wilkinson

[Benard]

finally he looked like he might amount to something and then he breaks his ankle in scimmage. Hopefully he bounces back. Out around a month supposedly.

[DaveH]

Who the hell are you talking about?

[Benard]

Wes Wilkinson? Have you heard of him? He is from Grand Island Nebraska and plays men's basketball. He was a big time recruit and hasn't really panned out well yet. He played very well over in Australia and played well in the scrimmage. Wake up, it's time for people to follow barry ball! He's taking the program in a great direction.

[DaveH]

Wes Wilkinson? Have you heard of him? He is from Grand Island Nebraska and plays men's basketball.  He was a big time recruit and hasn't really panned out well yet.  He played very well over in Australia and played well in the scrimmage.  Wake up, it's time for people to follow barry ball!  He's taking the program in a great direction.

Ah, I see who you are talking about now.

[Manute]

wow....don't know who wes wilkinson is?? it is a very unfortunate injury for him and the team. he has the potential, and i stess potential, to become a very sound player. as benard said, get on the barry bus! he's a good coach and taking nebrasketball on a ride!

[Benard]

Wes Wilkinson, Nebraska Mr. Basketball 2002 from Grand Island High, looked set to become the University of Nebraska's Mr. All-Improved 2004-05. 

 

 

 

In August, during the Huskers' six-game trip to Australia, the 6-foot-9 junior averaged 13.7 points and seven rebounds. On Saturday, when NU conducted a 15-minute, first-day-of-practice outdoor scrimmage at Ed Weir Stadium, he led the white team with seven points.

 

But after breaking a bone in his left foot later Saturday, Wilkinson's next challenge will be to become the Huskers' Mr. Comeback.

 

His injury is expected to put him out of action four weeks and leaves senior forward John Turek as Nebraska's lone proven interior player.

 

"It's not like this part is missing and therefore the system won't function again until you get exactly what he did done again," NU coach Barry Collier said Tuesday, "because a better player at any position becomes critically valuable."

 

Still, with forwards Andrew Drevo and Brian Conklin having used up their eligibility, Wilkinson, who averaged just 2.3 points while playing in 29 games last season, figures to have a larger role on Collier's fifth Nebraska team.

 

"It's probably a little too early to figure out (what our style is going to be)," Turek said. But Wilkinson, "can get in there and rebound for us. He's really long and he's pretty athletic. I think if he just gets a mindset to keep attacking the glass he can be a great rebounder for us.

 

"And each and every time I play against him, he's been getting better and better at the interior post defense. I think he's definitely one of those guys who can be interchangeable — inside, outside — (because) he's put in the work in the summer lifting weights and getting stronger and bigger."

 

Wilkinson will miss Nebraska's  two exhibitions, but still stands a good chance of being ready when the Huskers open the season on Nov. 23.

 

"What he is going to do is hopefully play stronger defensively, rebound and also be a better passer," Collier said, "and play to his strengths, which is shooting the ball from the perimeter and medium range."

 

 

 

After Turek and Wilkinson, the only returning forward on the roster is Shuan Stegall, who played sparingly as a freshman. Nebraska has added a highly-regarded post player in 6-11 freshman Aleks Maric, and signed 6-9 forward Jim Ledsome this summer.

 

The temporary loss of Wilkinson could be eased by the fact Collier's system allows for some flexibility in the positions. If needed, the Huskers could function with a lineup of four players suited for the perimeter. Or, one of those types also could slide over to a more traditional forward spot.

 

"We've got kind of four interchangeable parts and one post man," Collier said. "It's like a substitution wouldn't necessarily  be only one guy.

 

"You take one guy, he has specific things he can and can't do. You take him out of the mix, you don't take somebody else and say, ‘Oh, you've got to do those things now.' I mean, the minutes will be played, but if it's a 6-foot-3 guy that takes his place, then he needs to do what he does. If it's a 6-foot-9 guy, then he needs to do what he does."

 

Wilkinson's injury also came at a time when the Huskers aren't experimenting with combinations and substitution patterns.

 

"It's so early in the year," Collier said, "and we give these guys, all of them, a chance to try and learn everything, and then evaluate."

 

Turek, though, has seen enough of Wilkinson to wish for a speedy recovery.

 

"I think he's just going to have to step it up and play like a junior— like he plays every day in pickup, like he plays each and every day we see him practice," he said of Wilkinson's anticipated return. "He just really needs to carry his skills over to the games and (perform) like he knows he's capable."

 

wes