Nebrasketball Turnaround

Jun 21, 2001
2,095
441
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Yes and people wanted to chase Fred off in his first 3 years.

There were valid arguments for doing that. While it now seems premature to have done that, if he had not changed his philosophy and upgraded his coaching staff in year 4 and shown a decent amount of improvement over the first 3 years, none of this would have happened.
 

cavalot

All-Conference
Oct 3, 2003
23,863
1,538
113
There were valid arguments for doing that. While it now seems premature to have done that, if he had not changed his philosophy and upgraded his coaching staff in year 4 and shown a decent amount of improvement over the first 3 years, none of this would have happened.
Not really. It's called adapting and learning and recruiting to fit the league and your system. It takes awhile to get to that point. 3 years at a doormat program like NU isn't enough time.
 

IM4NUAlways_

Heisman
May 31, 2005
40,785
15,333
113
Pretty remarkable


I am all for continued improvements and we seem to be doing that. But the real test of growth is comfortably making the tournament and actually winning a game. Will we? I guess we will know soon.
 
Sep 7, 2018
1,079
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I am all for continued improvements and we seem to be doing that. But the real test of growth is comfortably making the tournament and actually winning a game. Will we? I guess we will know soon.
And learning to win conference games outside of the Vault. The home court advantage is fun and exciting, but they have start getting more than 1-2 conference road wins per season to continue to move the meter and get to the upper tier of the conference.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78
Not really. It's called adapting and learning and recruiting to fit the league and your system. It takes awhile to get to that point. 3 years at a doormat program like NU isn't enough time.
Fred’s recruiting and ability to attract and integrate transfers has maybe improved. Getting Gary to stick around was huge. It’s about talent 1 through 8. We have a better bench than we’ve had with multiple guys who can shoot 3s and free throws.
 

GBRforLife1

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2020
13,913
3
38
Not really. It's called adapting and learning and recruiting to fit the league and your system. It takes awhile to get to that point. 3 years at a doormat program like NU isn't enough time.
100% agree. People who expect immediate change even in a couple years are in lala land. Especially with the changing landscape of nil $
 

IM4NUAlways_

Heisman
May 31, 2005
40,785
15,333
113
You mean kong?
If he doesn't win a tournament game this year, I would like him replaced. Just like I did last year. He has had 6 years right? Thats plenty of time. Plenty pf better coaches out there. Open the check book and go find one.
 

HikingHusker

Redshirt
Sep 28, 2021
373
0
0
If he doesn't win a tournament game this year, I would like him replaced. Just like I did last year. He has had 6 years right? Thats plenty of time. Plenty pf better coaches out there. Open the check book and go find one.
So if we could get a 5 seed or better but lose first round, you'd still feel this way I take it?
 
Jun 21, 2001
2,095
441
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Not really. It's called adapting and learning and recruiting to fit the league and your system. It takes awhile to get to that point. 3 years at a doormat program like NU isn't enough time.

That’s kind of what I was getting at, and said there were arguments to let him go. No one knew at the time that his coaching changes and roster philosophy (i.e. adapting) would be successful. I am glad they did but really was on the fence in year 4. It is now more obvious that the adapted philosophy has worked. Can FH maintain that? I sure as h*ll hope so!!!
 

SickOfPractice

Redshirt
Oct 10, 2021
2,997
1
0
Don't get me wrong, I love the W's, but at what point did we, including me, stop being critical of defensive basketball because it wasn't exciting?

I thought that was a big gripe with Nee & Sadler, that later in their time here they were leaning on defense to win games, and Husker Nation wanted a more exciting style.

Maybe I dreamt it all...
 

cubsker_rivals142943

All-Conference
May 29, 2003
18,603
3,797
0
Don't get me wrong, I love the W's, but at what point did we, including me, stop being critical of defensive basketball because it wasn't exciting?

I thought that was a big gripe with Nee & Sadler, that later in their time here they were leaning on defense to win games, and Husker Nation wanted a more exciting style.

Maybe I dreamt it all...

Any style is fine if you win. We really can play either way this year.
 
Jan 13, 2015
5,751
6,504
97
If he doesn't win a tournament game this year, I would like him replaced. Just like I did last year. He has had 6 years right? Thats plenty of time. Plenty pf better coaches out there. Open the check book and go find one.

Yes, it’s time he live up to the incredibly high standards that have been set by Nebraska basketball throughout the programs history.🙄
 
Jan 13, 2015
5,751
6,504
97
Don't get me wrong, I love the W's, but at what point did we, including me, stop being critical of defensive basketball because it wasn't exciting?

I thought that was a big gripe with Nee & Sadler, that later in their time here they were leaning on defense to win games, and Husker Nation wanted a more exciting style.

Maybe I dreamt it all...

I think the problem with those other coaches was that it is great to play good defense, but if you still can’t out score the other team, then it is pointless.
 

huskerfan1414

Heisman
Oct 25, 2014
12,603
12,740
0
Not really. It's called adapting and learning and recruiting to fit the league and your system. It takes awhile to get to that point. 3 years at a doormat program like NU isn't enough time.
Wrong.

Fred realized his sytem needed changed.

He took steps to address and greatly improve rebounding first, and defense. He has done that with players he goes after, coaches, and adjustments to his sytem.

I have said the past few years to give him a lifetime contract and I continue to feel this way.
 

IM4NUAlways_

Heisman
May 31, 2005
40,785
15,333
113
Yes, it’s time he live up to the incredibly high standards that have been set by Nebraska basketball throughout the programs history.🙄
Well, when exactly is the point where we quit accepting all the excuses of sucking forever? Yea we are better no question. If we never win a dam game in the NCAA tournament what is the point. Its just accepting being average.
 

9and4_rivals188421

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2013
4,216
1,686
0
Don't get me wrong, I love the W's, but at what point did we, including me, stop being critical of defensive basketball because it wasn't exciting?

I thought that was a big gripe with Nee & Sadler, that later in their time here they were leaning on defense to win games, and Husker Nation wanted a more exciting style.

Maybe I dreamt it all...
Danny's teams were the highest-scoring NU teams almost without exception, though Joe Cipriano did it without the 3-point shot. Danny's last two teams were his lowest scorers.

Nebraska's highest-scoring basketball teams:
  1. 1990-91: 87.6 ppg (Nee)
  2. 1993-94: 87.3 ppg (Nee)
  3. 1989-90: 80.7 ppg (Nee)
  4. 1992-93: 80.5 ppg (Nee)
  5. 1991-92: 80.5 ppg (Nee)
  6. 1995-96: 80.2 ppg (Nee)
  7. 1966-67: 79.7 ppg (Cipriano)
  8. 1994-95: 78.4 ppg (Nee)
  9. 1967-68: 78.2 ppg (Cipriano)
  10. 2023-24: 77.7 ppg (Hoiberg)
TIm Miles' highest-scoring team (72.3 ppg) was in 2017-18 and is 20th on Nebraska's list.
Moe Iba's highest-scoring team (71.8 ppg) was in 1984-85 and is 23rd on the list.
Barry Collier's highest-scoring team (71.1) was in 2000-01 and is 26th.
Doc Sadler's highest-scoring team (67.1) was in 2007-08 and is 46th.
 
Last edited:
Jun 21, 2001
2,095
441
83
I don't think FH should be punished for the "sins" of the prior coaches who failed to secure an NCAA tournament win. He is 0-1 at NU in his only appearance. He is not 0-history. It took several years to make changes needed to get to this level where we are in the NCAA picture, so it stands to reason it might take a few years in the NCAAs to get that first-ever win. When it does (not if, when), and I think it can happen fairly soon, look out.
 

timnsun

All-American
Jan 25, 2008
13,815
7,519
3
Not in the NCAA's it's not wining.
If Fred gets them in the tournament in back to back years, I would say that’s progress. You give him more time to keep getting in, and he will win us a game in the tournament.

Or you pull the plug and potentially go backwards. I know what I and most of America would choose.
 

IM4NUAlways_

Heisman
May 31, 2005
40,785
15,333
113
If Fred gets them in the tournament in back to back years, I would say that’s progress. You give him more time to keep getting in, and he will win us a game in the tournament.

Or you pull the plug and potentially go backwards. I know what I and most of America would choose.
So how long. We sit and wait 10 years to win 1 game in the only tournament that matters? Oh boy!

We just need to get past accepting what we continue to accept. Just decent BB finally now and the same crappy end of the season.

What if Rhule wins 6 games and year and a crappy bowl game every year for 6 years. That is arguably better than the BB team has been and he certainly had a much larger task to fix. Do you still want to wait for Rhule to get us that 1 big win?

Hell no, this place would be ballistic, and he would be fired prior to 6 years.
 

IM4NUAlways_

Heisman
May 31, 2005
40,785
15,333
113
Osborne lost something like 6 bowl games in a row. We should have canned him way sooner.
You really think that is comparable? If so you're an idiot. I don't mean that personal but that is about the worst comparison I have ever seen.
 

timnsun

All-American
Jan 25, 2008
13,815
7,519
3
You really think that is comparable? If so you're an idiot. I don't mean that personal but that is about the worst comparison I have ever seen.
Of course it isn’t comparable. I was clearly being facetious, and if you didn’t see that then you’re an idiot.

That said, canning Fred if he wins 23 games and gets a 5 seed this year but loses in the first round is also idiotic. Do you really fully believe that should happen or are you trolling a bit?
 

timnsun

All-American
Jan 25, 2008
13,815
7,519
3
So how long. We sit and wait 10 years to win 1 game in the only tournament that matters? Oh boy!

We just need to get past accepting what we continue to accept. Just decent BB finally now and the same crappy end of the season.

What if Rhule wins 6 games and year and a crappy bowl game every year for 6 years. That is arguably better than the BB team has been and he certainly had a much larger task to fix. Do you still want to wait for Rhule to get us that 1 big win?

Hell no, this place would be ballistic, and he would be fired prior to 6 years.
Comparing the history of Nebraska football to Nebraska basketball is laughable.
 

regoratsginrom

All-American
May 15, 2004
9,151
6,140
113
Imagine how much better our record would be if the B1G recognized that and called games as if we were a “blue blood conference member” like some of the historical teams.
Wouldn’t be a Husker bball thread if someone wasn’t whining about officiating. 🤦‍♂️
 

bama_husker

All-Conference
Aug 21, 2004
9,392
1,159
0
Yes and people wanted to chase Fred off in his first 3 years.
That first three years was historically bad, even for Nebrasketball. Not sure he survives without his pedigree. I'm guessing Trev looked closely at him, like he did Frost, and decided he at least had a plan and was working competently to implement it.