Post by nu5ncbigred on Nov 2, 2016 2:15:48 GMT -5
the Huskers’ upcoming basketball season
Brett Nierengarten Nov 1, 2016 0
Last season, the Nebraska basketball team finished 16-18, losing its last five games of the regular season.
In a preseason press conference, head coach Tim Miles said he was excited for the team, but this young group has a lot of work to do.
“I like this team; I think we’ll be fun,” he said.
Nebraska lost its top two scorers from a year ago, Shavon Shields (graduation) and Andrew White III (transfer). Former captain Benny Parker also graduated. That leaves a ton of questions and not a lot of answers until the team plays its first real game Nov. 13 against Sacramento State.
What we do know about this year’s Nebraska squad is that how the sophomores play will greatly impact how the season goes. Last season, forwards Michael Jacobson, Jack McVeigh and Ed Morrow, all sophomores now, saw significant action, as did Glynn Watson Jr., who led the group in scoring (8.6 points per game) and assists (2.4 per game).
Jacobson and Morrow should provide a boost in the frontcourt. Both played a lot down low a season ago, and Jacobson has added 27 pounds of muscle since coming to campus. Last season, Jacobson mostly played at the 5, despite his primary position being at the 4. In his new role, he averaged 4.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. Morrow occasionally spelled Jacobson at the 5, and despite being hobbled by injuries, Morrow still averaged 4.1 points and 3.3 rebounds. Miles said both Jacobson and Morrow are much improved coming into their sophomore campaigns.
“They shave twice a week as opposed to never,” Miles joked in reference to the sophomore group. On a serious note, Miles added, “At the same time, when I look at them, they’re bigger, stronger, more confident.”
Besides the sophomores, senior guard Tai Webster will play a big role on the 2016-17 team. Webster is the only senior on the team and the top returning scorer (10.1 points per game). Webster is also the only returner who averaged more than 25 minutes.
“He took a very big leap last year; I think he’ll take another leap this year,” Miles said earlier this month.
Webster and Watson are expected to handle most of the reps at the point guard spot. But Miles said earlier in the season that the team is adding junior college transfer Evan Taylor. Taylor played last season at Odessa College in Texas, where he averaged 7.1 points and 2.5 assists, helping Odessa win conference and regional championships.
Taylor is one of two transfers eligible for Nebraska. The other is Anton Gill, a former top-50 recruit who played sparingly at Louisville before coming to Nebraska. Gill was the 2015-16 Nebraska basketball power lifter of the year.
There are other newcomers who are expected to make an impact. After a stellar season from last season’s freshmen, NU brings in another highly touted class led by 6-foot-11 center Jordy Tshimanga, whom Miles expects to play right away. The other two freshmen are a pair of wings who were both stat-sheet stuffers in high school. Illinois native Isaiah Roby was first-team All-State, averaging 19.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.9 blocks. Roby has put on 10 pounds of muscle since arriving on campus in the summer, but his debut will be delayed because of a hip injury. The other wing is 6-foot-7 Jeriah Horne, who led his high school to the state championship game (a game in which he scored 39 points) and averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as a senior.
This season, Nebraska is playing what Miles is calling an ambitious schedule. NU plays non-conference games against Dayton, Creighton, Clemson and Kansas.
sports@dailynebraskan.com
Brett Nierengarten Nov 1, 2016 0
Last season, the Nebraska basketball team finished 16-18, losing its last five games of the regular season.
In a preseason press conference, head coach Tim Miles said he was excited for the team, but this young group has a lot of work to do.
“I like this team; I think we’ll be fun,” he said.
Nebraska lost its top two scorers from a year ago, Shavon Shields (graduation) and Andrew White III (transfer). Former captain Benny Parker also graduated. That leaves a ton of questions and not a lot of answers until the team plays its first real game Nov. 13 against Sacramento State.
What we do know about this year’s Nebraska squad is that how the sophomores play will greatly impact how the season goes. Last season, forwards Michael Jacobson, Jack McVeigh and Ed Morrow, all sophomores now, saw significant action, as did Glynn Watson Jr., who led the group in scoring (8.6 points per game) and assists (2.4 per game).
Jacobson and Morrow should provide a boost in the frontcourt. Both played a lot down low a season ago, and Jacobson has added 27 pounds of muscle since coming to campus. Last season, Jacobson mostly played at the 5, despite his primary position being at the 4. In his new role, he averaged 4.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. Morrow occasionally spelled Jacobson at the 5, and despite being hobbled by injuries, Morrow still averaged 4.1 points and 3.3 rebounds. Miles said both Jacobson and Morrow are much improved coming into their sophomore campaigns.
“They shave twice a week as opposed to never,” Miles joked in reference to the sophomore group. On a serious note, Miles added, “At the same time, when I look at them, they’re bigger, stronger, more confident.”
Besides the sophomores, senior guard Tai Webster will play a big role on the 2016-17 team. Webster is the only senior on the team and the top returning scorer (10.1 points per game). Webster is also the only returner who averaged more than 25 minutes.
“He took a very big leap last year; I think he’ll take another leap this year,” Miles said earlier this month.
Webster and Watson are expected to handle most of the reps at the point guard spot. But Miles said earlier in the season that the team is adding junior college transfer Evan Taylor. Taylor played last season at Odessa College in Texas, where he averaged 7.1 points and 2.5 assists, helping Odessa win conference and regional championships.
Taylor is one of two transfers eligible for Nebraska. The other is Anton Gill, a former top-50 recruit who played sparingly at Louisville before coming to Nebraska. Gill was the 2015-16 Nebraska basketball power lifter of the year.
There are other newcomers who are expected to make an impact. After a stellar season from last season’s freshmen, NU brings in another highly touted class led by 6-foot-11 center Jordy Tshimanga, whom Miles expects to play right away. The other two freshmen are a pair of wings who were both stat-sheet stuffers in high school. Illinois native Isaiah Roby was first-team All-State, averaging 19.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.9 blocks. Roby has put on 10 pounds of muscle since arriving on campus in the summer, but his debut will be delayed because of a hip injury. The other wing is 6-foot-7 Jeriah Horne, who led his high school to the state championship game (a game in which he scored 39 points) and averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as a senior.
This season, Nebraska is playing what Miles is calling an ambitious schedule. NU plays non-conference games against Dayton, Creighton, Clemson and Kansas.
sports@dailynebraskan.com
