Nebraska vs. Maryland

[Noah121]

I will probably not be blogging on this until later in the first half because I will be at bowling league. (Ha) Someone else pick up the slack for me!

[ChipperF1]

Bowling League? Bowling League?
You'd pick Bowling over our first 2nd round NCAA game in a decade?

You'd better be Bowling with the Huskers womens bowling team tonight. That's the only acceptable excuse. ;)

[YCN]

From what I've seen elsewhere, the Maryland fans are mesmerized about their upcoming matchup with Stanford.

I like that, I really do... :)


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[ChipperF1]

Well, perhaps we can rearrange their travel plans. :)

[YCN]

Well, perhaps we can rearrange their travel plans. :)

But they'd have to walk back to their dorms... :) :) :)


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[ChipperF1]

I saw my lasses getting off the bus...The look in Kelsey Griffin's eye was priceless. She had the look of a leader.

Carpe Diem, My Lasses!!!! :)

[carolann]

Let's go Nebraska. You can do it!

[YCN]

Whatever else the Huskers do, guard Coleman like she's a heart transplant for your dear sister, and don't let Langhorne get near the left side of the rim.


:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[ChipperF1]

I'm sure Connie, Sunny and Tony caught that on the films, or at least I hope they did.

I think the biggest key will be Turner and Hester making life rough from Toliver. Kill the head and body dies. Toliver is the CPU, our defense has to be the EMP.

[ChipperF1]

This is exciting...Just like '98 -- We come in as heavy underdog to a team at the front of the grid.

I just want to see us compete with them hard for 40 minutes. If we can be in striking distance at the end, we can carry it home first.

This would be something. 8 Big 12 teams got in the draw. Nebraska was the one least likely to be playing for a shot at the Sweet 16. I didn't think we'd be playing a second game...and here we are.

I want these kids to win so bad its not funny. Two weeks ago, this team looked dead...and now here we are.

And to think 5 years ago, we were the worst team in the league. No, we didn't make the climb OSU made or Texas A&M made. We didn't go worst to first like Kansas State. Our climb was slower, much slower. It was a lot of baby steps..and steps back...

But that doesn't matter now...HERE WE ARE...

We have a puncher's chance....Why not now?! Why not us?!

[dem]

our defense has to be the EMP.

Is that the "nuclear" option on defense?

[YCN]

The ESPN scroller shows the 9:35 ET TX-CT game and the 9:41 OU-ND game.

Apparently they've postponed the NU-MD and GA-NC games until another day... ;)


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[ChipperF1]

dem, I'll take any weapons I can get for this game.

On paper we shouldn't be in the same zip code with Maryland. Our will has to exceed our skill tonight.

[YCN]

NU-MD just showed up. It is supposed to start at 9:52 ET.

Presumably the GA-NC game starts at 9:47.

[YCN]

This is exciting...Just like '98 -- We come in as heavy underdog to a team at the front of the grid.

I just want to see us compete with them hard for 40 minutes. If we can be in striking distance at the end, we can carry it home first.

This would be something. 8 Big 12 teams got in the draw. Nebraska was the one least likely to be playing for a shot at the Sweet 16. I didn't think we'd be playing a second game...and here we are.

I want these kids to win so bad its not funny. Two weeks ago, this team looked dead...and now here we are.

And to think 5 years ago, we were the worst team in the league. No, we didn't make the climb OSU made or Texas A&M made. We didn't go worst to first like Kansas State. Our climb was slower, much slower. It was a lot of baby steps..and steps back...

But that doesn't matter now...HERE WE ARE...

We have a puncher's chance....Why not now?! Why not us?!

Don't be fooled by the hype. There are no "killer elites" this year. Everyone is fair game.

[ChipperF1]

10-7....Vonnie Turner is going after Kristi Toliver like gangbusters...I like it.
Maryland's fired first, but Nebraska came to fight so far

[ChipperF1]

Yori bringing in massive substitutions...and Kaitlyn Burke just hit a big shot AFTER the shot clock expired and the ref COUNTED IT!!!!!!! OH MY!!!

Luck never hurts...Frese gets a technical..

Maryland up 19-15...we got a break baby!!!!!

[ChipperF1]

Griffin goes hard to hole for the bucket 21-17, Maryland

Harper on the bench and Nebraska's cashing in with tough rebounding..

The Huskers are in the mix. We just need to hit some more shots.

[Noah121]

**HONK**

Vonnie Turner just hit a three and the ball is dead with 3:47 in the half. It's 22-32. From what I've seen and heard so far, we've been pushing the ball too much and have had a lot of unforced turnovers. This is not the way to win!

Chipper, don't worry. The radio and TV were on the game at the lanes, and I was done by the first timeout. :p

[Noah121]

I like Kelsey's physicality. She took her 20th charge of the season and then went up and was fouled while shooting. But she missed her first FT... and made the second. It's 25-32.

[Noah121]

Five-point play for the Huskers!

[ChipperF1]

Maryland's getting to the line and they are hitting early on

Marissa Coleman adds two more...29-17, Maryland.

Kelsey Griffin has 2, Page has 3 :(

This season is looking over.

Another miss by Kuhlmann.. Ashleigh Newman for three....SWISH!

Maryland 32, Nebraska 17....11-0 run for Maryland.

Griffin sitting on the bench with 2 fouls :(

5:00 left first half...Griffin is back in...

Vonnie Turner swings inside for the lay up....32-19...Maryland chucks it out of bounds..

Perry block to Bober....Neals for three....miss as usual...

The Huskers rebound...

Vonnie Turner...BOOM!!! THREE-BALL!!!

Maryland 32, Nebraska 22....Turner has 6.

We hit a rough patch but applied a tourniquet. The "B" team fell back a little...Griffin's fought hard...but now Vonnie Turner's starting to get aggressive

[Noah121]

Timeout Terrapins! The Huskers are on a big run and it's 32-34. A big five-point play off of an and-one opportunity and we are playing with a spark!

GO BIG RED!

[swok34]

Wow........go Nebraska.

[ChipperF1]

NEBRASKA FIGHTS BACK 10-2 RUN!!!!!!

Vonnie Turner sparks a run with an nasty behind the back pass to Griffin!!!!!

Rebound Montgomery....Hester FOULED!!!!

WE CAN TIE IT UP!!!!!!!!! WAY TO FIGHT BACK!!!!

Hester misses the first one :( 34-32
Hester hits the second 34-33..

Turner engages Coleman :30 left

Coleman misses...the ball rolled out of bounds...HUSKERS BALL!!!!!!!!!!

[Noah121]

22.2 seconds left in the first half and the Huskers have the ball down one (33-34).

Taking time for a set play... and the shot is blocked. The desperation shot that the Terrapins took missed, so it's 33-34 at halftime. The Huskers have the momentum--carry it along!!

[ChipperF1]

Kuhlmann to Griffin....Griffin gets hacked on the shot...No call..

End of first half...Maryland 34, Nebraska 33

Ain't Nobody Sissified...WAY TO FIGHT BACK!!!!

[40ishHorn]

Way to hang Huskers, you can take 'em!!!

[ChipperF1]

19:29 left -- Griffin has her 3rd foul :(
Page is in.

Danielle, you've been the guts of this team for 4 years...We need you to bring it now!!!


Kelley forces a tieup inside....HUSKERS BALL...Maryland leads 36-33!!!

[Noah121]

We are having major rebounding trouble in the start of the half. The Terrapins have already snagged 3+ offensive rebounds but have gotten a two-pointer and one free-throw. We're going to have to watch out for the post. Our first two shots were blocked!

[Bball Girl]

Yeah...we're getting this game (for now).

I do like Maryland --- but come on Huskers! Tolliver has 3.

[YCN]

The Big 12 has been taking a battering in the last couple of days.

But the Sooners are standing up, and the Huskers are standing up too.

C'mon Nebraska, I KNOW YOU CAN WIN THIS GAME!


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[ChipperF1]

Danielle Page HUGE LAY UP!!!!

Page gets a rebound...here were go....Hester...airball on Coleman!!!!!

DANG! :( Maryland up 37-35...

Defend! Defend! Defend! Toliver from 17.... 39-35, Maryland

Toliver gets her third foul after being beaten by Turner!!!!!!!

Keep at 'em my lasses!!!

[40ishHorn]

Game is now on ESPNU

[Noah121]

**HONK**

Back and forth! Back and forth! The latest score was a Burke jumper that made it 42-43. Keep up the fight, Huskers. You've had it since that major rally at the end of the half. Don't push the ball and keep frustrating the Terps.

EDIT: I'm getting the game on ESPN2. This may just be in Nebraska, though.

[ChipperF1]

Langhorne inside 41-35....VONNIE TURNER TURN YOUR KEY, MA'AM!!!!

Maryland 41, Nebraska 38 after a nuke strike!!!

I love these girls..SHOW THE HEART, BABY!!!

Hester draws the foul on Newman!!!!!

Nebraska ball... The Nebraska Nuclear Rocket Forces are in the game now...

Cori Montgomery goes tactical!!!!! 41-40, WE ARE WITHIN ONE!!!

Coleman goes batman inside 43-40...

Nebraska ball 15:46...Turner to Burke....ANOTHER TACTICAL NUKE 43-42!!!!!

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH!

FOUL!!! PAGE NOW HAS 4!!!!

Okay Nikki Bober, It's your turn to be a hero!!!!

Keep at 'em my lasses...KEEP AT 'EM!

[Noah121]

OUCH! The Terps have hit two threes and a LONG two to go on an 8-0 run. It's 45-53 just as we tied the game.

It's time to fight back and make some stops. There's lots of time left.

[Bball Girl]

OWwwww....that's a dagger.

[ChipperF1]

Maryland 45, Nebraska 42....Bober and Montgomery have to hold the paint down

Dominique Kelley -- MISSILE WARNING!!!!!

Tied at 45-45

Maryland retaliates....48-45 Coleman launches

Dominique again...just rims out :(

Marissa Coleman gets hot again 50-45...

Montgomery goes inside...miss :(

Coleman again....MARYLAND LAUNCHES RETALIATORY STRIKE...53-45...

Time out -- Nebraska...dang!!!

Do we have any more missiles in the silos?

[ChipperF1]

Coach Yori has to risk the U.S.S. Kelsey Griffin and the U.S.S. Danielle Page now...

Give credit to Bober and Montgomery..Nobody for Nebraska has taken the night off. Everybody has given it a ride!

[Noah121]

**HONK**

The Huskers are heading for the silos but came up empty three times on one possession. I think we need to risk playing on the inside to get closer... but maybe not! It's 45-53 at the 12:00 timeout.

[ChipperF1]

Hester got tackled practically...she draws the foul on the rebound!

Turner misses another 3...Toliver rebound...

Our weak shooting is the liability now :(

We need another flurry of points to win now!

DOES ANYBODY HAVE A HEATHER EZELL WE CAN BORROW????

[Noah121]

The teams are trading baskets. It's 51-57 with 10 minutes to play. The Huskers need to keep up the fight... they have the attitude but the execution on offense isn't really there yet...

[Bball Girl]

we are getting this game now that UConn s final


Coleman! (sorry...I do love Coleman)

[Noah121]

**HONK**

Steals on the other end, but we are missing every shot we are taking, despite the offensive rebounds that the Huskers have snagged. We trail by 9 with 6:54 to play, and the problem is that we keep travelling on the perimeter. GET IT DONE, HUSKERS! YOU ARE STILL IN THE GAME.

[Noah121]

A three-point Maryland play is followed by a four-point play by the Big Red! Vonnie Turner made the successful stepback while being fouled, and made the ensuing free throw.

Two stops later and ... then Maryland hits a layup and it's 61-67. We're still in the game. A whistle... and Montgomery fouls before a three-point shot.

Fadeaway jumper by Toliver is a make and it's 61-69.

Not good... we're rushing and Maryland is getting some lucky shots.

BOMB BY VONNIE TURNER! It's 64-69. Come on, Huskers!

Poor position and a layup.

**HONK**
Griffin is fouled and it's 64-71 as we go to the timeout at 4 minutes.

[K Lamprecht]

No matter how the last 3 1/2 minutes turn out, I'm so proud of my team.

Especially my two favorite players, Mo and Von.

GBR!!

[ChipperF1]

65-61, Nebraska....Toliver answers 67-61!!!!

Everytime we score they answer!


Again, we show the will...But they have the skill...

Toliver with 17...69-61....4:45....

Nicole Neals missing, that's a surprise :rolleyes:

Nicole Neals with a Steal to....VONNIE TURNER LAUNCHING THE TREY!!!!!!!!!

NUCLEAR WEAPONRY BABY!!!!

69-64....Langhorne answers 71-64...

Griffin crushed by Newman underneath...3:23 left

We are going to lose it looks like, but we came to fight...Gotta respect that!!!!

My lasses fought one of the big-time teams all the way.

[ChipperF1]

Vonnie Turner...23 points???? This is huge for her

71-64....

Hester missed...again...

[Noah121]

Our chances are looking slim at this point. We've missed a lot of shots in the last couple of minutes, and although defense has been there, we need offense!

It's 64-73 with 1:29 left. Huskers are shooting free throws.

[ChipperF1]

Sorry Coats and Griesch...It's over baby...73-64...

Superior firepower always wins out :(

FOUL -- Danielle Page is in...Montgomery is out..

Turner brings out down the Turner misses the lay up...

Rebound Toliver....Hester picks off the lob!!!!!!

[Noah121]

Argh... we've been stuck at 64 points forever. We've missed free throws, shot air balls, and etc.

[Bball Girl]

Matt never gives up :)

[ChipperF1]

Okay Matt and Jeff...Nice try...but this game is over, fellas..

We aren't making up 9 points in a 1:39....

Griffin rebound 1:06 to go...Griffin lost the ball..Danielle Page fouls out....Nebraska career over :(

[Bball Girl]

Dani Page has been a pleasure to have in the Big 12!!!

The Huskers have done themselves proud tonite...an awesome game.

Matt - you do a fabulous job as always!

[Noah121]

The final score was 64-76 :( . Was it closer than, about equal to, or more lopsided than the score indicated?

Other than completely fizzling on offense in the final 4 minutes, I think the Huskers left it all on the court. I'll give a report card later, but I am exhausted tonight.

[ChipperF1]

Maryland 76, Nebraska 64

21-12...The season is over...Danielle Page, adieu :(

Among the Samurai of feudal Japan, there is a code. Part of that code states if a warrior must fall to a superior enemy, that warrior must DIE PROPERLY. Tonight, my lasses died properly. They left it on the floor. They didn't quit when they were way behind. They played to win. That's all I can ask!!! I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:NU: Ain't Nobody Sissified.

[AngelSong20]

Nebraska represented the Big 12 like no one else tonight. A very impressive game by a team that played up to their potential as opposed to some of the others we've seen fall and fade.

[TTU79]

Nebraska played a whale of a game tonight. They had that never say never attitude and left it all on the floor. You made us proud young ladies!!

[Bball Girl]

Vonnie Turner is quite a gutsy player - I really love her game.

[ChipperF1]

Danielle Page 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks...and she fought for it tonight..
Thanks Danielle. You brought us up to the highest ground!!!!!!

OVERALL OUTLOOK: We lost to a better team with better talent. Coleman and Toliver had 19. Langhorne had 18.
But we were nobody's chumps. We came to fight. Yvonne Turner was M-O-N-E-Y...23 points, bulldog defensive effort...in fact

Chipper SoyBioDiesel Player of the Game: Yvonne Turner

Vonnie kept us in this and really took the lead tonight. Kelsey Griffin was in foul trouble, so Vonnie Turner took charge, after a tough start.

But it just wasn't Vonnie. Tay Hester, despite marginal skill, played her heart out. Nicole Neals was chipping in a lot. So was Kala Kuhlmann and Kaitlyn Burke. Cory Montgomery competed tonight at both ends. Nikki Bober was tough. Dominique Kelley stood in against one best backcourts in America as a true frosh and made plays.

I'm proud of the effort my team showed. It is disappointing because we lost, but it good to see that we went into this tournament and we responded to the moment.

Now we head to offseason and no question we have a lot of work to do to win games like this. We are not a highly skilled team. We are not a highly athletic one. We have a lot of areas to improve on. But, tonight should give this entire team a lot of confidence. Tonight should show these kids that when they have the focus in line, we can do this and if we improve we can win games like this.

Congrats players and coaches. You should very proud of the effort in this NCAA tournament. This fan is very proud of you all. :)

[catladyok]

Hey, Huskers -

I'm proud of you, too! Wish I could have seen the game. You guys must have really kicked some serious butt tonight.

Congratulations!

[wildcatfan]

Great game by the Huskers!

:NU:

[BeBe]

Congrats Huskers... you played this game tonight with heart and guts. I'm sure Maryland never expected to be pushed as hard and as long as you pushed them tonight.

[DblT81]

I became a big Danielle Page fan her freshman year when she went to post game presser and answered questions like a seasoned pro. Time flies. Best wishes to you Danielle wherever your future takes you.

What a game by Nebraska! They were truly leaving everything they had out on the floor. It was a joy to watch and a disappointing end. But they can fly home proud that they played well enough to win up till the end. Can't ask anything more than that.

[Row6Seat10]

Husker Nation can be very proud of what Coach Yori's women accomplished tonight I know I am! Taking the one seed on their home court down to the final minutes only to come up on the short end of the stick makes you extremely grateful to be a Husker fan. The effort, the intensity, the determination, was spectacular. I thought Coach Yori out coached Frese tonight big time we just missed too many shots that should of went down. I sure hope there were a lot of recruits watching this one as it was a good showcase. Maybe we can slip in Maryland's backdoor and steal a couple away!

Who would of thought last Halloween with one returning starter, a lone senior and a bunch of young ones from last season, that we would manage to get to a level we have never been before! Unbelievable! The future looks extremely bright for Husker women's basketball.

Sorry to see Danielle's last game end like this for her but I'm so thankful that I got to see her college career!

Go Big Red!

[Gator]

Only caught snippets of it but everything I saw said that Nebraska should be VERY VERY proud of this one!

[swok34]

I didn't catch snippet one, but just based on the score alone, I'd say Nebraska did the Big XII proud.

:NU:

[HuskerFan86]

Didn't get to see the second half, but it sounds like the Huskers played their hearts out. I knew they would!! I've also gotta say how proud this team has made me, overachieving in a lot of ways and never backing down from a fight all season. Danielle Page will go down as one of the hardest-working, most dedicated players to ever wear a Nebraska uniform and she should be very proud of everything she has accomplished..Look how far we've come during the last four years!!

Thanks for a great season Huskers! You've done us all proud!

I know its ridiculous to start looking to next season already, but I can't help but be excited about where this program is headed.

If Kelsey Griffin is healthy and has a good summer, I think she'll vie for All-American honors next season. If she can get some support inside from Montgomery, Bober, and hopefully Redmon, then the Huskers will be very tough.

Vonnie Turner pouring in 23 against Maryland will only accelerate the progress of one of the rising stars in the Big 12. I have a feeling that Dominique will make tremendous progress from year 1 to year 2, as she has improved by leaps and bounds every year since she was a freshman in high school.

If Hester can polish her skills, she has the size, athleticism, and strength to become the ever-elusive, serviceable wing player that Nebraska has been looking for. I also think Burke has laid a solid foundation for a very good career.

The pieces are there, and I think the backcourt partnership of Turner and Kelley has the potential to take us to the next level. These are exciting times in for WBB fans in Lincoln..

[ChipperF1]

Coatney SoyBiodiesel Team MVPs: Junior center Kelsey Griffin and Sophomore guard Vonnie Turner.

I picked them both because of the symbiotic relationship that both developed through conference play and the consistent play each brought to the table.
Vonnie Turner had to pressed into quarterback duty, a position her skillset isn't suited for, and she gave probably the best performance I've seen at the position for this team in a decade. Her offensive game improved contest-to-contest to the point where she could be highly competitive, and there was her defense, which earned all-conference recognition. The challenge for Turner now will be to expand that offensive game. Her ballhandling has to get better. Shooting has to get better. Court recognition has to get better. She has taken a bold step up a level this season and with an offseason of work could be an All-Conference players over the next two seasons.

Yvonne Turner's Grade: B+ You come a long way lady. Keep it up.

Kelsey Griffin had a rough year.This kid was hurt early in the year and it affected her performance and she played hurt. And there was one game that raised my eyebrow, Oklahoma.
A key game against the defending conference champs and Nebraska was competitive, yet the lasses the fell short.
The biggest difference. Oklahoma's All Big 12 performer played well. Nebraska's didn't.

Kelsey Griffin had a poor night, in part because half her mind was on the game. Half her mind was on her father who had just started cancer treatments just a few hours before the game. Saying she was AWOL in my post earlier was misstep on my part and its wrong.

But since that Oklahoma game..

at Iowa State 16 points, 7 rodmans sterling defensive effort..
Texas A&M 16 points, 10 boards gave Texas A&M an overload in the paint to help spring Dani Page's 25-point night.

Even has Nebraska struggled in February, Griffin was showing the grit in the keeping the team in some close games. She was the leading scorer in 5 contests, culminating with her 26-point explosion to help Nebraska win its first NCAA tourney game in 10 years.

This season saw Griffin show the skill she has. We know she has the heart and the guts. The last two games showed that next level that she can reach. An All-American level is within her grasp if she puts in the work to seize it.

Kelsey Griffin's Grade: A- A strong finish after a rough year. Nebraska's next All-American? Stay tuned!


Kelsey Griffin's Grade: A- A strong finish after a rough year. Nebraska's next All-American? stay tuned!

Senior center/forward Danielle Page

The guts of the team for four years. Danielle Page has overcome such much and finally we saw what she could do when she's 100%..at points.
The backside of the season brought her grades down. She had the heart, but the strong offense she showed earlier in the season suffered, even her defensive game at times was off kilter. One thing she stayed consistent at was blocking shots. She is one of the best in Husker history at the swat.
It wasn't the breakout senior year hoped for, but the Page we grew to love showed up in this NCAA tourney experience. It was a fitting way to exit the stage, just as she came in. She left as the guts of the team and an example of a more competitive program.

Danielle Page's grade: B- Too much of her game took a step back, but her intensity didn't. Thanks Danielle! You helped bring the pride back!

Sophomore forward Cori Montgomery
Cori suffered from a crisis of confidence in the latter half of Big 12 play. Her shooting was off and defensively her shortcomings were highlighted. She's not quick enough to cover more athletics 3s and 4s and it played somewhat soft. If she was hitting her shots, we could live with that, but she wasn't
In the NCAA tournament was competed to a higher degree than she did during the league slate, but for Mongomery to really step into the rotation next year, she needs to gain a killer instinct on defense and get her stroke back on offense

Cori Montgomery's Grade: C- You can't be soft in this league.

Junior guard Tay Hester

Tay put up her best game in two months against Xavier. Her tenacity on defense was key and I look forward to seeing her build on it for next season.
The fact is, Tay Hester need extensive work to break out of what she is right now. She has the athleticism, but now she need the fundamentals work and the basketball knowledge. There isn't a great deal more that can be done with the former, but the latter could be greatly enhanced.

Tay Hester's grade: C Servicable at times, but subpar for a frontline player at this level.

Freshman guard Dominique Kelley

Not a bad year at all, rook.
Kelley went through the typical freshman foibles. Yes, she need to work on her shoot. Her ballhandling need work. Defense could be better, but overall very solid with a huge upside.
I really liked how she was starting to gain some confidence in the final parts of the season and attacking the basket. She's off to a solid start. Memo to Coach Yori: Start getting this kid more involved in the game plan. She's earned that next year.

Dominique Kelley's Grade: B She grew a lot. She learned a lot. Can't wait to see her next year.

Freshman guard Kaitlyn Burke

She was brought in to be the point guard, but Vonnie Turner ended up having to take the gig.
Not surprising though. Fresh out of the high school, faster pace, better players opposing you, there will be teething pains. However, Burke showed something that really gives me pause. This kid lost confidence in a position where you need confidence. At times she was a poor man's Jina Johansen. Seemingly unable to function or shoot the ball. Defensively, this kid need boot camp work.
Burke was a freshman and it showed throughout a rough conference slate.
To put it in a actress' parlance, her performance was somewhat unconvincing, but that's normal for a newbie at this spot.

Kaitlyn Burke's grade: C Not quite ready for prime time.

Sophomore Guard Nicole Neals
Much like Burke, Neals is going through teething problems most newbies go through at point guard. The problem is, Neals will be a junior next season and she's still very much the same player.
The ballhandling still isn't there. The shooting isn't there. The defense isn't there to the degree that you want from a frontline point guard.
At this point Neals is a role player, who need to find the skills to play a role.

Nicole Neals' grade: D This kid will have to run for a place at the table next season.

Sophomore Guard Kala Kuhlmann
This kid was sold to be a small-town phenom. Well the small-town part we got. When does the phenom show up?
Kuhlmann has been at less than 100% all year, yet even when she's at 100% I'm still at a loss as to was exactly she brings to the table.
At the beginning it was to be a deadeye shooter who can drive in. What I saw in conference play was a player who couldn't create a shot, rarely makes a shot and is a severe liability on defense.
If Kuhlmann is to be a part of the rotation next season, it'll going to take a massive improvement.

Kala Kuhlmann's grade: D She would make a serviceable UNO Maverick or UNK Antelope.

Sophomore center Nikki Bober
If Catheryn Redmon or Jessica Periago realize the potential some say they have, Bober will be relegated to the end of the bench. But Bober isn't getting that memo.
Nikki has played limited engagements, but when she does play (and she appeared in 33 games this years and increasingly in important points in the games), she competes and chips something in to the cause. It could be a rebound a block or just getting in somebody's way.
Nikki will probably be closer to Kurt Rambis than Kareem for us...but that could be end up being quite valuble as we seek to move up the order.

Nikki Bober's grade: C She has a role, and she played it rather well.

Freshman center Catheryn Redmon/Freshman center Jessica Periago
Both receive Incompletes. It will be interesting to see them in the mix next season.

[ChipperF1]

Overall Outlook.
When Connie Yori took over as head coach, Nebraska womens basketball was a 20-loss joke. Her first season was a matter of survival not success.
The ledger over first seasons. 3 WNIT bids and the last two years in the NCAA tournament..not too shabby.
But consider two other teams in the same boat in 2003. Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.
Texas A&M and OSU are now among conference contenders and played in this seasons Big 12 tourney championship. Nebraska still has yet to play in a Big 12 semifinal.
One can look at the glass being half full, and compared to the past it is, but seeing how this league has accelerated the glass is looking half empty.
In terms of talent, Nebraska is undertalented, even among teams in the North division. In terms of game preparation, there's still a gap between us and the top teams.
This season Nebraska did win 21 games and won a game in the NCAA tournament, but on the downside we were maddingly inconsistent and at time unfocused, and that included the coaching staff as well. When the team wasn't locked into the effort in Feburary, that was mentioned after a number of rough outings, yet it seemed it didn't get better even through the Big 12 tournament.
To be fair, this team did right itself and pitched two excellent efforts in the NCAA tournament. But in terms of raw results this team hasn't moved in inch from last years effort and as the competitive Big 12 has shown to stand still means you can get left behind fast.

Overall Team Grade for 2007-2008: B- A solid finish. A solid start. A shaky middle and still a lot of questions over which direction this program will be headed. Will Nebraska womens basketball be a yearly contender, or a yearly second-tier effort. This NCAA experience has made a case for "contender", but a number of points during year made the case for "second-tier".

A fine tournament my lasses, but now the work continues. See ya next season! :)

[HuskerFan86]

In general, I agree with your assessment, Chipper.

Viewed in one context, this team vastly overachieved considering what was expected at the beginning of the season, what we lost, and the lack of experience (only Griffin and Page came in with 2 years of experience in the program). When we lost TK LaFleur in addition to Hardy, Spiric, and Aubry, I was starting to worry that we wouldn't have the experience to win against such a competitive schedule. The emergence of Turner, solid contributions from some of the sophs and frosh, and the leadership of Griffin and Page were enough to produce the best season NU has seen in over a decade, so I'm inclined to say that the glass is (at least) half full.

But viewed in another context, there are a few reasons that suggest that things aren't as great as they could be. When you look at how well the team played during the first part of the season (essentially the games before and including the Texas A&M game), this team could have/should have challenged Kansas State for the league title (and certainly should have made it out of the first round of the B12 tournament). I can understand the losses at Baylor and OU and even losing one close game to KSU, but it's disappointing to lose to KU (esp. in the tourney) and Tech and to get blown out at home by OSU.

It seemed like we peaked in January (again) and ended up being about as good as last year's team, even though it looked like this team would be a lot better. That puts a bit of a tarnish on the year, but overall I'm still really proud of what the Huskers accomplished.

The guard spots look promising for next year; Turner is a star in the making, Hester and Burke will improve, and I have a feeling Kelley may be the face of the program over the next 3 years. She's maybe not the greatest player in the world, but the girl has a ton of personality, works hard, and still has a lot of untapped potential as a 1 or 2 guard.

Unfortunately, at this point in their careers, several players are looking like costly recruiting mistakes for Coach Yori: Bober improved a ton, and she has the size to help us defend against physical teams, so she may not be too bad, but Kuhlmann and Neals don't look like they'll ever be more than spot players in the Big 12. Similarly, the verdict is still out on Redmon, Periago, and Whittaker, and Nebraska can't afford to have non-contributors. We're never gonna have 4 HS All-Americans like Maryland. We've gotta make up for the talent gap with a quantity of tough, fundamentally sound, and determined basketball players that the big time programs didn't want.

The foundation is there, but the challenge will be transitioning from an upstart, turn-around program into a perrenial challenger for the league title.

[Matt Coatney]

Now Kelsey Griffin sharing MVP honors? Why do I do that. This kid was hurt early in the year and it affected her performance and she played hurt. But there was one game that raised my eyebrow...Oklahoma.
A key game against the defending conference champs and Nebraska was competitive, yet the lasses the fell short.
The biggest difference. Oklahoma's All Big 12 performer showed up. Nebraska's didn't

Kelsey Griffin was AWOL. Much like she was in key points in critical games the season before (see also 2007 Big 12 quarterfinal, NCAA first round game).
But since that Oklahoma game..

at Iowa State 16 points, 7 rodmans sterling defensive effort..
Texas A&M 16 points, 10 boards gave Texas A&M an overload in the paint to help spring Dani Page's 25-point night.



You just don't get it, man. Have you not read my posts and now at least 10 newspaper articles in everything from the Lincoln and Omaha papers, to the USA Today and CSTV.com about how Griffin found out the day of the Oklahoma game that her dad was in Chicago at the cancer clinic? I mean, if you can't cut this kid a break on that day, when would you ever in your life cut anyone a break? I can't believe you.

Pam Ward of ESPN went out of her way to find Kelsey after the game last night to tell her she was the toughest player she's ever known.

Unbelieveable. You just don't get it.

[ChipperF1]

"Unbelieveable. You just don't get it."

Actually Mr. Coatney..I get it...Notice the changes above.
You are right about that. I was wrong about that.

However, I notice that you sort of missed the rest of what I said about our team's top gun, about how she was showing the grit down the stretch when it seemed the team was falling apart...and giving much credit for her part in a sterling tourney performance.

I read the stories in the papers too, I also read what she said her dad told her...Basically he said, "When you are on the floor, don't worry about me. Play hard...deal with what going on with me after you leave the floor."

I do get it. Kelsey Griffin since that OU game put the guns up and did the job..and I gave respect to that...but because I also say she had a poor game that night...I'm seen as the "bad guy".

Yes, I get it. I'll admit when I'm wrong, but I wasn't as wrong as you and few other paint me to be.

Peace out and enjoy the offseason. :)