swmckewon

Unpopular? Most media openly and vigorously supported his return. Fans packed the place until the end of the regular season.

My read is there are significant differences, which is no commentary on the effectiveness of either. Barry Collier had flaws as a coach. So did Doc Sadler. I would not describe them as similar. But that's just me. I'm aware of the narrative of how similar they supposedly are. I just don't see Eichorst as Steve Pederson Jr.

I believe Nebraska basketball has become a cautionary tale in recent years. While attrition has become common at almost all programs, Nebraska should try to have continuity as its advantage. But next year may prove me wrong.

You may not like Shawn Eichorst. That's your prerogative. He is frankly very little like Steve Pederson in personality or leadership style. Certainly not in communication style - Pederson never had any issues gabbing to the media. He showed off new toilets once, for goodness sakes. I can imagine Eichorst is different from Tom Osborne in ways that some people don't appreciate. But different doesn't necessarily mean "wrong." It's just different. That's not to say I've agreed with everything Eichorst has done or not said. I don't. But I don't think he's held out on Miles. Miles has enjoyed the best facilities in school history. He's had use of a private plane. He's treated unusually well by the press. It's simply hard to make the argument he hasn't been given everything to succeed. I don't believe miles himself would say so.

The only way it would have been palatable for Pelini to stay - IMO - is for the AD, and by proxy the fan base, to basically tell Pelini 9 wins, a good graduation rate and a lack of players getting in trouble became the standard of success. And by that I'm serious: Pelini chafed under expectations that were higher than that. He did - look at 2010, when a 12-win potential team devolved into drama by the time Big 12 play rolled around. He thrived this year at YSU as the underdog. Pelini was comfortable making miracle comebacks. It fit his personality - back against the wall, hope lost. He couldn't play with house money. So, you basically would have had to tell him "Hey, 9 wins are great, top 30 recruiting classes are great, the graduation rate is great, do your thing." The question is whether Nebraska fans really want that. Miles, conversely, has standards perhaps higher than fans have asked of him. He schedules like it, and he accepts transfers who used to be top-end recruits like it. His teams wear down at season's end because he schedules tough and the Big Ten is tough, and his teams, IMO, have more athleticism than they do skill and grit. But when Miles schedules the way he does, the opponents don't lack for athletes.

You wanted Miles to return, yes?

Maybe. Depends on if everybody sticks around/together for 2-3 years. This is the Big Ten, not the ACC or SEC. By 2018-2019, this is gonna be a real nice group of guards. That's a start. It'd help to find a functional JUCO post or transfer post.

Andrew White would have been good for the team's W/L record last year. If you're going to recruit the kinds of kids who land prominently in recruiting ratings, better be prepared for their goals and aspirations - especially if you're not going to the NCAA Tournament with any regularity.

Osborne's hiring of Erstad has been fine to this point. IMO. TO waited 2 years too long to let go of his predecessor, however.

I doubt it. Altman's never been a big media guy. You gotta do it all the time at IU. I'll bet they offer the job to Jay Wright. I would. Right time to leave, too. Nova's never gonna have a run that good anytime soon.

Underwood will have the same challenge Weber and Groce had - convincing one-and-done kids who can go and do go to Duke, Kansas and Kentucky to go to Illinois. I don't put him in the Izzo/Beilein class of coach, though.

Nobody says it only happens at Nebraska.

I can't recall writing any coaches on the hot seat articles. I'm also not sad Miles remains the coach.

Miles did not recruit Shields or Parker. They were signed up when he got here.

Agreed. he was winning more than miles though.

IMO, Miles has been treated quite well on sports talk radio.

Spoken form?

After the player walkout Nee had another 4 years. All years I was in school. And I'm telling ya: The press was pretty tough on him. Miles has had it easier than all of them.

I highly doubt Ashtyn's gonna redshirt.

Well, you never know. I'm not sure Miles has felt much outside media/fan pressure until now; Barry and Doc - even Nee, after the player walkout - had it tougher than Miles has to this point. Sometimes necessity is a catalyst.

How closely do you follow Nebraska and the Big Ten? Thurman could play for Nebraska any day of the week.

While I agree with Parrish's premise - who wouldn't agree with it? - he doesn't lay out any criteria upon which a coach should or should not earn "belief" from an AD. So, basically, the piece is meant to say Weber and Groce shouldn't be fired. Some of these national guys are just coach whisperers. You can gaze at the headlines and subheadlines of recent articles written by Parrish and derive that: This should temper wild expectations for NC State: 'I wouldn't touch that job' Dear haters: You're dead wrong about Gonzaga, whether you realize it or not A bubble, a double standard, and a Wichita State team on the wrong side of both Roy Williams has never quite gotten his due, but he's outdoing even himself at UNC Parrish saves his strongest criticism, each week, for the AP voters he thinks are bad voters. (And he ripped Kim Mulkey, as everyone did.)

Shepard is important, but it's the guards...in two years, with Eliely, whitish, Stallworth and Kissinger...that's a good Big Ten backcourt. You might get 45 points out of that quartet per game.

Oh, it is worse in Amy's first year without question. Without Nicea, Jankoska might have had 50 on Sunday. Or Nebraska would have stayed in zone and given up 90.

Nebraska is paying *a lot* of money for its football operation at this point - and it's about to pour more into it. Riley doesn't want/need more money. I think, if it's the right guy Nebraska might pay 2.5-3 million. And that number makes ears perk up.