Nebraska Basketball: Derrick Walker shines in loss to Indiana
Nebraska basketball may have a secret weapon.
There is certainly a lot to take away from Nebraska basketball’s tough loss to Indiana on Sunday. One of the other good things besides the play of Teddy Allen was the play of Derek Walker. He packed quite the punch in his season debut.
After serving a suspension that caused him to miss 11 games, Walker certainly made his presence known. He finished with 10 points on five-of-seven shooting. In addition, he was active rebounding the basketball, recording three rebounds.
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He also chipped in defensively, adding a block and some steals his resume as well. He had his fingerprints all over this game, and it was great to see. He is not a one-dimensional basketball player. He is someone that can contribute in several facets of the game.
He looked comfortable playing in this game, and his frame will certainly help Nebraska basketball. Measuring in at 6-foot-8, Walker looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. This was kind of how I envisioned he would play when he first got here. As Fred Hoiberg commented after the game, Walker did a great job around the basket. I have to agree, and this is certainly encouraging to see.
Nebraska basketball as a team has had trouble finishing around the rim. They certainly have plenty of shooters. Shooting is not the issue. Finishing is the issue. They have had trouble finishing around the rim, and it seems as though the big men on this team struggle in doing so. It’s been frustrating to watch
If Walker can bring that part of his game to the table, this would be able to help Nebraska immensely. Having that balance of an inside and outside scoring presence is certainly key, especially in college basketball. Nebraska basketball has seemed to struggle at the rim in the past couple of seasons. Walker could be the answer to their problems.
It will be interesting to see what his role is with the program, especially after his impressive debut. He played aggressively, and he played with purpose. He gave Nebraska basketball a much-needed energy boost at a time when they are quite frankly sliding right now. The Huskers inadvertently got a weapon back at a time when they desperately need a fresh face to help right the ship. Hopefully, they can right that ship quickly.