Suprise Teams of the Husker Men's BB Program

[HuskerCager]

Norm's question on another thread got me to thinking about this.  Obviously this team is blowing away preseason predictions.  Can you think of other teams that exceeded expectations and how much of a surprise is this year compared to other years?  Here are my thoughts - in my lifetime anyway.  Let's hear yours.

1.  1977-78.  This team lost Bob Siegel, Ricky Harris and Allen Holder from a 14-13 team the prior year and were picked 7th in the Big 8.  But they went on to a 22-8 record, first postseason (NIT) bid in 12 years and finished 2nd in th Big Eight.  Were rated in the top 20 (not 25) for several weeks during the regular season.  Led by the Hammond Hustlers - Carl McPipe and Brian Banks (both Jrs).  Got a major boost from a couple of freshmen - Andre Smith, and a skinny guard named Mike Naderer.  In my book, this team holds the gold standard for blowing away preseason expectations.

2.  1990-91.  I suspect this will be everyone else's first choice.  After all, they were picked last in the Big 8, yet finished 2nd with a 9-5 conference record.  They set a record for wins in one season (26).  And I'm pretty sure they set a Husker record for improvement on won-loss record over the prior year (10-18).  But I don't think you could call this team as much of a surprise as the 77-78 team, because people knew this team had some major talent, had a couple of talented freshmen - Piatkowski and Chubick - sitting out the prior year.  And quite frankly, the 89-90 team underperformed.  Still - a great story!

3.  2013-14.  We already know the story about this team.  I could see this team sliding into 2nd or 1st if we get to the NCAA and garner a win there.  This is still an incomplete story, obviously but I'll put them at #3 for now.

Others worth mention (in no particular order)
1965-66 - I'm too young to remember this team.  Made a huge improvement over Cip's 1st/2nd teams (20-5 vs 10-15).  One of only two top-ten teams in the Husker program.  Might be a team that deserves rating over the others above.

1979-80 - Team lost McPipe, Banks and a couple other Sr's from a 14-13 team to graduation and dealt with Cip's illness prior to his death, yet finished tied for 2nd in the Big 8.

1982-83 - Definite improvement in the won-loss column (22-10 vs 16-12) over the prior year, but I don't think this was too much of a surprise given Hoppen's entry into the roster.

Am I missing a team?

[tcp]

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

[hal9000]

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

We have four future NBA players on that squad.

[HuskerCager]

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

Couldn't agree with you more.  Other bad surprise - 1978-79 - only one senior leaves a 22-8 team, yet we finish 14-13.  Despite being pre-season rated.

[tcp]

 

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

Couldn't agree with you more.  Other bad surprise - 1978-79 - only one senior leaves a 22-8 team, yet we finish 14-13.  Despite being pre-season rated.

 

 

isn't that the season cip got sick, though? that would mess a team up, especially then, without all the miracle crap they have now.

[HuskerCager]

 

 

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

Couldn't agree with you more.  Other bad surprise - 1978-79 - only one senior leaves a 22-8 team, yet we finish 14-13.  Despite being pre-season rated.

 

 

isn't that the season cip got sick, though? that would mess a team up, especially then, without all the miracle crap they have now.

 

No, actually that was the next year.  Iba was named acting head coach and the team had an 18-13 record.

[lang]

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

We have four future NBA players on that squad.

I only count 3..Lue, Strick and Mikki. Did Vincent ever make a roster?

[AuroranHusker]

 

 

bad surprise would be the 1995-1996 team. Loaded. At least on paper. And then the revolt. And then the NIT recovery.

We have four future NBA players on that squad.

I only count 3..Lue, Strick and Mikki. Did Vincent ever make a roster?

 

 

 

Venson Hamilton was drafted in the 2nd rd of the NBA Draft. And, Jaron Boone certainly had enough talent to play there.

[trickey]

Others worth mention (in no particular order)

1965-66 - I'm too young to remember this team.  Made a huge improvement over Cip's 1st/2nd teams (20-5 vs 10-15).  One of only two top-ten teams in the Husker program.  Might be a team that deserves rating over the others above

 

I am old enough to remember this team that had the misfortune of being in the era when only one team from a conference went to the dance...and we lived with Kansas...We were in the top 10 during March...but no tourney.

 

In today's format this team would have a puncher's chance of winning it all...This was the infamous year when Texas- El Paso (Western) broke the color barrier...

Everybody recalls they beat the all white Kentucky team...BUT...

 

that was after they beat Kansas by 1 point in 2 OTs in the quarterfinals!

 

We split a home and home with Kansas that year.

 

This team could'a would'a made a serious run at history!