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Nebraska has been up-and-down, and performed at a near .500 level for 2+ years. It's incredible that 14k fans stream into PBA. Nebraska fans are amazing: Top 15 in attendance in every single major Div. 1 sport. In a state with less than 2M people, no less. There is No Place Like Nebraska! Dear Old Nebraska U!!

I'm just catching up on this thread and I have a couple thoughts: 1. the students being there does make a difference. Is the Red Zone one of the top student sections? No but there is a noticeable difference over the holiday break. 2. No dude cheerleaders yelling into megaphones for me please. That whole "kaaaaaaaaay U U!" I hear at Jayhawk games makes my skin crawl. No one even cheers with them and I find that particularly inefficient. 3. The cheerleaders do that defense clap clap thing numerous times during the game. I often clap along but then i'm always standing and yelling and clapping. My section hates me and I don't care. (maybe dudes would help for this but I think if the cheer caught on in the student section it would work just as well) 4. I think i had something else but I got distracted by something shiny. Maybe it will come back to me later.

Absolutely NO WAY Miles should be fired after this season, nor will he. However, I believe it will be "tournament or bust" next year, as it should be with that talented roster and what will be a (fairly) experienced team, with the shine of the new facilities wearing off one more year and the fan interest (seemingly) losing luster if we don't perform. I believe Miles will be back next year - no reason in hell to fire him, even despite my overall disappointment with how this season has gone.

I found time to drink some beer and chase co-eds, granted they all ran faster than me but I gave it the college boy effort.

I'd like to know what 2020 vision you might have?

Is #4's shiny object ------> "National Signing Day"

SUPER NEAT!

As many people who dogged on Gill, we are missing that depth right now.

What a roller coaster of a season feels like... Fire Miles!! We are Rutgers only Big 10 win! Keep Miles!! We are Maryland's only Big 10 loss!!

This is where the loss of Gill hurts the most.

ET is the man. Glad he's been able to produce so many heady plays, particularly in the clutch. That block of the Purdue guard who had a breakaway layup was at a CRUCIAL point in the ballgame.

I mean, Akenten's not redshirting (barring injury), but yeah, that could be pretty exciting to see how these guys develop over the next couple years. I'm excited about it.

I agree, but then I never really like the who's the starting lineup/rotation/minutes break down threads. We're not coaches, we don't know what's going on. But the waaaaaaaaaaaaay too early ones are the worst of the lot. Not only is the body not cold before these threads start, the body in this case is still very much alive and kicking. Can't we just enjoy what's happening in front of our very eyes before we worry about what's going to happen next year?

Pre-season contract extension issues are old news by now and are given much too importance in the chatter class. Those issues reflect a performance-based evaluation that incorporates such disappointments as, (i) the departure of Petteway, (ii) the disappointment of Pitchford, (ii) a couple years of underperformance by teams dominated by upperclassmen, (iv) the departure of Andrew White, and (v) a no post-season play decision last season. The no-extension under such circumstances is a reasonable and measured approach by an Athletic Director responsible for managing and maximizing effort and results from a staff. Since then: --The freshmen recruits are showing that Miles's recruiting decisions are well-made --The Lewis hire (and the termination of his predecessor) are proving to be stellar decisions --Coach Hunter is continuing to recruit at a high level --The Andrew White defection is in the past --Team chemistry is good --The decision to pursue Nana Akenten for this year's class is proving to be well-made --The Isaac Copeland commitment is a recruiting coup --The team is, generally, performing well this season and is hanging together, despite a tough schedule, a youthful team, and crucial injuries --Bad luck on injuries is, usually, not a coaching fault --Crowds at the Vault remain strong and enthusiastic and supportive --Students show up at the games in full force and give strong support --Recruiting interest remains strong from high quality players --Etc. What all the foregoing shows is that Tim Miles and Co. are performing well--and have addressed concerns of the past. And the Athletic Director is now going out of his way to give public support to the current staff and program.

I looked at the Purdue basketball board after the Husker game. They're talking about firing their coach too. This is life on anonymous message boards -- where accountability for inaccurate or unsupported information is nonexistent. And where unrestrained ventings of frustration and disappointment are the norm. And where trolls can freely exercise their dysfunction and, apparently, take pleasure or find self-worth in irritating others.

Yep, for the most part.

They will be allowed to turn left on to Arena Dr. when they leave Red 1 Garage.

Since there's been comparisons made to the 91 team, here is a roster matchup. Rich King Jordy Tshimanga Tony Farmer Isaac Copeland DaPreis Owens Ed Morrow Bruce Chubick Michael Jacobson Kelly Lively Nick Fuller Carl Hayes Isaiah Roby Eric Piatkowski Jeriah Horne Beau Reid Jack McVeigh Clifford Scales Glynn Watson Keith Moody Evan Taylor Jose Ramos Anton Gill Chris Cresswell James Palmer JF Hoffman Nana Akenten

Two thoughts 1) There is upside to having 5 guys on the court at the same time who are high volume scorers (I wouldn't necessarily classify Ed as this) 2) What happens when you run your only two point guards out on the floor at the same time and they get in foul trouble? Bonus thought: The thing about a team first glue guy is that you can play them 30 minutes when you need to but you can also play them 10 minutes when you need to.

Hey, I resemble that comment!

I can answer that one. After back-to-back Final Four runs, and guys leaving early to become lottery picks, our rotation will be all freshman 5* guys. The future is bright!

Well you know the only other thing to do in Nebraska but watch sports is watch the corn grow so...

Great points/questions Dimes. I think it's been the consistent message from Miles from day 1 but it takes time and consistency to make it come to fruition and truly become part of the culture of the program. They were interviewing Chris Collins the other day and he said the same of their program - it's just now getting ingrained and part of the fabric. I think the way Miles built the first few teams using transfers made it harder to get the culture where he wants it. Now that he's got guys he's recruited from high school coming up through the program I think we are starting to see it take hold. If that's the case it should be less variable from year to year. There's always going to be a difference in identity every year based on the skills and talents of the players but the culture shouldn't change much if you continue to stress the same things and recruit players that fit what you're building toward.

If you build it, they WILL come.

I'm just happy that my personal view of ET ahead of time is coming to fruition. Especially with the depth being such in a tough spot at the moment with Gill (sudden debilitating injury) & AW-III (unforeseen loss in mid-June), it is great to have a tough stud like ET gobbling up minutes like I foresaw. I'm a wonder like that. But, seriously, ET is a stud. And he is tough. Perfect combination of traits in a Big Ten backcourt.

Only that they missed one. ET might be the most talented flyover we've ever had here. I pay zero attention to football recruiting services, but basketball is generally pretty difficult to screw up. Lastly, I was gonna tag you, Norm. Remember back in they day when we were begging for a Huggins KState esque long, athletic roster with "those type" of lanky, versatile bigs? Looking at next year's roster, it appears our wish is finally coming true.

Maybe Jordy has truly just a 6'11 Pick and Pop Five man trying to play on the interior all this time?

Was thinking this as well. Nana will play as a freshman.

he needs to work on those 3 footers

You're right... we should probably be prepared for the rich basketball history that we're going to build ahead of us!

Trolling isn't the right word for it. Trolling is to make statements to get a negative/angry reaction. Most people, when talking about replacing a coach after a loss, do it not to shock so much as to completely overreact. I'm sure there are guys in Kentucky right now wondering if Calipari has lost it because he's lost two in a row.

More than anything, it will be nice to see a rotation loaded with talented juniors and seniors. Nebraska isn't a blue-blood hoops program (sorry to let you down), so we won't be getting any Josh Jacksons in the near future, so when programs like Nebraska excel, it often happens because those programs have more mature rosters. Look at Nebraska's best team in the last 30 years, the 1990-91 squad. Remember, the teams preceding 1990-91 went 10-18 (3-11 in the Big 8) and 17-16 (4-10 in the Big 8). The nine-man rotation that year included five seniors (King, Farmer, Scales, Reid and Moody), three juniors (Hayes, Owens and Ramos) and one redshirt freshman (Pike). That's about where this program will be in 2018-2019: The rotation could very well consist of six seniors (Watson, Palmer, McVeigh, Copeland, Morrow and Jacobson), three juniors (Roby, Tshimanga and Horne) and a redshirt freshman (Akenton). Think about that. Next year's team, from a depth of experience perspective, should look more like this year's Northwestern squad. Northwestern's rotation consists of two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores (one of them a third-year player) and two freshmen. In 2017-2018, Nebraska's rotation will be taken from two seniors (Gill and Taylor — sorry, Nick F.), six juniors (Watson, Palmer, McVeigh, Copeland, Morrow and Jacobson) and three sophomores (Roby, Tshimanga and Horne). Of course, the caveat is that college basketball isn't what it used to be, and players are freer to move around from team to team, but it's still exciting to look forward. Certainly beats looking back or debating with morons on Rivals about whether Miles should be fired.

How about that 2018-2019 rotation? Watson/Embery or Kezo Brown Palmer/Akenton Copeland/Roby Morrow/McVeigh Jacobson/Tshimanga Too soon?

I was also foolish. Anton played lights out in the scrimmage the year he sat out as a transfer. I think the knee injury slowed him significantly and he was never back to 100% before he finally wound up with the torn patella tendon thing. Still, should not have bet against Tai. He has worked so hard to become the best player on the team. Hopefully, other underclassmen see how the work paid off for Tai and follow suit. Next year, though, I don't see Roby beating out Jacobson for a spot in the starting lineup. It's possible ... possible ... that Roby would beat out Copeland. Much depends on Copeland's recovery from back problems. But I see it as an either/or more between Copeland and Roby than between Copeland and Jacobson or Roby and Jacobson. Next year, Jordy gets more minutes because of development; Morrow gets fewer in order to save his feet. Maybe about 20 each?

Also, LK1, you forgot Jeriah Horne in your depth chart for next year.

The last time someone called me "Bright" I think I was still being served Grahm Crackers and Kool-Aide before we got the nap mats out.

Has Miles had a secret meeting with the players where he calls Eichorst a homosexual?

I'm just judging from Eichorst's past with coaching hires, and what he favors. Tim checks all his boxes. He is optimistic, full of energy, has recruited talented players, and the team is young. He can't control injuries. I would have to say that most of the die hards would want to keep Miles around, knowing the young talent on this team. If it is a booster that is running the program behind the scenes, I would be very disappointed if he gave into them.

I'm really glad you started this topic, Buglem. There were a couple of times this year that this team COULD have folded ... but didn't. I remember Doc's last season and everyone was mystified about how supposedly Doc's most talented team yet could continue losing. I remain convinced it had more to do with the players' mindsets than any bad job of coaching Doc was doing/had done. Those guys mentally folded. They cashed it in. That team could not have bounced back to beat Purdue the way this team did. After the losing streaks against UCLA, Va Tech, Clemson (South Dak win) and then again with Creighton, KU and Gardner-Webb, I was worried this team was lost. Yeah, tough schedule and all, but it's tough not to get demoralized by losing even when you're losing to some really good teams and being competitive in those games. The coup de gras (or at least I thought it was) was the home loss to Gardner-Webb. And what do they do? They respond by going into Assembly Hall and knocking off Indiana and then going into Maryland and kicking the Terps in the balls. And then there was another losing streak. And, yeah, had a lot to do with losing our best inside defender to a foot injury. But, after 5 straight losses, they could have wilted. They could have folded. But they didn't. Instead, they went out and knocked off Purdue, the one home game that I least thought we might win. And we did it without Ed and with a gimpy Tai Webster. This crew has some moxy. Gives you hope for the future.

What does it for you? Is it, the 19% 3-point shooting clip or the nearly team-leading turnovers per minute played (2nd only to Jordy)? Isaiah needs to do what Jack and Jeriah did: Play himself back into the rotation. The fact you think Isaiah Roby should be getting "serious minutes" really calls into question your judgment about whether Miles should be retained or not.

I don't want to undermine the pre-Gardner-Webb segment this season either. This team played hard against the likes of Dayton, UCLA, VaTech, and Clemson without showing signs of giving up. Unfortunately they finished 1-3 in those outings, but they showed some fight in each of those games. You could even throw Kansas and spurts of Creighton in there if you'd like.

The fans' whiplash, add that to the list....

Now that one had fire in her belly.

I'd be happy with an Emily Cady in every class.

These clowns were over there saying that Watson and Jok was bad basketball that night, and that neither could play for them. That is funny stuff.

We are two buzzer-beaters away from having a better league record than Creighton right now. Not that it means a GOD DAMN thing, but you know...

Can you imagine if our best post player hurt his foot and we haven't won a game since and people assume you are dropping close games because SAME OLD NEBRASKA.

I don't see why everybody is getting all whiny about the crowds...Nebraska fans are some of the biggest whiners when it comes to stupid crap like this. We're a .500 team, there are no students. Crowds for .500 teams over semester break SUCK! Always have. But, here's the deal. EVERYBODY complains about their crowd lacking energy, or it's the crowd's fault we lost or some complete horse shut like that. Even Kentucky fans have been whining lately about their crowds. Our crowds are fine. Gol-lee, give the whining a rest!