Fwd: [Husker] Roundballers

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/30/05 3:53:46 PM Central Standard Time, 
rrbeach at rrbeach.com writes:


> No one has brought it up yet, that I have seen anyway, but NU got their's 
> handed to them against Texas Tech on Saturday 84-68.  The game was worse than 
> the score indicated.  It was a very lethargic outing by the Huskers who, to 
> me, seemed to act like they really wished they were someplace else.  I guess 
> it is pretty indicative of how big a deal the men's BB progrom is to fans when 
> the football signing day generates more excitement than the basketball team 
> which is into the conference season.

Potential uniform changes and a ton of other things a whole lot less 
significant than this year's signing day generate more excitement on this list than 
the Cornhusker basketball team, Bob.  You have a keen sense for the obvious.

NU was very bad Saturday, but to say the the game was worse than the score 
indicated is really not true.  I believe the biggest lead Tech had was by the 
final margin of 16.    NU was within 8 with two minutes to go in an ugly game, 
I'll admit.  But it's not like they were ever down 25 or 30, or anywhere near 
that.  So to say that the game was worse than the score indicated is simply not 
accurate.

I know you can't stand Collier, Bob.  But tell me again that this basketball 
program hasn't improved a lick since he's been here.  Post-season last year 
... not a sniff prior to that.  That's measurable improvement -- not just my 
opinion.  But by actually going to the Devaney Center and knowing a little about 
the game, I see the improvement in other ways too.

But this season has been a frustrating one for those of us who actually 
follow Husker basketball closely.  Collier has specific things he does that I don't 
necessarily agree with (as I'd mentioned in a previous post), but I won't cop 
out and totally blame him for a senior class that's been AWOL as a general 
rule this year (including this Tech game where they went a combined 9 of 28 from 
the field).  The upperclassmen have to take some ownership at some point.  
These seniors (three of the four are four-year players, one -- Marcus Neal -- a 
JC transfer) showed noticable improvement from their freshman year to their 
junior year, but this year has been an unexplainable step backward.  And Neal 
was better last year than this.  They seem to be good students and great kids 
... just a tough, tough year collectively.  Something we had every right to 
"count on" going into the season simply hasn't been there.  

At least NU hit 76 percent from the line against Bobby's boys.  They were bad 
at Tech ... they stunk up the second half at Missouri.  But they're 3 and 4 
in conference play with four of the next six league games at home (and one of 
the road games is at Baylor).  Nebraka's best players are underclassmen.  When 
names like White, Harris and Walker are added to the likes of McCray, Maric 
and Wilkensen ... I'm interested to see what it looks like.  The recruiting 
class Barry and Spinelli have coming in is very good.  The talent level over this 
year and next is a measurable step or two (or three?) forward.  Experience is 
not as important in basketball as it is in football.  No where close.  Giving 
newcomers the minutes allocated to seniors this year will not be a big risk.  

As a long-time Husker basketball constituent, the next two years are what 
I've been waiting for.  Escort Collier to the airport if he hasn't won an NCAA 
game at the end of the 2006-2007 season.  Go for it.  But the talent level's 
improving, I'm looking forward to watching it and I'm not going to remain quiet 
(although I tell myself I should) when slanted, non-specific, inaccurate 
criticisms are presented about something I know a little bit about.

Bob ... you've been saying some things about Collier and his program that are 
uninformed and inaccurate.  I wish you'd offer up some specific criticisms 
related to the game itself instead of the knee-jerk "nobody cares/fire the 
coach" dreck.  It gets really old and shows a lack of anything except the most 
basic, superficial knowledge of Husker basketball.

Dave Norris