[Husker] Men's Hoops

[Dave Mennenga]

I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but I agree with you, Bob!  ;>}

As probably the only Husker List member who watched Saturday's debacle
in person, I'll offer my view from the Phog's bleachers -- which only
cost me about $1 per NU point, as it turns out!

It was easy to see that this team had no confidence coming in on
Saturday.  I know playing KU in Lawrence is a tall order (pun intended)
and we're in the midst of a losing streak, but several guys didn't even
appear to get off the bus... Unfortunately, their demeanor during the
warm-ups reminded me of the lackadaisical effort displayed for most of
last season by the defense formerly known as the Blackshirts.

I have never seen a more pathetic offensive showing than I did in the
first half on Saturday when they scored only 15 points!  15!?!  I forgot
to look, but I would bet that KU's Brandon Rush had almost that many
points at the break all by himself!  And after that stellar showing, the
team didn't even bother to come out of the locker room for warm-ups
before the second half...  In fact, the KU fans around me were asking
whether we were coming back at all or if they'd already loaded the bus
for Lincoln?!?

I'm willing to cut Doc some slack at this point, because this team is
severely lacking in size.  And that's what you need to compete in the
Big XII these days.  The guard play can keep you in games, but the
damage is done with big men drawing fouls in the paint.  NU can't expect
to compete playing a four-guard offense, especially when Maric is as
ineffective as he has been recently.  He was pushed around in the paint
all day by KU (even their reserves), and could muster only a few
desperate hook shots and a 15-foot jumper that barely drew iron...  When
was the last time that a senior, NBA-bound (according to the experts),
"impact" player was held to zero points in a game?  Probably never,
before Saturday... I realize that the NBA is increasingly international
in nature, but just because you're foreign doesn't guarantee you a
roster spot.  Unfortunately for Maric, it still requires talent to play
in the League, and he's got a looong ways to go, in my opinion!

Continuing on the size issue -- I'm sorry, but Ryan Anderson is not a
forward (except by default, on this year's roster).  At best, he is a
defensive liability down low against teams that have multiple post
threats.  I'm not even sure that he took a shot all day from inside the
3-point arc?  Actually, the worst thing that happened was that he made
one of his first attempts... that apparently justified him casting up
(and missing) at least a half dozen more bombs before halftime!  Guys
like Balham and Dagunduro gave good efforts down low, but were clearly
outmatched by KU's big men.  Doc obviously needs to figure out where to
find some muscle on the blocks to play in this league, because he
doesn't have much on the roster now.  Otherwise, we'll be relegated to
watching the guards try to create their own shots all the time.  To that
end, I will admit to being impressed by the play of Cookie Miller and
Steve Harley (he led NU with 16 points), who both did a nice job and
looked quick even against KU's highly-rated guards...

So, that leaves me agreeing with Bob again.  The remainder of this
season will be a "learning experience" for this team, and the losses
will be plentiful.  The promise shown in victories over Oregon and
Arizona State was a mirage.  ISU and Colorado are about the only teams
in the Big XII that I think we can compare with talent-wise.  I hope
that the home crowd can somehow will the team to victory when those
squads come to town... but any other victories down the stretch will
indeed be "upsets".

As far as KU goes, I don't expect them to make it through the Big XII
season unscathed.  They shot less than 50% from the free throw line,
much to the dismay of the fans around me.  This has been a problem area
for them all season long, and will surely cost them a tight game or two
down the road.  Brandon Rush (post knee injury) seems to be hesitant and
is too content shooting three-pointers instead of driving to the basket.
Still, as they said in the KC Star yesterday, KU's squad is near the
pinnacle of the current NCAA basketball world (with Memphis, UCLA, and
Carolina).  Then Saturday's game was truly evidence of how far the
Huskers are away from it!

GBR,
Dave



-----Original Message-----
From: husker-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:husker-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf
Of Bob Beach
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:08 AM
To: husker at tssi.com
Subject: [Husker] Men's Hoops



     I guess either people don't care much about the men's basketball
team 
or people figure the season is pretty much shot anyway.  There is little

discussion about it.  I really think the season is pretty well lost at
this 
point.  It is conceivable they may not win a game the rest of the year.

The Big 12 is tough.  


    The Huskers have two games with Missouri, two with Iowa State, two 
with Kansas State, one with Texas Tech, one with Texas A&M, one 
with Oklahoma, one with Oklahoma State, one with Texas, and one with 
Colorado.  To me the only maybe winnable games are the home games 
with Iowa State and Colorado.  However, Iowa is not a bad team by any 
means and Colorado already has beaten NU once.  I understand on any 
given night any given team but on paper it doesn't look too promising.


    I am ready to cut Doc Sadler some slack.  I am one that believes a 
Head Coach has to get somewhere between 3-5 years before a true 
evaluation can be made.  The thing that concerns me is this years team 
doesn't seem a bit improved over last year.  Maybe you have to go down 
a little before you go up.  I don't know.  I hope that is the case.  For
one 
Maric is a mess.  If this guy isn't any better than he has shown the
last 
two or three games it is hard to imagine him ever playing in the NBA.  
He didn't even score period yesterday against KU.  However, I didn't 
think Mikki Moore could make it in the NBA either so that shows what I 
know.


Bob Beach


     

      

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