basketballjones

Lakes 3/3 from 3 to start quick release embarrassingly ugly beard

NU 94 DU 52

Wiscy 79 Skers 72 33%

I say it basically every year after this game. I’m so f-ing jealous of Creighton. Man it must be nice to be one of their fans. They always: Execute everything Play with zero hesitation Pass it hard, fast, and decisively Everyone knows their role Have tight, smart game plans Everyone plays supremely confidently Recruit, retain, and DEVELOP We on the other hand: Seem to have players who get worse? Revolving door of a roster Zero identity no matter who the coach is. Execute nothing Seem to never have a discernible scout/strategy

I’m just at halftime, watching a recording... but Yvan can’t play here. He’s simply not good enough. We desperately need a serviceable big that can at least make dump down lay ups.

Yikes. Other than this did you have a good day?

CU 82 NU 69

NU 78 GT 71 4

I, however, am thrilled he ignored Thor.

I think people in this thread are underestimating how desperate SDSU was last night and how well coached they are. That was a team throwing everything they had trying to get a win. We basically played like an older brother who doesn’t want to hurt his little brother too much, but the little brother won’t stop getting up.

NU 94 FAMU 64 5

Four Games in, I wanted to revisit this post and see where we are at. As of now, I am pretty confident that we have answered the majority of the issues I felt plagued us in '19-'20. And then some. The good: 1. I honestly don't think we've ever had this many capable basketball players on one team since I have been actively watching Nebrasketball. And we're still without Walker and Andre. 2. Delano Banton is a star. He's already one of my favorite players I've seen wear the scarlet and cream. 3. We've never had a player like ____________. Literally you can insert 4-5 guys in there. We've had guys like Teddy Allen - Petteway and Palmer - guys who are kinda jacks that can get their own shot, and make bad shots. But we've just never had (past 20 years anyways), guys like Banton, Stevenson, McGowens, a capable back-up PG like Webster, a dead-eye 6'9" that can actually do other things like Mayen. This is a lot of fun to watch. We're missing a Copeland, Roby, Maric (kinda "true" 4's and 5's) - but "meh," it's a different team with a different, discernible style. So I'm really not bothered by that. The bad: 1. A lot of the stuff we're good at isn't going to work in the B1G. I just do not see us getting as many gamble steals and on ball steals during the conference season. 2. We're simply not going to be able to win by winning match-ups with conference bigs. We're going to have to do it a different way. Which, to me is perfectly fine. I've been in many arguments on this board over the fact that we don't need to spend as much time being concerned about bigs scoring as we make it out to be. It's worth 2 points. If you can force them into slightly tougher looks and not foul - a big simply cannot do it by themselves. Stopping elite guard play and the 3pt shot is far more important in 2020 than worrying about Garza. 3. Half-court offense is going to be really tested in conference play. I am not sure I am excited with what I have seen so far. Not a lot of execution going on. Lot of "strangers in the night, exchanging glances" on screens and actions. The ugly: 1. Our guys Haircuts. Good lord, they've turned me into Norm. Clean it up fellas - high and tight. Bad, big hair makes a bad shooter - it's a fact - look it up. Shamiel and Bret Porter are the only two with proper haircuts. 2. Shoes. Everyone needs to be wearing the same shoes, or close. God, at least the same color. The blue and whatnot just says, "look at me." I love the yellow adidases with our red jerseys (looks like a corn cob). But other than that, have the same color of shoe and be a team. Jesus am I 65 years old or what?

I know you have this whole "job" you claim to have that involves writing also.. but I really appreciate when you post on this board.

This is the greatest thing ever made on this website. BUT, where is Conklin?

A lot of this needs way more data before you make too much of it. That being said, Banton's #'s certainly agree with what we've seen.

Great post, thanks for the numbers. Very interesting. However, I much more like the shots that Lat is taking (all in motion, open, from a kick-out) as opposed to the 3's Allen is taken (one on one, guarded, etc...). In the long run, I imagine I will be correct with my assessment and the #'s will show. But who knows? As far as defense goes, that's why I caveated what I did. Against good teams, especially in the B1G, those steals will disappear and wide open lanes for our opponents will appear.

Agree on Yvan, actually disagree on Thor. Thor is the perfect compliment to the guys we have right now, to be honest. Deleted section on Yvan. EDIT: I want to apologize to Norm, as this wasn't the intention of his post

Yvan's biggest issue is it's incredibly difficult to practice the types of shots that he actually gets in a game. He can do Mikan and other lay-up drills all he wants - those will never address what his shots actually look like in a game. It's very hard to simulate the guys hanging on you, jump and wait, through hands stuff that he gets. Especially off of offensive rebounds. His lack of height is going to make it very difficult to get clean looks. He needs to play more, simply. Only way to get the looks he gets in game-like situations.

I’m totally fine with what we’re doing. I’m more against the individuals that are searching for makes and going 2-11 (or whatever). Teddy Allen doesn’t need to be shooting anymore than 4 or 5 threes a game. He needs to slash for us and make his crazy shots around the rim he’s amazing at. Banton just needs to shoot enough and make enough to keep teams honest, but he needs to be facilitating and creating. Lat needs, a lot, of shots from 3. And I’m pretty fine with whatever McGowens wants to do. I have a lot of trust in him and don’t want to make him mad and lose his brother. Joking. I too, am blown away by our defense. Even if we aren’t playing hard they’re effective. However, Allen is going to cause us issues against good teams, if he continues ball watching and lunging at everything.

Other Dakota - 59 Skers - 79

The hardest part about coaching is when you have a philosophy and it isn’t working. How do you get the guys to adjust styles without losing confidence in the philosophy or putting a name to the issue. Coach and the leaders on the court didn’t manage this one well today.

Below the Wall - 79 The North - 67

NU - 80 NV - 71

Alright, so last year I made a post attempting to temper the enthusiasm for Hoiberg 1.0. I watched the scrimmage and was like, "Oh boy... this is going to be a bad year." We were skinny, inexperienced, no length, and I had zero confidence anyone could shoot. Hoiberg 2.0 should be a lot different, fellas. I am not at the place where I am comfortable predicting a record (1. I'm bad at that anyways, and 2. w/ Covid and what not, there's just too many variables), but I am at the place where I can say we should be pretty competitive and good. '19-'20 Problem: Too Skinny Solved: Kind of We don't have a traditional bruiser-big that the B1G usually produces, if Walker doesn't play much. Also not sure we have a traditional, "four man." I am also just not too high on Drago yet, sorry guys. However, Stevenson, Webster, McGowens, Allen, are all thick, strong dudes who are going to create alternative match-up problems for other teams. '19-'20 Problem: Inexperienced Solved: Yes Not experienced here, necessarily, but we have experienced basketball players. Thor and Drago are experienced here. Stevenson, Banton, McGowens, Allen, Webster, and Walker have all played against or in major-conference basketball. And, a lot of these guys have been playing with each other for quite a bit, whether it's through the sit-out year or all the wild COVID stuff. Chemistry is a different question. But I think that's overblown these days with as many 1 and done's, and transfers there are. '19-'20 Problem: No Length Solved: Duh Just look at them, christ... '19-'20 Problem: Zero Confidence Anyone Can Shoot Solved: Absolutely I expect the ball to go in every time Lat, McGowens, and Allen (to an extent) shoot. Thor makes enough, and the coaches certainly have enough confidence in him, that I don't mind when he shoots. Even Stevenson's shot looks good. '20-'21 Early Observed Potential Weaknesses 1. Will this team stay together under adversity? Lots of guys who have left when the going got tough at their first place. Argue with me all you want about that, but it is what it is. It's a legit question. 2. Can we guard down in the post? We don't have Walker for 1/2 the season and no one knows if he can anyways. I'm obviously not sold yet on the Drago-experience. 3. How good is the B1G? No matter how improved we seem to be - will the B1G be such a bear that it doesn't matter? 4. Are we deep? Can we withstand a COVID scare? 5. What happens when teams don't guard some of the guys who can't shoot? Can we execute and be smart?