2022-2023 HHCC Final Standings

[HuskerFever]

Let's reflect on the season for a moment.

 

We started out the season with some mild optimism. We beat some early cupcakes and were showing some decent form, then we get hit in the jaw by St. John's. Then optimism starts to dwindle as we lose 2 games back-to-back in the ESPN Events Invitational in Florida. Among injuries and starters not performing well, we still muster up three straight wins. We solidified our Nebraska state title and the energy in the program is starting to resurge. Although we went 1-2 against top 15 teams, we held Indiana close for awhile and we took Purdue to OT (or they took us to OT). We survived all of the cupcake trap games for the season, but our fans weren't expecting much out of the conference season. We start out 3-9 in the Big Ten (losing 6 of our last 7 games) and Hoiberg's name was essentially etched into the hot seat at this point. But then we go on a 6 game run over our next 8 games to close out the conference season. Having beat Creighton, Iowa twice, and Wisconsin all in one season. All of a sudden there's some long-shot NCAA tournament conversations and, more realistically, NIT hopeful conversation brewing. Aaaaaaaaaaaand then a shot back down to reality after losing the first round game in the Big Ten tournament to last-place Minnesota (now 5-12 in Big Ten tournament games, with Hoiberg seeking his first win in four tries).

In retrospect, it was almost as if we went on this wild ride where the pinnacle would get you close enough to have hope, but not even close enough to have a shot at any postseason.

 

All that said, I looked at some prior "Final Standings" HHCC threads and we're in a completely different place today. Last season still had some COVID scheduling adjustments, the season prior had massive cancellation and rescheduling impacts, and the season prior we saw Hoiberg crouched over with the flu in the Big Ten tournament. The world is different now than it was before. Health and safety, NIL funding, relaxed transfer portal rules and COVID extensions, Brad Davison finally retired, etc. We're losing some key contributors after this season, so there's likely as many unknowns next season as we've had over the last few seasons. How that will shake out? We'll find out soon enough.

 

With that said, here are your final results for the 2022-2023 Husker Hoops Central Challenge. We have, yet again, a 1-time winner of the HHCC trophy. Handy Johnson took the lead in the final two weeks and never looked back. And for everybody else, you contributed to knocking Ken Pomeroy out of the Top 10. LNKtrnsplnt and hhcmatt also take the podium this season, with silver and bronze, respectively.

 

Congratulations, Handy Johnson, and thank you everyone for taking part in HHCC this season! This game lives on because of the participation and contributions that you make throughout the season. Until next time.

 

2022-2023 HHCC Final Standings (End of Week 18)

1    Handy Johnson    934    NC    *
2    LNKtrnsplnt    950    NC    *
3    hhcmatt    951    U2    *
4    75unlgrad    956    NC    
5    HuskerFever    970    D2    *
6    Noah121    993    U1    
7    REDZONEDAN    1000    U1    *
8    BLB115    1004    U4    
9    AuroranHusker    1012    NC    *
10    MichHusker    1016    D4    *
11    TheNovice    1028    D1    
12    BjoeHusker    1037    U3    *
13    basketballjones    1042    U4    *
14    aphilso1    1045    D1    
^15    KenPom    1050    D1    *
15    Crush78    1062    U2    *
16    emwilliams    1062    D1    *
17    Cazzie22    1069    U1    *
18    demone    1082    U1    *
19    cornfed24-7    1093    D9    
20    jimmykc    1095    U4    *
21    roscoe    1097    U4    
22    throwback    1104    D1    *
23    Huskerpapa    1106    D1    *
24    Bugeaters1    1120    D4    *
25    Ralph Wiggum    1131    U7    *
26    roundball3    1150    NC    
27    SkersHoops    1158    U1    *
28    Silverbacked1    1159    U3    *
29    tcp    1164    D6    
30    twinswingohuskers    1165    D3    *
31    brfrad    1166    D2    *
32    hal9000    1252    D2    
33    hskr4life    1259    U1    *
34    nuhusker7    1262    U4    *
35    Nebrasketball1979    1272    D2    
36    UnicamMan    1290    D1    
37    Tallbaby21    1293    D1    
38    Vinny    1303    D1    
39    HuscurAdam    1321    NC    
40    NUtball    1380    NC    
41    NeeandMe    1439    NC    
42    bb33ch    1496    NC    
43    BigTate    1662    U1    
44    Cowboy Kermit    1669    D1    
45    colhusker    1934    U2    
46    1sdpad2    1951    D1    
47    hhctony    1972    D1    
48    4NUfans    2012    NC    
49    huskerbaseball13    2130    NC    
50    Busch Light    2349    U1    
51    bigred4    2355    D1    
52    mkroll12345    2405    NC    
53    Cornyfan1    2526    U1    
54    DudeAbides    2552    D1    
55    huskerbill85    2651    NC    
56    The Jazz Huddle    2668    NC    
57    nustudent    2738    U1    
58    Breslin Petteway    2740    D1    
59    ConkintheCorner    2742    NC    
60    uneblinstu    2819    NC    
61    Jurgey    2832    NC    
62    thrasher31    2875    NC    
63    busticket    2881    NC    
64    Cookie Crumbs    2883    NC    
65    HolyBobpilgrimage    2893    NA    
66    Husker Hoops Penitent    2895    D1    
67    Craytonhater    2925    NC    
68    Minnesota_Husker    2925    NA    
69    MontanaHusker    2925    D1    
70    Nighthawk    2939    D4    

 

Biggest Rise        Ralph Wiggum    U7
Biggest Fall        cornfed24-7    D9

 

(U# = Up, D# = Down, NC = No Change)
^ = Celebrity member: KenPom (Ken Pomeroy)
* = Did not miss a game prediction

[HuskerFever]

Game #33 neut. Minnesota Results (75-78 L)

 

Picked NU: 41 (93%)
Average NU Score: 75.8
Average Opp Score: 67.5
Average HHCC Score: 43.1
Median HHCC Score: 45.5
Mode HHCC Score: 47

 

1    Ralph Wiggum    -18
2    jimmykc    16
3    roscoe    19
4    BLB115    24
5    NUtball    27
6    Silverbacked1    27
7    basketballjones    32
8    nuhusker7    33
9    colhusker    37
10    Crush78    38
11    BigTate    39
12    BjoeHusker    39
13    LNKtrnsplnt    40
14    demone    41
15    HolyBobpilgrimage    41
16    Huskerpapa    41
17    aphilso1    42
18    Cazzie22    43
19    REDZONEDAN    44
20    SkersHoops    44
21    throwback    44
22    Nebrasketball1979    45
23    Handy Johnson    46
24    HuskerFever    46
25    75unlgrad    47
26    brfrad    47
27    Cornyfan1    47
28    Noah121    47
29    TheNovice    47
30    Bugeaters1    49
31    KenPom    49
32    bb33ch    50
33    hhcmatt    50
34    hskr4life    50
35    roundball3    50
36    tcp    52
37    emwilliams    53
38    AuroranHusker    56
39    twinswingohuskers    56
40    UnicamMan    56
41    Vinny    59
42    HuscurAdam    65
43    MichHusker    65
44    Minnesota_Husker    73

[HuskerFever]

BONUS 1:
# of NU Big Ten Tournament Wins: 0
# of correct HHCC participants: 3

jimmykc, Ralph Wiggum, roscoe

 

BONUS 2:
Didn't Miss a Game Prediction: 25 members

AuroranHusker, basketballjones, BjoeHusker, brfrad, Bugeaters1, Cazzie22, Crush78, demone, emwilliams, Handy Johnson, hhcmatt, hskr4life, HuskerFever, Huskerpapa, jimmykc, KenPom, LNKtrnsplnt, MichHusker, nuhusker7, Ralph Wiggum, REDZONEDAN, throwback, twinswingohuskers, Silverbacked1, SkersHoops

[HuskerFever]

Husker Hoops Central Challenge Wall of Fame:

2022-2023: (1) Handy Johnson, (2) LNKtrnsplnt, (3) hhcmatt; (^15) KenPom
2021-2022: (1) Ralph Wiggum, (2) BLB115, (3) LNKtrnsplnt; (^1) KenPom
2020-2021: (1) HuskerFever, (2) REDZONEDAN, (3) hhcmatt; (^2) KenPom
2019-2020: (1) Crush78, (2) Cazzie22, (3) aphilso1; (^5) KenPom
2018-2019: (1) Nebrasketball1979, (2) aphilso1, (3) demone; (^12) KenPom
2017-2018: (1) jimmykc, (2) Husker4Life, (3) hhcdimes; (^9) KenPom
2016-2017: (1) Husker4Life, (2) Crush78, (3) 1sdpad2; (^2) KenPom
2015-2016: (1) aphilso1, (2) Silverbacked1, (3) MichHusker
2015-2015: (1) 1sdpad2, (2) HB, (3) hhcdimes
2013-2014: (1) Buglem, (2) HB, (3) tcp
2012-2013: (1) HB, (2) Row6Seat10, (3) hhcdimes
[Unknown / Unarchived Results Prior to 2012]

 

Winningest Member:
1: 1sdpad2, aphilso1, Buglem, Crush78, Handy Johnson, HB, Husker4Life, HuskerFever, jimmykc, KenPom, Nebrasketball1979, Ralph Wiggum

 

Most Podiums (#1, #2, or #3):
5: hhcmatt
4: 
3: aphilso1, HB, KenPom
2: 1sdpad2, Crush78, Husker4Life, LNKtrnsplnt
1: BLB115, Buglem, Cazzie22, demone, Handy Johnson, HuskerFever, jimmykc, MichHusker, Nebrasketball1979, Ralph Wiggum, REDZONEDAN, Row6Seat10, Silverbacked1, tcp

 

Most Top 10 Finishes:
8: hhcmatt, HuskerFever
7: Crush78
6: 
5: HB, KenPom
4: aphilso1, BjoeHusker, BLB115, Buglem, Husker4Life, jimmykc, UnicamMan
3: 1sdpad2, AuroranHusker, LNKtrnsplnt, REDZONEDAN, tcp, trickey
2: 75unlgrad, Cazzie22, colhusker, ConkintheCorner, huskerbaseball13, MichHusker, Ralph Wiggum, Silverbacked1, WinningbyMiles
1: 4NUFans, BenJammin63, brfrad, Busch Light, demone, DorothyLynchHometownHero, emwilliams, Handy Johnson, hhccmatt, hskr4life, huskercwg, Nebrasketball1979, Noah121, NUtball, Row6Seat10, TheNovice, throwback, Vinny

[Huskerpapa]

Meh...top 25...not bad for me.

 

More importantly, a big thank you to HuskerFever for all your work on this challenge!  Very much appreciated!

Edited March 13, 2023 by Huskerpapa

[AuroranHusker]

Thanks 'Fever, always a fun diversion. Glad this season NU won some, hope for more dubs next year! GBR

 

 

[jimmykc]

Ditto to HuskerFever for all the work. I'll plan to be back next year to try for the elusive second # 1. 

[UnicamMan]

Thanks for running it again although I sucked this year at predictions.  

[hhcmatt]

56 minutes ago, HuskerFever said:

[Unknown / Unarchived Results Prior to 2012]

 

I have one of those in 2010 that I claim like a Minnesota Gopher football championship

[Bugeaters1]

 I went back through the years to see just how bad I am at this game. And to my surprise, I have been top 25 for all of two years.

[49r]

KenPom will grudgingly hand the crown over to @Handy Johnson and acknowledge just the second non top 10 finsh in the 7 years of participating, but rest assured...we will be back and better than ever next year!  Gird your loins HHCC'ers Ken's comin'!

[colhusker]

I can see based on my finish I need to come up with some NIL money for someone to pick my scores going forward.

[hskr4life]

I may suck at picking games, but I never miss a game!  
 

I feel like that’s basically like a pick em NIT trophy… maybe a pick ‘em CBI.

[Cazzie22]

A slow start was too much to overcome.  This Husker team was difficult to figure out.  It’s a fun challenge and thanks for the extra work in providing the HHCC!

[Handy Johnson]

3 hours ago, 49r said:

KenPom will grudgingly hand the crown over to @Handy Johnson and acknowledge just the second non top 10 finsh in the 7 years of participating, but rest assured...we will be back and better than ever next year!  Gird your loins HHCC'ers Ken's comin'!

Bring it On KenPom, in true Husker fashion, I’ve only just begun to FIGHT…! 

[AuroranHusker]

3 minutes ago, Handy Johnson said:

Bring it On KenPom, in true Husker fashion, I’ve only just begun to FIGHT…! 

 

Nice work, Handy.

 

[49r]

1 hour ago, Handy Johnson said:

Bring it On KenPom, in true Husker fashion, I’ve only just begun to FIGHT…! 

 

Iron sharpens iron!

[Noah121]

My first Top 10 finish!

[roscoe]

Think I'm a jinx to the team. Did my best when they were losing. Not sure I picked the correct winning team more than handful of times. If that's the case I may just pick against them every game next year.

And thanks HuskerFever for doing this.

Edited March 14, 2023 by roscoe