Fwd: [Husker] NU men's basketball win in Manhattan

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/12/2006 2:01:34 PM Central Standard Time,  
reich at inetnebr.com writes:

Arguably, the road win against K State is more impressive than
the  home win against OU.

Mratings http://www.mratings.com/cb/compare.htm  has K State at
#50 and OU at #52.  Of course, this early in the year,  those
rankings don't mean so much, but NU is likely to move up  from
#100.



Absolutely, all the way around.  Road conference wins during Collier’s  years 
have been few and far between, but then again, they’ve always been tough  to 
obtain for Nebraska basketball.
 
I think we got a little lucky but still executed down the stretch against  OU 
at home (down five with 40-plus seconds to play) … a HUGE and fortunate way  
to begin the conference season.  That game enabled us to seize an  opportunity 
in Manhattan.  Don’t look now, but Nebraska is going to be  favored by the 
odds-makers to improve to 3 and 0 in Big XII play next Tuesday at  home against 
Iowa State!  Having said that, it’s a “set-up” game if there  ever has been 
such a thing.  I’ve seen us lose this kind of game in the  past.  I think the 
schedule, which started doing us favors a long time ago,  is helping us again 
with no game this weekend … get in some good practice time …  get further away 
from this morning’s positive press clippings … heads out of the  proverbial 
clouds (tough practices will do that for you).  I think it’s a  good thing.
 
If NU can beat the ’Clones (that’s a big IF at this point) and improve to  
13 and 3 and 3 and 0 in conference, that puts them in good position to attack  
the following four games -- three of them on the road (at KU, at CU, home  
against Mizzou, and a road trip to Stillwater).  Win against ISU, go just  .500 
the rest of the way and it puts you in everyone’s “bubble”  conversation.
 
That’s all the further ahead I’m going.  Continued improvement is  vital.  
Without it, we're not going anywhere.  I see things with  guarded optimism 
right now.  I’ve seen teams start good in conference play,  go on six-game losing 
streaks and it’s all over before it gets started.   I’ve also seen teams turn 
around seemingly lifeless seasons and make something  of them (10-game 
conference losing streak, player revolt, regroup and win the  NIT).  I think the 
current NU squad has a chance to do just that (turn  around a seemingly lifeless 
season).  But are they strong enough  physically, mentally and emotionally to 
do it?
 
The Big XII is “down” this year and the Huskers have a golden opportunity  
to capitalize. 
 
Following Husker hoops as closely as I do, I’m surprised but at the same  
time I’m not with what I’m seeing.  Two meltdown losses (Creighton and  Florida 
State) are what everyone remembers, and with good reason (although the  win 
against Marquette looks pretty good now following their upset of UCONN  last 
week).
 
How has Nebraska gone 12 and 3 (aside from the favorable schedule) with Joe  
McCray and Aleks Maric -- the ‘05-06 “poster boys” -- being as “off” as they’
ve  been?!  Collier does some things that I don’t understand, but if they  
continue to improve, you’ve got to give him and his staff a ton of credit!   At 
the same time, the record shouldn’t be a total surprise because of the  
higher-than-normal expectations that accompanied this team at the start of  
pre-season practice.  And Maric and McCray ARE showing good signs of  turning it 
around.
 
The insertion of Charles Richardson into the starting point guard spot (and  
giving him most of the position’s minutes) has made a huge impact.   
Richardson is 5-foot-9 and arguably doesn’t have the ball-skills that freshmen  Marcus 
Walker and Jamel White have.  But there is absolutely no substitute  for 
experience.  Richardson keeps this team focused and in-synch.  I  didn’t think he 
was THIS valuable to NU prior to the season, but I’m convinced  now (and Walker 
and White are both going to be very good for NU before  they’re done).
 
With the state of Husker hoops being what it is, and Collier’s role in the  
future of Husker hoops being in question at times (all the time?) this year, I  
think that the upcoming Iowa State game -- and the chance to start 3 and 0 in 
 the Big XII that goes with it -- is arguably the biggest in his coaching  
career.  It’s going to be tough to win every conference home game, even if  OU 
DOES end up being the toughest foe (although KU is looking better and  better). 
 But the road win at KSU gives you a golden opportunity to improve  
confidence, cohesiveness, and your place in the standings at the end of the  year.
 
Dave Norris