89Husker

It's hard to be pissed. More just resigned to our fate this year. Guys played hard, but they just make critical mistakes or aren't able to keep up because of their ability. And our leaders, now that the support crew is gone, make way too many mistakes to get us over the hump. I'm always an optimist, but I don't see any more wins unless guys play way above their norm. There will hopefully be a game where SG and DW don't have turnovers, and we make free throws like MD did today (24-26) and we will win.

It's unfortunate that our calling card defense this year is now a semblance of what it was. Denim is doing fine but imagine that rotation when someone driving baseline and pulling up for a short corner 2 has JG running at him instead of Dawson. Or if Berry has Bandoumel running at him instead of KT or Sam H?? I would feel a lot more confident also. I can also remember Juwan cleaning up the defensive boards vs Creighton - was probably best athlete on the floor that day, including Kaluma. We gave up 78 to Northwestern because, while the scheme is good, we don't have the horses to scare the other team now. Lawrence will be fine once he gets a little maturity under him to act like EB on defense. Right now, just kinda going through the motions. Give him two years and because he can play offense he may be a better version of EB.

maybe because it was clear Griesel and Bandoumel were going to get 80-90% of the backcourt minutes? Next year, if he's that good, he will get 80% of the minutes.

Matchups will be important. Especially the way we are willing to switch all the time. We may fair better than most because of our big guards (SG and EB) but if KT gets switched to Pickett that may be trouble. I just think Fred will find a way to exploit if they decide to go to small ball. Walker may be even better at high post because if his passing over a smaller 5. Of course, it may just come down to whether we can make any shots or not.

I mentioned this in another thread and I'm curious how FH will counter. I have seen PSU using Dredd in the 5 spot. This might work for them against Walker on D as he will have better chance at high post handling Walker, plus on offense Walker will need to come out and guard him for his ability to shoot 3. Of course, I am sure there are weaknesses for PSU with this strategy and hopeful FH will find ways to exploit.

Penn St has been posting Pickett and playing Dredd at the 5. Dredd will stand in the corner waiting for an open three. I wonder how FH will counter that. Wild guess that Dredd will be flopping every time Walker breaths on him.

This is kind of where I am right now, and I don't even know if I am "for" retaining FH. But the fact we beat Creighton and Iowa this year has exceeded my expectations.

I fully expected us to lose one of those "buy" games this year, maybe two. I expected a beat down by Creighton. So, based on our 3 prior years, we are 3-4 wins ahead of what I expected. It's the main reason I did not renew my season tickets this year. I regret that now. Assuming we get Griesel back, I think we will steal 4 or 5 more wins this year. maybe on the road at Penn St or something, and then a few at home. That would put is at 13-14 wins. After the last 3 years, that's much better than I expected this year. Edit: I'll add that, if we get to 14 wins, we will really regret the first Purdue game where we had chances to win at the end and couldn't pull it off.

We didn't lose any "buy" games We beat Creighton at Creighton We beat Iowa at our house We beat MN at their house What say you? Did you think we would be 9-9? Or is this about what you expected? Problem is, we will be without Gary for extended stretch. The rest of this may be real tough

I don't really buy the premise 2019 roster was going to be bad. If circumstances were different, and Kenya and Xavier Johnson were kept in the fold, 2017 and 2018 would have played out differently and the roster would have looked different. Davonte Davis is now a starter at a ranked Arkansas team. I am missing one or two others that were recruited and bailed out after the firing. Assume he would have found a transfer or two with guaranteed playing time available.

I'm with you, and yet the line is now 14 1/2. I will be pleasantly surprised if that ends up being the margin.

Yeah, we would have needed to play exceptional offense to have won this game. Mich St came ready to play and then they shot well. As Hoiberg said post-game, this game is not going to hurt us long term. There are half a dozen league games on the road where we could potentially "steal" a win. Starting on Saturday.

I remember when Frost was brought back, there was so much consternation about what if he were to achieve a 6-6/7-5 record. What would we do then?? I had a feeling then, as i do now, that we were going to get a feast or famine result. For Frost, it became obvious early it was famine and made the firing easy. With Fred, then next 5 games could tell us all we need to know. If he could go 3-2 or 4-1, this is going to be feast. Anything less, it may get to famine.

--our defense can keep us in many BIG games -that was outstanding most of the game. --when Thor, Lat, and others go 1-12 on threes, it will be tough for us to overcome. --the charge on Teddy, then block on Yvan, series was game-changer. 5 point swing and after that game over. amazing how a 30-60 second series of events can change the game. Need to figure out a way to overcome that. --Wisconsin 15-15 on FT's, we are 9-17. completely different game if we can step on their throat early. --I feel way better about how we can compete against the brutal schedule. We will scratch out some wins. --Guys need to play with swagger/confidence in waht they are doing . Vent over...

Not sure why we would want to run off the only guy on our roster who is taller than 6'6, especially since he is an in-state player, 6'11, with some skills (yeah, I know, not great skills). I am guessing that Brady doesn't need to be a prime-time player; he might be perfectly happy for his next 3 years filling a role on this team. Or maybe, when he adds 20 or 30 lbs, he might actually contribute more than that.

As a season ticket holder, I hope that he is not waiting for anything. I hope expects to play well, be entertaining, and win in 2019-20. If you have Jervay, Dachon, Davis, Harris, Arop, a bigger, stronger Heiman (that sounds weird...), maybe Roby, fill in with 2 or 3 eligible transfers or new recruits who want to play now, he will figure out way to be competitive. Italy would be a great way to get that new group on the same page.

Wow, amazing story. What a night! Regarding the Miles country club dinner, I may have attended that with you. Tim was great in that setting, and treated the fans awesome with great insight, inside info, and shared his basketball knowledge (contrary to the loud minority, he knows his X's and O's). I believe donors tried to have these dinners with Doc and Collier - just can't imagine that it would have been any fun... The good news for the future is that Miles has left everything in good shape. It's not like new coach is taking over 5 or 10 win team. 22 wins and 19 wins, just one step short of tournament. The new coach doesn't need to "turn around" anything, just needs to take the next step.

Thanks for perspective on this potential option. Without looking behind the numbers, there will be calls for his hiring.

Well, that's awesome then. I stand corrected. It sounds like Lewis is real good friends with Sharp, shares intel with him, and breaks bread. Then Sharp returns the favor by dissing Husker recruiting, poor-mouthing the team, and saying "Nebraska lost Omaha" on the radio earlier this year. This is after Lewis gets Heiman and Arop, and while he is trying for Sallis and Hepburn. Very helpful that the well-connected Husker alum that hosts Omaha sports show is bagging on the coaching staff while trying to get two major recruits out of the city. Lewis is probably thrilled with his good friend and Husker supporter.

I would hope he is, with as much knowledge as he drops during his show. But even so, if true, how does that contradict anything that I said? Sure, maybe it is just Miles he hates, but over the years, when he talks Nebrasketball, it is only to poor-mouth them or take a dig. And never a positive outlook, even with local guys Heiman and Arop. So, for him to try to dismiss Green on his radio show, not a shock at all.

You just cited Gary Sharp as a reference for Husker basketball, so you're info can't be too credible. That guy is not a Husker fan, nor is he an insider. He probably has Derrin's ear, sure. But he would never offer a positive opinion or outlook for Huskers. Just sayin'

6'6, no dribble, no drive, no defense, but can shoot in spurts. So, yeah, on this team next year, there is probably a spot for him.

"Hey, Kenya, I know this seems like a good career move, but we have decided to take a new approach with Husker basketball. We are "all in", like we are in football. Here's what that means to you.. Coach Miles is getting a 3 year extension. We want recruits to know he is our coach and we believe in him (and you). His assistants will be getting significant raises with extra term guaranteed We will make recruiting travel easier for the assistants, like we are for the football coaches Did I mention we are giving you a raise? We understand you want a career path, and we are on board with that. Tell us how we can help. We think you and Coach are going to be successful and we want to give you whatever support we can." I guess I am making the assumption that this would have kept Hunter here. Maybe not. But if Moos (or whomever is making the call at the University) wants to tell us fans that they care about basketball and are dedicated to make us relevant, this discussion should've happened then and, more importantly, should happen with whomever comes in next.

edit

Copeland was not all-conference but was part of the collective and filled his role perfectly (and fit in this team perfectly). Without him, I don't think NE starting five is better than anyone in conference other than NW.