uneblinstu's Post Game Chatter: Vol 9, Ed 9 - Creighton

[Silverbacked1]

18 minutes ago, hskr4life said:

6-4 was probably realistic when we first got our schedule.  5-5 was a real possibliity.  We are going to accomplish one or the other.  That to me tells me we are on track.

 

It hasn't been pretty.  Offense is like a solar eclipse.  It's amazing when we see it, but it's a rare sight.  My biggest hope is that the guys are more ready for the grind of the Big 10.

 

Guys... you put this team against Rutgers or Purdue schedule and we are sitting at 8-1 or whatever.  All high and mighty and yet to be challenged.  Is that what we really want?

 

We have seen some good basketball from these guys.  We have also seen some really bad basketball.  I know at 5-4, it is tough to see a bright spot, but it has been fun.  

 

We have played UCLA, CU and soon to be KU.  All legit top 10-15 teams.  We have also played Dayton, Clemson, and VA Tech.  All legit NCAA tourney quality teams.  I have loved watching us compete and play these guys.  Much more fun than blowing out Mary.

 

We will only be better for the schedule we have faced.  I just hope the players can see that.  Our schedule is up there with the best teams in the nation.  So yes... we are just 5-4.  But I look at who we have played.  Ask yourself... would you rather be 8-1 and have played terrible teams?

Could we have played a couple of kind of crappy teams and be 6-3?

[huskerbaseball13]

7 minutes ago, hskr4life said:

6-4 was probably realistic when we first got our schedule.  5-5 was a real possibliity.  We are going to accomplish one or the other.  That to me tells me we are on track.

 

It hasn't been pretty.  Offense is like a solar eclipse.  It's amazing when we see it, but it's a rare sight.  My biggest hope is that the guys are more ready for the grind of the Big 10.

 

Guys... you put this team against Rutgers or Purdue schedule and we are sitting at 8-1 or whatever.  All high and mighty and yet to be challenged.  Is that what we really want?

 

We have seen some good basketball from these guys.  We have also seen some really bad basketball.  I know at 5-4, it is tough to see a bright spot, but it has been fun.  

 

We have played UCLA, CU and soon to be KU.  All legit top 10-15 teams.  We have also played Dayton, Clemson, and VA Tech.  All legit NCAA tourney quality teams.  I have loved watching us compete and play these guys.  Much more fun than blowing out Mary.

 

We will only be better for the schedule we have faced.  I just hope the players can see that.  Our schedule is up there with the best teams in the nation.  So yes... we are just 5-4.  But I look at who we have played.  Ask yourself... would you rather be 8-1 and have played terrible teams?

 

I had us at 8-4 in the non-con so we will likely only be a game off from where I saw us at.  Our record doesn't surprise me.   But, what's frustrating is how we continue to struggle on the offensive end.  Five years running and we have been bad to mediocre on that end of the court.  And, I don't know if we have the pieces to the puzzle to correct it this year or even next year.  That, and Miles continues to get his teeth kicked in by Creighton...at home nonetheless. 

[hhcmatt]

50 minutes ago, Silverbacked1 said:

Yeah my son turned to last night and said "if I'm Horne I'm looking for somewhere else next year, I didn't come here to play the last 18 sec. of a blow out loss."

 

I know most of us would say WTF but my son is of the age of these players and even though they know they would have to really talk to me about transfering I can see where he is coming from.  He does need to see the floor more.

 

Just the ways of the world now.

 

Not all coaches do but Miles plays freshmen. I do not know what that reason is but there is a reason he isn't playing right now.  You can see the obvious need for his skill set so he needs to keep working so that when he does get called, and he certainly will, he'll be ready.

[Silverbacked1]

I think it should help that his dad played D1.  Just something that was said last night.  I think he can and will play a lot this year.

 

 

[Buglem]

34 minutes ago, hskr4life said:

6-4 was probably realistic when we first got our schedule.  5-5 was a real possibliity.  We are going to accomplish one or the other.  That to me tells me we are on track.

 

It hasn't been pretty.  Offense is like a solar eclipse.  It's amazing when we see it, but it's a rare sight.  My biggest hope is that the guys are more ready for the grind of the Big 10.

 

Guys... you put this team against Rutgers or Purdue schedule and we are sitting at 8-1 or whatever.  All high and mighty and yet to be challenged.  Is that what we really want?

 

We have seen some good basketball from these guys.  We have also seen some really bad basketball.  I know at 5-4, it is tough to see a bright spot, but it has been fun.  

 

We have played UCLA, CU and soon to be KU.  All legit top 10-15 teams.  We have also played Dayton, Clemson, and VA Tech.  All legit NCAA tourney quality teams.  I have loved watching us compete and play these guys.  Much more fun than blowing out Mary.

 

We will only be better for the schedule we have faced.  I just hope the players can see that.  Our schedule is up there with the best teams in the nation.  So yes... we are just 5-4.  But I look at who we have played.  Ask yourself... would you rather be 8-1 and have played terrible teams?

Whoa, why are you posting a rational, balanced analysis of the season on a message board?  Don't you know this is a place to totally overreact to one loss against a top 10 team and talk about how the sky is falling, we are never going to be good and our coach needs fired, pronto?  For shame sir! 

 

I love your post, thank you!  I really just want to move on from last night and get past all the overreactions as soon as possible.  The sun came up this morning, it's cold in December in Nebraska and our freshmen and sophomores are still freshmen and sophomores.  Nothing much changed when we lost last night.  

[atskooc]

3 hours ago, jayschool said:

I'm so tired.

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no.

I'm so tired, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid git.

You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

Give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind.

Fitting for today.

[49r]

@hskr4life thanks for pointing the SOS out, and for anyone interested, I posted some more analysis of our relative SOS and record in the KenPom thread.  It's pretty telling that our schedule was highly ambitious, even before we lost AW3 to transfer, so 5-4 shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

 

I pointed out over there that our non-con SOS is currently first in the B1G at #20, and if you look at the RPI it's even higher, with a predicted overall SOS of #6 in the country!  I mean holy moly!!!

[The Polish Rifle]

15 minutes ago, Buglem said:

Whoa, why are you posting a rational, balanced analysis of the season on a message board?  Don't you know this is a place to totally overreact to one loss against a top 10 team and talk about how the sky is falling, we are never going to be good and our coach needs fired, pronto?  For shame sir! 

 

I love your post, thank you!  I really just want to move on from last night and get past all the overreactions as soon as possible.  The sun came up this morning, it's cold in December in Nebraska and our freshmen and sophomores are still freshmen and sophomores.  Nothing much changed when we lost last night.  

I tend to agree with you, I think very highly of our young talent. But to play devils advocate, 3 years ago I was saying "Just wait until Hammonds, Hawkins, Pitchford, Smith and Fuller develop, then Creighton is in some real trouble." What remains to be seen is if this staff can develop these guys, and put them in a position to be successful. 

[uneblinstu]

37 minutes ago, Silverbacked1 said:

Could we have played a couple of kind of crappy teams and be 6-3?

For sure. But they beat Dayton.

[49r]

Just now, The Polish Rifle said:

I tend to agree with you, I think very highly of our young talent. But to play devils advocate, 3 years ago I was saying "Just wait until Hammonds, Hawkins, Pitchford, Smith and Fuller develop, then Creighton is in some real trouble." What remains to be seen is if this staff can develop these guys, and put them in a position to be successful. 

 

That's a very solid point.  Miles' biggest challenge will be keeping the freshmen and sophomores together (and at Nebraska) to develop into the kind of team we hope they can be.  So far his track record on this point has been let's say less than stellar.

[Buglem]

4 minutes ago, The Polish Rifle said:

I tend to agree with you, I think very highly of our young talent. But to play devils advocate, 3 years ago I was saying "Just wait until Hammonds, Hawkins, Pitchford, Smith and Fuller develop, then Creighton is in some real trouble." What remains to be seen is if this staff can develop these guys, and put them in a position to be successful. 

Totally agree.  The main difference I see is the level of athleticism and talent as a whole.  I haven't seen it at this level since the Nee days.  I'm not saying be patient forever, just that anyone that didn't think we would see growing pains isn't being too rational.  That team we played last night had a senior point guard and experienced talent at every position (except center where they have an NBA talent).  My view on the team this year hasn't changed in the last 24 hours.

[49r]

5 minutes ago, uneblinstu said:

For sure. But they beat Dayton.

 

Exactly.  If you wanted more wins (and I'd argue with our young roster, it might have been beneficial to get the cupcakes in Anaheim) then we needed to lose to Dayton.  We could be 6-3 instead of 5-4 but with maybe a #70-ish SOS.

Edited December 8, 2016 by 49r

[HuskerFever]

1 hour ago, hskr4life said:

6-4 was probably realistic when we first got our schedule.  5-5 was a real possibliity.

 

Well that's the joy of these bonus opportunities. Here's what people were thinking before the season started:

 

 

[hhcmatt]

Creighton games typically go hand in hand with first posting days.

[49r]

1 minute ago, hhcdimes said:

Creighton games typically go hand in hand with first posting days.

 

...and last, too.  Speaking of which, has anyone heard from @Hoops_Legend today?

[Huskerpapa]

I am one torked dude.  Was mad last night and I am disappointed today.  Nuff said.  I am laying low for a few days.  Otherwise, I likely would say some things I may regret when I cool down.

[uneblinstu]

32 minutes ago, 49r said:

 

Exactly.  If you wanted more wins (and I'd argue with our young roster, it might have been beneficial to get the cupcakes in Anaheim) then we needed to lose to Dayton.  We could be 6-3 instead of 5-4 but with maybe a #70-ish SOS.

There's no gurantee it changes the record much, though. If NU loses to Dayton then beats Portland they'd have faced off with New Mexico which is no gimmie for NU. Maybe they pick up an extra win, but It's no sure thing.

[OmahaHusker]

For people saying Jordy is better than Patton....stop it. Just need to emphasize that.

 

I also thought we were gonna take more advantage of them being a sub-par rebounding team. But then I think to myself, are we really at a point with this team that our strength was hoping that the ball bounced a certain way when either team missed? The answer is yes. Because relying on our D-1 level talent to knock down an open look is just too daunting of a task and too much to ask.

 

The Huff/Morrow matchup was supposed to be where we had the advantage yet Cole goes 4-5 from 3 and Ed was almost non-existent. Just a horrible game that I need to forget about.

 

 

[49r]

14 minutes ago, uneblinstu said:

There's no gurantee it changes the record much, though. If NU loses to Dayton then beats Portland they'd have faced off with New Mexico which is no gimmie for NU. Maybe they pick up an extra win, but It's no sure thing.

 

Well I did say "could be" 6-3. ?

[hhcmatt]

12 minutes ago, OmahaHusker said:

For people saying Jordy is better than Patton....stop it. Just need to emphasize that.

 

You're combining, at least in this thread, one post and a bunch of people saying that post is way off as "people saying"

[nerdofalltrades]

1 hour ago, Hooper said:

Hooper

I'm not really blaming SE, have heard from many that he is a good man and cares about the kids and university, just saying that there is something endemic within the AD that has been pervasive for years spanning many people, I'm not even sure what it is.  With all the resources available, the Men's athletic department shouldn't flounder for 15 years.  That was my point.

 

 

1 hour ago, Hooper said:

Nerd, your premise that the mens' sports at Nebraska have been a disaster since the 1990s is easy to get behind. Where you lose me, however, is in your conclusion that Eichorst is the man to blame. I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. If anything, the problems are far more attributable to Steve Pedersen, Marc Boehm and Tom Osborne. TO is the one who hired Bo Pelini, Darin Erstad and Tim Miles.

 

Shawn Eichorst's role in the relative success of the football program is another story, though I still stand behind his management of that program and the decisions he's made. I also have no problem with his love for The Energy Bus and its essential philosophy about how to lead people in a positive manner. 

 

I do, however, take issue with your insistence on blaming him for the state of the basketball program. If you're dissatisfied with the basketball program, then you should turn your attention toward Osborne, Boehm and Miles. SE didn't hire Miles or any of his assistants. All he's done is exactly what he should do, which is to offer support and encouragement while at the same time emphasizing accountability by failing to renew Miles' contract extension. What else would you have him do?

 

Shawn Eichorst's leadership of the AD is just fine in my view. If Miles deserves to be shown the door, I have little doubt that Eichorst will act accordingly, but blaming him for the poor state of this basketball program seems very much out of left field to me.

 

[Nebrasketballer]

4 hours ago, Buglem said:

I'll respectfully disagree and that's the problem with the crowd.  I guess I see our job as helping provide energy when the team needs it, not when the team shows they deserve it.  The whole crowd was expecting a loss in the second half and instead of getting off their asses and cheering to provide energy or a spark for the team, they sat there waiting for the inevitable.  If we always wait for the team to do something exciting before cheering I believe we are all missing the point.

Can you show me a fan base that supports their basketball program as well as this fan base does, while being as unwatchable as Nebraska has been since Nee left?

 

Can you show me a program that sells out their arena like Nebraska fans, while having multiple consecutive sub-.500 seasons?

 

Can you show me another fan base of a program that rarely makes it to the NCAA Tournament bubble, even more rarely actually makes it into the NCAA Tournament, and has literally never won an NCAA Tournament game, but still has even close to the level of support that Nebrasketball fans have for the program?

 

The problem is not the fans.

 

The problem is a coaching staff that cannot seem to coach anything that resembles a legitimate college level offense. Fans respond to production on the court. That's the way it is.

 

Edited December 8, 2016 by Nebrasketballer

[AuroranHusker]

1 hour ago, hhcdimes said:

 

Not all coaches do but Miles plays freshmen. I do not know what that reason is but there is a reason he isn't playing right now.  You can see the obvious need for his skill set so he needs to keep working so that when he does get called, and he certainly will, he'll be ready.

 

It's Horne on D. That's the issue as it were. Hope both Roby & Horne can get over the FROSH hump, because the Big Ten will be a grind.

[hhcmatt]

Just now, AuroranHusker said:

It's Horne on D. That's the issue as it were. Hope both Roby & Horne can get over the FROSH hump, because the Big Ten will be a grind.

 

He's talented enough offensively to the point that what he really needs to figure out is when he enters the game his focus needs to be on who he will shutdown or where he should be instead of trying to show everyone he can score. The offense will come naturally without the focus.

[huskerbaseball13]

14 minutes ago, AuroranHusker said:

 

It's Horne on D. That's the issue as it were. Hope both Roby & Horne can get over the FROSH hump, because the Big Ten will be a grind.

 

At some point this staff is going to have to concede that they may have to give up some on defense to get young guys minutes and or offense on the court. It's probably doubtful Horne is the answer to our prayers but to this point its clear even playing good defense we are going to struggle to win against good Big Ten teams.  We need a little help on the offensive end.  With that said, I think we will see Horne's minutes increase from here on out.