Fwd: [Husker] Baylor Shocks K-State; Texas, OU Win

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/2/2006 10:09:53 AM Central Standard Time,  
reich at inetnebr.com writes:

Baylor's  win will likely be helpful beyond the moment too.  I have
no idea what  SP's thoughts are about Collier, but I guess my view
is that if Collier  can't get a finish in the top half of the conference
(which might get an  NCAA berth), then it is probably time to get
another coach (something I  think in general shouldn't be done too soon).
For NU to finish in the top  half of the Big 12, it is probably best
if both the worst and best teams  win, figuring that NU will finish
ahead of the worst teams and behind the  best teams.  So, it is good
that Baylor (which looks to finish behind  NU) beat KSU (one game
behind NU and Texas (which looks to finish ahead of  NU) beat Missouri
(which falls 1.5 games behind NU).  The OU win over  A&M is a closer
call wrt NU.

NU really needs a win against  Baylor.  After that, the home games
are Kansas, Texas Tech, CU, and K  State.  I think NU could win
each of the four, but a win against  Baylor and three other home
wins would give NU eight conference wins.   Road games are at
Texas, Iowa State, A&M, and Missouri.  The way  the Big 12 is this
year, NU chould have chance in all, with wins probably  more likely
against Missouri and A&M.  Add a win against Baylor,  three more
home wins, and a win on the road, and NU gets to 10-6.   That is
clear progress for Collier.  Even 9-7 would be  encouraging.  On the
other hand, if Baylor wins in Lincoln it would  likely require going
4-0 at home and 2-2 on the road to get 10 wins (each  of which would
be difficult) and 9-7 likely would require either 4-0 at  home or 2-2
on the road (again, either is difficult).

In the other  games this weekend, it probably is good for NU if Texas
beats A&M and  Oklahoma St beats Kansas St and doesn't much matter
whether Missouri or  Texas Tech wins.



I'm glad I'm not the only one who's enjoyed watching the  
jockeying-for-position that's going on in conference play.  When I saw  the Baylor final, I too, 
thought that it was a gift for NU.  I personally  think that Iowa State is the 
most equipped team to finish strong, among those  currently sitting below NU 
in the standings.  Looking up at Oklahoma, we DO  have a tie-breaker advantage 
on them with the head-to-head  win.  
 
The speculation can be fun.  What the heck, we're usually out of it by  now.  
I don't care if the conference is down this year ... it's not like  the 
trophy they play for is any smaller because of it.  
 
Obviously, a four-game losing streak about now would have my interest in  
conference hoops waning right along with the Huskers' chances ... so I'm  going 
to enjoy it while it's here to be enjoyed.
 
More speculation:  If NU takes care of Baylor on Saturday (and  we'll be a 
heavy favorite to do so) and if Iowa State beats CU in Ames  (toss-up game?  
I'll take the 'Clones), NU will be tied for third place in  the conference at the 
half-way point, no matter what happens in the KU-OU game  on Saturday.  
 
For a team that's had it's well-documented problems, with a coach on  
seemingly everybody's "hot seat," the fact is that the Huskers are in position  to 
control their destiny and play their way into the NCAA Tournament.  They  
obviously can also play their way right out of it.  But I like the way  they've 
looked over the past two games.  It's literally, a different  team.
 
Wes Wilkinson needs to keep going like he's in the stretch drive of his  
senior year and I'm trying to control my enthusiasm over freshman Jamel White  
(and trying to remember that he's still just a freshman).  Nebraska needs  to get 
more from Walker and Walker (6'9" junior forward B.J. and freshman  point 
guard Marcus) than they've seen in the last few games.  Marcus Perry  is showing 
signs of being capable of replacing some of McCray's outside  capabilities ... 
hasn't shot consistently yet, but hit a huge trey against OSU  on Tuesday.  
And even though I wonder about his conditioning at times  (although he's played 
about a hundred games over the last 365 days), Aleks Maric  is the kind of 
player that NU has that not all teams in the league are equipped  with.  Derek 
made some good points about the big Aussie in a previous  post.  He (Maric, not 
Derek) drives you batty with some of the missed  chippies around the rack, 
but you can't coach 6'11, 270.  You can  recruit it, but recruiting season's 
over and nobody's going to be making  any trades.  He's a rock and, potentially, 
a force.  Better than the  57 percent that he's shot from the line this year, 
as he showed against OSU on  Tuesday.
 
The Baylor game is a must win.  I hate to speculate on this (and to  use such 
a painful analogy for some), but lose that one and it could be for  Barry 
what the 2003 K-State football game in Lincoln was to Frank.  Beat  Baylor and NU 
is 5 and 3 at the halfway point and 15 and 6 overall.  The  fact that 5 of 
the 6 losses have been relatively UGLY?  Finish strong and  the N.C.A.A. 
selection committee always says that they put a lot of  emphasis on a team's last 10 
games.  And logically, they should factor  in the McCray issue right along 
with it, just like they would an injured player  returning.  Yes, I realize I 
used "logic" and "NCAA" in adjacent  sentences.  Sorry.
 
Dave Norris