[Husker] Husker Hoops Rising Stock (was "NU v OU")

[Dave]

The improvement that Nebraska has made this year under Sadler is impressive.
Improvement -- not only from last year's 2-14 conference record to this
season's 18-8, 6-6 marks -- but also from the beginning of this season to
here in late February.  

 

Here's how it's looked to me from Section C11 this year:

 

Nebraska is still fairly young.  Brian Diaz, Brandon Ubel and Eshaunte
"Bear" Jones are sophomores.  Brandon Richardson, Toney McCray, Andre
Almeida and Caleb Walker are juniors.  The light bulb seems to turning on
for some of these guys as the season plays out.  The leadership shown by
seniors Lance Jeter and Drake Beranek has led to chemistry, the likes of
which I haven't seen on a Husker team in years.  No coincidence that this
group immediately started playing better when Christian Standhardinger was
dismissed from the team.

 

Brandon Ubel is a 6-10 reserve forward who has really improved and bulked up
since last year.  Has some scoring potential.  I think he'll be a real good
player before he gets out of here.  Bear Jones , 6-4 off-guard, came here
with great credentials, but not much more of a noticeable skill set aside
from long-range jump shooting.  Bear has never been a consistent starter,
but he needs to fill a perimeter scoring role off the bench with these guys.
His defense and rebounding have improved drastically over last season.  The
three 3s he hit yesterday were huge.  Big-shot Bear has never been gun-shy
when it comes to taking the big late-game shot.  Neither does Brian Diaz.
He's been rightfully accused of being too passive for a 6-11 forward, but
his mindset is that he wants the ball on the blocks when NU needs a big
bucket.  He's got a soft jump hook shot that can only get better as he
continues to develop (and he can shoot it with either hand).  Diaz has a lot
of talent and a lot of it is still untapped.

 

Right about the time I thought Brandon Richardson was having a down season,
he's really come alive.  He's been real good the past few weeks.  Richardson
has the size of a point guard but the game of an off-guard.  He's improved
this season in that I didn't think we had a dependable back-up point guard
in the event that Lance Jeter got in foul trouble, like he did yesterday.
Richardson now all-of-a-sudden looks capable of handling the responsibility.
I couldn't see it coming in December.  And yesterday, Richardson was taking
the ball to the hole and finishing.  Doc also says he's one of the better
defenders in the league.  And speaking of 6-3, 230-lb. point guard Lance
Jeter . this kid is tough as nails.  He provides the will, spirit, and
attitude that drives this team.  He's had a very good senior year and should
be considered an "honors" candidate for what he's done this year.  He's a
winner, a leader . and this team has followed.    

 

Then there's the enigmatic Toney McCray.  He's probably got more natural
talent than any player on the roster.  He's at his best when he's catching
the ball, turning and shooting.  Can get in trouble when he puts it on the
floor a lot.  Good rebounder too.   But he'll do things that will drive you
crazy.  Unforced turnovers at the top of the list.  But he's got a beautiful
release when he shoots the ball with great trajectory.  I really like Caleb
Walker, too.  Athletic 6-4 wing player who can do a lot of things.  I heard
Coach Sadler say that he thinks Caleb will be a special player next year.
Andre Almeida probably needs to lose another 30 pounds, but he makes you
imagine the possibilities.  He can put it in the hole, and his strong suit
is probably passing.  Extremely large man who could be a great player by
next year.

 

Remember when Nebraska was the smallest team in college basketball just two
years ago?  Well, now we can at least match up with Texas and other big
baseline teams.  Quite a sight watching 6-11 Brian Diaz and 6-11 Andre
Almeida playing at the same time yesterday . Texas always plays two big
post-up players.  Now, NU can do likewise.  Nebraska was too young to be a
good defensive team last year.  Wow, have they figured it out and improved
on that end of the floor this year.  The double-down defense that Nebraska
plays in the low post is impressive.  They really frustrated Kansas with it
earlier in the year in Lawrence.  They always seem to have somebody left to
contest the shooter.  Texas chose to not double team Diaz and Almeida
yesterday and the Husker big men made them pay.  

 

It's awesome that Nebraska basketball is relevant here in late February.
Hasn't been occuring with much regularity over the past couple of decades.
Hopefully, they keep it going.  It can all come crashing down in a hurry,
but the improvementk to this point is undeniable.  I've always been a big
Sadler supporter.  We could do sooooo much worse.  Doc has gotten these guys
to respond to his challenges this year.  He's always been able to get them
to play hard.  

 

Glad to hear you'll be there Wednesday night, Steve.  Games like this have
been scarce around here recently.  Should be fun.

 

Dave Norris 

 

From: Steve Reichenbach [mailto:reich at inetnebr.com] 
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 3:10 PM
To: dnorris001 at neb.rr.com; husker at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [Husker] NU v OU

 

> Even as the guardedly optimistic Husker hoops fan that I've been over the
> past decades, I couldn't take the talk of Nebraska as a NCAA contender
> seriously until we won a conference road game -- ANY conference road game!
> -- and then secured a signature win that would legitmize our resume'.  The
> Huskers got both in the course of about 72 hours.  I don't care how much
of
> a grind the OU game in Norman (and it WAS ugly at times) . we needed that
> one to set up what we did yesterday.
>

Given NU's basketball history, it is difficult not to expect
disappointment, but as ugly as were the win against OU and the final
minutes in the win against Texas, it is also the case that NU let a few
get away that could have been wins.

NU led Texas Tech with 11 sec left.

NU trailed by a basket in the final minute in losses to Davison, Baylor,
and Kansas.

Even Vanderbilt was close late and the loss to Missouri was single digits.

Only at KSU and KU in Lincoln weren't competitive, and KU was so good in
Lincoln I don't think any team could have beaten them that night.

> Kansas State vs. Nebraska in Lincoln Wednesday night is scheduled for
> national television on ESPNU beginning at 8 p.m.  Here's hoping for
another
> extremely vocal and supportive crowd. 

I split my season tickets and had to buy not-very-good single-game tickets
for KSU, but I will be there (wearing red and making noise).

  _____  

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