Berke has a big role to play but he needs to accept that role. He is 2-15 from 3. His offensive output should strictly be inside on post ups and offensive rebound putbacks.

Offensively he takes so many bad shots and that’s been the case all season and a lot of last. All I am saying is Hoiberg and staff need to have a word. We have too many good offensive players on this team to have Berke launching bad shots.

COYS said:

Berke has a big role to play but he needs to accept that role. He is 2-15 from 3. His offensive output should strictly be inside on post ups and offensive rebound putbacks.

Offensively he takes so many bad shots and that’s been the case all season and a lot of last. All I am saying is Hoiberg and staff need to have a word. We have too many good offensive players on this team to have Berke launching bad shots.

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I don't think he needs to shoot volume, but he needs to take them. He's a career ~28% 3 point shooter and the 2-3 3s he averages a game feels about right to me

Baron Winnebago said:

I don't think he needs to shoot volume, but he needs to take them. He's a career ~28% 3 point shooter and the 2-3 3s he averages a game feels about right to me

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You realize 28% career 3 point percentage is pretty bad? Somebody with that percentage shouldn’t be taking multiple 3 pointers a game, especially when we have a bunch of other guys on the floor that shoot at a much higher clip.

Baron Winnebago said:

Berke does a lot of dirty work. If his shot falls some nights, great, if it doesn't I don't care. Just taking a few keeps the defense out of the paint which opens up the rim for everyone else

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Had he made one of his three 3s last night nobody is upset with his performance or calling for him to not shoot anymore. Each 3 he took were ones that made sense to shoot.

COYS said:

You realize 28% career 3 point percentage is pretty bad? Somebody with that percentage shouldn’t be taking multiple 3 pointers a game, especially when we have a bunch of other guys on the floor that shoot at a much higher clip.

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I don’t for a minute believe Berke is going to shoot 13% from three for the entire year. I also don’t believe he’s going to shoot 40% either.

What I do believe is he should shoot one to three 3s a game within the context of the offense when he is open and in rhythm. At some point he’ll progress to the mean.

We’re averaging more possessions per game this season than last year and with our style I’m predicting that to continue. If a possession or two ends with Berke shooting a three I think we’ll be able to afford it.

COYS said:

You realize 28% career 3 point percentage is pretty bad? Somebody with that percentage shouldn’t be taking multiple 3 pointers a game, especially when we have a bunch of other guys on the floor that shoot at a much higher clip.

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Yes I do, but it's also higher than 13%. But all this below applies:

...TrueColors... said:

I don’t for a minute believe Berke is going to shoot 13% from three for the entire year. I also don’t believe he’s going to shoot 40% either.

What I do believe is he should shoot one to three 3s a game within the context of the offense when he is open and in rhythm. At some point he’ll progress to the mean.

We’re averaging more possessions per game this season than last year and with our style I’m predicting that to continue. If a possession or two ends with Berke shooting a three I think we’ll be able to afford it.

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Having 5 guys, on the floor who will pull the trigger even if they all don't make 3s at a good rate is much harder to defend than 4 guys who will and a guy who isn't allowed to shoot

Baron Winnebago said:

Yes I do, but it's also higher than 13%. But all this below applies:

Having 5 guys, on the floor who will pull the trigger even if they all don't make 3s at a good rate is much harder to defend than 4 guys who will and a guy who isn't allowed to shoot

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What many people don’t realize is that the overwhelming majority of college basketball players can hit wide open threes all day long. The moment they’re contested is where you separate the good shooters from the others.

Even if Berke isn’t perfect you still have to contest his shot. If it’s clear that his rules are to never shoot outside of the paint the defensive game plan becomes incredibly easier.

All of a sudden you’ve got a defender with two feet in the paint that’s clogging up driving lanes. Back in my day, Sioux City East would put their best player on your worst player when they knew his rules were to never shoot. It pretty much took any chance that their best player would get into foul trouble off the table.

...TrueColors... said:

What many people don’t realize is that the overwhelming majority of college basketball players can hit wide open threes all day long. The moment they’re contested is where you separate the good shooters from the others.

Even if Berke isn’t perfect you still have to contest his shot. If it’s clear that his rules are to never shoot outside of the paint the defensive game plan becomes incredibly easier.

All of a sudden you’ve got a defender with two feet in the paint that’s clogging up driving lanes. Back in my day, Sioux City East would put their best player on your worst player when they knew his rules were to never shoot. It pretty much took any chance that their best player would get into foul trouble off the table.

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I was flipping between FSU football game last night and our bball game. Have to admit, I was one telling Berke to stop shooting. But everything you’re saying makes perfect sense. Thanks for the insight

...TrueColors... said:

What many people don’t realize is that the overwhelming majority of college basketball players can hit wide open threes all day long. The moment they’re contested is where you separate the good shooters from the others.

Even if Berke isn’t perfect you still have to contest his shot. If it’s clear that his rules are to never shoot outside of the paint the defensive game plan becomes incredibly easier.

All of a sudden you’ve got a defender with two feet in the paint that’s clogging up driving lanes. Back in my day, Sioux City East would put their best player on your worst player when they knew his rules were to never shoot. It pretty much took any chance that their best player would get into foul trouble off the table.

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His stat line from the OU game is where he needs to be at. 5-7, only took one wide open 3 pointer. His scoring was all in the paint and he got to the line as a result.

Launching 5 3’s like he did last night was ridiculous for a career 28% shooter. I would say 1-2 a game max for a historically awful shooter to keep the defense “honest”. Anything contested he needs to keep the ball moving.

COYS said:

His stat line from the OU game is where he needs to be at. 5-7, only took one wide open 3 pointer. His scoring was all in the paint and he got to the line as a result.

Launching 5 3’s like he did last night was ridiculous for a career 28% shooter. I would say 1-2 a game max for a historically awful shooter to keep the defense “honest”. Anything contested he needs to keep the ball moving.

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I agree. He had some pretty open looks last night and most of his shots were putrid from 3. It was almost like KSU was daring him to take them most of the night. There needs to be more of a happy medium for him than nights like last. Don’t completely disallow the three but if it’s a night like last, shut it down

Fred isn’t shutting Berke down, and Oogie isn’t taking his minutes. Garcia could, but he’s too much of a defensive liability, which tells you all you need to know about Berke.

Watching him clank 3’s is putrid, but that’s the tradeoff for defense and rebounding.

Berke might be our best rebounder and defender. Also gives great effort and energy when he’s on the court. Also a very streaky shooter, last year he was shooting around 35% from 3 until he got injured, when he can back from injury he couldn’t throw it in the ocean. Was something like 1-20 (or something close to that) after coming back from injury. Then he started to hit them again during the postseason.

He needs to take 3s when he open and it’s a good shot, within the flow/concept of the offense. Probably shouldn’t be taking more than 2-3 a game because we have lots of good shooters, but if he makes those first 2-3 you gotta keep letting’em rip. JMO

Mission Accomplished.

The hate for Berke, Sam Hoiberg, and Jacobsen is the byproduct of too many fans who only watch a handful of minutes from certain games per season.

A lot of these posters likely saw games last season where if Gary had an off night or if he was in foul trouble, then points were few and far between. That meant Bryce was the only scorer. And if Essegian wasn't hot, that meant Nebraska's offense would get really stagnant.

At that point, role players become really frustrating to watch. With Mast, Sandfort, and Frager, Nebraska can usually have at least two legit offensive threats on the court on any given moment. That lessens the sting of Essegian going cold, or needing to rely on Berke, Sam, or Cale to score points.

Nebraska now has role players and Husker fans need to stop freaking out. Cale is a very solid back up point guard with a nice ability to drive to the basket. Sam is an excellent defender and glue guy who never gets tired. Berke is a good post defender, solid passer, and has decent game near the basket.