Daniel and Mick really soak in one of the highest level matches of the year as Nebraska hosted Wisconsin in a 1 vs 2 showdown that went the distance.
Then they review the rest of the Top 10 and all the upsets and upset threats we saw, leading into a massive weekend with VB’s first ever match on FOX on Sunday at 3:45 PM ET and pivotal Pac-12 clashes.
16 Comments
Mick is such a Nebraska hater and texas homer. lol
The Wisconsin block was the story of the game IMO. The good news for Wisconsin was that they were +11 on scores off blocks, and Nebraska's hitting % suffered when they tried to go high hands and hit around the block. For Nebraska when Wisconsin got touches and didn't score on the block Nebraska was able to dig the ball. The digs helped Nebrsaka get a +36 kill attempt and +17 kill advantage. The Husker scores came at the right time giving them the victory.
Daniel Harper had 7 kills in the 5th, THAT was the story, she played badly prior to that but the freshman stepped UP when it counted.
Daniel it was Crawford in the net on match point, she had several in the net calls.
Oh Mick – Bucky has Minnie and at IU to go with a pair v Purdue and at PSU before seeing unl again..
If it isn't on your radar, keep an eye on the Creighton injury situation. They got Sis back in the front row this weekend which was huge but their starting libero, top DS, a starting MB, and the OH that had replaced Sis as a starter were all out with injuries. I hope they can get healthy soon.
Even with Wisconsin's 18 blocks and all of Nebraska's hitting errors, the Huskers still had more kills than the Badgers by a substantial margin. I think I heard 69 to Wisconsin's 53.
Let me see if I understand this. Mick is saying if Nebraska hadn't made the hitting errors and giving the Badgers points, Wisconsin would have had the opportunity to prove they were better? Wisconsin had a better chance to win if the Nebraska hitters struck the ball accurately to land in bounds, force a Badger defender to dig a hard hit, pass it accurately to the setter to play in system, and get a pin or middle to power through a Nebraska block and land the ball where Rodriguez or Choboy couldn't play it? Is that what he's saying?
Stop talking about the officials! The game is not about them. They're human and you get what you get. That's another variable that neither team has control over. Stop it.
Some questionable commentary here by the hosts:
First, the notion that the "better team" didn't win. I really hate the kind of logic that implies. The only thing that matters is who actually wins the game. By definition, they ought to always be considered the better team, period. For example, you don't win the national championship by being perceived ahead of time as the "better team", or by having better "optics" or style during the tournament. You win it by … winning all your matches in the tournament. You could say Wisconsin is physically a better team, but at this moment in time they are not the overall better team. To say that they are is an insult to the grit and determination of the Nebraska players to play through adversity, to adopt their point-by-point do-whatever-takes mentality to win the match. The team that can do that is unequivocally the better team. Otherwise, why even play the game?
And by the way, the game isn't scored by how many blocks you make. It's how many points you make. That should be blindingly obvious. And where was this vaunted Wisconsin block when it mattered the most, in the fifth set? Also, a person might want to claim that Wisconsin made too many errors and that's why Nebraska won. But fact is, Nebraska had more kills than Wisconsin, so …
Second, the statement was made that Cook's challenge at the end was a "throw away challenge", while simultaneously admitting there was indeed a net violation. (And it was pretty clear too, from the replay). So I don't know how you can claim it was a "throw away" challenge. And if you want to blame somebody or something for the deflated letdown of an ending, blame the net violator.
Also, wasn't it the Wisconsin player that got the yellow card, not the coach? I don't really know how or to who the cards are given out.
I sure hope you read comments, Daniel, because – for Volleyball as a whole – the greatest value you can provide is to talk about ratings. ESPN totally ignored the match of the year, and that's just not right. Only Friday's Pardon The Interruption even mentioned the upcoming match, and there was ZERO coverage on Sunday. Can you imagine this? Volleyball fans MUST express their displeasure, and we need YOU to help carry the message.
Sorry Mick, but you are a complete idiot for saying that the better team did't win. Yes Nebraska got blocked 12 times in the 2nd set and it looked like the wheels were falling off in the 3 set with the hitting errors trying to avoid the block, but they got it back together and won the 4th and 5 sets.
Can people just enjoy good volleyball and shut up. No team remains at the top forever, celebrate your team all you want. But dont go around tearing people up with different opinion than yours. Volleyball is a game of class, love, respect. Show some sportsmanship and respect analysts, coaches and presenters with different views
I think the stats look like wisconsin is the better team when you look the whole game stats. Nebraska played really bad at set 2 and dragged their overall stats for the whole game. The sets won by nebraska (1, 4, 5) are sets more like nebraska and wisconsin playing well on both sides. And either one of them could have win it.
I also think Wisconsin played really well all match long. Just that nebraska played fantastic in all the three of the sets that they won which technically all you need to win a vball game.
Statistically, yes, Wisconsin should’ve won. But they didn’t, you can’t make excuses for that. Nebraska out-hustled and out-gritted them. They won three sets by 2–that’s all you have to do.
And on the reffing, it’s not like the calls we all for Nebraska. There were many calls that went Wisconsin’s way.
Finally, on the final net call, a senior simply shouldn’t be in the net. She should know better. Doesn’t matter if the ball was out or in, block without being in the net. Wasn’t like it was her first violation either.
Nebraska won, nobody can take that win away from them. People just can’t admit they are THAT good and gritty.
Mick is a PAC guy, I get that. The offensive production of Stanford and Oregon is not as impressive as he thinks though. They simply don’t play defense the way Big 10 does, or at least Neb and Wis do. What did Florida hit against Stanford? How about Nebraska? Stanford may out-slug most teams, but when things get real, it doesn’t get past Wis or Neb. Stanford has little chance of winning the championship this year.