throwback

Aaaaaaaaand Davison flops in the first minute vs Oregon. NCAA referees call a blocking foul. Big Ten referees everywhere don't understand the call.

Can we somehow work an opening at K-State and Bruce Weber's name into this Hoiberg/Iowa St/Nebraska/Prohm/Alabama rumor string? Although we may be getting close to the 9 circles of hell with those additions.

Virginia fans having awful flashbacks midway through the first half. It can't possibly happen again, can it?

Second Round NIT Schedule (Central times) Friday, March 22 Memphis at Creighton, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU Saturday, March 23 Arkansas at Indiana, 11 a.m., ESPN Lipscomb at UNC Greensboro, 1 p.m., ESPN Sunday, March 24 Wichita State at Clemson, 1 p.m., ESPN Xavier at Texas, 3 p.m., ESPN Harvard at NC State, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU Nebraska at TCU, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU Monday, March 25 Norfolk State at Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN2 https://i.turner.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/images/2019/03/20/2019-nit-bracket-schedule-scores_1.pdf

I was wrong on Iowa - showing Pat Chambers level grit today. Didn't think they had it in them.

This is Nebrasketball in a nutshell. We're worried about a coach we haven't officially hired yet for a job that isn't officially open yet spurning us for another job that isn't open yet, because that coach may leave for another job that isn't officially open yet. And somehow, it all makes sense. Nebrasketball. It's not for everyone.

Those were fun to watch - defenses better communicate well, or they're in trouble with all of that motion and multiple options off each set.

Ugh. The Chuck-xedo commercial is going to ensure I flip around to other games all weekend during timeouts so I don't risk ever seeing it again.

First-world problems.

I miss 2 things about the old NIT. The red, white, and blue ball was the best. Being able to bid for home games based on ticket sales. We'd host all the way to NYC if that was the case.

MSU not starting Ward today - interesting. I thought he looked really good in Chicago, considering how much time he missed. I'm sure they won't need him for huge minutes today, but still interesting. That's a pretty good dude to be able to bring off the bench. EDIT: Ha, he's in already, 2 1/2 minutes in the game.

B1G was really nasty tough this season. Hopefully our league can inflict some of that on the rest of the field in the NCAAs. Kind of stinks Mich St and Minnesota now have to play each other in the 2nd round. Committee could have done a much better job spreading the B1G teams among the regions. Also I would imagine Iowa won't be in the NCAAs long. Although it will be fun watching Fran's head explode after he gets an eye full of Cincinnati's defensive pressure and having no fouls called. I'm sure the way he treats refs will get his team the benefit of the doubt vs a physical Cincinnati team ... in Columbus, Ohio. Poor Fran.

After that 20-game conference slog, it's easy to see the warts of every B1G team. But this league was so dominant in Nov/Dec, and we may see that showing again now that B1G teams can play some other teams.

Yeah, I think really the only time we could've tried him was when Harris was sick. But Akenten was still shooting at a pretty high level from 3 at that point in the year. Plus we still had Cope. There was plenty of depth at that time. Perhaps we could've tried him when things were really tanking in late Jan/early Feb. But not sure it would've worked then either, as the entire team was slumping so badly. Trueblood is very effective now, but our Big 3 are also making shots at a nice clip in these last few games. Not sure he would've been as effective during the slump, as no one could make a shot then. And Thor had his chances real early in the year, but he struggled to defend the 3 so he was relegated to the bench mob. Distinctly remember Miles saying after the 2nd or 3rd game how NU had allowed by his count 3 open looks from 3 in the first few games, and Thor had been responsible for 2 of them. Knew then his minutes were finished. But the way he and Trueblood move the ball on offense is something that is perfect for this team in its current makeup. They dribble with a purpose - to draw the defense and let other guys get open - and then they find those guys. And they're just scoring enough that defenses can't completely sag off and play 5-on-3. It's fun to watch. Hope they get to do it for 4 more games.

Almost forgot - congrats to all the seniors (and Roby): Watson - Became only 11th NU player to surpass 1,500 points in career scoring, also now 4th in career made 3s Palmer - Now 2nd in single season points at 689 - just 16 away from passing Hoppen for the all-time mark Roby - Career high with 28 points Trueblood - Career high with 6 points Borchardt - Career high with 1 technical that was totally worth it - I don't know what he said, but Butler's guys were really pissed and Tanner's smirk was priceless

TCU 81 NU 66

I was really concerned whether NU would be able to recreate the Chicago magic and effort. Still had too many memories of last year's trip to Starkvegas I guess. As shorthanded as we are, we needed to play with tremendous effort, and we did. Couldn't be more happy to be wrong about that one. Everything clicked again last night - we have to have Roby/Palmer/Watson score a bunch, stay out of foul trouble, and play at a high level, and they did. And we need the other guys to make the hustle plays and play without fear when they get their chance, and they did, especially in the 2nd half. Very pleased for the seniors that they get to have a win in their 'second' final game at PBA. Nice that we get a few extra days off now till Sunday, maybe we get Heiman and Allen back? And couldn't be more impressed with the coaching staff - for them to pull this effort out of this team with all of the outside noise going on is simply amazing. They all know what's coming, but they still are carrying themselves with the highest level of professionalism. Might as well keep the ride going for another 4 games. Finally, Butler is your typical Big East trash team ... in more ways than one. NU 3, Big Least 0.

Hope this is right - but I believe I heard Palmer is just 38 points off Dave Hoppen's all-time single season scoring record (704 pts). If we win tonight, he's almost a sure thing to get the record ... especially since he'll be playing 40 minutes every game. Or he could just get it tonight in a win. That'd be OK too.

You'd get a lot more up votes if you mentioned that a different blue team was about to become the NCAA's favorite target.

Some NU/Butler comparisons: NET - NU 48, BU 64 RPI - NU 93, BU 96 Last 10 games - NU 5-5, BU 4-6 NU at home - 12-5 BU on the road - 2-9 Q1 record - NU 3-13, BU 1-10 Q2 record - NU 6-3, BU 8-5 Q1+Q2 wins - NU 9, BU 9 Q3+Q4 record - NU 8-0, BU 7-1 Common Opponents NU 3-0 BU 2-3 Seton Hall NU win at home 80-57 BU loss on road 75-76 BU win at home 70-68 blue team up the road NU win at home 94-75 BU win at home 84-69 BU loss on road 61-75 Indiana NU win on road 66-51 BU loss at neutral site 68-71

In other news, Rick Pitino has found a new league in which he wants to coach, and he's offering to coach for free.

Recruits are free to do what they want, and I won't disparage them for looking out for themselves when a coaching change (assistant or head coach) occurs. I certainly hope he stays committed and gives the new coach a chance, but I also understand reality. But this sparks another question. Why did Williams and Green connect most with Miles in the year he's going to be fired, and Xavier connects more with Hunter in the year he leaves instead of the head coach? It's like this is a microcosm of the overall luck of NU basketball.

It changed things for Nee in '96.

NU 64 Butler 63 1 win

Has to help that we play Wednesday instead of Tuesday. With an ankle, every extra hour is helpful.