Diaz, Talley Add Punch, Fuel Confidence

 

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By Randy York

Someone once said basketball is like photography. If you don't focus, all you have is the negative, and Nebraska has experienced plenty of that in its first three Big Ten Conference basketball games this season. The Huskers have been forced to play with a blurred vision because two of its top four scorers - 7-foot center Jorge Brian Diaz and 6-5 guard Dylan Talley- were nursing injuries and unable to play for five straight games. Once those two juniors returned to the lineup, Nebraska took Illinois to the wire in Champaign and claimed a 72-58 win over Penn State at home. Diaz and Talley added punch and fueled confidence in their teammates, revealing the Nebraska that Doc Sadler expected all along in his team's inaugural Big Ten season. "What a different team we are with those two back on the court," Husker Sports Network analyst Matt Davison said Saturday before catching the team charter flight from Lincoln to Madison for NU's nationally televised 5 p.m. Sunday rematch with Wisconsin.

One thing's certain. Nebraska's 64-40 loss to the Badgers on Dec. 27 was heavily rooted in losing Diaz's presence in the post, along with his 10.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Not having Talley, its sixth man who was third on the team in scoring with 9.1 points per game, was tough, too. The Diaz/Talley joint departure created a big hole and triggered a tailspin that influenced Nebraska offensively, defensively and every time a ball bounced off the rim. It affected the Huskers' composure, their confidence and their chemistry, plus their strategy, their schemes and their shot selection. With Diaz returning following his chronic foot problems and Talley reclaiming a prominent role after his nagging thigh injury, Sadler has been able to "shorten his bench, and that makes all the difference in the world," Davison said.

"We're back to five healthy starters and a seven-man rotation," Davison said. "In Diaz, we have a skilled 7-footer who shoots well, blocks shots, alters shots, rebounds and helps you scheme like you need to scheme. Everything changes when your opponent has to account for Diaz's skill sets on both ends of the floor. And with Talley, we have a guard who knows how to shoot just about any shot. He proved that in junior college. He's one of those guys who can spot up and shoot or stop and hit the fade-away jumper. He can drive and create space. He can pass. We have some guards with great defensive skills, but we need Dylan's offensive skills, too. Everything changes for us with those two guys healthy."

According to Shamus McKnight, Nebraska's assistant media relations director supporting men's basketball, the return of Diaz and Talley has helped the Husker offense greatly. Nebraska has shot at least 50 percent in its last two games, and no one should underestimate the value behind that stat. "It's the first time we've shot 50 percent in consecutive conference games since a four-game stretch in 2008," McKnight said, pointing out that with Diaz and Talley in the lineup, Nebraska has averaged 13 points more per game than without them. With them, the Huskers shoot 46 percent from the field. Without them, the Huskers' shooting percentage dips all the way down to 37 percent.

One more stat is particularly telling. When NU shortens its bench, it strengthens its production. Fewer bodies mean more efficiency and effectiveness. In the two games since Diaz and Talley have returned, Nebraska's bench is averaging 15.5 points after averaging just 6.6 points from the bench in the five games they missed.

What does it all mean? "Big difference ... huge difference," Davison said. "Bottom line, with those two guys back on the floor, I think our confidence changes. So does our production and our performance. Even our goals change. With those two guys, I think we have a chance to win every single Big Ten game we have left on the schedule."

Wisconsin will be Exhibit A Sunday in Madison. "We'll play hard, and we will compete," Davison said. "Win or lose, the team's mindset is back on the right track." If Nebraska can transform a 24-point home loss into a road win against the same team three weeks later, Husker fans will understand what Davison means when he says: "We have two studs back on the floor, giving us a chance to be the middle-of-the-pack team we envisioned all along."

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