaron White and 6'9" Jarrod Uthoff. In other words, if you want to play the fast tempo way in the Big 10, you still need some skilled and tough bigs.

Sort of splitting hairs, but I don't feel going to the NCAA tournament is some marker of serious success. I wouldn't exactly say this is a shining recored also. Obviously, I'd take it in a heart beat, but it took until year 5 to be better than .500 in conference.

Only Nebraska man....

Make sure you quote and reference me in your next article. Thanks. Send payment to......... jk jk Iowa works because it revolves around a generational talent, behemoth. One could argue a little bit of "chicken and the egg" with Creighton. Creighton, now, could definitely be in our top 5 for sure. But do they develop this way if they have to go through the same process we do (i.e., trying to play this style before you're good)?

I would say that the B1G, collectively throughout major male sport, has basically thrown our idea of being "zig when everyone zags," out the window. It's pretty clear there's only a zag in the B1G. You either have 5-star talent across the board and you're gonna win however you do it... Or you get old, stay old, play methodically, fundamentally, and tough.

I had it in early December - and while my physical went fine a week ago - I still have lingering effects of it.

I feel like I am always one who is right on the edge of fully condemning our programs and jumping off the bridge... But, fellas, this year could not have worked against us more than it did. I am attempting to mentally forget both this Football and Basketball season for our Huskers, and move on to next year.

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We run so poorly in missed-bucket transition, and I think the answer for him being effective is for him to get rebounds and immediately push it. If we would run lanes better and harder, he would have easier drive lanes or easier kick outs. To me that is the answer for him to being a better distributer and attacker. But in the half court, someone else probably needs to initiate the offense.

We have a Pike on the roster?

Well, I'm taking this to my bookie.

Love your name - They've been fun to watch this year (I assume you're referring to the Utah Jazz, if not, screw me then). Disagree quite a bit. He plays far too tall to get by the guys who guard him, he cannot shoot the 3, and he is a miserable FT shooter. He also does not know how to simply draw two and kick (and is having a tougher and tougher time drawing two defenders cause he can't get by his initial defender). IMO - he needs to hit the weight room and become a swing 3 or 4. He needs to be guarding not as quick guys, and needs better match-ups on the defensive end. His stuff and his talent works if he's being guarded by a 4. But he's easily neutralized if he's being guarded by a 1-3.

I too fell in love with the "idea," of Banton as our PG - but in reality it has not been good.

Banton was really bad tonight. He plays way too tall to get by shorter, athletic guards. Even if other things fall were to fall in line, I don’t think we will be successful around here with him as a ball dominant point guard.

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