Fastbreak: Miles talks keys to bouncing back vs. Minnesota
Here is a quick recap of what head coach Tim Miles had to say coming off Nebraska’s loss at Michigan State and looking ahead to its Big Ten home opener vs. Minnesota on Tuesday night…
***After the 86-57 loss to the Spartans Miles said his initial reaction was that the game was more a reflection of how good MSU was and not necessarily how good the Huskers were.
With 24 hours to process the defeat, Miles confirmed that might be the best Michigan State team NU has faced since he’s been at Nebraska, if not maybe the best overall team he’s seen over the past six-plus seasons.
That said, the film showed that the Huskers didn’t help their cause in that game with occasional lack of effort and sloppy mental mistakes.
***Miles said the team held a light practice on Monday coming off a very physical game at Michigan State and then another just-as-physical test against Minnesota on Tuesday night.
In fact, Miles said Nebraska uses the Catapult Sports athletic performance analytics system, which showed that the MSU game was by far the most intense game the Huskers have played this season regarding the amount of energy used by their player.
***Miles said Minnesota’s starting frontcourt was as good as any team they would see this season with potential All-American Jordan Murphy and the nation’s leading shot blocker, Reggie Lynch.
However, Miles said the Gophers weren’t nearly as deep as Michigan State was, meaning the Huskers would have to find a way to get to UM’s bench early.
***Along with finding a way to score more in the paint - Nebraska was a staggering 7-for-40 on shots inside the 3-point line vs. MSU - Miles said the Huskers needed to do a better job of “driving to pass.”
That means getting the guards to get the ball into the lane and then kick passes out to open shooters on the perimeter. As bad as NU was shooting against the Spartans, it did make 13-of-20 from beyond the arc.
***Asked if only having two days between the Michigan State and Minnesota games could be considered a good thing because it doesn’t allow for players to dwell on a loss, Miles wasn’t buying it.
“No. No, it cannot be viewed as a good thing,” Miles said. “But everybody’s got to do it, so it’s not unfair, it’s just no fun.”
***Miles said the most significant adjustment he’s team is dealing with right now is the difference in physicality allowed by officials in Big Ten play. He said that’s something all of his players are going to have to adjust to, but especially the centers, Jordy Tshimanga, Duby Okeke, and Tanner Borchardt.
“We’re not getting enough out of our centers right now,” Miles said. “We just need to be better.”
***Miles said sophomore center Isaiah Roby is coming back off of his sprained ankle injury well. Not only did he play extended minutes in the second half vs. Michigan State, he came back on Monday and had an excellent practice.