GATA

A few recruits have talked about Miles' honesty during recruiting pitches. If that's true, he told Leslee that he'd be really disappointed if he didn't start next season. I think Miles would prefer he be in the lineup or we could get beaten up on the boards in the B1G.

I'm guessing of course, but I think the staff probably had it Atewe-Smith-Tummala in that order because we wanted Atewe's upside at a massive position of need and we wanted Smith for his size and ability to play right away at a massive position of need (C or PF). Tummala, I think, was the backup plan since we got in on him really late (possibly reading the tea leaves with Atewe) and the fact that we already have a number of guys who can play SF/PF. Tummala, though, does present an upgrade in athleticism over some of the others we have (Fuller, Shields, Petteway). Just my opinion, of course.

Thank you, sir.

Anyone got a little more they can share from the article?

Regarding Memphis transfer Tarik Black... The Gophers want Black but they need to get in line. He has received interest from 20 schools, according to CBSSports.com’s Jeff Goodman. Among the programs interested are Duke and Kansas.

It does bode well that our staff has identified these potential studs and has gotten in on the early. It shows they have an eye for talent. Now if we could land some of these studs...

That would be a nice step-up to 9-9 in the B1G, and a runner-up finish in the National Invitational Tournament (25-13). And a very good record at home, too. I'd have to think that would be a huge improvement over the "3 out of 4 seasons w/ a losing record" that Nebraska dealt w/ lately. I think we could make the step up to being more competitive in our losses while taking our lumps as we learn how to win as Iowa did this season (whoa, what a terribly written sentence, but you get the point). I don't see us getting 9 Big Ten wins, though. That would be an unbelievable jump.

Pitt picked up a SF commit tonight. Maybe that helps us a little bit. EDIT: Did a little more digging. The player's name is Jamel Artis and he's a three-star PF out of Notre Dame Prep (a teammate of Matthew Atewe). The story I read listed him as a small forward, so maybe he's a tweener like Sai.

Seton Hall's Cosby verballed to Illini tonight.

Just look at the game-by-game shooting numbers, particularly in the Big Ten... http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/45653/ray-gallegos

What about the lost possessions due to missed 3-pointers? It's nice to point out all the points he scored as you did earlier in the thread, but if you shoot enough, you should score. It's pretty simple. But let's be honest, if Talley were returning this season, he would see a big decrease in minutes, ball-handling duties and scoring. This isn't just a Gallegos issue. Ubel, now he'd still be locked into a huge role. I really wish we had him for another season. But I really don't want to turn this into a thread bashing Gallegos, because he's a valuable player. But it's completely in the eye of the beholder. Some people say he missed shots because he played a lot of minutes and was one of only a few threats. There's a lot of merit to that. But I see a very limited player who has one real skill -- shooting. Maybe he can be more efficient and raise those percentages to around 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3. A guy like Gallegos, in my humble opinion, could thrive in a bench role where he comes in as the designated gunner where we run him around a bunch of screens and hopefully he hits a 3 or two while our starters catch a breather. If he's having one of his on-fire days, then we ride him. I really like having an explosive shooter off the bench to help carry the second unit. I truly don't look at this like it's a demotion. I just think he fits better in that role.

Obviously none of the players we're talking about starting over Gallegos are "proven, consistent forces." We're simply projecting them to be. At this point, Gallegos is a one-dimensional offensive player, and I prefer to have multi-dimensional players out there. Gallegos certainly could improve in those areas and become a better all-around threat. Or he could just be a more efficient player, which would go a long way into his improvement. Plus, I'm reading the tea leaves a little bit when Miles said Petteway could play point guard next year. I see him in the Talley role since we don't have a true point guard with starting talent on the roster. That would take some of the pressure off Webster, who I really hope is in the starting lineup. Shields then slots in well at the 3, Leslee Smith at the 4 or 5 to add a little more rebounding and size as a complement to Pitchford.

Yeah, but don't those lack of turnovers stem from his inability to put the ball on the deck and actually drive to the basket? Plus, it's not like he's out there racking up assists.

That's kinda what I thought. Mixed emotions about Strickland. Loved him as a player. But looking for a job at this level as his first coaching gig is kinda putting the cart before the horse. If Strickland wants to coach, he would prove himself by taking a job at a lower level and working his way up. We know plenty about Strickland as a player. We know very little about what he would do as a coach and we just don't have the luxury of being able to hire someone who has no track record. If Strickland were serious about coaching, he'd be coaching, period. You either embrace it as a career or you don't. Strick should have 10 years of coaching experience under his belt by now if he were truly serious about it. He should have been cutting his teeth at lower-level programs and grinding his way up. Then I'd be interested in giving him a serious look. As it stands now, he doesn't even deserve an interview in my view. This isn't a hobby -- it's a profession. Sure, but then there is Fred Hoiberg. Never coached in his life and turned around the Iowa State program (with a little help from rule bending, I suppose). He did work for the timberwolves previous to that though. He only spent about 5 minutes on the coaching staff before joining the front office. Then made the jump to head coach at a BCS program. That's a pretty big leap, IMO. I'm not advocating hiring Strickland, but I don't think bringing him in off the street to be our No. 3 assistant would be that huge of a stretch. But just to be very clear, I prefer someone who is an up-and-coming recruiter with ties that don't overlap our current staff (Strick's ties are in Texas, and we're good there). As someone mentioned above, it would be great to add someone with Northeastern ties. We also will need someone in Minneapolis or Chicago or Indianapolis ties.

This means very little.+1It only takes into consideration the 11 games. It doesn't illustrate the many games that he couldn't buy a bucket. Wildly inconsistent. But that's the point. Everyone in that list was inconsistent. Talley's numbers weren't All-B1G either, Ubel had great nights and nights he was overmatched. Everyone, me included, likes this Shields kids, but he and Rivers were hit or miss all season. Gallegos had more nights where he was the top contributor. If everyone returning steps up their game and any of the newcomers are as advertised, Gallegos may have more time and space to work with. On 11 nights last season, he was the best Husker on the floor. I think he has best chance to build on that success with more talent drawing defensive attention. Yeah I see where you're coming from, but I've also said that Petteway wasn't eligible last season, but he will be eligible next season. The point that I've tried to make isn't that Gallegos is a terrible player. There were games where Gallegos was flat out unconscious shooting the ball and couldn't miss even if he tried. But on the flipside, he also had enough games where he couldn't make a shot, that it brought his 3-PT% in conference games down to below .300. Wildly Inconsistent. I think that you want more consistency from your starters. You can stomach the inconsistent play a little more from a bench player. If a bench player comes in, you would like to just not lose any ground, while your starters are resting. But if they can come in every now and then and go off (like Spike Albrecht did vs Louisville), then that gives you an extra boost so the starters can continue to build on that unexpected lead. And on the nights that Gallegos is stroking it, then maybe you keep him in a little longer than normal, in order to ride the hot hand. That's EXACTLY how I see it. There's no shame in being the No. 1 scoring option for the second unit.

That's kinda what I thought. Mixed emotions about Strickland. Loved him as a player. But looking for a job at this level as his first coaching gig is kinda putting the cart before the horse. If Strickland wants to coach, he would prove himself by taking a job at a lower level and working his way up. We know plenty about Strickland as a player. We know very little about what he would do as a coach and we just don't have the luxury of being able to hire someone who has no track record. If Strickland were serious about coaching, he'd be coaching, period. You either embrace it as a career or you don't. Strick should have 10 years of coaching experience under his belt by now if he were truly serious about it. He should have been cutting his teeth at lower-level programs and grinding his way up. Then I'd be interested in giving him a serious look. As it stands now, he doesn't even deserve an interview in my view. This isn't a hobby -- it's a profession. Sure, but then there is Fred Hoiberg. Never coached in his life and turned around the Iowa State program (with a little help from rule bending, I suppose).

8 "Oregon Style" Revolutionary Basketball Courts to Ponder for the Future This includes a Nebraska design... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/890678-8-oregon-style-revolutionary-basketball-courts-to-ponder-for-the-future/page/8

Strickland's strongest recruiting ties are in Texas, right? That would overlap with the current staff. We definitely need someone with strong recruiting ties in the Midwest. Ideally in the Chicago, Indianapolis or Minneapolis region, IMO.

I think that's the definition of lack of motor.

Agree +2.... It looks like this kid loves to play basketball. He is a hustler on the defensive, and attempts to make the hustle plays. Does not look to be overly athletic, but can shoot and dribble a little. Is a 2*, but I am one that does not put a bunch of faith in stars. One thing I did notice that in the similiar forwards it shows Alex Foster. Is there any link beyond that guy tweeting at Tim Miles?

Johnson's been a pretty significant recruiter for us. He's got ties all over the upper mid west and Big Ten circles. They're pretty comparable. It would be a significant blow. That was my first thought as well. It will be interesting to see what happens if he does decide to take the job. Johnson's done well for us, no doubt, but I think Harriman is going to be a flat-out star as an assistant coach.

If he gave Coach Miles his word to stay three years, and as a result was hired as an assistant, I fault him a whole bunch!!! It definitely sucks that we're losing him to a conference school in a state where we were counting on him doing some good work for us. That said, I don't really blame him for leaving.

Ben Johnson is a nice up-and-coming assistant coach, but I'm really glad it isn't Harriman leaving. I think he's a big key to us taking that next step.

Well, that's disappointing. I really hate how late in the process this happened too.

Good point on Leslee Smith. I'm one of the people who put him in my lineup, and I did so because we don't have a true post player beyond him on our roster. As I said, I see Pitchford as almost a big small forward that probably isn't a true big man. He'll definitely need help on the boards, although having guys like Petteway and Shields can help pitch in.