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Posted

I'm curious where Nebraska ranks in terms of funding WBB? Watching the game last night and watching the reaction on twitter and thinking back a couple of years to how much support this program got when they were on their magic carpet ride to 29-0, there's no reason this program couldn't be a powerhouse.  Do we know if the AD funds the program similarly to the likes of a UCONN or Tennessee?   Perhaps with the new facilities, it's closer than I realize, but I'd love to see it get to that level, if it's not.  

Posted

Well, the WBB got the same facilities the men did when Hendrix was constructed.  Not sure how many ipod docs they have in their toilet stalls since I, ahem, didn't tour the women's rooms ... but, yeah, anyway, they have as nice as the men and the men's are nicer than just about anyone else in the country.  So, I think you could assume that the Husker women have facilities that rank with the best women's programs in the nation.  Might be some on the same level but probably none better.

 

And we're quickly gaining an elite national rep.  Two Sweet 16s in the last 4 years?  Not a lot of programs have done any better than that.  That and the facilities will get your foot in the door with some pretty high level kids, I would think.

 

And we have one of the top players in the 2015 class already wrapped up.

Posted

I would like to see the program take the next step as well. It's a hard thing to pull off and maintain in the Midwest though. Programs like Purdue and Iowa State have knocked on the door (especially Purdue, who won a national championship in the 90's I believe), but never truly reached equal footing with UConn, Tennessee, Stanford, Duke, Maryland, etc.

 

Even a wonderful, consistent program like Oklahoma still struggles to keep up with the blue bloods on the women's side. There's such a disparity in talent between the 1/2 seeds and the rest of the country, with UConn, Stanford, Tennessee, Duke, and now Baylor stockpiling High School All-Americans who would rather sit the bench and win a championship than come to a place like Nebraska and be a star.

 

That being said, I think there's a big enough talent base here in the state for Nebraska to be a consistent top 4 team in the B1G. The key to getting to the next level (i.e. perennial Sweet 16 fixture) is probably starting to win recruiting battles with schools like Purdue, Oklahoma, Penn State, etc.

Posted

Good point, 86.  I think it is important to recognize that there is a decent enough supply of in-state talent that it can keep you in the hunt.  Less pressure to fill a roster with out-of-state kids.  You can't feast entirely on in-state kids but there are enough that are of good enough quality that you can avoid some of the cyclical dips that other programs might face.  Provided you can lock down the borders of the state, which we hanen't necessarily done. 

 

But there is a sufficient supply of decent players here, with the occasional superstar (Hooper and Shepard), that we should generally be able to field a pretty solid team.  And just go looking to try to snag some elite players from around the nation.  The lady Huskers are in a good position in that way.  Hard to think back on a team that didn't have solid contributions from local girls. 

Posted

Also look at what Creighton has done with a roster dominated by Nebraskans. NCAA's two years in a row, won a game this year, and gave Tennesssee a scare for a little while.

 

Creighton has had a bunch of Nebraska players that may not have starred in the Big 12/10, but would've been solid contributers. I'm thinking of players like Christy Neneman, Angie Janis, Megan Neuvirth, Sam Schuett, Sarah Nelson, Kelsey Woodard, Chevelle Herring, McKenzie Fujan...not all would have been starters at Nebraska, but I think they all would've at the very least played 15-20 solids minutes/game for Connie. Nebraska is a fairly talent-rich state for girls basketball and it's reflected on the rosters of both CU and NU.

Posted

That said HF86 my fear is that with Creighton having that kind of success in the post season they will be most likely looking for a new coach in the coming months unless the lure of playing in the Big East keeps Flanery in Omaha. If Flanery should happen to jump ship Bruce Rasmasson the Creighton AD will most likely be coming 50 miles west down I-80 to talk to Dayna Finch.

 

My other fear is that other Mid-major colleges who let their head coaches go will be contacting AD Eichorst about Coach Sunny as she's enjoyed success at every stop she's made. I'm not sure just exactly what her salary is here but what she gets now may be more than some mid majors are willing to pay.  I think she's too valuable in recruiting and coaching to let go without a fight. 

 

I think a major reason having the level of success we've had is a direct result of having continuity in the coaching staff and it starts with Sunny.  

Posted

I guess I'm not talking about building a solid program, I'm talking about building a nationally elite program, similar to the level of the volleyball program.  It's nice to build a program that goes to the tournament about every other year, but I don't see any reason why this can't be a top 10 program annually.  With the upgrades in facilites and the stature that comes with the "Nebraska" label, there's no reason why this team can't go from solid program to elite.  That's what I want to see for Yori and her team.  I think they can do it, I'm just wondering if there's commitment from the athletic department to get them to that next level.

Posted

I don't get the feeling that Coach Sunny is going anywhere.  This is verfied by the following paragraphs about her in a story by Randy York

 

"Make no mistake. Smallwood enjoys the obscurity of being a lead recruiter without a
head coaching title. She’s also the Huskers’ defensive coordinator, the position
coach for the future WNBA first-round point guard she personally recruited and
the fill-in for the 2010 National Coach of the Year and the 2013 Big Ten Coach
of the Year. Smallwood, who’s also responsible for all aspects of Nebraska’s
individual player development workouts and plays a major role in scouting
opponents, was an interim head coach at both Cal in the Pac-12 and Nebraska when
Yori endured medical problems last season.


 

If you watch Nebraska women’s basketball during timeouts, you’ll see Smallwood as
the first point of contact on the floor. She’s always planning, always coaching,
always motivating. Filling in on a postgame radio interview so her boss, friend
and eight-year colleague can meet the press NCAA style is a seamless experience
for Sunny Smallwood. A Boise native, a firm believer in Yori’s ideals and a
proven, dedicated and loyal assistant, Nebraska does not miss a beat with
Smallwood holding the reins. It’s like having two head coaches on the same
bench.

 

Now Dayna might be a different story.  She is a rising star and has about reached the stage where is might want to move on.  But being a new mother and having a husband with a good job, also being a midwestern girl who loves it here we will see I guess.

 

Just my take.   

Posted

I guess I'm not talking about building a solid program, I'm talking about building a nationally elite program, similar to the level of the volleyball program.  It's nice to build a program that goes to the tournament about every other year, but I don't see any reason why this can't be a top 10 program annually.  With the upgrades in facilites and the stature that comes with the "Nebraska" label, there's no reason why this team can't go from solid program to elite.  That's what I want to see for Yori and her team.  I think they can do it, I'm just wondering if there's commitment from the athletic department to get them to that next level.

 

I would say yes the University is making a commitment, here's what's happening just with this NCAA tourney run.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska women's basketball coach Connie Yori's postseason bonus would grow to more than $75,000 if the Cornhuskers beat Duke in the NCAA tournament on Sunday. Yori already has earned $61,250 in extra money under terms of her contract. That includes $31,250 for making the national tournament and $30,000 for advancing through two rounds.

 

The more the Huskers win in the tournament, the more Yori makes. Yori's bonus would be $76,250 with a win over Duke,

$106,250 if Nebraska goes to the Final Four and $131,250 if the Huskers win the national championship.

 

Yori's bonus incentives are outlined in the 5-year contract she signed last August. Her base salary is $673,200.

Posted

Another aspect of funding is the Fastbreakers (NU women's booster club). Just last summer the booster club sent the team, coaches and other personnel to Europe on an all expenses paid 12 day adventure where they played like six games with squads made up of different European countries from Norway down to Denmark. The Fastbreakers also do things for the team inside the Hendricks center and help out with other various events for the team through out the year. 

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