[Husker] Close Call at KU, Barry Collier and the Future of Husker Hoops ...

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

... and I apologize in advance for the length of what follows.

Not many seemed to notice the great showing by the men’s basketball team last 
night in Lawrence against the nation’s #2 rated team.  I see Jon did ... a 
couple others too.  

Lot of opinions coming here, so please take them as just that.

Anyone saying that the men’s hoop team hasn’t showed any improvement since
Barry Collier’s arrival is just plain wrong.  The facts show that simply isn’
t the case.  No post-season play in Collier’s first three seasons followed by 
last year’s NIT appearance where they played well.  The overall record and 
the post-season reward show noticeable improvement in the program last year as 
opposed to prior years.  That’s a fact.  And if you’ve been to a game or two, 
the improvement and “buy in” to Collier’s system is easy to see first hand.

Comparisons between how the basketball coach’s performance should be 
evaluated as compared to the football coach at NU is preposterous.  They are two 
entirely different animals.  Decades ago, the NU football program elevated to the 
point where there was no longer room for moral victories (save perhaps the ‘94 
Orange Bowl vs. Florida State).  I hate “moral victories,” but last night’s 
was a big one for Collier’s boys.  Think they have any confidence going into 
Mizzou this weekend?  Callahan took over arguably the most successful football 
program in the country's history following a 10 and 3 season.  Collier took 
over a basketball program that was in a state of despair.  No discipline, no 
teamwork, no common goal ... and no
scholarships thanks to Danny Nee mortgaging the future (somebody who knows
the intricacies of the “8 and 5 rule” better than I do can chime in here).

I am a Collier supporter and always have been.  However, I don’t always agree 
with
everything he does.  There are times I think he should shorten his bench, 
sometimes his point guards dribble too much and he devotes a good share of 
quality minutes to one specific player that I haven’t seen anything from over the 
past two and a half years (no need for specific names here).  But he knows the 
game thoroughly, is a credit to the University and his program HAS showed 
improvement since his third year.

Let’s be honest ... the reason for NU’s inconsistency this year has been 
because their senior class – a group of four who are experienced and (you’d 
assume) developed physically and mentally – has basically been AWOL from the 
opening tip of the season!  Some sparse, positive play but, as a rule, 
underachieving and disappointing ... not nearly as much production as the minutes they 
play should require.  Now, if you want to blame this on coaching, go ahead.  But 
I think that’s a cop out.  I’m at a loss to explain how these guys have 
everything to play for this year, their final year, and they come out timid, 
undisciplined and outclassed.  I’d bet they'd tell you that they're at a loss to 
explain it too.

But I’ve seen the future of Nebraska basketball and his name is Joe McCray.

This kid is a stallion.  Last night, KU tried to intimidate him by beating 
him up, holding him, grabbing him (that’s the way the Iba/Sutton/Self 
triumvirate has always taught it) ... and he was unfazed.  He responded and THEN SOME.  
A brief altercation followed and I think there was a double-technical foul 
assessed.  Yes, you have to keep your cool, but you can’t take any flak either.  
He showed me a lot by getting up and in-the-face of a KU guard and saying 
something to the effect of “don’t play me like that!”  16,300 fans were all over 
him every time he touched the ball after that and Joe couldn’t have cared 
less.  This kid IS the real deal.  Freshman Aleks Maric isn’t quite as developed 
as Joe, but you can see the promise and he’s going to be huge for us – 
literally and figuratively.  You can’t coach size.  But he’s also got good hands and 
feet.  When he catches up to the speed and quickness of Big XII play and 
further develops some inside moves and instincts, he’s going to be legit.  And 
whoa!! ... Grand Island’s Wes Wilkensen is showing something!  A non-factor his 
first two years, Wes is finally showing some results.  The confidence he’s 
gaining is easy to see.  Good for him.

Last week I saw that McCray led the Big XII in three-pointers made per game 
and Maric was fourth in the conference in overall rebounding.  Freshmen!!!

Joe Mac, Big Aleks and Wes ... what a group to build on going into next year 
(and those three ARE better-than-decent free throw shooters -- now THERE'S a 
frustrating topic!).  And wait until you see some of the new players that 
Collier and Spinelli are bringing in.  As good and probably better than this year’s 
class.  And Perry (redshirt) is supposed to be a legitiate scorer too.

If you want to fire Collier after the McCray/Maric class has run it’s course, 
so be it.  But I don’t think you’re going to want to.  I’ve watched a lot of 
less-than-top-caliber play in Nee’s last years and Barry’s first few.  Next 
year and the ‘06-‘07 season is what some of us have been waiting (somewhat) 
patiently for.  The four seniors leaving?  God Bless ‘em, and thank you for 
your commitment, but we’re not going to be reeling from their departure.

“Jonlists” beat me to a post a few weeks back.  He was tired of people 
knee-jerking to the “fire the coach!” mentality.  Especially when critics would 
offer up nothing in the way of specifics and nothing that would make you believe 
they’ve been to a game this year, let alone over the past few years.  Couldn’
t have agreed more.

We need to vastly improve free throw shooting (so does KU!) and develop a
home court advantage (everyone has one ... where’s ours!!??).  But they ARE
making strides.  The local television contract was one of the better ideas I’
ve seen come out of the Athletic Department since ... well, I don’t know.

Husker hoops ... give up if you want to.  But after suffering through some 
tough-to-watch b-ball over the past few years, there’s no way I’m leaving now.  
The potential of the next two or three years is what some of us have been 
waiting for.  

Dave Norris