State of Nebraska Men's Basketball

[Native Nebraskan]

With another year for Tim Miles it is "Fish or Cut Bate" Time. The problem is that if you are a top recruit looking at Nebraska probably isn't worth your time. If Miles doesn't come through with a huge season there will probably be changes. Is there enough talent currently on the team for high success next season? Without sufficient upgrade in talent can Miles succeed with the current players? I also think that he may have lost the team towards the end of the season. Can he regain them back and win next season?

Eichorst just needs to be prepared to open the purse strings and go after a proven coach like Greg Marshall next year. Missouri did just that this year. If Marshall is worth going after, it might cost $3M to $4M per year. That is just for the head coach, don't forget it takes top assistant coaches to recruit. The facilities are in place, will there be a commitment financially for a proven coach who consistently plays in March? Next year Nebraska receives a full share from the BTN.

 

[30BringsTheHurt]

Just a matter of getting the right guy lined up. We all know how this is going to turn out. The trend in recruiting, visits, etc., has already dropped off, IMO. Seems pretty clear.

 

[shine003]

Nebraska will never be a trendy pick for basketball recruits...at least not in the near future. Any hope of making nebraska relevant in basketball is going to require a long term build with gradual improvement. I have no idea if Miles is the guy to do that or not, but I know that continually firing coaches isn't the answer for arguably one of the historically worst power 5 programs in the country.

 

[LBremser]

IMHO, this isn't an matter of bringing in a successful HC simply by paying more money. NU has been a graveyard for basketball coaches and a proven HC is not likely to come here no matter how much money we offer. A program with no history of success and a poor recruiting base is not a draw for coaches with options.

 

[TruHusker]

IMHO, this isn't an matter of bringing in a successful HC simply by paying more money. NU has been a graveyard for basketball coaches and a proven HC is not likely to come here no matter how much money we offer. A program with no history of success and a poor recruiting base is not a draw for coaches with options.

Bingo

 

[Huskerfan2112]

Does Bill Snyder have a brother who coaches hoops?

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

I agree that a head coach that has had success at a mid major like Marshall may not come here. But I disagree that Nebraska can't land a coach with P5 assistant coach and currently a low and mid major head coach.

The problem is that most people don't want Nebraska to be a stepping stone job. They would rather have Tim Miles (Danny Nee, Doc Sadler, Barry Collier) and perceived stability than Pat Kelsey (Winthrop) or Earl Grant (College of Charleston) or King Rice (Monmouth) knowing he will be gone in 4 or 5 years.

 

[scarletred]

I agree Eichorst should look into a P-5 very good assistant Coach.

I also recognize our program has been a grave yard for Coaching since Nee left, but Nebraska facility should help them land a potential good Coach something Collier and Sadler did't have to work with.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

I agree that a head coach that has had success at a mid major like Marshall may not come here. But I disagree that Nebraska can't land a coach with P5 assistant coach and currently a low and mid major head coach.

The problem is that most people don't want Nebraska to be a stepping stone job. They would rather have Tim Miles (Danny Nee, Doc Sadler, Barry Collier) and perceived stability than Pat Kelsey (Winthrop) or Earl Grant (College of Charleston) or King Rice (Monmouth) knowing he will be gone in 4 or 5 years.

Yep, and it's hurting the program IMO. Nebraska needs young guys coaching now even if it means losing them in a few years. Nebraska will be better off in the long run if they can get good young coaches that can bring the program up to a level that coaches will actually want to stay in the future. Nebraska can be a destination job one day with the conference and facilities it has.

And I'll say it again, Jon Scheyer would be on my radar right now if I'm Nebraska. He is huge in Illinois and ALL the top recruits and AAU coaches know him well. If he does well and leaves Nebraska in a few years that means the program is heading in the right direction and becomes that much more appealing to the nextan up.

 

[scarletred]

I also don't see Hiring a Basketball Coach making more than the Football Coach.

I'd be shocked to see Eichorst Hire a Basketball Coach for 3 or 4 million.

Wisconsin at one time ( before 1995)was no different than Nebraska, then they hired Dick Bennnet and Bo Ryan and they have been the most consistent in the B1G not names Michigan State, so it can be obtained with the right hire.

Yes I know they won a National Title in 1940-1941.

 

[maplesyrup95]

I agree Eichorst should look into a P-5 very good assistant Coach.

I also recognize our program has been a grave yard for Coaching since Nee left, but Nebraska facility should help them land a potential good Coach something Collier and Sadler did't have to work with.

Even Nee didn't win an NCAA game, though. Not saying Miles is "The Guy" though.

 

[Harry Caray]

There are always going to be plenty of applicants for a job that pays seven figures. No we're not going to hire away a proven p5 conference coach. But it's an athletic director's job to identify the qualities in a potential coach that he thinks will lead to success. They may not have head coaching experience yet (like Collins before NW or Hoiberg before ISU) but have a lot of the qualities and pedigree to make an outstanding one. ADs and CEOs get paid the big bucks to identify these type of talented people before others do.

Our last 3 hires have been mid-major guys, so maybe should get creative with the next hire, maybe scour the NBA and big-time college assistant ranks to identify someone who has been learning under great coaches and is hungry for the chance to lead their own team.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

If Eichorst wants Miles to be successful he should have extended his contract long term and voiced 100% support for Miles for the long haul. He didn't and now recruiting will tank. I think it is stupid to retain Miles without giving him the FULL resources he needs to succeed ... and that includes voiced support for time and a long term contract. Absent that, all we have now is a holding pattern with a lame duck coach. Does anyone really think Miles is going to have a big turnaround in one year? Of course not. So if you are going to retain him, then freaking retain him and let it be known far and wide that the dude is our coach for many more years.

Otherwise ... just fire his ass and move on with an open wallet to someone new.

 

[scarletred]

Even Nee didn't win an NCAA game, though. Not saying Miles is "The Guy" though.

Nee has had the best success, the year the were seeded ( believe 1990-1991) 3rd and lost to 14 seed Xavier was our biggest chance to do something and we crapped the bed that day.

 

[scarletred]

If Eichorst wants Miles to be successful he should have extended his contract long term and voiced 100% support for Miles for the long haul. He didn't and now recruiting will tank. I think it is stupid to retain Miles without giving him the FULL resources he needs to succeed ... and that includes voiced support for time and a long term contract. Absent that, all we have now is a holding pattern with a lame duck coach. Does anyone really think Miles is going to have a big turnaround in one year? Of course not. So if you are going to retain him, then freaking retain him and let it be known far and wide that the dude is our coach for many more years.

Otherwise ... just fire his ass and move on with an open wallet to someone new.

Or he hasn't found his right replacement yet and is buying more time with either you make it next year to the dance or your're gone.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Or he hasn't found his right replacement yet and is buying more time with either you make it next year to the dance or your're gone.

Possibly.

 

[Hoosker Du]

If Eichorst wants Miles to be successful he should have extended his contract long term and voiced 100% support for Miles for the long haul. He didn't and now recruiting will tank. I think it is stupid to retain Miles without giving him the FULL resources he needs to succeed ... and that includes voiced support for time and a long term contract. Absent that, all we have now is a holding pattern with a lame duck coach. Does anyone really think Miles is going to have a big turnaround in one year? Of course not. So if you are going to retain him, then freaking retain him and let it be known far and wide that the dude is our coach for many more years.

Otherwise ... just fire his ass and move on with an open wallet to someone new.

Oh God, NOOOOOO!! If Eichorst didn't extend his contract after last year's mess, and things got worse, Miles should have been sent packing after this year. No show of support, no nothing. Just GTFO and start looking for a Top Power 5 assistant coach. Someone that has learned under one of the best coaches in the nation and knows what it is like to perform at a big-time program.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Watching basketball this week has been pretty sobering when you watch guys from directional schools and no name programs that can put the ball in the hoop.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Oh God, NOOOOOO!! If Eichorst didn't extend his contract after last year's mess, and things got worse, Miles should have been sent packing after this year. No show of support, no nothing. Just GTFO and start looking for a Top Power 5 assistant coach. Someone that has learned under one of the best coaches in the nation and knows what it is like to perform at a big-time program.

Kind of my point. Either fire Miles now or extend his contract long term. That is my view. Total commitment to whatever decision is made one way or the other. But this halfway house crap is a recipe for just another wasted year or two.

 

[newAD]

Nee has had the best success, the year the were seeded ( believe 1990-1991) 3rd and lost to 14 seed Xavier was our biggest chance to do something and we crapped the bed that day.

That was a potential Sweet 16 team, and could have been a program changing moment.

 

[newAD]

This is Nebraska. We will not get top talent. So Miles needs to stop coaching offense like he has it and think that his guys will be able to out one on one iso other better teams.

Other schools take projects and develop them and have success. I'd be a hell of a lot more patient with Miles if he showed that he was willing to do that, vs thinking he's going to get guys to run the offense he's shown, and be successful. Every year but year 2, the conference coaches figure out how to shut Nebraska down offensively by the end of the season, and it's not hard to do so.

I am so tired of hearing about "talent." If Miles can only succeed with talent, then fire him now. This is big time college basketball, and almost every Big 10 team is going to have more talent than Nebraska.

Miles does nothing elaborate on offense and he lives and dies with man to man 95% of the time.

Nebraska has been so irrelevant for so long, we've got to be unique. He's got to run a system where lots of players will play. I'd be elated if Nebraska ran a version of Arkansas' 40 minutes of Hell. At least if we did that players coming here would be mentally prepared when they got here thst they were going to have to run their asses off and there'd be no excuses for having a poor defender getting into the program.

I'll be happy to eat crow, but I've got 5 seasons of predictable offense and defense to watch that doesn't seem to take advantage of talent, it seems to negate any talent players have. I have little hope things will be much better next year. I hope he surprises me.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Kind of my point. Either fire Miles now or extend his contract long term. That is my view. Total commitment to whatever decision is made one way or the other. But this halfway house crap is a recipe for just another wasted year or two.

Sort of agree. I think many factor went into keeping Miles around next season. None of which I agree with, but they don't pay me 7 figures to make those decisions.

1- possibility of Illinois and Indiana opening up
2 - possibility of losing players to transfer if Miles was fired
3- being a cheapskate when it comes to paying the buyout. He is trying to reduce the liability by keeping him around and not extending.
4 - didn't have a plan or couldn't get the guy he wanted.

The problem with not extending then, bringing him back after another bottom of the league finish, is that not only are you hurting recruiting for 2018, but now with two guys leaving, you have to replace those guys in 2017.

Regardless. After watching Northwestern win and Maryland, Minnesota in losses, knowing they will return huge portions of their teams that were already better than Nebraska, I have no confidence next year will be any different than this year or the year before.

 

[52husker]

With another year for Tim Miles it is "Fish or Cut Bate" Time. The problem is that if you are a top recruit looking at Nebraska probably isn't worth your time. If Miles doesn't come through with a huge season there will probably be changes. Is there enough talent currently on the team for high success next season? Without sufficient upgrade in talent can Miles succeed with the current players? I also think that he may have lost the team towards the end of the season. Can he regain them back and win next season?

Eichorst just needs to be prepared to open the purse strings and go after a proven coach like Greg Marshall next year. Missouri did just that this year. If Marshall is worth going after, it might cost $3M to $4M per year. That is just for the head coach, don't forget it takes top assistant coaches to recruit. The facilities are in place, will there be a commitment financially for a proven coach who consistently plays in March? Next year Nebraska receives a full share from the BTN.

Collins at Northwestern should be a good blueprint. I believe he was an assistant for many years under Coach K. at Duke. Then, given a chance to run his own program, he has improved each of the past four years and now is at the Dance.

 

[Harry Caray]

Jay Larranaga would be at the top of my list. Eichorst hired his dad at Miami, so why not. He's an assistant with the Celtics under maybe the best coach in the game today, Brad Stevens. Coached the Ukranian and Irish national teams and played overseas for 10 years, so should have major international recruiting connections. Probably has NBA head coaching aspirations, though.

 

[Charlie Marlow]

 

[siebo454]

Most concerning thing to me about miles is talent retention and evaluation. The Daum kid from South Dakota St. and the best player on UC-Davis that were both in freaking NEBRASKA!!! I would hope that Nebraska is a better destination then either SDSt. or cal-davis. That along with 2-3 young players leaving every year is very concerning. In year 6 you shouldn't be able to use the young team excuse anymore.

 

[LBremser]

3- being a cheapskate when it comes to paying the buyout. He is trying to reduce the liability by keeping him around and not extending.
4 - didn't have a plan or couldn't get the guy he wanted.

I like these two, add another - the PBA is still selling a lot of season tickets, the loss of revenue factor hasn't yet kicked in.

 

[regoratsginrom]

With another year for Tim Miles it is "Fish or Cut Bate" Time. The problem is that if you are a top recruit looking at Nebraska probably isn't worth your time. If Miles doesn't come through with a huge season there will probably be changes. Is there enough talent currently on the team for high success next season? Without sufficient upgrade in talent can Miles succeed with the current players? I also think that he may have lost the team towards the end of the season. Can he regain them back and win next season?

Eichorst just needs to be prepared to open the purse strings and go after a proven coach like Greg Marshall next year. Missouri did just that this year. If Marshall is worth going after, it might cost $3M to $4M per year. That is just for the head coach, don't forget it takes top assistant coaches to recruit. The facilities are in place, will there be a commitment financially for a proven coach who consistently plays in March? Next year Nebraska receives a full share from the BTN.

Greg Marshall ain't EVER coming to Nebraska...no matter how many $$$ we pony up. Not going to happen.

 

[tpmcg]

I'm ok with a stepping stone.

 

[Dean Pope]

Greg Marshall ain't EVER coming to Nebraska...no matter how many $$$ we pony up. Not going to happen.

Basketball coaches want to go somewhere that they can win. Can you win at Nebraska? Well yes, but it's a lot harder than most other places. I think it's well known now that VCU, Gonzaga, Wichita State and other mid-majors are considered better jobs than Nebraska is right now because it's easier to win there.

 

[rrthusker]

If Iowa State can win in hoops and get in the Big Dance regularly, then Nebraska can too. The excuses need to stop from top to bottom.

We as fans have accepted the product we are spoon fed each season with the annual promise of " wait til next year." So far, next year has never come to fruition.

 

[schuele]

I like these two, add another - the PBA is still selling a lot of season tickets, the loss of revenue factor hasn't yet kicked in.

And, Miles is immensely popular with people who feel like they are his small-town pal. Did you know he's wanted to be a BB coach since he was 8 years old? It tugs at the heartstrings, I tell ya.

If the Huskers are one game over .500 next year and manage to go to the NIT, they'll be calling for a big extension.

 

[BigRedPimp]

If Iowa State can win in hoops and get in the Big Dance regularly, then Nebraska can too. The excuses need to stop from top to bottom.

We as fans have accepted the product we are spoon fed each season with the annual promise of " wait til next year." So far, next year has never come to fruition.

+1,000%. It really is embarrassing when Northwestern is moving forward nicely with Collins, Univ of Illinois fired Groce and he was more successful while there, etc.

Do you think Boehm needs to go before the program can take the next step?

 

[artguy68]

The thing about basketball is that you only really need to get two new guys a year to positively contribute to have a solid team. Only two! In the entire world, you only need to find two talents every 365 days, with your well paid staff, expensive facilities, and relatively open pocketbooks helping. We get prospects, but most of them don't really contribute, or they transfer away, or they leave early. And it repeats again and again for 25 years.

I am wondering if there is a weaker Power 5 program than us. Right now, ESPN's top story on the NU basketball board that the Huskers are the only P5 team not to have won a game in the Big Dance.

 

[RealHusker]

+1,000%. It really is embarrassing when Northwestern is moving forward nicely with Collins, Univ of Illinois fired Groce and he was more successful while there, etc.

Do you think Boehm needs to go before the program can take the next step?

Iowa State may be the perfect example. Perhaps Kansas State, too. In fact, it might be more difficult in those two places because they have to compete with Iowa and KU if there are any in-state kids capable of playing at that level.

It isn't easy, but it simply is not as hard as Nebraska makes it look.

 

[rrthusker]

+1,000%. It really is embarrassing when Northwestern is moving forward nicely with Collins, Univ of Illinois fired Groce and he was more successful while there, etc.

Do you think Boehm needs to go before the program can take the next step?

Yes

 

[scarletred]

+1,000%. It really is embarrassing when Northwestern is moving forward nicely with Collins, Univ of Illinois fired Groce and he was more successful while there, etc.

Do you think Boehm needs to go before the program can take the next step?

Boehm can't leave fast enough for me.

 

[jlb321]

after 5 years there should be some demonstrable progress shown ... at present the program is no better than when he took over

we are one of the worst programs in major conference play

In my mind after 5 years we should have gone from pathetic to at least a perennial NIT team with the next step being occasional NCAA tourney appearances .. instead we remain a pathetic program

we had a golden ticket after the NCAA tourney bid to build on and squandered it and are now back to a pure embarrassment of a program ... perhaps this is where the program is destined to live in which case we should have used the millions of dollars that were invested elsewhere

 

[BigRedPimp]

Yes

Does that roll up to Eichorst as well? IMO, what is happening at NW and Illinois has to at least come into play as to why Nebby athletic dept is not doing more. Bury the head in the sand strategy isn't working.

 

[scarletred]

after 5 years there should be some demonstrable progress shown ... at present the program is no better than when he took over

we are one of the worst programs in major conference play

In my mind after 5 years we should have gone from pathetic to at least a perennial NIT team with the next step being occasional NCAA tourney appearances .. instead we remain a pathetic program

we had a golden ticket after the NCAA tourney bid to build on and squandered it and are now back to a pure embarrassment of a program ... perhaps this is where the program is destined to live in which case we should have used the millions of dollars that were invested elsewhere

If I remember correctly the year after the tournament team the next year, Pitchford and Petteway
Cared more about their individual statistic rather then winning games and the team suffered because it.

With Shields on that team they should have been a lot better and only won one game after January 25 they beat Michigan State at home right before that.