OT - Nebraska MBB

[Franisdaman]

Interesting article from the Omaha World Herald:


Every coach loses players. Only coaches in peril lose multiple potential starters.

Tim Miles no longer has a crisis of confidence. He’s looking more like the captain of a sinking ship. He has nine scholarship players and he’s apparently having a hard time finding juco transfers of his own — over the weekend, he reportedly lost one target to Illinois State.

The Huskers are down to two scholarship big men on the roster: Jordy Tshimanga and Isaac Copeland.

In five years on the job, Miles has signed 14 four-year prospects. One completed his eligibility. Nine did not. Four still have a chance.

DONE:

Tai Webster (2013)

HERE:

Glynn Watson (2015)

Jack McVeigh (2015)

Isaiah Roby (2016)

Jordy Tshimanga (2016)

GONE:

Sergej Vucetic (2012)

Nathan Hawkins (2013)

Nick Fuller (2013)

Tarin Smith (2014)

Jacob Hammond (2014)

Bakari Evelyn (2015)

Michael Jacobson (2015)

Ed Morrow (2015)

Jeriah Horne (2016)

When does this stampede to the exits end? And how is Shawn Eichorst going to explain this mess? Yes, Miles is still the coach, but his A.D. is responsible, too.

The entire article:
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/blogs/...cle_1a6b4bd6-1e42-11e7-b035-5bf7a0e716aa.html

 

[terrehawk]

I know Miles a little also from his time in Ft Collins. Nice guy & likes his whiskey. But who doesn't

I was very impressed with him in the brief time I knew him. Of course I was a bit younger than him. I just think he needed to go be an assistant at a big time program first and then try taking over a Big Ten program or even a program that's close to one, like Nebraska....

 

[DodgerHawki]

I was very impressed with him in the brief time I knew him. Of course I was a bit younger than him. I just think he needed to go be an assistant at a big time program first and then try taking over a Big Ten program or even a program that's close to one, like Nebraska....

I don't think Miles needed time as an assistant, he just needed to be better at his job. Of course, one could argue that being an assistant at a P5 school would have helped him be better. He's 50 now, he took the Nebraska job at age 45 after taking Colorado State from the ash heap to the NCAA tournament. He fit the profile of a coach that Nebraska could reasonably get and who would take the job. And 2 years into the Huskers job, he was succeeding beyond what anyone had thought. 4th in the league, into the NCAA tournament, most all of his key players returning. Obviously, however, he wasn't connecting with the players on a level that made them better.

I suppose it's possible that Nebraska is good this year. No one gets hurt, the Copeland transfer is awesome, Tshiminga turns into a dominant post player, and all of the returning players improve by leaps and bounds. But that seems far-fetched. Players are not immune to criticisms of the program, and the first sign of adversity during a season guys who aren't 100% committed to the cause start listening to others and looking at outside options.

The Nebraska job is difficult. No history/tradition to speak of (when compared to the rest of the Big Ten). Probably the poorest recruiting footprint in the league. A supportive fan base, but a decent-size segment of those fans prefer to cheer for Creighton basketball and Nebraska football. Those issues have allowed him to keep his job so far.

 

[DanL53]

I don't think Miles needed time as an assistant, he just needed to be better at his job. Of course, one could argue that being an assistant at a P5 school would have helped him be better. He's 50 now, he took the Nebraska job at age 45 after taking Colorado State from the ash heap to the NCAA tournament. He fit the profile of a coach that Nebraska could reasonably get and who would take the job. And 2 years into the Huskers job, he was succeeding beyond what anyone had thought. 4th in the league, into the NCAA tournament, most all of his key players returning. Obviously, however, he wasn't connecting with the players on a level that made them better.

I suppose it's possible that Nebraska is good this year. No one gets hurt, the Copeland transfer is awesome, Tshiminga turns into a dominant post player, and all of the returning players improve by leaps and bounds. But that seems far-fetched. Players are not immune to criticisms of the program, and the first sign of adversity during a season guys who aren't 100% committed to the cause start listening to others and looking at outside options.

The Nebraska job is difficult. No history/tradition to speak of (when compared to the rest of the Big Ten). Probably the poorest recruiting footprint in the league. A supportive fan base, but a decent-size segment of those fans prefer to cheer for Creighton basketball and Nebraska football. Those issues have allowed him to keep his job so far.

Excellent points. I'm just thinking out loud here, and I wouldn't want to give them any ideas, but if Nebraska ever wants to be competitive in the Big Ten they need to spend big time dough like they did on facilities and get themselves a walking tradition of a coach. If one looks at the successful hires (and this is killing me to say it about those rodents up North) in the Big Ten recently, two have been from basketball royalty families. Lil' Pitino and Collins.

If one considers seven years completed as still new, it makes the job McCaffery has done even more remarkable in that he's the only relatively unknown coach, with no name, to rebuild a Big Ten program in the last seven years! Gross didn't. Miles hasn't. Gard, well, he had no rebuilding to do, and the jury I think just sat down this year to really see what his results will be as Bo's guys (Yes, Carlton and others, I know Gard was there a long time.) run out.

Iowa got lucky. And it hasn't been easy and it did tax patience as you just said it, DodgerHawki, footprint.

It takes hard work and a lot of travel to put those footprints down. A way to get around that problem is hire a big name, that casts a big shadow. Even, apparently, if that name came from the Dad.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Excellent points. I'm just thinking out loud here, and I wouldn't want to give them any ideas, but if Nebraska ever wants to be competitive in the Big Ten they need to spend big time dough like they did on facilities and get themselves a walking tradition of a coach. If one looks at the successful hires (and this is killing me to say it about those rodents up North) in the Big Ten recently, two have been from basketball royalty families. Lil' Pitino and Collins.

If one considers seven years completed as still new, it makes the job McCaffery has done even more remarkable in that he's the only relatively unknown coach, with no name, to rebuild a Big Ten program in the last seven years! Gross didn't. Miles hasn't. Gard, well, he had no rebuilding to do, and the jury I think just sat down this year to really see what his results will be as Bo's guys (Yes, Carlton and others, I know Gard was there a long time.) run out.

Iowa got lucky. And it hasn't been easy and it did tax patience as you just said it, DodgerHawki, footprint.

It takes hard work and a lot of travel to put those footprints down. A way to get around that problem is hire a big name, that casts a big shadow. Even, apparently, if that name came from the Dad.

Interesting points on Pitino and Collins. I would argue that the Minnesota job for certain (and probably the Northwestern job) are easier to succeed at than Nebraska. Pitino had a local talent like Amir Coffey and Reggie Lynch (from Minnesota but started out at Northern Illinois before transferring back). Miles just does not have that type of talent in Nebraska, at least regularly. Getting a program back on the map that doesn't have inherent recruiting advantages is very hard (duh).

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Interesting points on Pitino and Collins. I would argue that the Minnesota job for certain (and probably the Northwestern job) are easier to succeed at than Nebraska. Pitino had a local talent like Amir Coffey and Reggie Lynch (from Minnesota but started out at Northern Illinois before transferring back). Miles just does not have that type of talent in Nebraska, at least regularly. Getting a program back on the map that doesn't have inherent recruiting advantages is very hard (duh).

Nebraska and basketball don't really roll off the tongue together...

 

[Alum-Ni]

As the world turns with Husker basketball.............

Huskers have seen several transfers over the last few weeks/months, but picked up a few key new pieces in the last several days

Over the weekend Nebraska picked up Duby Okeke, a 6-8 center, graduate transfer from Winthrop. He will be immediately eligible for 2017-18 and will have one season to play. He is probably like a Ed Morrow clone in physical build. Not a big threat offensively, but is a great shot blocker. He averaged just 4.1 points per game in his career at Winthrop, but with his 7-foot-4 wingspan, blocked 165 shots in his three seasons at Winthrop, including a school record 72 blocks in the 2015-16 season. He is also a solid rebounder. Rim defense is something the Huskers have been lacking for quite some time, Okeke should help in that regard.

Nebraska also got a huge addition in four-star shooting guard Thomas Allen from Garner, North Carolina. Allen was committed to North Carolina State but was released from his commitment after the Wolfpack made a coaching change. Allen was ranked #83 in the nation by 247Sports and in the top 100 of ESPN's top 100. He is regarded as one of the top three-point shooters in the nation in his class. The 6-2, 180 guard played last year at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, leading his squad to a 33-0 record and a prep school national championship and was named player of the year for the prestigious New England Prep School Athletic Conference. He averaged 18 points per game and shoots 55 percent from the field and 48 percent from behind the arc. He had offers from Kansas, Cincinnati, Xavier, and Illinois.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Speaking of transfers, as of Sunday, according to "verbalcommits.com", there are so far 505 transfers already this year in Division I men's basketball. That number is expected to reach a final tally of between 700 and 800 by August.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Speaking of transfers, as of Sunday, according to "verbalcommits.com", there are so far 505 transfers already this year in Division I men's basketball. That number is expected to reach a final tally of between 700 and 800 by August.

Wow, consider that there are 347 D-1 basketball teams and about 4500 players. That means roughly 1 out of every 6 players is transferring, or 2 per team.

 

[icwesthawk]

Soooo, the death knell for Nebby basketball was a little premature?

 

[unIowa]

Soooo, the death knell for Nebby basketball was a little premature?

Miles is still dead man walking IMO. His biggest problem is he isn't very good at coaching offense, not good at all.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Soooo, the death knell for Nebby basketball was a little premature?

It's Nebraska.....I wouldn't count on anything until it actually happens.

 

[myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

It's Nebraska.....I wouldn't count on anything until it actually happens.

It's high time the basketball program blows through half a dozen coaches in a dozen years. Worked out well for the FB program.

 

[Alum-Ni]

It's high time the basketball program blows through half a dozen coaches in a dozen years. Worked out well for the FB program.

They pretty much have.

Danny Nee
Barry Collier
Doc Sadler
Tim Miles'

 

[Hawksfor3]

It's a meltdown. They are running away from Miles. The man cannot coach at all. Gonna be ugly in Lincoln next season.

Maybe even a Lil Lick moment or two.

 

[swan88]

Interesting article from the Omaha World Herald:


Every coach loses players. Only coaches in peril lose multiple potential starters.

Tim Miles no longer has a crisis of confidence. He’s looking more like the captain of a sinking ship. He has nine scholarship players and he’s apparently having a hard time finding juco transfers of his own — over the weekend, he reportedly lost one target to Illinois State.

The Huskers are down to two scholarship big men on the roster: Jordy Tshimanga and Isaac Copeland.

In five years on the job, Miles has signed 14 four-year prospects. One completed his eligibility. Nine did not. Four still have a chance.

DONE:

Tai Webster (2013)

HERE:

Glynn Watson (2015)

Jack McVeigh (2015)

Isaiah Roby (2016)

Jordy Tshimanga (2016)

GONE:

Sergej Vucetic (2012)

Nathan Hawkins (2013)

Nick Fuller (2013)

Tarin Smith (2014)

Jacob Hammond (2014)

Bakari Evelyn (2015)

Michael Jacobson (2015)

Ed Morrow (2015)

Jeriah Horne (2016)

When does this stampede to the exits end? And how is Shawn Eichorst going to explain this mess? Yes, Miles is still the coach, but his A.D. is responsible, too.

The entire article:
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/blogs/...cle_1a6b4bd6-1e42-11e7-b035-5bf7a0e716aa.html

On that "Gone" list, who would you want on your team, other than Ed Morrow and, possibly, Michael Jacobson? The answer is, "No one": those are all marginal players who belong in a lesser conference.
Jacobson would be relegated to a limited role next year (I hear that Drake is a possibility -- and that would be a good place for him), and Morrow hasn't been able to stay healthy, yet, for more than half a season.
The biggest transfer hammer at Nebraska was Andrew White last year: that one hurt! White's transfer was a huge blow to last year's team: losing senior leadership and three-point scoring from a very good player. Unfortunately for him (and Nebraska), he ended up with a one-and-done NIT win at Syracuse, and he had slightly better statistics at Nebraska than in his senior year at Syracuse.
Miles's biggest problem has been the constant injury bug and a lack of depth (see, e.g., the "Gone" list above) to weather the injury storms. But that may be starting to change.

 

[unIowa]

Interesting article from the Omaha World Herald:


Every coach loses players. Only coaches in peril lose multiple potential starters.

Tim Miles no longer has a crisis of confidence. He’s looking more like the captain of a sinking ship. He has nine scholarship players and he’s apparently having a hard time finding juco transfers of his own — over the weekend, he reportedly lost one target to Illinois State.

The Huskers are down to two scholarship big men on the roster: Jordy Tshimanga and Isaac Copeland.

In five years on the job, Miles has signed 14 four-year prospects. One completed his eligibility. Nine did not. Four still have a chance.

DONE:

Tai Webster (2013)

HERE:

Glynn Watson (2015)

Jack McVeigh (2015)

Isaiah Roby (2016)

Jordy Tshimanga (2016)

GONE:

Sergej Vucetic (2012)

Nathan Hawkins (2013)

Nick Fuller (2013)

Tarin Smith (2014)

Jacob Hammond (2014)

Bakari Evelyn (2015)

Michael Jacobson (2015)

Ed Morrow (2015)

Jeriah Horne (2016)

When does this stampede to the exits end? And how is Shawn Eichorst going to explain this mess? Yes, Miles is still the coach, but his A.D. is responsible, too.

The entire article:
http://www.omaha.com/huskers/blogs/...cle_1a6b4bd6-1e42-11e7-b035-5bf7a0e716aa.html

On that "Gone" list, who would you want on your team, other than Ed Morrow and, possibly, Michael Jacobson? The answer is, "No one": those are all marginal players who belong in a lesser conference.
Jacobson would be relegated to a limited role next year (I hear that Drake is a possibility -- and that would be a good place for him), and Morrow hasn't been able to stay healthy, yet, for more than half a season.
The biggest transfer hammer at Nebraska was Andrew White last year: that one hurt! White's transfer was a huge blow to last year's team: losing senior leadership and three-point scoring from a very good player. Unfortunately for him (and Nebraska), he ended up with a one-and-done NIT win at Syracuse, and he had slightly better statistics at Nebraska than in his senior year at Syracuse.
Miles's biggest problem has been the constant injury bug and a lack of depth (see, e.g., the "Gone" list above) to weather the injury storms. But that may be starting to change.

Miles is dead man walking. Can't keep a team from quitting on themselves and can't coach offense. The guy just isn't a P5 coach it appears.

 

[nagemj02]

Interesting points on Pitino and Collins. I would argue that the Minnesota job for certain (and probably the Northwestern job) are easier to succeed at than Nebraska. Pitino had a local talent like Amir Coffey and Reggie Lynch (from Minnesota but started out at Northern Illinois before transferring back). Miles just does not have that type of talent in Nebraska, at least regularly. Getting a program back on the map that doesn't have inherent recruiting advantages is very hard (duh).

Lynch played his first two seasons at Illinois State but I know what you mean.


"Wow, consider that there are 347 D-1 basketball teams and about 4500 players. That means roughly 1 out of every 6 players is transferring, or 2 per team."

HawkIDrummer, there's a few more than that (351 teams). I have no problem with the kids that take advantage of the grad-transfer rule. Head coaches that get a taste of success at one program often "transfer" to another program the next season. However, I do think that some of the freshmen and sophomores that transfer don't realize that they are in a good program and that they just need a little patience, to tough it out, work on their game, listen to their coaches, and ignore a lot of the extra distractions that exist nowadays.