ChipperF1
12-31-2001, 11:31 AM
The non-conference season is over for Nebraska. The team met expectations. They won the games they were supposed to win, the lost the games they were supposed to lose.
10-and-3 isn't a shabby record, but this fan is disappointed. The Huskers continued to fail to play above their station.
At times this team has showed its promise, at times they showed more of last years' failure. They've had player emerge and those same players have had bad games.
The goal for Nebraska this year was a 20-win season. 10 more games against Cal State Fullerton, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Creighton and Southern Illinois could do it. But the Jabroni tour is over. Welcome to the Big 12.
The first assignment is with a young team with a ton of talent, and a coach who seems to have her head back in the game.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS VS. TEXAS LONGHORNS
Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 6:05 p.m/Bob Devaney Sports Center-Lincoln
TEXAS: Jody Conradt's Day Care Center
The first thing that jumps out about Texas is their youth, in stark contrast to their Hall of Fame head coach.
Jody Conradt is Old School, a 26-year coaching legend. This year's team is Hip-Hop.
The Coach? She's Captain Kangaroo and Helen Reddy. This Team? Blues Clues and Beyonce.
But the youth movement of 8 freshman and sophomores is working for Texas. They are 8-2 going into this game, and their victims include LSU, USC, Wisconsin and New Mexico, all poll-caliber teams. The two lone losses are by a total of 4 points.
The strength of this team is at the forward spot. Sophomore Stacy Stephens continues to pile up double-doubles. She's averaging 12.7 points per game and 8.6 rebounds. The Wisconsin game in the Virgin Island was a serious breakout, 17 points and 13 rodmans. Stephens in many ways is this team's guts. Can take the punishment inside and can deal effectively with physical play. Sometimes she will draw the start at Center.
Freshman Heather Schreiber is the team's leading scorer (13.5 ppg). She also settling into a nice hybrid role. She gets six rebounds a game, while also leading the team in steals (17),and three point percentage (45.5% on 3.3 attempts per game). A career-high 25 versus Ohio in a very stylish and silky game for her I may add. Schreiber will be a difficult variable for Nebraska to handle. The only caveat, she averages about 3 turnovers a game. And key misplays by her in both Texas losses shaped the game in the other teams favor.
Then we come to the greybeard of this starting trinity of forwards. 6-2 center Tracy Hill, who seems to be everywhere on the floor. Defensively, 15 blocks and 15 steals while quarterbacking the frontcourt on that end of the floor. Offensively, she good for 12 points a game. Watching her in the Penn State game was a joy. 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks. Her play nearly turned the game toward Texas.
On the bench, a number of players who would start on the opposing team. Freshman Kala Bowers is averaging 8 points and 3 boards a game as a backup. An improved Annissa Hastings is third on the team in blocked shots.
Backcourtwise, Texas has a group with experience. They don't grab the headlines the way the interior players do (they could if coach Conradt would be a little less conservative). Senior Kenya Larkin is the quarterback of this outfit. She's a workmanlike pass first, score second traditional point guard. She has 53 assists vs. 29 turnovers.
Elsewhere, the guard combinations have been in flux among a group of players. Junior Alisha Sare (rhymes with "Air") has returned with a nice start with 8 points per game at 42% from th e three-point line. Junior Tai Dillard has made 3 starts this year andcould get some extended looks as the season progresses.
Sophomore Kaira White has potential but is turnover prone. Senior Asha Hill is a heady insurance policy.
NEBRASKA: How good are they, really?
On the other side, Nebraska returns home to start the Big 12 season in a hole. Reserve guard Shah Roberts injured her knee against Cal State-Fullerton and will be out for three weeks. It is still unclear when Keasha Cannon will return to the team. Cannon has been at her family's home in Kansas City since December 17th, her mom passed away on the 19th.
On the upside Griechaly Cepero returns to the team after her end of Volleyball season break. And she'll most likely see some action against Texas, and may need to see more action than she may be ready for.
CHIPPER'S NON-CONFERENCE PLAY AWARDS.
Team MVP: Keasha Cannon
Keasha has been Ms. Do-It-All. She leads the team in scoring (12.1 ppg), leads the team in rebounding (8.4 rpg), leads in assists and steals.
Unlike other recent transfers and JUCO into program, Cannon brought the GOODS!!!!
On the downside. Her assists-turnover ratio is nearly 1 to 1. That's gets you beat, and Cannon is prone to the poor decision. But with all the other things she does, it makes up for it.
By far she's the best gun Nebraska has, and far too often has been the only gun.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Shannon Howell.
The sophomore has really stepped up her play this season. The potential was always there, this year she found disicipline and maturity to go with a very athletic game. She coming up with 9 points per game and 41 assists. She's performed well in Cannon absence at the quarterback spot, but she's better at the 2-guard position. Last season, Shannon Howell sucked. This season, she's made a turnaround.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Margaret Richards and Shah Roberts.
Last season, I bashed this two kids without mercy. And they earned it.
This season, I'm eating crow about these two!
Both have improved every game, now you can put them in games and know they'll do well. Richards has been leading scorer in 3 games this year. Roberts has picked it up in every statistical category. These two haven't played this well since the first four games of last season.
KEEP IT UP!
THE ROBINETTE ROBERT: Not bad
But, I expected a little more. Maybe I'm being a little myopic, and that is the trademark of the Nebraska fan, but Robinette has directly factored in only one game this season, the comeback win over Creighton. Since then, she has played well, but deferrential. Her numbers are solid (10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpgs per game 15 blocks, 17 steals). But, I was distressed by how she seemed to shy away in the meatier games. I was particularly displeased by her gooseegg against Cincinnati, that is not play becoming of a difference-maker.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Katie Morse
Some said that Katie Morse would be the next Karen Jennings.
So far, she's the next Casey Leonhardt, and Morse isn't nearly as good.
In fact, she's no longer starting, and as averaged about 9 minutes per game in the last 6 games.
A close second: K.C. Cowgill.
Her stats are solid (42% from three point range), but against Cincinnati and Drake, she shot around 18%. Cowgill is the team's prime three point weapon. You need her hitting in the RPI games, so far she been similar to Robinette..Good, but not good when its Dead President's time.
HOW NEBRASKA CAN WIN THIS GAME (*assuming Keasha Cannon isn't in the lineup*)
1. Keep Larkin and Dillard working. Texas's guards aren't the prime scoring threats, but we have to make it difficult for them to get the ball inside to their forwards. Force UT to set screens. Trap them a lot. If Katie Robinette has to chase around to check Schriber and Stephens all day, Texas will stampede the lasses.
Texas is turnover prone, let scoop up some goodies.
2. Penetrate early. Take some runs into those Longhorn forwards. Work some 2-man game, especially with Robinette, Alexa Johnson and Greich Cepero. All three can put the ball on the floor and work with it. Lets make those tall Longhorns guard somebody and maybe put some fouls on them.
3. Outside Shots. The three can help us out. Straight up, Nebraska won't outrebound Texas, but we can help ourselves if Big Red extends the Horns. If Cowgill, Howell and Richard hit some big shots..IT'S ALL GOOD!
IF KEASHA CANNON RETURNS.
She'll do her best, but EVERYBODY has to kick in a little more. The one thing about Nebraska this season that has bothered me is too many players are sitting around watching the Keasha Cannon show. When a point guard leads the team in rebounds, SOMETHING'S WRONG!
If Keasha comes back for this game or any game, to expect her mind to be all about basketball from the first game is callous and wrong. Not saying she couldn't play well, but this youngster's gone through hell and whole team has to start stepping up.
Outlook: Talentwise, Nebraska is a 6-point underdog. We don't have the talent Texas has, we aren't a good a team as Texas is.
There is nothing in Nebraska resume that tells me we are better than Texas.
But they is one thing Texas doesn't have.
3,000 fans in the house on their side.
The 6 point differential has to be made up by the sixth man. Think of it as practice for the Rose Bowl the next day.
Last year this team was worthy of boos. This year team is worthy of cheers. Give it to them.
The biggest measure to look for is, when Nebraska gets down, will they get up? If they do, even in a close loss, it bodes well for the season.
I will defy logic....Nebraska 62, Texas 60.
ChipperF1 http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif
10-and-3 isn't a shabby record, but this fan is disappointed. The Huskers continued to fail to play above their station.
At times this team has showed its promise, at times they showed more of last years' failure. They've had player emerge and those same players have had bad games.
The goal for Nebraska this year was a 20-win season. 10 more games against Cal State Fullerton, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Creighton and Southern Illinois could do it. But the Jabroni tour is over. Welcome to the Big 12.
The first assignment is with a young team with a ton of talent, and a coach who seems to have her head back in the game.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS VS. TEXAS LONGHORNS
Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 6:05 p.m/Bob Devaney Sports Center-Lincoln
TEXAS: Jody Conradt's Day Care Center
The first thing that jumps out about Texas is their youth, in stark contrast to their Hall of Fame head coach.
Jody Conradt is Old School, a 26-year coaching legend. This year's team is Hip-Hop.
The Coach? She's Captain Kangaroo and Helen Reddy. This Team? Blues Clues and Beyonce.
But the youth movement of 8 freshman and sophomores is working for Texas. They are 8-2 going into this game, and their victims include LSU, USC, Wisconsin and New Mexico, all poll-caliber teams. The two lone losses are by a total of 4 points.
The strength of this team is at the forward spot. Sophomore Stacy Stephens continues to pile up double-doubles. She's averaging 12.7 points per game and 8.6 rebounds. The Wisconsin game in the Virgin Island was a serious breakout, 17 points and 13 rodmans. Stephens in many ways is this team's guts. Can take the punishment inside and can deal effectively with physical play. Sometimes she will draw the start at Center.
Freshman Heather Schreiber is the team's leading scorer (13.5 ppg). She also settling into a nice hybrid role. She gets six rebounds a game, while also leading the team in steals (17),and three point percentage (45.5% on 3.3 attempts per game). A career-high 25 versus Ohio in a very stylish and silky game for her I may add. Schreiber will be a difficult variable for Nebraska to handle. The only caveat, she averages about 3 turnovers a game. And key misplays by her in both Texas losses shaped the game in the other teams favor.
Then we come to the greybeard of this starting trinity of forwards. 6-2 center Tracy Hill, who seems to be everywhere on the floor. Defensively, 15 blocks and 15 steals while quarterbacking the frontcourt on that end of the floor. Offensively, she good for 12 points a game. Watching her in the Penn State game was a joy. 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks. Her play nearly turned the game toward Texas.
On the bench, a number of players who would start on the opposing team. Freshman Kala Bowers is averaging 8 points and 3 boards a game as a backup. An improved Annissa Hastings is third on the team in blocked shots.
Backcourtwise, Texas has a group with experience. They don't grab the headlines the way the interior players do (they could if coach Conradt would be a little less conservative). Senior Kenya Larkin is the quarterback of this outfit. She's a workmanlike pass first, score second traditional point guard. She has 53 assists vs. 29 turnovers.
Elsewhere, the guard combinations have been in flux among a group of players. Junior Alisha Sare (rhymes with "Air") has returned with a nice start with 8 points per game at 42% from th e three-point line. Junior Tai Dillard has made 3 starts this year andcould get some extended looks as the season progresses.
Sophomore Kaira White has potential but is turnover prone. Senior Asha Hill is a heady insurance policy.
NEBRASKA: How good are they, really?
On the other side, Nebraska returns home to start the Big 12 season in a hole. Reserve guard Shah Roberts injured her knee against Cal State-Fullerton and will be out for three weeks. It is still unclear when Keasha Cannon will return to the team. Cannon has been at her family's home in Kansas City since December 17th, her mom passed away on the 19th.
On the upside Griechaly Cepero returns to the team after her end of Volleyball season break. And she'll most likely see some action against Texas, and may need to see more action than she may be ready for.
CHIPPER'S NON-CONFERENCE PLAY AWARDS.
Team MVP: Keasha Cannon
Keasha has been Ms. Do-It-All. She leads the team in scoring (12.1 ppg), leads the team in rebounding (8.4 rpg), leads in assists and steals.
Unlike other recent transfers and JUCO into program, Cannon brought the GOODS!!!!
On the downside. Her assists-turnover ratio is nearly 1 to 1. That's gets you beat, and Cannon is prone to the poor decision. But with all the other things she does, it makes up for it.
By far she's the best gun Nebraska has, and far too often has been the only gun.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Shannon Howell.
The sophomore has really stepped up her play this season. The potential was always there, this year she found disicipline and maturity to go with a very athletic game. She coming up with 9 points per game and 41 assists. She's performed well in Cannon absence at the quarterback spot, but she's better at the 2-guard position. Last season, Shannon Howell sucked. This season, she's made a turnaround.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Margaret Richards and Shah Roberts.
Last season, I bashed this two kids without mercy. And they earned it.
This season, I'm eating crow about these two!
Both have improved every game, now you can put them in games and know they'll do well. Richards has been leading scorer in 3 games this year. Roberts has picked it up in every statistical category. These two haven't played this well since the first four games of last season.
KEEP IT UP!
THE ROBINETTE ROBERT: Not bad
But, I expected a little more. Maybe I'm being a little myopic, and that is the trademark of the Nebraska fan, but Robinette has directly factored in only one game this season, the comeback win over Creighton. Since then, she has played well, but deferrential. Her numbers are solid (10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpgs per game 15 blocks, 17 steals). But, I was distressed by how she seemed to shy away in the meatier games. I was particularly displeased by her gooseegg against Cincinnati, that is not play becoming of a difference-maker.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Katie Morse
Some said that Katie Morse would be the next Karen Jennings.
So far, she's the next Casey Leonhardt, and Morse isn't nearly as good.
In fact, she's no longer starting, and as averaged about 9 minutes per game in the last 6 games.
A close second: K.C. Cowgill.
Her stats are solid (42% from three point range), but against Cincinnati and Drake, she shot around 18%. Cowgill is the team's prime three point weapon. You need her hitting in the RPI games, so far she been similar to Robinette..Good, but not good when its Dead President's time.
HOW NEBRASKA CAN WIN THIS GAME (*assuming Keasha Cannon isn't in the lineup*)
1. Keep Larkin and Dillard working. Texas's guards aren't the prime scoring threats, but we have to make it difficult for them to get the ball inside to their forwards. Force UT to set screens. Trap them a lot. If Katie Robinette has to chase around to check Schriber and Stephens all day, Texas will stampede the lasses.
Texas is turnover prone, let scoop up some goodies.
2. Penetrate early. Take some runs into those Longhorn forwards. Work some 2-man game, especially with Robinette, Alexa Johnson and Greich Cepero. All three can put the ball on the floor and work with it. Lets make those tall Longhorns guard somebody and maybe put some fouls on them.
3. Outside Shots. The three can help us out. Straight up, Nebraska won't outrebound Texas, but we can help ourselves if Big Red extends the Horns. If Cowgill, Howell and Richard hit some big shots..IT'S ALL GOOD!
IF KEASHA CANNON RETURNS.
She'll do her best, but EVERYBODY has to kick in a little more. The one thing about Nebraska this season that has bothered me is too many players are sitting around watching the Keasha Cannon show. When a point guard leads the team in rebounds, SOMETHING'S WRONG!
If Keasha comes back for this game or any game, to expect her mind to be all about basketball from the first game is callous and wrong. Not saying she couldn't play well, but this youngster's gone through hell and whole team has to start stepping up.
Outlook: Talentwise, Nebraska is a 6-point underdog. We don't have the talent Texas has, we aren't a good a team as Texas is.
There is nothing in Nebraska resume that tells me we are better than Texas.
But they is one thing Texas doesn't have.
3,000 fans in the house on their side.
The 6 point differential has to be made up by the sixth man. Think of it as practice for the Rose Bowl the next day.
Last year this team was worthy of boos. This year team is worthy of cheers. Give it to them.
The biggest measure to look for is, when Nebraska gets down, will they get up? If they do, even in a close loss, it bodes well for the season.
I will defy logic....Nebraska 62, Texas 60.
ChipperF1 http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif