Fullbacksympathy

Fascinating. I appreciate you articulating this for me. Thanks Dean.

He'd be a great get. Gorgeous looking shot. Nifty offensive game. This kid would be a phenomenal compliment to Nana.

I like both. I think they compliment one another and flow pretty well into one another. The shell seems to create a lot of problems on the perimeter, and the fact that WVU is always at or near the top in steals is fairly telling to me. I realize the press isn't unique, but the fact that they press is unique and disruptive. I don't know. I'm just looking at all of these athletic 6'5"-6'8" guys on next year's roster... seems like a press dream to me. The mentality of a press defender is so much more "offensive" and aggressive (and, probably, fun) than most typical half court defenses as well. It's rare to find teams that press who don't play with confidence, and I don't see much of a talent gap between us and WVU or Arkansas. I think either of those programs would be a reasonable goal.

Glad you're here, Dean. I like that they press and roll back into the box. It looks like an extremely difficult defense to get any sort of rhythm against offensively because so few teams use it. Notre Dame is a very good offensive team and they couldn't get comfortable at all. What do you think?

Why can't this be us? We have the athletes. That's the most practical and unique defensive philosophy I could see us employing here with success. Ugh.

Watson/Taylor Nana/Palmer/Gill Copeland/McVeigh Morrow/Roby Jordy/Jacobson I was never high on Horne. Streaky shooter, bad defender, out of shape, attitude problems in practice, passive agressive mom/son posts on twitter. Best of luck kid. I don't really get the shooter argument either. Horne has offensive skill, but he wasn't an assassin out there. We have better scorers coming in. I'm not even remotely disappointed. I was disappointed that Jeriah came in overweight when a solid month of strict diet and weights could've put him in a comfortable "3" body. I think the team got better today. That's not really a knock on Horne because I think he'll end up being a contributor somewhere depending on his health. We just really have a lot of talent in the 11 listed above. Was he really significantly any better than Fuller last season? I'd be pissed if we lose any of the remaining players. It's a hell of a roster on paper.

We should've won the 1997 first round game. That Arkansas team was completely overrated. Of course, the #1 has to be 96. Horrifying waste of talent. They crapped out an NIT Championship in their sleep.

Penn was the worst draw ever for our team that year. They had: Sr. PG Matt Moloney (7-year NBA vet) Sr. SG Jerome Allen (2nd Round NBA pick) and a bunch of very good upperclassmen who played pro ball in Europe/became head coaches. We were always going to get our ass kicked in that game. Xavier was a sleeping giant with guys like: Brian Grant (NBA lottery pick) Jamie Gladden (NBA free agent) Aaron Williams (15 year NBA player) Michael Hawkins (NBA) Just absolutely horrible draws. Both of them. We really weren't any better than either of those teams.

Dirk is my favorite local sports writer because he's the best pure writer of the bunch. I've disagreed with him many times, but he typically makes an argument and defends it soundly in addition to a creative and articulate approach. He clearly doesn't understand the raw talent of Morrow, who will be a 2nd team all-conference power forward if we play him at the damned 4 next to Jordy next year. He's right about Jacobson and Taylor--both good role players. Other than that, I thought the article was pretty spot on and really thoughtful.

Agree. Akenten might be my favorite recruit of the TM era so far outside of Jordy (who I think has an NBA future if he muscles up). He's an absolute steal. I do think he starts eventually as our 3 and D guy. He's going to be very similar to AWIII in what he brings for a skillset, which is exactly what we're missing. He should be able to play the 3 for sure, but I'm hoping he settles in to the 2 spot with improved ball handling.

I feel like Roby could be a hell of a pick and roll option with the ball in his hands. He has such a high ceiling as a passer, and he's tall enough to finish at the rim/dump passes down to bigs over defenders. This could work both ways defensively if you roll out a team of 6'6" guys who can switch on everything--that's the real key to guarding the three ball. If you put a lineup of, say: Roby (6'8") Palmer (6'6") Akenten (6'6") Copeland (6'9") Morrow (6'8") ...you could literally switch on everything defensively and completely take away the 3 ball, and this lineup would still have some offense, and this lineup would still be very good in transition.

Haha... awesome. I agree though. The talent TM has brought in should be allowed to be coached at least one year at the upperclassmen level. It's pretty undeniable that every freshman from last year became better this year by quite a bit save, maybe, Jack during his slump. If we see that same jump (or a bigger jump a la Tai) in this next season among all of the sophomores and freshmen, that's the difference in several close losses we had this year. The addition of Copeland--a much more conventional scorer than Tai--and Akenten--who shoots 50% from 3 in addition to having crazy elevation to get his shot--are going to fit nicely, I think. I'm optimistic that the talent alone on next year's roster will overwhelm many teams we face. Hopefully Miles will improve as a strategist and motivator.

I wouldn't take an average coach over Miles. I would need it to be a good, proven P5 coach in order to sign off on it. A person only has so much time in the day, and I think it's fairly obvious that Miles has spent his time heavily on the recruiting end of things, which is a smart decision. He's changed the culture in that area. Now that this system is in place, and we're going to see a Fr-Sr roster of impressive talent, I would hope that would give TM the opportunity to really hone in on a sound basketball philosophy and identity and create a culture. There's no reason to make a lateral move. Miles is exceptional in some areas and pretty bad in others. He's also 50, so not terribly young anymore, and I don't know that the old dog can learn new tricks. All in all, I'd say the job he has done at Nebraska has been average when considering his massive strengths and weaknesses, but the 10 year ceiling is WAY higher than the prior coaches (next to Nee, of course) given the talent in place if he can improve the culture and philosophy. Literally the only coaching change I can think of as a legitimate possibility with my criterion would be Mark Gottfried. I'd be fine with that move. Beyond him, I believe we'd get a bunch of minimally better in-game coaches who can't recruit worth a damn. Thad Matta is being retained at OSU. I think we end up keeping Timmy, and I'm fine with that.

Watch from 45min - 1:05 or so. This is the only game I remember Jordy and Morrow playing together. It was to start the second half against KU. The rotation went: Jordy - Jacobson (1st sub) Morrow - Jordy (2nd sub) It's not a coincidence that we were competitive during that stretch. Plain as day that Jordy and Morrow are our two best front court players and that Jacobson is an absolute coach's dream off the bench for fresh minutes. Losing Gill really hurt our overall athleticism at the guard position defensively too. Ugh.

I'd really like to see our frontcourt rotation be: 5: Jordy - Jacobson 4: Morrow - Roby But that would make sense, so...

Agree with this a lot. If we have Morrow, I hate seeing him come off the bench. Start the guy. Jordy's weight alone is pretty damned effective against tired defenders. OR WE COULD F@#CKING PLAY MORROW AND JORDY AT THE SAME TIME JUST ONCE AND OVERWHELM SOMEONE ELSE'S FRONT COURT FOR A CHANGE.

I have no problem with TM coming back unless we find ourselves in a position to get an absolute steal in Thad Matta or Mark Gottfried. I'd take either of those coaches at this point--that's less firing Miles and more bringing in established high-level performers in the profession who have proven coaching philosophies--someone you can't pass up. I think there are plenty of midmajor coaches who are better in-game coaches than TM. I don't think there is a single one nationwide that I would trust to replicate his recruiting ability. I still value recruiting far above in-game coaching, particularly when it comes to long-term program building, but at some point you have to be able to do both to take the next step.

I would highly doubt it if he's fired. I don't think he would be able to leave on his own for another B1G school, but firing typically results in cutting all obligations. If the claim behind a firing is that the coach isn't good enough, who cares where he lands? Matta would understand the talent we have on our roster. It would be an absolute steal. I actually feel similarly about Gottfried, but not as strongly. Matta is only a half step down from Bill Self or Coach K or Izzo. I think that highly of his coaching.

Touche. Also a distinct possibility.

If we lose to Penn St. on Wednesday, I'd be equally on board with Miles returning, OR: 1. Thad Matta (if fired). GREAT coach. Only 49. The past two OSU seasons are a complete fluke, and if they get rid of him, we would be idiotic not to get him. He's an ELITE coach, in my opinion. The roster he has now has great individual talent--they're just not wired for team ball. It's odd. Please God fire him. We'd get a tournament win next season. 2. Mark Gottfried. Excellent coach, very good recruiter, proven winner. waaay below these two... 3. Tom Crean. He'd bring an offense.

Ugh. I've been a Miles apologist since he got here. In my dream world, he'd be promoted to an assistant AD position because I honestly see that as his strong point--great ambassador, incredible seller, cool dude who sees the big picture. Watching last night, my belief in his in-game abilities as a coach and basketball philosopher are truly waning. The talent we have on our roster should keep us in every game. I was never going to be basing this season on W/L, but more along the lines of what I saw as signs of improvement. I saw those signs at the beginning of the year against UCLA, KU, Creighton (for a half), then later in the year versus Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, and Purdue. But then we had our Gardner Webb and Rutgers games. Then we had the end of the regular season with blowout after blowout. It's impossible to defend or pass it off as youth. The end of the season's struggles have been because of coaching--something is awry and the team has been lost. I'll go on the record saying I'm okay with Miles being here next season to coach one of the most talented rosters Nebraska has ever had because it was his staff's crazy work ethic on the road that created this massive change in talent. That said, if the feelers do go out... I'd be on board with Gottfried. His firing is absurd given he's made the tournament 5 out of the last 6 years with NC State, two of which were Sweet 16's. Ridiculous. And it's no fluke--the guy took Bama to the Elite 8 before NC State. He's an outstanding coach and great recruiter. The Gregg Marshall, Dana Altman, Kelvin Sampson wants are simply not possible. These are all coaches who have earned restructured contracts running several years down the road. Gottfried doesn't have a gig, but he'll be swooped up extremely fast. Interesting times. Hopefully we'll just win the B1G Tournament so there's nothing to talk about. We have everyone right where we want them.

I'm kind of in this camp myself. Not sure which is the better scenario.

Alton Mason and Shawn Redhage were from the same HS class. Both ended up at ASU. Roburt Sallie hurt the most of any I can remember.

FTR, I think the coaching job this year has actually been good. Our team's effort has been great most of the season, and injuries screwed us from being on the bubble right now. I would call it a very good coaching job if it weren't for the inexcusable losses to GW and Rutgers.

Please. Illinois and Michigan State played with an intensity and confidence that we didn't match, period. That is coaching. Those shots go in a lot more often when you know who you are as an offense. Anyone can see the jury is out on Miles as an in-game coach. I just happen to think that matters way less than his remarkable recruiting prowess. If he can fill our roster with top 150 talent from Fr-Sr, minor coaching deficiencies aren't going to matter much. That said, Miles is a smart guy, and a VERY inexperienced power 5 coach. I believe he will improve next season. Illinois and MSU have won 4 of their last 5. That's not a fluke. The only coach in this league that I would trade TM for is Izzo. I don't think anyone else could get these great young players to come here. I'm 100% for another TM season no matter what happens the rest of the way. That doesn't mean I have to be dishonest about the performance of his team this year.