Nebrasketball: Time to Panic?

Even by their historically ugly standards, 2015 has been a very bad year for the Nebraska Basketball program.

Let’s recap Nebrasketball’s low-lights since the first of the year:

• A 5-13 record, with an average margin of defeat of 13 points.
• NU was winless on the road and 1-8 against conference foes that made the NCAA tournament.  (It should be noted that lone win was over Michigan State, a Final Four team).
• The team was locked out of their locker room and banned from media contact by Head Coach Tim Miles after an embarrassing home loss to Iowa.
• The Huskers fell behind 13th seed Penn State by 16 points in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.  A late rally gave the Big Red a chance to take the lead in the final minute, but they ended up losing by four.
• Walt Pitchford announced he’s quitting basketball to focus on getting his degree.  Three days later, he had declared for the NBA draft.
• After appearing in every game, promising freshman guard Tarin Smith decided to transfer.
• Star forward and leading scorer Terran Petteway announced that he’s foregoing his senior season to enter the NBA draft.
• Assistant Coach Chris Harriman, a member of Miles’ first staff, is leaving to become associate head coach at New Mexico.

Clearly, there is smoke coming from the Nebrasketball program.

But is there fire?  Collectively, one must ask if there are big issues within a Nebraska program a year removed from looking like a team on the rise.  I think it’s foolish to make sweeping generalizations without looking at the events separately.  Individually, all of these are explainable and/or understandable*, especially the four departures.

*Except for that 5-13 collapse.  I could list twenty things that may have factored in the downfall of the 2014-15 Huskers, and still not account for everything that played a role in that train wreck.

Transfers in college basketball are rather commonplace.  In 2013, there were 455 transfers across D-1 college hoops.  Until Tarin Smith picks a school, it will be hard to determine if he is “up-transferring” to a better program or going to a lower D-1 school where more playing time appears readily available.

Miles was quoted in the Omaha World-Herald as saying “Tarin and I had talked over the last month about his future and where he fit in.  I believe strongly in Tarin and wanted him to stay, but I put out the most likely scenario for him and told him he had to feel good about it.”

One can certainly speculate that the “likely scenario” Miles talks about is Smith being an off the bench role player behind touted point guard recruit Glynn Watson and Benny Parker, who started many games in the 2014-15.  Smith tweeted that his decision “has nothing to do with me competing for a position”.

Pitchford’s initial decision made sense.  He regressed as a player in 2014-15, and I assumed he realized the pro prospects for a 6’10” guy with limited post presence and a deteriorated shooting touch were slim.  I applauded his decision to get his degree and pursue a career in business.

So I get that his decision to declare for the draft a few days later is – on the surface – very curious.  But before we go any further, its worth clarifying that “declaring for the NBA draft” doesn’t necessarily mean that Walt P. believes he’ll be drafted by an NBA team (spoiler alert:  he won’t).  Putting your name into the draft open doors for international teams to evaluate and sign you.  My hunch is Pitchford was sincere about getting his degree and starting a business career, but realized that he could make some decent money playing overseas ($65,000+, in an European league).  He’ll have the rest of life for a business career, but his body has a limited number of years of competitive basketball left.  He might as well see what’s out there.

Petteway’s decision to turn pro is on some levels similar to Pitchford’s decision:  he may not be drafted by an NBA team, but the odds are strong that he’ll get an opportunity to make a nice living overseas.  But looking deeper, I think Petteway’s decision was likely easier to make.

It’s tough for me to say if Terran Petteway is making the right choice or not.  Selfishly, I think he only improves his draft stock by coming back – the highly touted recruiting class likely means he wouldn’t need to be three or four of the best scoring options on the floor every single night.  He’s on pace to get his degree at the end of this semester, so he could have focused on basketball essentially full-time.  Plus, he likely is viewed as a better prospect leading a team that wins 20 games instead of being the best player on a team that loses 20.

But I can also appreciate the flip side.  Had he returned to NU, Petteway would have been 24 when he turned pro, which is old for NBA rookies.  He would have risked injury or a Pitchford-like regression.  As much as Petteway said all the right things about Lincoln and Husker fans when he left, I suspect he won’t miss being bashed on message boards, social media, and talk radio for having poor body language or taking too many shots*.  Finally, I won’t theorize how or if the passing of Terran’s mother from cancer impacted his decision, but clearly her declining health weighed on him this past season.

*Look:  you are obviously entitled to your opinion on how Petteway carried himself on the court as well as his shot selection/volume.  I have no doubt that you could make a convincing case that Petteway was “ball hog” who was prone to pouting on the court.  But you will never convince me that Nebrasketball will automatically be better in 2015-16 without Terran Petteway.  Even if the incoming freshmen and transfer Andrew White III are better than their considerable hype, are you really telling me that a team like Nebraska wouldn’t benefit from one of the program’s all-time prolific scorers who had a reputation for being a competitive, hard worker?  That doesn’t seem likely.

As for Harriman, it’s frustrating to lose a good assistant and recruiter – especially to a Mountain West team who will be giving him a raise.  But “associate head coach” is a promotion and a stepping stone to what every assistant wants:  a head coaching job of his own.  It stinks losing good assistants – I have the loss of former assistant coach Craig Smith on that long list of things that impacted that 2014-15 season – but on the flip side it says something about the guys Miles has working for him when they move up to other jobs.

*   *   *

So should we be concerned about where the Nebraska Basketball program is at?  Should Tim Miles start his fourth season on the hot seat?

In light of the player and coaching transitions, I say no.  Roster turnover is a natural part of the college game.  Don’t believe me?  It’s worth noting that of the players I’ve named in this piece (Tarin Smith, Walt Pitchford, Terran Petteway, Andrew White III, and Glynn Watson) the only one who has not transferred is the one who has yet to graduate high school.  Yes, the attrition rate from Miles’ NU recruiting classes is now above 50%, but I’d rather have guys move on than be dead weight on the roster or blights in the locker room.

One of the worst parts of being a Nebraska Basketball fan is having to play the Chicago Cubs “wait ’til next year” game with the next recruit who possibly possesses the potential to potentially get the Huskers that elusive NCAA tournament victory.  Because much like the Cubs, that blue chip inevitably turns into a blue busts.  I like the potential of this class.  I just would like them better with some more veterans on the team.

As for Miles, I think it is far too early to be talking seriously about his job security – especially since we’re 13 months removed from finding sculptors for the statue of him outside Pinnacle Bank Arena.  Yeah, he probably could have handled the locker room lockout better (i.e. internally), but Miles should have enough equity with fans to get through another .500 season.  Beyond that?  Well, I’ve been wrong about Tim Miles once before, so you’ll forgive me if I’m slow to doubt him again.

Husker Hot Takes – 9/26/2014

Turn on a fan, because I have more Husker Hot Takes:

The Boyd is Back in Town. 
Pioneering Strength & Conditioning coach Boyd Epley has returned to the Nebraska athletic department as the Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning.  The reaction I saw was all very positive.  Of course, Husker fans have a strong affinity for bringing back people that they associate with the pre-Callahan glory years.  Epley certainly fits the bill.

Frankly, I’m not real sure what to make of this.  On one hand, I certainly know and appreciate the many innovations Epley is responsible for, as well as the physical advantages the Huskers had over most of their opponents during his 35 year tenure.  Yet, I also heard rumblings from many outlets about a drop-off towards the end of his first run in 2004.  Additionally, the rash of athletic pubalgia injuries in that time was concerning.  I guess I’m in wait and see mode on what Epley’s day-to-day role will be – and how it will translate to results on the field and court.

The important caveat in this hire is that Epley will oversee all sports – except football.  This has the detractors of current S&C coach Tim Dobson (who apparently is responsible for every ACL injury in Lancaster County since 2010) plotting for Epley’s triumphant return to football – possibly in time for his 70th birthday later this year.

Tim Miles Lands Another Big-Time Recruit
This week, highly touted basketball recruit Ed Morrow, Jr. gave his verbal commitment to play for Nebraska.  Now, I know even less about basketball recruiting than I do about football (read:  absolutely nothing), but the hype metrics (four stars, #62 in the nation per ESPN ) are very impressive.  Obviously, Tim Miles and his staff are doing an excellent job on the recruiting trail, as Nebraska is poised to have it’s best hoops class ever.

But let’s also give credit to an unlikely figure in Nebraska’s hoops revival:  Tom Osborne.  It was Osborne who worked to get the world-class Hendricks practice center built.  It was Osborne who helped broker a deal to get Nebraska into the Pinnacle Bank Arena, and you better believe that Osborne’s support played a role in the arena ballot initiative getting approved by Lincoln’s voters.  And finally, Osborne gets credit for firing the ultimate nice guy, Doc Sadler, and for finding/hiring Tim Miles.

And since Morrow is a basketball recruit, let’s give a big assist to the 91,000 fans who attended the Nebraska – Miami football game last Saturday.  The atmosphere and fan support in Memorial Stadium was impressive.  It is very easy to imagine Miles telling Morrow that it gets just as crazy inside The Vault.  A great game day atmosphere pays dividends for all Nebraska sports.

Ameer Abdullah offers some tough love for Jameis Winston
After Monday’s press conference, Ameer Abdullah was asked about Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, who sat out last week’s game for yelling something inappropriate in the middle of Florida State’s campus.  As is Abdullah’s style, he was honest, yet measured in his comments:

“Great reward brings great responsibility, and he needs to mature and understand that every decision I make has dire consequences, not only to myself but my family, team, coaching staff and university. And before I act, I need to make sure I represent myself in the right way.”

On the surface, this is rather odd.  I mean, when is the last time you saw an athlete from one school discuss an athlete from another school / conference – especially in a negative light?  But both Abdullah and Winston are from the Birmingham, AL area and have known each other for many years.

Regardless, I find it fascinating to see Abdullah offering such advice publicly.  Had Ameer said something to the effect of “Yeah, I’ve reached out to him to share my thoughts and opinions, but I’d prefer to keep it between us” nobody would have batted an eye.

Was Ameer out of line with his comments?  I don’t think so.  As we discussed last time, Abdullah is a natural leader who is not afraid to call it like he sees it.  And given Winston’s off-field exploits in the last year, he’d be wise to listen to his old friend Ameer.  Abdullah clearly has his life pointed in the right direction, and the sky is the limit for what he can accomplish.

The Cornhusker Marching Band will #FearAmeer. 
On Wednesday, the Director of the Cornhusker Marching Band tweeted that the band will spell out “Fear Ameer” during their halftime performance of the Illinois game.

Is this real life? Yes, for reals! Happening this Saturday's Halftime. @UNLBands #FearAmeer #Huskers pic.twitter.com/esxB3OUH0L

— Doug Bush (@DougBush2) September 24, 2014

*Side note:  I bet that software that created this image is fun to play around with.  I’d have those pixelated performers going in all sorts of crazy formations.  Hell, I’d write this entire section in marching band formations if I was smart enough.

In the past, I have been critical of the band for halftime shows that many fans find uninspiring.  Therefore, I love that the band is doing unique and potentially viral – I guarantee national outlets like ESPN, Deadspin, Bleacher Report, and others will show it.  Embrace the star player, get him (and your band) some hype.  That is the definition of “win/win” in the social media age.  My question is will this a one time deal, or will the Pride of All Nebraska continue to step out a little more?  Maybe they don’t go full Ohio State viral video mode, but I still believe there is room for improvement in their halftime shows*.

*Case in point:  The theme from last week’s Miami game was songs to commemorate the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.  Seriously?  No disrespect to the talented musicians in the band, but I have no desire to watch that.  With the 1994 National Championship team being honored at the Miami game, the theme “Songs of 1994” (featuring Ace of Base, Salt-N-Pepa, Tag Team, and Snoop Dogg) should have been an absolute no-brainer.  It would have been a fun performance for fans to watch, and I’m guessing more enjoyable for the band members to play.

Environmentalist’s Idea Goes Over Like A Lead Balloon
Benjamin Vogt, an English professor at UNL, has started an online petition to have Nebraska halt the traditional practice of releasing red balloons after the first touchdown.  He calls the practice “mass littering” and claims the balloons are not bio-degradable (he buried one in his yard to back his claim) and potentially harmful to animals.  A quote from Vogt in the story Deena Winter of NebraskaWatchdog.org wrote this week:

“The reality is that while the balloons may indeed shatter, the pieces are not impossible for animals to eat…In fact, the fringe of shattered latex balloons mimics the shape of jellyfish, a favorite meal for many ocean animals.”

Okay.

I realize that I only minored in English, but my dad was a biologist with the Fisheries Division of the Nebraska Game & Parks for many years.  So I know that, yes, there ARE jellyfish in Nebraska (really).  But I also know that the only ocean animals within the borders of the Cornhusker state reside in fish tanks, aquariums, and the Henry Doorly Zoo.  While it is possible that a fragment of a balloon released from Memorial Stadium could find its way into the aquarium at your dentist’s office (Shark bait!  Hoo ha ha!), I’d like to see the wildlife casualty numbers before we scrap this beloved tradition.

Regardless, should the balloons go away, I am prepared.  Back in 2012, when there were concerns over helium supplies, I made a list of alternate methods to celebrate the first touchdown.  I think many of them still apply today.

Husker Hot Takes

For it being a relatively slow time of year, there is a lot going on the world of Husker athletics.  Things that are getting a lot of local and even national attention.  Things that I have strong opinions on.

Unfortunately, my opinions on these topics tend to be too long for Twitter (damn you, 140 characters!), but not quite beefy enough for a full post of their own.

Therefore, I give you Husker Hot Takes – seven servings of delicious opinion, hopefully with no bad aftertaste.

*   *   *

1.  NU Baseball survives crazy road trip, but has to cancel game with Creighton.
After NU’s three game sweep at Michigan State, the Huskers had a hard time getting back to Lincoln.  Cancelled flights, delayed buses, the fact that East Lansing is 725 stinkin’ miles from Lincoln.  I’m guessing during their 24 hour+ trip home, they quoted every single line from Planes, Trains, & Automobiles.  As a result, Nebraska’s game with Creighton had to be cancelled, and the 10,000 fans who bought tickets are likely out of luck.

Things like this make me miss the Big XII (and especially the Big 8).  Why?  Everything was closer in the 8 / XII.  The average distance between Lincoln and the other eleven towns in the Big XII was 480.5 miles.  In the current Big Ten, the average distance is 625.5 miles.  When Rutgers and Maryland officially join the league this summer, that average will jump to 720.5 miles.

720 miles used to be on the long end of Big XII roadies.  Only two Big XII schools (Texas and Texas A&M) were farther than the 720 mile voyage to Baylor in Waco.  In a few months, that becomes the average trip, and would still leave the baseball team five miles short of completing their epic journey home.

Put it another way:  in the B1G, Nebraska’s closest foe is Iowa – 301 miles away.  In the Big XII, Nebraska had three conference foes less than 225 miles from home (Kansas State, Kansas, and Iowa State), with a fourth that is practically the same distance from home as Iowa (Mizzou, 319 miles).

I get that there are a billion caveats here, notably that cancelled flights, bad weather, travel delays, can (and will) happen to everyone.  But I question the sanity of teams like Nebraska and Creighton travelling cross-country for baseball and other non-revenue / Olympic sports (like Cross Country).  All it does it wastes money and keeps students out of class.

Ultimately, it comes back to something I’ve believed for a while:  eventually, schools will belong to multiple conferences.  There will be a football/basketball conference that is tied to a big TV contract and may span 1500 miles and multiple time zones.  And a smaller, regional conference for Olympic and non-revenue sports.  Because eventually schools will realize that there is little gain in travelling 725 – each way – to play a game, especially when there are dozens of schools within a 500 mile radius of home that would likely offer the same level of competition.

2.  Taylor Martinez fails his NFL physical.

First and foremost, I’m bummed for Martinez.  I don’t follow the NFL as much as I used to, but I was intrigued to see how Chip Kelly would use him in Philadelphia’s offense.  Plus, I’d really like to see the kid be successful.

But clearly, I am in the minority on that.

Here is a quick sampling of some of the 200+ comments left on a Facebook post from a Omaha TV station announcing the news:

• “You have to pass a physical to be an NFL water boy?”
• “I think I can speak for all husker fans when I say that we never really trusted him at QB, let alone ever liked the guy.”
• “Hahaha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha”
• “he sucks…..lost all the big games for us….he didn’t care……good riddance……”
• “Hahahahahahahaha thank god! I hate this loser so much”

Keep in mind, these comments aren’t from the stereotypical message board guy hiding behind an anonymous screen name and avatar in his mother’s basement.  These are Facebook users putting their actual names behind this garbage.  Most of them had profile pictures of (presumably) themselves.  Others had pictures of young children, who I assume are their kids.

Look:  I’m not saying you have to love every Husker to come through the program.  It’s perfectly okay to question the talent and desire of a kid, but there is a line between honest criticism (“Taylor Martinez fumbled too much”) and a cheap personal attack (“Did he call his daddy? Hahah. What a loser!”).

If you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t post it on the internet, ya damn trolls.  Next time, I’ll include your name and profile picture so more folks can see just what a great fan you are.

3.  The day of the Taylor Martinez tell-all interview is getting closer.

At some point during Martinez’s senior season, I had a thought:  “Some day this kid is going to do a tell-all interview where he airs ALL of his dirty laundry – the back story of how he beat out Cody Green and Zac Lee, what was said during and after that A&M game, his true feelings on Pelini, Tim Beck, his teammates, and the Nebraska fans who cheered him when he scored and booed him when he turned the ball over.  And it will be EPIC.”

That interview likely will not happen while Martinez still has a chance at the NFL, or even the CFL or arena leagues, but getting cut by the Eagles puts us another step closer to Taylor taking a match to the bridge leading back to what had to be an uncomfortable (and probably unenjoyable) college career.

4.  Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst says NU is “lucky to have” Bo as our coach.

Without getting to the Bo-liever / Bo-leaver partisan bickering that this sound byte provides, I’ll say this:  Nebraska is lucky.  NU is lucky that Bill Callahan is no longer our coach.  Lucky that Frank Solich has found a good fit at Ohio.  Lucky that some of the other candidates never took the job.  (Houston Nutt, I’m looking directly at you).

A part of me wonders if this quote will haunt Eichort’s tenure the way “gravitating towards mediocrity” did for Pedersen.  Let’s face it, I have a feeling that if 2014 is a five or six loss season, Eichorst may try to change his luck by finding a new coach.

5.  The B1G moves the basketball tournament to Washington D.C., fans react with much angst.  

I get it.  Husker fans are getting deja vu all over again about how the Big XII tournament shifted from Kansas City to wherever the heck Texas wanted it to be played.  But here’s the thing:  Having the tournament in D.C. should help Nebraska.  It is a simple fact that there is more hoops talent out east than in Nebraska’s back yard.  Tim Miles has an assistant coach who was at Georgetown for a number of years.  Nebraska can tell a recruit that mom and dad will get to watch him just down the road during the conference tournament.

Besides, raise your hand if you truly planned to travel to the B1G hoops tourney in the next few years.  For most of us, we’re going to watch the event on TV.  With a neutral paint job on the court, most of us would have no idea if the games are in D.C., Indianapolis, Chicago, or the Pershing Center.

6.  That said, Omaha may bid on the basketball tournament.

During an interview, Eichorst said that he saw no reason why the hoops tournament couldn’t be played in Omaha from time to time.  It makes perfect sense.  The Century Link is an excellent venue.  Downtown Omaha has lots of hotels and entertainment options for out of town fans.  And Omaha has a proven track record of surpassing expectations when they host big events – both in Nebraska niceness and in attendance.

I see no reason why Omaha shouldn’t put a bid together for any Big Ten championship.  And after Omaha gets done blowing the doors off of the attendance records for the Big Ten baseball tournament next week, I think they’ll have a damn good chance.

7.  Josh Banderas is arrested and charged with felony theft.

If you thought the comments on the Taylor Martinez story were bad, you should take a look at what some people posted on the Journal-Star’s website.  On second thought, maybe you shouldn’t.  By allowing people to comment on the news story of Banderas’s arrest – something that I had never seen before on the LJS – they seem content to scrap the presumption of innocence for these young men.  Josh Banderas may very well be guilty of what he has been accused of doing, but I’d prefer if his due process came in a court room instead of the comments section of the local newspaper.

Speaking of due process, I don’t expect Bo Pelini to decide on possibly suspending or dismissing Banderas until the case is further along.  We can all speculate on what Bo would do in case of A, B, or C, but what I really like is the confidence I have that Nebraska’s depth a linebacker will not factor in Bo’s decision making process.

 

Dear Tim Miles

An open letter to Nebraska Basketball coach Tim Miles

Dear Tim,

I was wrong.

When your predecessor, Doc Sadler, was fired I used this platform to lay out my thoughts for who Nebraska’s next coach should be.  In that piece, I was strongly against hiring a guy like you:  the “no-name” coach from a mid-major program who lacked dynamic recruiting ties.

When you were hired, I was (to say the least) underwhelmed.  The coach from Colorado State?  Really?  Despite my Wyoming buddies telling me that you were the “real deal”, I was all but convinced that Nebraska was falling into the same trap of the mid-major coach who would not be able to recruit and/or compete in one of the nation’s best conferences.  I actually started a piece expressing my frustration and lack of enthusiasm for the hire.  Thankfully, that one never saw the light of day.

But if you read that link above, you may have noticed that I also wanted a coach like you.  Notably, I called for a head coach who is:

• A top recruiter.  The jury is still out, but I like that you were in on star forward Terran Petteway out of high school.  You couldn’t land him at Colorado State, but were able to get him to Lincoln.  The visit from the highly touted “Chicago 5” recruits made some noise, and now it comes down to being able to land that talent.
• “A dynamic personality who can sell the program and inspire the fans“.  Not to pat myself on the back too hard, but that is you in a Twitter-length nutshell.  Your personality, media savvy, quick wit, and use of social media is, frankly, more than I could have ever dreamed.  Fans believe in this program for the first time this century.  I like to say that you are “undefeated in press conferences”, and I suspect that will be the case for a long, long time.
• Somebody who can coach.  The overriding opinion is that you know the x’s and o’s, and several of Nebraska’s wins are directly related to your game planning, adjustments, and ability to lead your team.  Your team has a clear identity, the players know and embrace their roles, and it is apparent that your team will go to war for you and for each other.

The transformation of this program in two years is astounding.  As I write this, Nebraska is 8-1 at home in Big Ten play, with the lone loss coming by 1 point to the #12 team in the country.  Sure, some of the credit for the turn-around must go to the new Pinnacle Bank Arena – the atmosphere is so raucous that the blue hairs are writing letters to the editor to complain about the noise.  But we both know that a Doc Sadler or Barry Collier team would not be as beloved in the new arena.

You have given the fans something to cheer about.  The talent level is notably improved.  Nebraska has their first legitimate NBA-caliber player in years.  Defense and floor burns get bigger cheers than breakaway dunks.  Heck, you even have players proposing to their girlfriends at half court.

It’s only your second year in Lincoln, and your team has done things that nobody thought was possible at Nebraska:  finishing in the top half of the league, dominating your home court, knocking off two top 10 teams, earning a first round bye in the conference tournament, and all but guaranteeing Nebraska’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1998.

I’m impressed by how handle things.  You know exactly when to be hilariously funny, aw-shucks humble, brutally honest, and when to take jabs at Billy Bluejay*.

*Sure, there is something to be said for taking jabs at your in-state rival two months AFTER the game (especially when they run you out of the gym), but this is a great time for Miles to establish Nebraska as the dominant program in the state.  Seriously.

If Nebraska and Creighton’s basketball programs were stocks, I would be buying Nebraska and selling my portfolio of Creighton.  I don’t know if Creighton maintains (or even approaches) their 5 year level of success without Doug McDermott.  Big Red is poised to become the dominant program in the state.

Most importantly, you refuse to let the wretched history of this program be a crutch or an excuse.  All of the years of finishing 10th or 11th in the conference are irrelevant to you.  You have done this before and you are doing it again.  And it is a blast to watch.

So allow me to say it again:  I was wrong.  I did not think you would be a good fit, and you would keep Nebraska mired in the same muck of mediocrity that the die-hard fans have known for years.

Please accept my sincere apology.  I am a believer in what you are doing, and will be standing in support of your team as you continue to rewrite the history of Nebrasketball.

I have never been so happy to be this wrong.

Buh Bye Bob

Yesterday was the final Nebraska basketball game at the Bob Devaney Sports Center before the team moves to the new downtown Pinnacle Bank Arena.

All week, I’ve been reading and hearing memories, interviews with coaches and players, and other nostalgia over the closing* of the basketball arena.

*I wrote “closing” mainly so I could address a pet peeve:  The Bob Devaney Sports Center is not closing, nor will it be demolished, abandoned, or used as a giant storage facility.  It is being renovated for other sports – mainly, women’s volleyball, along with wrestling, gymnastics, etc).  Heck, with the Nebraska High School boys state tournament starting tomorrow, we are guaranteed another three days of basketball.  Talking about the BDSC “closing” really takes focus away from the exciting news that some of these smaller sports will be getting some pretty fancy digs next year.

I was asked if I was going to jump on the nostalgia train and give my favorite memories, best games I attended, random concerts and other events I attended there.  My response?

Hell no.

It’s not that I don’t have fond memories of the Bob.  My years as a Nebraska student (1993 – 1997) were on the tail end of the most successful stretch in school history – with “successful” being a term I use very loosely considering NU is one of three BCS schools without a win in the NCAA tournament.

But given the horrible basketball stench that has emanated out of the Bob for most of its life, and especially for this century, talking about cherished Devaney Center memories is kind of silly.  Put it this way:  when Baylor football moves to a new stadium, I doubt they will waste a lot of time reminiscing about all of the great years at Floyd Casey Stadium.

The Bob

Instead, I’m going to write about the symbolic nature of the last basketball game at a place that has been referred to as the “Lincoln Library” and “Dead Dog Alley” for the lack of fan enthusiasm.  For me, this final game at the Bob means one thing:

There are no more excuses for Nebraska being a below average (if not down-right horrible) basketball team.

Throughout the Devaney Era, there have been a number of excuses trotted out by coaches, players, administrators, fans, and media; all trying to explain why the basketball team has rarely been a winner.  But team’s departure from the Devaney Center means that all of the excuses that have surrounded this program for years, if not decades, are gone.

• Inferior facilities?  Not anymore.  Nebraska’s facilities (arena and practice gym) will be among the best in the country.  As it is, the Hendricks Center is widely described as one of the finest basketball facilities in the nation – college or pro.
• Apathetic fans?  The first few years in the new building will have good attendance as folks come out to see the new arena and all that the Haymarket area has to offer.  More importantly, Nebraska fans are hungry for a winner.  If the team starts competing at or near the top of the Big Ten, the crowds will pack the area for years to come.
• No home court advantage?  In the college game, the student section sets the tone for rest of the fans.  If the students aren’t into the game, nobody else will be either.  I’m thrilled that the students will be getting some prime real estate (behind the benches and under the baskets) as well as their own entrance into the building.
• A coach over his head in a power conference?  Nebraska has struggled to find the right coach since Danny Nee left.  Barry Collier and Doc Sadler each had good traits, but neither was capable of building a program in the Big XII/Big 10.  I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure about the hire of Tim Miles, but I think he understands what needs to be done.  More importantly, I think he’s capable of doing it.
• A roster devoid of talent?  To be a winning program you must have NBA-level talent.  Nebraska’s talent level since the late 1990s has been closer to the local YMCA than the NBA.  Recruiting will always be a challenge here(little home-grown talent, zero tradition, Lincoln can be a long way from home), but it can no longer be an excuse.  Between the new facilities and the recruiting abilities of Tim Miles and his staff, an influx of talent is coming.
• Lack of administration support.  Basketball was neglected (if not completely ignored) during most of the 2000s, but the facilities and increased resources for Miles and his staff show that administration cares about producing a winning program.

I’m not saying that NU will finish in the top half of the conference in 2014, or will get to the Sweet 16 in 2015.  They won’t.  The talent level is still lower than it should be, and it will take time for the rebuilding efforts to come to fruition – likely multiple seasons of slow, but steady, growth.

But the bottom line does not change:  There are no more excuses for why this program cannot be successful.  Any remaining baggage should be left at Devaney and not moved to the new arena.

*Okay…I can’t resist.  When else am I going to have the opportunity to do a bullet point list of my obscure Devaney Center memories that will only be interesting/relevant to me:

• During college, my buddy Marcus and I used to sit behind the opposing team’s bench (back when students were able to do such a thing).  By our junior year, the ushers working the section would save our seats for us.
• Those seats gave us prime opportunity to heckle opposing players and coaches.  I recall giving Kansas center Scott Pollard crap about his painted finger nails, asking him who did it for him.  His girlfriend (who was sitting right in front of us) turned around and said “I do”.
• During the 90’s, NU had a remote controlled blimp that would circle the upper levels.  We always hoped it would crash and burn, Hindenburg style, on the cables supporting the baskets. 
• During one game, I was picked to shoot a half-court shot for a chance to win a pizza a week for a year.  I air-balled.  Badly.
• Back when the Devaney hosted concerts, I saw the Eagles (great show), Weird Al Yankovic (not a great show), and Carrot Top (better than you’d think). 
• I sat next to Danny Nee and his family for that Weird Al show.
• During a blowout loss to Kansas, I asked coach Roy Williams if I could coach out the rest of the game for him.  He declined my offer.
• I forget what I said, but during a game against Texas, I was a little scared that coach Tom Penders was going to come over the bench and wring my neck.
• Back when NU would start the season with exhibition games, they played a team from somewhere in Russia.  During introductions, they introduced the entire team – even the guy who drove the bus.  He received the biggest applause.
• After halftime, two janitors would come out and sweep the floor.  One of them had the most glorious mutton chops you have ever seen.  We lovingly referred to him as “Chops”.  I’d see him every so often riding his bike around campus, with his mutton chops flowing in the breeze. 
• For a season or two, Nebraska had a promotion with a formal wear store and these poor janitors would have to wear tuxedos to sweep the floor.
• I went with my dad to the 1988 upset victory over Kansas, who went on to win the National Championship.  That was a lot of fun.
• Back when they had the outline of the state on the court, Eric Piatkowski made a ridiculously long three point shot from somewhere around Hastings.
• The long and pathetic parade of no-talent schlubs who came off the bench for Nebraska.  Too many to mention.
• During one of the Kansas games, a fraternity brother of mine was sitting a few rows behind us.  He spent the entire game heckling KU star Paul Pierce.  To this day, I cannot watch Pierce play without hearing Smitty yelling “PIERCE!!!  I’m coming for you!!!”
• This may a complete shock to today’s students, but there was a time when you had to get to the Devaney early to get decent seats (2 hours for most games, 3 or more for big games).
• On the flip side, there were several non-conference games where the P.A. announcer would invite fans to move down to a better seat.
• Hey Guy, Nacho Lady, and the Woosh-Red guy who smelled like kitty litter.
• Going from rarely missing a game over five seasons to barely attending a game in the last five seasons.  Yes, I am the embodiment of Nebrasketball fan apathy.
• The talent of the Danny Nee teams being matched only by their lack of discipline.
• The non-conference opponent who was so ticked with his team’s lack of effort that he made them run lines before the second half started.
• Frozen malt cups, with that tongue depressor spoon. 
• And so many more…