busticket

I've been stoked for hoops season to start (even more so after Saturday); I'm bidding on some tickets to a Nebraska basketball game in an auction we're having at work so I can get into Pinnacle and check out the new digs. I can't believe how fast they sold out the season tickets.... I'm also bidding on an autographed Tim Miles basketball......I guess I have a bit of a man crush on the guy.

At this point it's not very close IMO. The consistency of 4 loss seasons sprinkled with humiliating blowouts on national television is more than a little unnerving at this point.... Pelini is very consistent (stubborn?) in his approach and I don't see much changing unless the ship takes on serious water. Even then I'm not sure he would change, ala Bill Callahan at the end of his run. Bo seems very content with his system and his staff, so I see no reason to expect different results. Trajectory: Flat Coach Miles, OTOH, seems very methodical in his approach to building a winner, which has worked well at his earlier stops, albeit at lower levels of play. He didn't apply any Band-Aids in year 1, instead working with what little he had on the roster and coaching the heck out of them. Most would agree that we overachieved in year 1. With a roster full of scholarship players to work with this year, and an apparent increase in individual talent, we should see some improvement this year. The following year, when these kids (minus Rey) have another year of experience under their belt, plus some incoming frontcourt players of higher recruiting stock then we are used to, it's hard not to see us getting even better. Trajectory: On the rise

Coach Miles and Elbert were below me (waaay below me) at the game. It was kind of hard to miss Elbert, especially with the orange shirt. It looked like he was having a good time with Pitchford and Coach Miles. I was thrilled getting a top 150 center commitment, and now we have a very real shot at a top 50ish BIG man. He does look decently athletic for his age and measureables. It would be such a luxury to have a kid that big and strong to man the paint. The years of Doc throwing SG's like Anderson and Dagunduro into the post were brutal; getting Elbert would help wash those memories away. Also, yet another shrewd move by Miles hiring Kenya Hunter to get us in the door with some of the kids he's been recruiting. These man has serious vision.

Gotta give Miles props for how he built his coaching staff! From what I understand, he basically made it a condition of employment to have strong recruiting ties. If you didn't have them, you weren't making it very far in the interview process. It's interesting to see how many quality kids we are in on with this staff....seems like they are everywhere scouting kids. We have a lot of nice options for schollie #2.

We outdrew UCLA and Duke in what was basically a season with an undermanned team which was picked dead last in the conference. Maybe some of it was for the last hurrah at the Bob, but in my opinion it's more of a testament to how much we as a fan base believe in, and like, Coach Miles. It's a sure bet we'll be top 20 in attendance this year and the next several. Pinnacle will be rocking if Miles gets it going like I think he will.

If Shields has in fact grown an inch and added a little weight as reported, he's a lock at 4. I suspect our opening day lineup will be: 1. Webster, 2. Gallegos, 3. Petteway, 4. Shields and 5. Pitchford. Smith and Rivers will back up the frontcourt, with Biggs, Fuller and possibly Hawkins spelling the backcourt.

I have never seen Walter play but had heard he was pretty athletic for his size. That dunk was way more than pretty athletic! Coach Miles certainly has way more in his tool box to work with this year, both from a depth perspective but athletically as well. Is it bad that I'm more excited for basketball season than football?

Treshawn Thurman certainly fits the mold of guys we seem to be targeting: long and athletic. For example, all but one PG we are targeting so far is 6'2" or taller. It certainly made us a better defensive team when Miles shifted Talley to the point; having a tall, long and athletic team makes everything a little harder on the opposing team when they are on offense. It reminds me a bit of how the Michigan State roster is made up, which is obviously a good thing.

Thanks! Been an NU hoops fan since the days of Carl Hayes. I've been lurking for awhile; this is the best board for big red hoops discussion so I figured it was time to join. Hard to not be excited with the way the Tim Miles era has started

The poll is actually a pretty tough question. There are the two obvious factors to consider: players on the roster (talent) and the strength of the B1G. Regarding the team we'll have next year, we will obviously be more talented than last season. We have a nice looking group of newcomers, and Shields and Gallegos have a year under Miles' tutelage so they will provide the veteran presence. It is just so hard to determine how quickly a large group of newcomers will gel. Since Biggs, Pitchford and Petteway were here last season, maybe it won't take as long for those guys. Remains to be seen how quickly we click. I feel pretty good about Miles being the guy to get these guys on the same page, though. The only concern for me is whether we'll be able to defend the post. Ubel did a nice job down there, and Andre had his moments. The top half of the conference just can't be as tough as last year with the number of key guys declaring early for the NBA draft. However, the bottom half of the league should be much better. Frazier is back at PSU, Northwestern gets Drew Crawford back, we should be better, a very young Purdue team is a year older (and the same goes for Iowa). I think we'll be slugging it out in the middle of the pack, which will be a mess. I wouldn't bet against Tim Miles in that situation; the guy can flat out coach.