[Husker] Iowa State 65, Nebraska 60

[Steve Reichenbach]

It was a critical loss for the Huskers.  I too did not understand why
NU fouled when trailing by 3.  I believe that NU is a much better
basketball team to watch than were Nee's Huskers --- better effort,
better team play, etc. --- but they seem to not be able to get over
the hump in important games.  It is still possible that NU could get
to 8-8, but after last night that seems unlikely.  At some point, NU
needs to be able to finish with a winning record in the conference to
validate the steady improvements that I believe Collier has made. I
think even a patient attitude would be at most two more seasons after
this one for Collier to have a team with a winning conference record
or look at making a change in the coaching staff.

> From: NUStLNorris at aol.com
> Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 22:58:01 EST
> Subject: [Husker] Iowa State 65, Nebraska 60
> 
> @#$%&* 'n rediculous experience at the Devaney Center tonight!!
> 
> Plenty led up to it, but the way tonight's game ended was just ... 
> unexplainable.
> 
> Nebraska plays a poor game tonight, bud had a chance to win late.  Freshman 
> Joe McCray was terrible early in the game and at the start of the second half, 
> but he hit a late three and then converted three-of-three from the line with 
> 56 seconds to go to bring us to within three at 61-58.  Fifty-eight seconds to 
> go and we've finally got it back to a one-possession game.  There's a 
> 20-second differential between the shot-clock and the game-clock, so THERE'S NOOOOO 
> NEEEEED TO FOUL !!!!!
> 
> But then Nebraska, from some unexplainable reason, decides to foul a 63 
> percent free-throw shooter!  It's like ... finally, a one-possession game, but then 
> you choose to let the odds be in THEIR favor to make it a two-possession 
> game!!??
> 
> WHAAAATT is that all about!!???  That's NOT good basketball !!!
> 
> Sheesh, I guess I wanted people to be specific in their criticisms so I have 
> to be ... Barry's going to be under the gun for that decision.  Because he 
> didn't look to upset with Simms for fouling.  And Dourisseau was trying to foul 
> before Simms did!!
> 
> That was a MAJOR coaching blunder, obviously IN MY OPINION, but a lot of 
> coaches would agree with me (if they would be candid).  Just stop theother team 
> once and you've got your chance to tie it with a three.  Or hit a field goal and 
> THEN foul!!
> 
> Ohhhh, man.  NU's season is fast slipping away from them.
> 
> Barry pulled McCray and sat him for the large majority of the second half 
> against KU ... and then he plays him 40 MINUTES TONIGHT ??!!!!  Doesn't ever sit 
> him down!!
> 
> That is just too wierd.
> 
> McCray turned it over five times in the first eight minutes tonight.  He 
> ended up with seven turnovers, five of which were largely all on him.  He finished 
> with 26 points but was borderline-scared ... extremely timid and lacking in 
> aggressiveness early in the game.  Looked like a kid who sat all of the second 
> half against KU and didn't know why.  His confidence wasn't there and his play 
> showed it.  
> 
> Iowa State is playing a lot better than they were early in conference play.  
> Stinson is a great player -- led ISU with 24 points and seven boards.
> 
> But Nebraska -- and their season -- looks like it's going the other way ... 
> the wrong direction.  It was tough to watch tonight at the Devaney Center.  NU 
> flat out played poorly.  They DID hit about 74 percent or so from the line, 
> but I'm searching for something good to say.
> 
> Dave Norris
> 
> 
> 
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