flatwaterfan
Starter
Good write up! I especially like the point about staying out of foul trouble. That will be key for our bigs.A few things at the front of my mind looking forward to the game Thursday. Not expecting a win, but a heck of a lot more optimistic than I was preseason.
-Slow the pace. Nebraska will not beat CU in a shootout, if Nebraska can keep CU in the low 70s the game could get interesting.
-Foul trouble. Nebraska hasn't faced a front court like this yet. What Nebraska is going to have to try and pull off is taking advantage of match ups. Almeida needs to be on the court when CU subs in their string bean back up center Artino.
-Who guards McDermott? Ubel will most likely get charged with the task most of the game. The one game McDermott has struggled this season was against UAB. They were able to get him in foul trouble and ran a lot of different guys at him and were really physical pushing him off the block. I think Tally is strong enough to guard him a bit and Rivers will no doubt get matched up a few times. Guys will need to step up.
-Make Wragge put the ball on the floor. The guy is straight money from beyond the arc. Someone, anyone will need to close on him fast when the ball heads his way.
-Pressure Chatman. He is a quick guy that can hit an open jumper, but has struggled with control from time to time and has gotten benched during key times of some games.
-Sag, then pressure, Gibbs. He doesn't shoot jumpers so there is no need to over pursue when the ball swings to him. Sag when his dribble is alive and pressure him when he picks it up to disrupt his passing lanes.
-Exploit CU's permitter defense. They have a history of letting scoring guards have huge games against them, two guards have had 30+ point games against them already this season. Gallegos is the type of player that can give them trouble.
-Be loud. This is CU's first true road game of the season. Nebraska fans need to be loud and show our guys support.
-And lastly play loose. Nebraska has no pressure to win this game and no one would worry if they lose. Go out there play hard and play confident and they have a shot to pull off the upset.
I think they will play Ubel against McDermit to start and then when we rest one of the bigs it will be Rivers or perhaps even Talley.