Husker Hoops Penitent

Boom! https://athlonsports.com/college-basketball/nebraska-basketball-real-reasons-fred-hoiberg-was-plus-hire-cornhuskers

Great. Well, let's hope Watts and Dainja both sign with NU!

Interesting observation. I would be thrilled with Dainja. Isn't he a cousin of a football target of Frost?

I would be happy w/ Williams. I am really liking Davis the more I see/read about him, but we must land a couple of rim-walkers (the type Baylor, Texas Tech, and Oregon all lately have thrived with).

This will be a critical choice. (Also curious how many scholarships are likely available). My guess is we will have two.

Who are the prime targets for next year? I know the staff will be extremely selective. What names have been bandied about, if anyone remembers? My guess is they target a point guard and and the most athletic, good shooting, high skilled big man. (Not 6'6"- 6'8" but rather 6'10+). I think they go hard after Dainja, Garcia and Carlson from MN., and the 7-foot, five-star from Iowa, Xavier Foster. Have also heard good things about Hugley from OH. For smaller guys, the dream recruit would be Jalen Suggs (6'5" point guard from MN.) Apparently Hoiberg is going hard after him and has some kind of rapport with the Suggs family, and he does with Carlson's. Ideally Frost would sign him and it would be a windfall for Hoiberg who wouldn't have to spend a scholarship. It would also be great if Zaire Wade walks on (I'm guessing his father and mother wouldn't be too set back with the tuition). And it would be a great way to show their Husker support as opposed to merely wearing licensed merchandise.... Any thoughts?

Basketballjones nailed it! That is one of the best, most accurate summaries I have seen. Perfect scouting.

Well spotted regarding Maye. Nevertheless, a rare, and fortuitous development for NU!

Blackshear likely a dream sure but Ntambwe did visit....

I think both will not be remembered as walk-ons but as major contributors. I have followed basketball for years and can't remember someone as good/highly ranked as Easley walking on at a major program. Both guys may end up being the sleepers of the entire first recruiting class.

I heard they offered Blackshear but there has been radio silence since, for both actually. I still think landing someone like either of them gives NU a reason to think next year could be special.

Very good, thank you for the link. I will hold out hope that we will get an impact big man before the trip to Italy. I don't Hoiberg will come up short- still a lot of time to work the back channels.

Can't recall the source but someone on this board mentioned that it wouldn't be surprising if Hoiberg lands a grad. transfer after the May 15 signing date. I may be wrong but I thought grad. transfers can sign anytime. If so, I expect a nice surprise (read: mobile big man!) signing on before the trip to Italy. I think Cross aims low and signs w/ the Cowboys, by the way.

Tues. we will know about Cross. Ntambwe, does anyone know anything? He has gone radio silence. I do think Ouedraogo is a tremendous acquisition especially considering his age. One doesn't often see young men with that kind of muscular development as well as coordination. Imagine what he will do with the strength and conditioning complex at NU, and the staff's coaching. I predict in a couple of years commentators around the college world will be wondering how the elite programs didn't see him.

Two great days in a row. Sometimes I wonder if I am dreaming....

Wouldn't Ntambwe possibly be eligible since his coach was fired? Also, Cross would be immediately eligible.

Fantastic news today! Stevenson seems a real gem and will be a huge piece of the puzzle going forward. If he isn't exactly a Royce White he is about as close as one could hope. Now, my question to all and sundry Husker fans: what is likely to happen with the remaining 3-4 scholarships? Firstly, do we get Cross? Ntambwe? Do we stand a chance with Figueroa? I know many on this board are more knowledgeable than I but I won't be completely comfortable with the upcoming year's prospects quite yet unless we get prototypical Hoiberg-type big forward. Meaning, a 6'9'-6'11" guy who isn't the typical stiff NU usually has riding the bench. This team is aiming for the stars and that means a mobile, strong, skilled and aggressive big man. Are there still any good, Big Ten quality guys still available at this late date? What is the scuttlebutt? Any rumors? I want to thank the Lord for sending Fred Hoiberg to us.

Well that is an excellent prognosis to start this Sunday morning (I'm out in Duck Country, Eugene, Oregon).... Let's hope they bring in those two big "fish". Both would be huge pieces of the puzzle. What I have been reading about Johnson suggests he can be an elite rebounder and very good shot blocker, and Cross looks like one of those once a decade "steal" whom everyone is mystified as to why the traditional elites didn't discover him. He truly looks like he could walk on and start at any Big Ten team as a freshman. Will make the almost certain loss of Roby tolerable.

Haven't heard anything about Johnson and Cross. Any legitimate information out there?

Someone recently wrote how the good news/rumors are coming so fast that it is necessary to check the board multiple times per day. I agree and want to pose the question regarding a few players still on the roster. I don't think Thorbjarnerson nor Heiman will ever contribute especially considering the type of caliber player Hoiberg and staff are getting responses from. I also wonder about Karrington Davis and D. Davis as well. Amir Harris is the question mark, in that he may be the odd exception who is a poor shooter but so proficient as a lock-down defender that NU could overlook the shooting, but even this is fair game for debate considering how much value Hoiberg places on shooting proficiency. Haven't we long suffering fans seen enough athletes who can't shoot? Nevertheless, there are four scholarships locked up which might potentially be given to high-four, and even some legitimate five star players in the future. As of today NU is in communication with D. Johnson, Garcia, Suggs, Foster and a few others. This is unprecedented! Hoiberg seems to be aiming for the stars and his message is being received. I have no special qualifications but have watched college ball for decades, sometimes closely and it seems absurd to waste scholarships on players who will not see the floor in any meaningful way. More knowledgeable fans correct me if I am wrong.

I want to thank all the Husker fans for the sensible responses and analysis. I really have no definitive defenses that cannot be refuted. It will be interesting to see what Moos and the admin. decide. Go Huskers!

an excellent program. I think eight years before he won a title. This is not to suggest that they are equivalents, but Stewart did eventually do great things at MU, who was rewarded for their patience! That said, I think Miles has intangibles that are worth making a commitment to. He is funny, smart and very personable. I have followed NU for over four decades and I think if he is given the resources others in the A.D. are (including a long-term contract so others can't frighten potential recruits) he might turn NU into a very successful program. I know this is one man's opinion based largely on a feeling, nevertheless I think starting over isn't the answer. Perhaps recognizing his honesty and verve (the media love him) are reasons to consider bucking a national trend which sees A.D.s throw away coaches based on the arbitrary standard (must turn around program in five-six years, on average) should be reevaluated? The point being, not every program is the same, and therefore "fixable" in the same amount of time. He has shown the ability to recruit interesting athletes. If he improves a bit in that area he is close to doing very good things. Think about some of the statistical bad luck this year- yes I know some fault rests with him- but not all of it. These are statistical anomalies which will reverse, just as the Red Sox "bad luck" did. Statistics are not fickle people. The wheel does spin around. Anyway, my humble opinion is just that, and should Moos lure someone who is a great fit for the program, say Hoiberg, I would be equally thrilled. Go NU!

Sorry I didn't clarify, I meant the men's programs, and by "big three" I mean by popularity in the U.S. Also, I want to make clear I have always loved the Huskers and wouldn't be upset if Moos and the admin. decide to retain Miles even though I think it extremely unlikely they will ever be consistently decent, let along good-to-great.

I've followed NU since my elementary days in the mid-70s and cannot remember any NU sports season where they were under .500% (2018) in the "big three" sports. Are there any teams from the Power 5 or 6 conferences which accomplished this dubious feat? I always hope NU will be decent, and w/ Frost it looks certain, but not likely under Erstad and impossible under Miles (whom I really like as a person). The money NU has, and spends makes the futility shocking.