Nebrasketball1979

Stay with me for a minute... We obviously need to continue to win to force our way into any type of postseason discussion. Our computer rankings keep us well off the national radar. Hypothetically speaking, if this team stays on the run they are on, I think a committee of humans would look favorably on the resume while factoring in team story/context (multiple injuries and team reset, etc). But to get there, we really need the national media to jump on board and start pushing the narrative of this team and the oddities in the computer rankings versus the actual resume and hopeful eye test. In order to get there, a win on Sunday is a must. Here is how I think and hope it plays out. Get a win on Sunday, and a convincing win would help, and I think the Andy Katz' of the world start to really take notice and see the path for Nebraska to somehow finish at 10-10 in the league. It will at first become a cute story because the team was left for dead and they would realistically still need to win 5 more games at that point to really be talking NCAA berth. Then, once we beat Minnesota and Michigan State at home, I think the national media attention really ramps up. Instead of the cute story, it's like...holy shit, Fred Hoiberg isn't getting fired and there is really something special brewing in Lincoln. Our computer rankings will be improved but will still really be scrutinized at this point and I think a lot of the points everyone has made above become talking points (no bad losses, amount of Q1 games, overcoming injuries, etc). There will be comparisons of Nebraska's resume to teams 20 spots higher and the same conclusions will be drawn...computers be damned, Nebraska has the better resume. The NCAA committee members will take notice. We will start getting reminded again how the team has never won an NCAA tournament game and we will become a feel good story and media darling. The national media will fully embrace Keisei and the hardworking nature of this team. The buildup to the final regular season game at Iowa will be like nothing seen since no-sit Sunday. All that stands between Nebraska and relevancy this season is three home wins. What seemed impossible to say and think a few weeks ago is suddenly very much on the table. Let's take care of business on Sunday and enjoy the ride to the end!

NU - 72 Mary - 64

Savages!!

Wow, tough crowd. You've been holding this one in your back pocket for quite some time! Hopefully no one takes.the time to find all my strong opinions I have been horribly wrong about.

I hear you and understand the sentiment but we are seeing results in the here and now. There are 4 games left in the regular season and then the BIG tournament and then, well.... Heading into today I thought beating a physical Rutgers team on the road was probably a pipe dream. So, continuing to puff on that pipe, whose to say this team can't run the table in the regular season. Three at home and one very difficult game at Iowa who we already trucked. What if we we get to 17-14 and then win the first two in the BIG tournament. I am hoping for results this year still. While still unlikely, it's not as crazy as it was three hours ago.

The most satisfying part of that win is that it wasn't a fluke. We won the first half and then dominated them the last 12 minutes of that 2nd half. Great win

WOW....YES!!!!!!!

I cannot wait to listen to the replay

Unbelievable effort and execution. Close these bums out!

How do we get a fundraising drive going for Keisei's girlfriend since he can't receive NIL.

I wonder.if his ankle acted up after the adrenaline of the Wisconsin game wore off

We withstood their opening punch. Great response to start the 2nd half

That has to be the best offensive half of basketball of the Hoiberg era considering the competition. We really cut down on the turnovers the last 10 minutes and that will be key in the second half.

Um yeah, this is exactly how I thought the game would go. Wilcher starting and hitting three threes. Clearly I am not qualified to be a college coach because I was really questioning the sanity, wisdom and brain health of Hoiberg.

Rutgers - 67 NU - 62

Isn't this what makes the world go round

As some have pointed out, margin of victory is clearly part of the formula when you look at our wins and relative losses compared to other schools with similar Quad 1-4 records that are ranked substantially higher than us. To me it looks like we need some style points in both are wins and losses down the stretch. But, if we do manage to go 17-17, I would be shocked if we aren't higher in the NET than we are today. Would it be enough to jump 30-40 spots. Who the heck knows.

Yeah, I believe the CBI and CIT (renamed The College Basketball Classic) typically allow sub .500 records. These are pay to play tournaments and generally do not include Power 5 teams.

Ha, yeah, 100 in the NET isn't going to cut it. I know the NIT awards automatic bids to teams that win their regular season conference race but lose in the tournament. That will probably suck up 10 or so spots in the NIT but that is purely a guess. Plus, you have, I don't know, 16 or more teams make the NCAA tournament (thinking seeds 13-16) and would otherwise not qualify if not for winning their conference tourney and having the auto bid. So, that's roughly 26 out of the 100 that would be well below 100 in the NET rankings. My guess, having done no research, is that at worst you probably need to be in the 60's to low 70's to sniff NIT at large territory.

There is no difference between the 12 seed and 13 seed but a huge difference between the 11 and 12 seeds. Get the 11 seed and you avoid being in Purdue's half of the bracket in perhaps an unrealistic scenario where we go on a big run. It doesn't hurt to dream though!

I did not but I thoroughly enjoyed the 2nd half and overtime of undeniable progress.

Yeah, especially after he air balled his previous attempt! I could hear Rafferty yelling "ONIONS" after that shot!

I think this is accurate for today but I'm not as dismissive as you are on his future prospects. He needs to add some weight and develop defensively and he also needs to develop his handles. Going into this season, I thought he was more of a three point specialist along with a defensive liability. I never imagined him developing into our best and most creative finisher at the rim. Whose to say he can't surprise us all again next season and further develop his weaknesses. He's listed at 6'2, that might be generous, but he's not prohibitively small. I believe the American version of Keisei Tominaga is also listed at 6'2 as well. Just saying.

NU - 68 Wisc - 63

24* *vs. Michigan 2/8/23