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Rebuilding year

Alan Smithee

Alan Smithee

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Aug 13, 2002
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It's been pretty obvious that next year will be a rebuilding year, especially after the disappointments of this season.

Rap's transfer will tend to reinforce that notion for me. (Nothing against Rap, but I'm not overestimating his potential contribution - given his injury history, I felt that it would be unwise to expect much from him next season). It's another roster spot that may eventually be filled with a high quality player, but given the timing and where we are with the transfer "market" I doubt that will be the case next season.

I see that somebody picked us for 13th in the conference next season. Based on available information right now, I wouldn't argue.
 
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It's NU tough to watch the transfers and injuries, but it's early to concede the season.

Nance and Kopp look strong coming in the door and should start. Turner may add something. Gaines will surely be a year better. Falzon could regain his chops. We've got some players.

Here's hoping CCC scores at least one solid transfer.
 
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Alan Smithee said:
Rap's transfer will tend to reinforce that notion for me.

I see that somebody picked us for 13th in the conference next season. Based on available information right now, I wouldn't argue.
Click to expand...
Rap's decision to transfer has no effect on my view for next season. I didn't hold any hope of him contributing in any meaningful way after being out for 2 years. I am more optimistic than you, given the accolades of three of the recruits coming in, plus Turner. But to me the wildcard is Law: how healthy will he be? If he isn't at least as good as he was this season, NU wills struggle. Yes, NU will be "rebuilding", just by virtue of having 5 new players, but that doesn't necessarily mean a crappy season.

As for being picked 13th? Fine with me. Put the chip back on their shoulders. A preseason ranking and a Clark Kellogg "Final Four" pick were the kiss of death this year!!
 
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I'm open to more optimism if we land a transfer or two who have promise to contribute next season. I like the guys coming into the freshman class, but it's a long time till we get to see them in person.

I don't have enough information to make a prediction of my own, but as I said, I'm not in a position to argue with a prediction of 13th (nor 10th or somewhere in between).
 
How many graduate transfers can a program accept. Does Brunson have a year of eligibility left since he is graduating in 3 years? Well I can dream.
 
Three players are coming back who, I believe, started the majority of their games at NU (Falzon may be a close call on this). Gaines and Benson both look to get more time whether Rap, Lindsey and BMac moved on or not. So the team has enough talent and experience to win some games sans the frosh.

And then you got the frosh and the hype. And if I knew how that was going to turn out I'd be wealthier than I am. But let's say they do 1/3 to 1/2 of the hype. To me that is Lathon being a fair replacement from day one and Kopp being a positive contributor/sometimes starter. If Kopp can spell Law, capably defend and convert a third of his threes this team will win more conference games than they did this year.

It's about chemistry. This year it was vinegar for too much of the season. Pardon knows what happened and he'll have the underclassmen towing the line immediately. If the chemistry clicks, watch out.

Nance is the wild card. If he's a young deer, all elbows and knees, and needs a year then there's no post-season. But if he's an "OMG how'd NU get HIM" -- which is still on the board -- the wins can't be forecast.

And a transfer or two.

There's more we don't know about next year than we do know.
 
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Wasn't Nebraska the consensus #13 in the pre-season for the BIG this year. Just sayin'. With all the roster turnover these days, it can be hard to handicap these things.
 
Catreporter said:
Wasn't Nebraska the consensus #13 in the pre-season for the BIG this year. Just sayin'. With all the roster turnover these days, it can be hard to handicap these things.
Click to expand...

Really hard.

Minny in 16-17 was picked bottom third and at one stretch looked to be the most fearsome conference team.

The difference for NU during this highly speculative period from years ago is that the raw talent, skill and athleticsm across the entire roster are a standard deviation higher.

There's little question that the team is going to get better. It's just a question of how fast and if it's possible to play above level next year in conference.
 
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purplejustice said:
How many graduate transfers can a program accept. Does Brunson have a year of eligibility left since he is graduating in 3 years? Well I can dream.
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I think Brunson and Bridges are both graduating. I think we should send Collins a note that these guys might be potential grad transfer difference makers. :rolleyes:
 
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Pardon is going to be an absolute beast next season. That will make up for a lot of deficiencies. As disappointing as this season was, it was an anomaly in an upward trajectory. If Law recovers from his surgery, I believe next season will surprise a lot of folks, in a positive way....
 
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mikewebb68 said:
Pardon is going to be an absolute beast next season. That will make up for a lot of deficiencies. As disappointing as this season was, it was an anomaly in an upward trajectory. If Law recovers from his surgery, I believe next season will surprise a lot of folks, in a positive way....
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Completely agree. I hope CC tells everyone that if they shoot the ball (fast breaks excluded) without Pardon touching it, they get yanked.
 
I love pardon as much as anybody but dude need to pass outta the post better (which I believe he can learn this off-season) before I say he's a guy who absolutely needs to touch it every possession. He definitely made himself a threat to score every time one on one on that low block with that strong left hand of his. He's a very quick jumper and long which helps with those 2nd chance points. I'm excited for pardon but passing out of double teams quickly and sensing that pressure is what he needs to work on. If he improves on that and we have a couple people that are able to get the ball into him (cuz that's easier said then done when they key in on our hopefully bread and butter) we will have a fluid inside out game. Especially with law and falzon (Maybe Kopp?) on catch and shoot opportunities off the extra pass once they bring down that double team.

Law has a nice little drive and pull up to him as well when he's feeling it. He is one guy who can create his own shot on our team. (Granted it's not every time but man when he's feeling it he's a top B1G player) Look at the 2nd half of the Gonzaga game for what I'm talking about when him and Lindsey were feeling that was two guys who could score at will. Now we are looking for that consistently from somebody next year. If we get that or a little of it from a couple players and pardon develops that sense and passing ability it won't be a rebuilding year. If pardon doesn't develop the passing ability and he's the only guy that score one on one with somebody we have a tough season.

Also with this I'm assuming we have a defensively solid line up. We have Pardon who can anchor the D and is very vocal there, he also boxes out well and gets boards stopping second chance points. We also have a phenomenal on ball defender in Law who is not at all too shabby on the boards. I'm expecting Lanthon to start and because he's a freshman I'm expecting similar to Bmac when he was healthy senior year defensively. (Which isn't a plus but not a minus either like Bmac was earlier in his career defensively that was one area he improved every year at) I also predict gaines to start at the 2 guard or first wing spot and he's proven to be a solid defender who I expect to get better because defense is the thing I worry about most for incoming freshman and he was solid as one.


The 4 spot I have no idea. If falzon is healthy I think at best he is an average defender. If not he'll be a liability there. If Nance, I worry about strength and lack of playing against B1G competition and honestly have no idea how he'll perform. If Turner takes over Gaines spot or Laws if Law isn't healthy it should be interesting as well as I have never seen him play but I'd assume if he surpasses Gaines he'll have to be a solid defender at least because Collins has shown that he values defense.

Benson, for has little production and min he's had has actually shown a lot of potential to develop into a solid B1G big. He's already a B1G quality backup. That's pretty good for a sophomore and with Pardon we don't need starter quality out of him yet even tho he could have a big jump this off-season. I expect people here to be wondering were his solid-really good play came from either this year or next year. I love seeing Benson's reactions on the bench and court after big plays always bring a smile to my face.

Edit longer than expected I apologize for the length just had some stuff to say and I put an optimistic spin on a season with a lot of ifs.
 
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Max_Power said:
I think Brunson and Bridges are both graduating. I think we should send Collins a note that these guys might be potential grad transfer difference makers. :rolleyes:
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Brunson is going to the NBA, although I don't think he will star there. Not sure about Bridges but he probably will also go pro.
 
I read every single preseason preview heading into this past season, on every blog that did one. What a colossal waste of time. The way we played, it seemed like most of the team read everything as well.
 
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ThatkidfromHolland said:
I love pardon as much as anybody but dude need to pass outta the post better (which I believe he can learn this off-season) before I say he's a guy who absolutely needs to touch it every possession. He definitely made himself a threat to score every time one on one on that low block with that strong left hand of his. He's a very quick jumper and long which helps with those 2nd chance points. I'm excited for pardon but passing out of double teams quickly and sensing that pressure is what he needs to work on. If he improves on that and we have a couple people that are able to get the ball into him (cuz that's easier said then done when they key in on our hopefully bread and butter) we will have a fluid inside out game. Especially with law and falzon (Maybe Kopp?) on catch and shoot opportunities off the extra pass once they bring down that double team.

Law has a nice little drive and pull up to him as well when he's feeling it. He is one guy who can create his own shot on our team. (Granted it's not every time but man when he's feeling it he's a top B1G player) Look at the 2nd half of the Gonzaga game for what I'm talking about when him and Lindsey were feeling that was two guys who could score at will. Now we are looking for that consistently from somebody next year. If we get that or a little of it from a couple players and pardon develops that sense and passing ability it won't be a rebuilding year. If pardon doesn't develop the passing ability and he's the only guy that score one on one with somebody we have a tough season. Also with this I'm assuming we have a defensively solid line up. We have Pardon who can anchor the D and is very vocal there, he also boxes out well and gets boards stopping second chance points.

We also have a phenomenal on ball defender in Law who is not at all too shabby on the boards. I'm expecting Lanthon to start and because he's a freshman I'm expecting similar to Bmac when he was healthy senior year defensively. (Which isn't a plus but not a minus either like Bmac was earlier in his career defensively that was one area he improved every year at) I also predict gaines to start at the 2 guard or first wing spot and he's proven to be a solid defender who I expect to get better because defense is the thing I worry about most for incoming freshman and he was solid as one. The 4 spot I have no idea. If falzon is healthy I think at best he is an average defender. If not he'll be a liability there. If Nance, I worry about strength and lack of playing against B1G competition and honestly have no idea how he'll perform. If Turner takes over Gaines spot or Laws if Law isn't healthy it should be interesting as well as I have never seen him play but I'd assume if he surpasses Gaines he'll have to be a solid defender at least because Collins has shown that he values defense. Benson, for has little production and min he's had has actually shown a lot of potential to develop into a solid B1G big. He's already a B1G quality backup. That's pretty good for a sophomore and with Pardon we don't need starter quality out of him yet even tho he could have a big jump this off-season. I expect people here to be wondering were his solid-really good play came from either this year or next year. I love seeing Benson's reactions on the bench and court after big plays always bring a smile to my face.
Click to expand...

Just added a few paragraph breaks. Length no problem.
 
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Fitzphile said:
Rap's decision to transfer has no effect on my view for next season. I didn't hold any hope of him contributing in any meaningful way after being out for 2 years. I am more optimistic than you, given the accolades of three of the recruits coming in, plus Turner. But to me the wildcard is Law: how healthy will he be? If he isn't at least as good as he was this season, NU wills struggle. Yes, NU will be "rebuilding", just by virtue of having 5 new players, but that doesn't necessarily mean a crappy season.

As for being picked 13th? Fine with me. Put the chip back on their shoulders. A preseason ranking and a Clark Kellogg "Final Four" pick were the kiss of death this year!!
Click to expand...
I think the real wildcard is Lathon, advancement of Gaines and whether we get a grad transfer guard. We are really short at the position and replacing a lot of minutes so if Lathon isn't as advertised, Gaines doesn't advance and we don't get a guard transfer, the rest likely won't matter. As far as wings, we have Turner, Kopp and Nance coming in so even if Law isn't up to speed, we are likely to be OK. We are sort of short of guys for the 4 spot so maybe we go with twin towers as we do have a third center to back up unless the plan is to RS him.
 
hdhntr1 said:
I think the real wildcard is Lathon, advancement of Gaines and whether we get a grad transfer guard. We are really short at the position and replacing a lot of minutes so if Lathon isn't as advertised, Gaines doesn't advance and we don't get a guard transfer, the rest likely won't matter. As far as wings, we have Turner, Kopp and Nance coming in so even if Law isn't up to speed, we are likely to be OK. We are sort of short of guys for the 4 spot so maybe we go with twin towers as we do have a third center to back up unless the plan is to RS him.
Click to expand...

If Lathon is ready for major minutes....more than 20 a game....is the guard spot really that thin? When B Mac went down Collins did not turn to Brown, he mostly relied on Gaines and Ash. But the larger point is that ball handling sans B Mac was not a disaster. Down a level? Yes. Disaster? No.

A sober read on the other guards is that Gaines will be better. His technical skills will improve with another eight months of coaching, his understanding of schemes will reach another level and his confidence has to be there based on past performance.

Ash will be the same as this year. Hardest worker on the team, excellent defensive substitute, but majority bench player because of offensive limitations.

I'm sure that the staff would love to pick up a transfer who can contribute at as big ten level point guard: specifically ball handling and playmaker. But Turner, who sees himself as a shooting guard, and Kopp are two players who will immediately help in those areas albeit at the 2/3.
 
Now there's a nice organic post.

A symmetry thread here to parallel the rebuilding of WR2.
 
Alan Smithee said:
It's been pretty obvious that next year will be a rebuilding year, especially after the disappointments of this season.

Rap's transfer will tend to reinforce that notion for me. (Nothing against Rap, but I'm not overestimating his potential contribution - given his injury history, I felt that it would be unwise to expect much from him next season). It's another roster spot that may eventually be filled with a high quality player, but given the timing and where we are with the transfer "market" I doubt that will be the case next season.

I see that somebody picked us for 13th in the conference next season. Based on available information right now, I wouldn't argue.
Click to expand...

Additional information has been received, and it's positive. We're already looking much better for next season than I thought when I posted the above. Keep it rolling!
 
Medill90 said:
If Lathon is ready for major minutes....more than 20 a game....is the guard spot really that thin? When B Mac went down Collins did not turn to Brown, he mostly relied on Gaines and Ash. But the larger point is that ball handling sans B Mac was not a disaster. Down a level? Yes. Disaster? No.

A sober read on the other guards is that Gaines will be better. His technical skills will improve with another eight months of coaching, his understanding of schemes will reach another level and his confidence has to be there based on past performance.

Ash will be the same as this year. Hardest worker on the team, excellent defensive substitute, but majority bench player because of offensive limitations.

I'm sure that the staff would love to pick up a transfer who can contribute at as big ten level point guard: specifically ball handling and playmaker. But Turner, who sees himself as a shooting guard, and Kopp are two players who will immediately help in those areas albeit at the 2/3.
Click to expand...
Ash? Offensive limitations? Give me a break. Ash was dead even with Mac as far as field goal percentage. Yet Ash had 13 turnovers and Mac had 75!
 
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