LINCOLN — Four years ago, after a bit of midseason roster turmoil, Nebraska basketball found its groove and played its way into the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years.
Is something similar about to occur this season?
In 2014, it was guard Deverell Biggs’ departure that created a different bond while solidifying roles and playing rotations. This time, the two-game absence over five days of center Jordy Tshimanga to ponder a transfer may have set NU on a clearer path to success.
With the 6-foot-11, 268-pound Tshimanga back on the team but no longer starting as he did the first 18 games, coach Tim Miles has gone more to his “smaller” lineup. That means 6-8, 225-pound Isaiah Roby at center and 6-9, 221-pound Isaac Copeland at power forward.
And Nebraska’s opponents don’t like it.
After Roby, Copeland and guards James Palmer, Glynn Watson and Anton Gill turned a one-point game at Northwestern with eight minutes left into a 15-point Husker romp, Wildcats coach Chris Collins called it “the death lineup.”
“We didn’t have an answer,” he said.
Coach Matt Painter of No. 3 Purdue, after beating Nebraska by 12 points at home, said he never felt comfortable because of what NU can do with the smaller grouping.
“This isn’t the same team they had last year,” Painter said. “Nebraska’s length and athleticism has really been a plus. They can play two different ways, but they put us in a bind with that smaller lineup.”
On Thursday night, coach John Beilein of No. 23 Michigan got an in-person look. Nebraska handed the Wolverines their worst waxing in a Big Ten game in five years, 72-52.
“Playing small is a really difficult challenge to play against,” Beilein said. “It’s a great team to have when you’ve got a bunch of 6-8 to 6-7 guys who are interchangeable. It is the way we’ve played a lot of times.
“We couldn’t utilize any height advantage inside. And I think we had only four or five open 3s the entire game, and I don’t know if we made any of them.”
Nebraska’s offense, with Roby at center, becomes an open-post attack because he lines up on the perimeter. With his improved 3-point shooting — from 20 percent last season to 36 percent now — he drags the opposing center away from the basket, then can back-cut for dunks.
Also, the resulting driving lanes allow Palmer, Watson and Evan Taylor to speed to the basket.
Defensively, the smaller lineup allows switching of all screens, which forces opponents off the 3-point line and into more one-on-one actions than they are comfortable with. That leads to shooting from spots on the floor they aren’t used to.
“Roby allows them to do that,” Beilein said. “I don’t know if it would be as successful with the big guys. He can shoot 3s as well. He’s very, very skilled.”
By now you’re asking why in the (naughty word) hasn’t Miles used this lineup all season?
Two reasons: First, the Huskers wanted to give Tshimanga every opportunity to bloom as an inside presence. Heavy lifting remains on that front.
But the bigger reason is Roby and Copeland often fouled too much. That funky lineup isn’t any good if two of the key components are sitting on the bench. Painter noticed it as he did film prep for Nebraska.
“To play with a smaller lineup, you’ve got to be nasty at 4 and 5,” he said. “But you can’t get in a bunch of foul trouble.”
Now that the coaching staff has coaxed Roby and Copeland in better position on defense and loudly urged them not to rely on reaching so much, both can play longer minutes.
Still, the smaller lineup isn’t a cure-all for Nebraska.
In a win over Wisconsin, Miles correctly noted Badger forward Ethan Happ riddled the small lineup. At Northwestern, center Tanner Borchardt’s work against Wildcats big man Dererk Pardon played out better for longer periods than the smaller lineup.
“I want that lineup to be more than a change-up,” Miles said, “but I don’t see it as something to use full-time, especially in certain matchups.”
Painter noted you can’t just snap your fingers and make a non-traditional lineup work, either. “It takes a while,” he said. “Any type of a different look, you’ve got to have experience until you get good at it.”
Nebraska’s smaller lineup reminds Painter of how Indiana played two years ago. Then-coach Tom Crean used 6-7, 218-pound Troy Williams at center, utilizing his length, mobility and leaping ability — Williams won the NBA D-League dunk championship last year — like Miles now uses Roby.
How did that pan out?
Indiana went 27-8, won the Big Ten regular-season title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
Nobody has predicted such a surge for Nebraska (14-7, 5-3) as it goes on a two-game road swing Monday at No. 22 Ohio State and Wednesday at Rutgers before hosting Iowa on Saturday. But the Huskers have people’s attention.
Beilein said he saw Creighton coach Greg McDermott earlier this season.
“He said, ‘Watch out, Nebraska’s really good.’ And he was right,” Beilein said. “Nebraska is good, and I’m a believer.
“We’ve got a few teams in this league who are really elite. They are one of those teams growing by leaps and bounds every single day.”
Photos: Nebraska upsets No. 23 Michigan
The Huskers faced the Wolverines in Lincoln on Thursday.
Nebraska's Anton Gill celebrates with James Palmer after a victory against Michigan.
Will Nebraska basketball make the NCAA tournament?
After Thursday night's resume-building win against the Wolverines, the Huskers are on the NCAA tournament bubble. Will NU punch its ticket to the Big Dance?
from Don T Breathe - Google News http://ift.tt/2EZE0OT
EmoticonEmoticon