2024/25 Outlook

[ECisGod]

I'm working on my thoughts on the players that could/should come back next year like the last two years.

 

Hopefully I've got something later this week.

[gobiggergoredder]

22 hours ago, ECisGod said:

I'm working on my thoughts on the players that could/should come back next year like the last two years.

 

Hopefully I've got something later this week.

Are you going to start a new thread when you have your thoughts or will it go in this one?

[ECisGod]

3 hours ago, gobiggergoredder said:

Are you going to start a new thread when you have your thoughts or will it go in this one?

They will go in this one.  I'm sure if you search there are threads for the last couple of years.  It's becoming easier as players enter the portal so I don't have to try to assess them.

[ECisGod]

Henry Burt - Third year walk on sophomore.  He's a crowd favorite, didn't play much. Not much to say about him.  He's essentially an undersized 4/5.  I don't see him playing much next year either.

 

Cale Jacobson - Third year walk on sophomore.  Played a little bit outside of "junk time".  Played a lot in their trip to Spain because the team was shorthanded.  Seems to be a pretty good shooter based on warmups.  Could see some playing time next year.  Could be a Hoiberg type & get some playing time with hustle & defense.

 

Matar Diop - Sophomore.  Really athletic, needs to gain strength & weight.  His shooting improved throughout the season based on warmups, but still needs to get better.  Could develop into a stretch 4/5 with time.  He seems willing to learn & put in the work to improve.  Clearly gained some strength during the season because early in the season he got pushed around by every post player on opposing teams but was able to hold his own against Dain Dainja from Illinois in the B1G tournament when Mast & Allick were in foul trouble.

 

Jeffrey Grace III - Fourth year walk on junior.  Not much to say about him.  Usually the last guy off the bench.  Shot looks pretty flat based on warmups.  Seems like he enjoys being on the team.

 

Sam Hoiberg - Fourth year walk on junior.  Probably would have earned a scholarship if his dad wasn't the coach & can afford to pay his tuition.  Great hustle & defense.  A lot more athletic than he looks.  Can make open shots but went through a slump for the last month of the season. If his shot gets more consistent, he will be very dangerous.  Will continue to come off the bench to provide energy.

 

Jamarques Lawrence - Junior.  Tried to convert to a point guard when Ulis was suspended.  I think with an entire offseason to work on his point guard skills, he will be much better next year.  Started the season as a starter but was much more successful when he moved to the bench.  Good shooter but had some issues early in the season when he was thinking too much about his point guard duties.  Once he went to the bench and relaxed, he was much better.  I think he has the ability to be a lock down defender if he's willing to give the effort on that end of the floor.  Will probably still come off the bench as a combo guard next year.

 

Juwan Gary - Fifth year senior.  Great defensively most of the time.  Can guard any position 1-5.  Shoot was much improved this year, but still needs to be more consistent.  Has the quickness to drive to the basket but needs to work on his handle to be more effective.  Great rebounder on both the offensive & defensive glass.  Will likely be the starting 4 next year even though he's a little undersized at 6' 6".  If he improves his shot consistency & handle, he could move the 3.

 

Renck Mast - Fifth year senior.  Really good passer for his size.  Stretch 4/5.  Probably best suited to the 4, but in Hoiberg's positionless system he will probably end up at the 5 unless they bring in a true 5 through the portal.  Good shooter for his size.  Not quite as slow as he appears, but definitely needs to work on his quickness.  Some of his quickness issues could be because of the minor knee surgery he had around Christmas.  Hopefully taking some time off will allow it to fully heal.  Decent rebounder but could be better - though sometimes boxed out bigger players to let other Huskers actually get the rebound.  Should be the starting 4/5 next season.

 

Ahron Ulis - Fifth year senior.  Transfer from Iowa.  He's the true point guard the team needs.  Hopefully he's eligible at the beginning of the season in November after being suspended all season for gambling on at least one Iowa football game while there.  Wasn't a great shooter at Iowa, but after a year working with Hoiberg, that should be improved.  Good defender.  Should be the starting point guard next year.

 

C J Wilcher - Fifth year senior.  Graduated in December & went through Senior Night ceremony.  Good shooter but streaky.  Was wight hot for most of January and early February, but ice cold for most of the rest of the season.  Needs to become more consistent.  Quicker that he looks.  Decent defender.  Not a bad ball handler but definitely could be better.  With his size & strength it would be nice to see him work on his post-up game so he can take smaller guards inside.  Will likely be a starting wing next year or the first guy off the bench.

 

Brice Williams - Fifth year senior.  Transfer from Charlotte.  Was a pleasant surprise this year.  Really good shooter.  Played point guard because of Ulis' suspension & Lawrence's struggles.  Good enough defender that you never really notice him on that end.  Occasionally got into foul trouble.  Great rebounder considering the positions he plays.  Calming influence on the floor.  Should be a starting wing next year with Ulis' suspension ending & Lawrence getting the entire off season to learn/improve at the point.

[BigRedBuster]

21 minutes ago, ECisGod said:

Henry Burt - Third year walk on sophomore.  He's a crowd favorite, didn't play much. Not much to say about him.  He's essentially an undersized 4/5.  I don't see him playing much next year either.

 

Cale Jacobson - Third year walk on sophomore.  Played a little bit outside of "junk time".  Played a lot in their trip to Spain because the team was shorthanded.  Seems to be a pretty good shooter based on warmups.  Could see some playing time next year.  Could be a Hoiberg type & get some playing time with hustle & defense.

 

Matar Diop - Sophomore.  Really athletic, needs to gain strength & weight.  His shooting improved throughout the season based on warmups, but still needs to get better.  Could develop into a stretch 4/5 with time.  He seems willing to learn & put in the work to improve.  Clearly gained some strength during the season because early in the season he got pushed around by every post player on opposing teams but was able to hold his own against Dain Dainja from Illinois in the B1G tournament when Mast & Allick were in foul trouble.

 

Jeffrey Grace III - Fourth year walk on junior.  Not much to say about him.  Usually the last guy off the bench.  Shot looks pretty flat based on warmups.  Seems like he enjoys being on the team.

 

Sam Hoiberg - Fourth year walk on junior.  Probably would have earned a scholarship if his dad wasn't the coach & can afford to pay his tuition.  Great hustle & defense.  A lot more athletic than he looks.  Can make open shots but went through a slump for the last month of the season. If his shot gets more consistent, he will be very dangerous.  Will continue to come off the bench to provide energy.

 

Jamarques Lawrence - Junior.  Tried to convert to a point guard when Ulis was suspended.  I think with an entire offseason to work on his point guard skills, he will be much better next year.  Started the season as a starter but was much more successful when he moved to the bench.  Good shooter but had some issues early in the season when he was thinking too much about his point guard duties.  Once he went to the bench and relaxed, he was much better.  I think he has the ability to be a lock down defender if he's willing to give the effort on that end of the floor.  Will probably still come off the bench as a combo guard next year.

 

Juwan Gary - Fifth year senior.  Great defensively most of the time.  Can guard any position 1-5.  Shoot was much improved this year, but still needs to be more consistent.  Has the quickness to drive to the basket but needs to work on his handle to be more effective.  Great rebounder on both the offensive & defensive glass.  Will likely be the starting 4 next year even though he's a little undersized at 6' 6".  If he improves his shot consistency & handle, he could move the 3.

 

Renck Mast - Fifth year senior.  Really good passer for his size.  Stretch 4/5.  Probably best suited to the 4, but in Hoiberg's positionless system he will probably end up at the 5 unless they bring in a true 5 through the portal.  Good shooter for his size.  Not quite as slow as he appears, but definitely needs to work on his quickness.  Some of his quickness issues could be because of the minor knee surgery he had around Christmas.  Hopefully taking some time off will allow it to fully heal.  Decent rebounder but could be better - though sometimes boxed out bigger players to let other Huskers actually get the rebound.  Should be the starting 4/5 next season.

 

Ahron Ulis - Fifth year senior.  Transfer from Iowa.  He's the true point guard the team needs.  Hopefully he's eligible at the beginning of the season in November after being suspended all season for gambling on at least one Iowa football game while there.  Wasn't a great shooter at Iowa, but after a year working with Hoiberg, that should be improved.  Good defender.  Should be the starting point guard next year.

 

C J Wilcher - Fifth year senior.  Graduated in December & went through Senior Night ceremony.  Good shooter but streaky.  Was wight hot for most of January and early February, but ice cold for most of the rest of the season.  Needs to become more consistent.  Quicker that he looks.  Decent defender.  Not a bad ball handler but definitely could be better.  With his size & strength it would be nice to see him work on his post-up game so he can take smaller guards inside.  Will likely be a starting wing next year or the first guy off the bench.

 

Brice Williams - Fifth year senior.  Transfer from Charlotte.  Was a pleasant surprise this year.  Really good shooter.  Played point guard because of Ulis' suspension & Lawrence's struggles.  Good enough defender that you never really notice him on that end.  Occasionally got into foul trouble.  Great rebounder considering the positions he plays.  Calming influence on the floor.  Should be a starting wing next year with Ulis' suspension ending & Lawrence getting the entire off season to learn/improve at the point.

 

Well, I've heard a lot of talk about how the big thing right now in college basketball is "getting old".  Many have claimed that Kentucky's problem is that they have lived off of the "one and done" guys way too long and now college basketball has changed.  18 year olds have a problem competing with 22-23-24 year olds that have been in the game more years.

 

So...here we are, if these guys are all on the roster next year, we are an old team.

[TonyStalloni]

The early exit from the NCAA tourney will allow the coaches to identify portal players and decide who best fits the identity of the team Fred wants.

[brontosaurus]

Wilcher is gone. I'm guessing he was going to get lost in the shuffle with both Ulis and Williams on the roster. 

[BigRedBuster]

6 hours ago, brontosaurus said:

Wilcher is gone. I'm guessing he was going to get lost in the shuffle with both Ulis and Williams on the roster. 

Yep. Again, no need to get serious about analyzing the roster till about October. 

[Mavric]

 

[BigRedBuster]

Hey...we are already a 5 seed.

 

[SouthLincoln Husker]

15 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

Hey...we are already a 5 seed.

 

With all the portal activity, this appears really hard to predict.  We only have 8 scholarship players!

[BigRedBuster]

16 minutes ago, SouthLincoln Husker said:

With all the portal activity, this appears really hard to predict.  We only have 8 scholarship players!

Yeah...I was chuckling at the fact we don't even know who is on our team yet.

[Mavric]

 

[whateveritis1224]

What's the starting lineup look like right now?

 

Rollie

Brice

Juwan

Rienk

Andrew

 

6th Man Griffin

 

Or do you have a smaller lineup with Gary as the 4 and have Griffin as the 2/3 along with Brice? Guess it depends on if Hoiberg can pull Kyle and/or the Charlotte big man. Gets one or both? We're probably set with the 3 man rotation with Brice, Juwan, and Griffin at the 2/3 spots and then a 4 man rotation with Rienk, Kyle, Andrew, and Charlotte Big Man at the 4/5. Rollie and Uhlis rotating at the 1.

[ECisGod]

ESPN has the Huskers as a 7 seed in Denver vs South Carolina.  Nine B1G teams in their very early projection.

 

NCAA Bracketology: 2025 March Madness men's field predictions (espn.com)