aphilso1

Huskers 69 Terps 79

This is our get well game. Huskers 77 Silly English Kniggets 64

Lol, I think the list is quite a bit shorter than you're implying. But yes there are certainly teams that can use our defensive scheme to their advantage. There was a Navy football coach that was once asked why he ran the triple option, and his response was essentially "if you're not better than your opponent then you need to be different." Wish I could recall the specific quote (or even whether it was Niumatalolo or Johnson that said it), but the point is still valid even paraphrased. Nebraska isn't going to compete in the B1G based purely on talent. We have to find a different way if we want to be competitive. And Hoiberg has tapped into a formula to achieve that by running a unique defense and recruiting older players who are smart enough and experienced enough to run it.

I actually really like our defense, which is set up to force a very specific series of events. 1. Ball goes to the corner. Husker defender closes out in a way that intentionally gives up baseline penetration. 2. Offensive player puts ball on floor, dribbling along the baseline with the closeout defender trailing on his non-baseline side hip. 3. Husker post slides over to cut off the dribble penetration, intentionally doing so before the driver can make it all the way to the paint. This sequence is designed to force the offensive player into a split second passing decision, and the beauty of it is that the individual making the pass is typically not their point guard. The offensive player can either take an out of control pull up jumper, or try to challenge Meah (with an extra defender on his hip and the baseline acting as a third defender), or can pass to the area that Meah vacated (which already has a third Husker defender crashing into the newly created passing line), or can skip pass over the trap entirely. That's really it, since any other passing lanes are already shut down by the trailing defender. It's easy to see why when it is working well, it works REALLY WELL. It puts a disproportionate burden on the opposing team's wings, who are often great athletes but mediocre passers. And we have some players that execute their defensive role very well due to their specific strengths (like Meah's wingspan and Hoiberg's ability to perfectly time when he crashes into the passing lane). So what are the weaknesses in this defense? 1. Opponents with multiple great decision makers/passers. 2. Opponents who prioritize getting the ball to 3pt shooters quicker than we can set up this sequence. 3. Opponents that play in a phone booth ignoring the corners (Texas A&M last year is the best example). There are weaknesses in any defense. I think the novelty of ours, which puts teams in situations that they don't see very often, is worth dealing with its shortcomings.

Huskers 65 Boilers 75

I love Juwan but he was doing a fantastic Angel Reese impression last night. Easiest way to a double double is to miss a point blank layup, grab your own rebound, and repeat for 40 minutes.

The refs are so immune from calling a foul against Iowa, that even when they intentionally foul there’s no call.

Penn State.

Nebraska 74 Iowa 83 4

Dang it, had my annual Forget To Submit a Prediction game. Just once I'd like to see KenPom forget!

Huskers 79 Jags 57

Huskers 72 Beavers 63

Huskers 75 Rainbow Warriors 65

Huskers 80 Racers 69 (nice) 9 treys.