Some of the busiest people in Pinnacle Bank Arena during the 2015-16 season will be the program sellers. With just five returning letterwinners back, the Huskers will have a new look to the lineup for the coming season.
For Nebraska Coach Tim Miles, the 2015-16 season began in August, as the Huskers spent nine days in Spain. The trip not only gave Miles and his coaching staff 10 extra practices to prepare for the season, but the games also provided valuable learning experience for a team which has two seniors and two juniors in its rotation.
“No doubt the trip to Spain was invaluable,” Miles said. “First, the camaraderie of the team being together and getting to know each other. Second, our guys got the nerves out of playing other competition, and we had two games where we had to grind it out and win in the end. The guys in the middle of it were some of our new guys, and they got the experience of playing games where every possession matters.”
A recruiting class which was ranked among the top-25 nationally and the addition of Kansas transfer Andrew White IIIgives Miles some young talent to mold. But much of the success will depend on the play and leadership of seniorsShavon Shields and Benny Parker.
The two most experienced players in the Husker program, Parker has played in all 96 games over the past three seasons, while Shields has made 82 consecutive starts dating back to his freshman year.
“Benny and Shavon are two guys who bet on my dream and vision for Nebraska basketball when they didn’t have to,” Miles said. “They were recruited by Coach (Doc) Sadler and have been through almost everything during their career. They were here when we played seven scholarship guys. They have been to an NCAA Tournament and also have been through the expectations and disappointment of a season that didn’t go nearly as well as we hoped it would.”
“They are the perfect kind of leaders,” Miles said. “They have played in a ton of Big Ten games. They know what good teams look like. They know what winning looks like. They know what losing looks like, and they understand what it takes to be successful. They lead in different ways and both have the respect of their teammates.”
While Miles likes the versatility his roster features and its potential, the biggest challenge with eight newcomers is getting them up to speed to succeed at a high level.
“I think it will be a fun team to watch and a fun team to coach,” Miles said. “Like any team, we are going to learn how to win. The biggest concern for me with the young guys are the basic things such as playing defense, taking care of the basketball and rebounding. The most basic fundamentals of the game are the things we have to take care of first. The quicker we value and master those things, the more success we will have.”
With a young team, Miles knows how important creating a homecourt advantage will be for the Huskers.
“Our fans have been amazing, selling out Pinnacle Bank Arena for the last three years,” Miles said. “They have helped us create a great homecourt advantage here, and we will need that this season. Young players typically play more off emotion, and the support our fans provide and the lift they receive from our crowd will be important.”