Nebraska Basketball: Yvan Ouedraogo will be leading bucket-producer
Ouedraogo will have the chance to be the leading point-getter for Nebraska Basketball.
With all of the turnover that the Nebraska basketball roster is experiencing, that led me to think: who will be the leading scorer for the team when basketball resumes? After days of deliberation, I came to the conclusion that Yvan Ouedraogo will be the leading scorer for the team.
The signs were there that he could make an impact in the post last season. He was just extremely raw. It makes sense, when you consider that he is 17 years old. However, once he is able to put all of his talents together, he should be able to be a dominant post presence. He averaged 5.7 points per game, to go along with 6.3 rebounds per game. Although those numbers may seem a bit small, he did have some very successful games.
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Take February 24 against Illinois for example. In 26 minutes of play, he went five-of-nine from the field, and recorded 10 rebounds in addition to 10 points. There were flashes that he could be a double-double threat night in and night out. Measuring in at six-foot-nine, 260 pounds, the native of Bordeaux France is not exactly your typical big man. However, he looks much bigger than what depth chart measurements say.
Nebraska is going to have some extreme talent coming in, but in a complete role reversal from last season, Ouedoago is going to be one of the more experienced players on the roster. If he can bulk up and hit the weight room just a little bit more, he will be a dominant post presence in no time.
The fact that Nebraska basketball runs their offense through the point guard position will also help Ouedraogo get some buckets. Defenses will probably plan for the point guard to do the majority of the work. That’s what many of the teams in the Big Ten saw last year. That should leave Ouedraogo chances to get under the basket.
Last season, we saw opportunities throughoutthe course of a game where he would have good layup opportunities but just could not convert. I expect him to convert more than he did last year, and really establish himself as a presence down low. If he can get even just a bit better at the free-throw line, that would be able to help his game immensely. The way he was able to initiate contact afforded him ample opportunities to get to the line. Last year, it was all about conversion for him.
The fact that teams will begin to guard a Nebraska point guard, as well as an opportunity to bulk up for Ouedraogo will lead the ladder to success. It’s why I believe he will score the most points for Nebraska in 2020. Last season was about learning for him. Now, it’s time for him to take the next step.