throwback

We've never previously been a 20-plus point dog under Fred. Strangely, the last time we were a 20-plus point dog was early January 2018 at Purdue. Lost by 12. We then won 11 of our last 14 regular season games. Hard to believe looking back that the 2017-18 team was ever that big of a dog, but they were a double-digit dog 4 times that season (lost all 4 outright but covered in all 4). That 2017-18 team won six times outright as an underdog. Fred's first team won 4 times outright as a dog; his second team won 3 times outright as a dog. Zero wins as a dog so far this season. We haven't been favored in a conference game since Mar 1, 2020 vs NW (and we lost). Including tonight, we've been a 'dog in 50 of our last 51 games vs B1G teams. Ugh.

Not a game, but the 1995-96 team mid-season walkout by players was a crossroads for the program. That dysfunctional team was a Sweet 16 team talent wise. Winning the NIT didn't keep the program moving forward like a couple of NCAA wins may have done. I know, shocking. Who knows what happens with Nee & the program in 1997 and beyond if they avoid the dysfunction in that 1996 season and play to their potential?

PU 88 NU 62

We could try going that route too, but I'm not sure even the devil would want Nebrasketball's soul at this point.

Kofi had great numbers, but Walker and Andre played their asses off against him and did better than I expected, especially when we left them 1-on-1 a lot of the game. Felt like we tried doubling more in the final 10 minutes, and the coaches will wish they hadn't when they go back and watch the film. Actually, Illinois probably caught a break when Kofi got his 4th foul with a few minutes left and he had to go to the bench. Kofi was gassed, but so was Walker. Illinois gets a fresh post player out there and he's able to make a few huge plays to end it. Of course our patented, count-on-it-happening-every-game 19-2 stretch in the first half with no FG for what seemed like a million minutes killed us. We showed more fortitude to battle back from that than I expected. But at this point, that doesn't mean much when we put up yet another L. Just getting numb to it, I guess.

Looks like we accomplished something Saturday ... our pseudo defense wore out RU's offense so badly that they have only 8 pts in the first 11 minutes tonight at PSU.

Illinois favored by 13.5 We were a 14-pt 'dog at home to Illinois last year and got the game to OT. We were +13 at home against Purdue in 2019-20 and actually won that game easily. So we are 2-0 ATS when a home 'dog of 13 or more under Fred and almost 2-0 straight up. So if Illinois is sleep-walking, there is some hope. Probably too early in the conference season for Illinois to not show up, though. I'm guessing there will be no crying for players on the Illinois bench tonight ... unless they're doubled over and crying with laughter as an 5-ft-5 Illini walk-on drains a 3 in the final couple of minutes.

Maybe when they said "is the Asian" they meant to say "got his picture taken with" ... easy mistake to make. Saying words is hard, after all.

Hell, Doc's last NU team won 4 in his one and only season in the B1G (with 18 games), with one of those wins on the road.

I may not be the best lip reader from TV, but I thought I saw Fred gesture toward Keon before turning to Doc and asking the same thing.

When I look at the box score and my first thought is ... "Huh. Rutgers only shot 58% from the field? Surprised it was that low." ...we've got problems. Lots of problems. Agree with the statement above that we're just playing out the string with Fred at this point. But I don't think he gets fired after this season. He may resign, but they won't fire him after 3 years.

Ill 87 NU 63

Remember when we clowned Rutgers in Lincoln last year? Yeah. So does Rutgers.

Hey, we only have 2 fouls through 12+ minutes in the second half - big improvement from half 1. (I'm going to assume those were both offensive fouls, based on the level of effort being given on the defensive end.)

Not sure these will come off as positive comments, but they are. I swear. I feel more confident we wont go 0-20 in the league. We'll steal a few games after Trey gets back and has a couple of games under his belt. Effort pretty good 2 games in a row. Still not near MSU's level, but way different than we put forth most of December. Walker was impressive again tonight. That dude has been a very pleasant surprise. And we covered!

RU 66 NU 56

So I think what we're saying is if Walker chucks up a 3 from the corner and hits it tonight early in the game while the students count down the shot clock incorrectly, we're making a run to the NCAAs.

I know No Sit Sunday was the huge game of that season, but winning at MSU was the win they had to have to turn the head of the selection committee. My favorite play from that game - and one of my favorite of all time - was early in the game when the students started counting down the shot clock early and Rivers got fooled and chucked it up from the corner for 3 and hit it. Thought that was a pretty good omen.

Michigan State vs. Nebraska spread: Michigan State -15.5. Michigan State vs. Nebraska over-under: 148.5 points. NU's last 10 games as a double digit 'dog: L 68-99 vs Auburn L 55-68 @ Indiana L 64-102 @ Iowa L 70-86 @ Illinois L (W) 71-79 @ Maryland L 50-64 @ Maryland W 62-61 @ Penn St L (W) 72-77 (ot) Illinois L 48-61 Wisconsin L 61-79 @ Minnesota (3-7 vs the spread, 1-9 straight up) We did cover last year as a 12.5-pt 'dog at MSU, losing 66-56. We also covered at home vs MSU last year (but lost the game).

NU 59 MSU 77 3

Saw a quote from Hoiberg that Dawson already dives on the floor for more balls that the rest of the team combined. Good on him .... but wow on everyone else. I'm going to put a positive spin on it and say that Fred is exaggerating with that quote a bit to try to motivate the other guys. Because if he is being truthful, that actually may explain a lot about the product we're seeing on the floor right now. You'd think that having players give that kind of effort and go through that level of grinding at practice would be a minimum expectation from the coaches at this level, not the exception.

Going to get more of an NU hoops flavor on 93.7's new lineup 6-8 am - same DP & Jay Foreman move to 8-11 am From 11-2 T Badgett and Vershan Jackson have a new show 2-3 pm - same 3-6 pm - Bock on for one hour then Strickland joins him from 4-6 Not sure just yet how this affects some of the night time shows

93.7 undergoing end-of-year changes as well effective after Thursday - Happer & Schafer is ending (8-11 am) - reading between the lines, Happer may be headed to 1620? Tom Stevens retiring (11-2 pm) but Bock is staying They'll be announcing a revamped lineup soon. Doesn't sound like this affects their post-game basketball call-in shows.

Please tell me this doesn't mean we need a Coach McGowens Hot Seat thread now.

NU is 0-5 when Verge leads the team in scoring and 6-2 when he doesn't. Part of that is Verge shooting too much and not distributing enough in losses, and part of that is guys not cashing in their shots when they have the chance in losses, which makes Verge feel like he has to try to take over, etc, etc. If we're going to have any shot to pick up some wins in conference play, the offense has to look more like it did tonight. Verge picking his spots to score but mostly setting up other guys. Then those guys have to hit shots, clearly.