Husker_Power Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Men's Basketball: Huskers getting national attention BY LEE BARFKNECHT WORLD-HERALD BUREAU LINCOLN - ESPN has conducted a veritable lovefest with the Nebraska men's basketball team since the Huskers' upset Saturday of Texas. First came analyst Fran Fraschilla's Monday blog in which he wrote: "Watching Doc Sadler's team practice and play is a joy because I honestly don't think there are five teams in all of college basketball that play harder or get more out of their ability." On the Big Monday broadcast of Kansas-Missouri, Fraschilla and play-by-play man Ron Franklin praised the Huskers (15-7, 5-4) as the league's best in team defense. On Tuesday, during the Kentucky-Florida game, analyst Jimmy Dykes listed Nebraska as one of five teams nationally that has gone from forgotten to noticed. And on Wednesday's Texas Tech-Kansas State game on ESPNU, announcers Dave Armstrong and Rich Zvosec, a former coach, raved about Nebraska's all-out effort that has inserted the Huskers into NCAA tournament speculation. Sadler, who spent much of this week recruiting, said he was unaware of most of the praise. "I guess it's better than getting attention for getting fired," he said jokingly Thursday. "Really, I'm just happy for our team. I'm glad people are recognizing them for doing something good." For the previous 10 seasons, Nebraska basketball wasn't much worth discussing nationally. The tally: No NCAA bids since 1998. No winning conference record since 1999. Two coaching changes. The value of being in the basketball world's conversation, Sadler said, is immeasurable. "People have to talk about you and hear about you when you're building a program," he said. "When we were 2-4, it wasn't like we were playing bad. We just weren't finishing wins. "Now, we've won a couple, and we're getting some attention, which is good." Sadler can tell on the recruiting trail when Nebraska gets publicity. "It's not necessarily with the kids," he said. "But the parents and the coaches have watched and comment on what they hear during games. That part of it does help. "Kids, you never know. Ask our guys if they watch games, and a lot of them will tell you they don't." Sophomore point guard Cookie Miller, who knows his ESPN channels by heart, smiled big Thursday when asked if he has heard the Husker references. "It's good to hear that we're being known," Miller said. "But that's not our biggest concern right now. It's to maintain what we've been doing. "We've got to stay humble. We really ain't done anything. Yeah, we've got a couple of nice wins in the Big 12. But our big goal is to get to the NCAA tournament." With a week between the Texas win and Saturday's 12:45 p.m. game at No. 17 Missouri (21-4, 8-2), it has been up to seniors such as Ade Dagunduro to monitor the mood in light of reading the following from the former St. John's and New Mexico coach Fraschilla: "Playing hard is just as much a basketball skill as passing, shooting and dribbling. And it's a primary reason that, in a year when No. 2 Oklahoma's Jeff Capel has done a brilliant coaching job, Sadler will steal some (Big 12) coach of the year votes." Dagunduro said he's happy to police the issue, loudly if necessary. "Especially with the young guys," he said. "They can get caught up in a big win like that. So we've got to stay focused." • NOTES: Husker guard Steve Harley, who missed two days of practice with the flu, returned for a full workout Thursday. . . . Kansas State has announced that its Feb. 28 home game against Nebraska is sold out. Two Huskers earn academic honors LINCOLN — Nebraska senior Paul Velander and freshman Christopher Niemann have been named to the Big 12 commissioner's fall honor roll. Velander, a biological sciences major, was named to the honor roll for the seventh time in his career. To make the honor roll, a student-athlete must post a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the semester. Quote Link to comment
fro daddy Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 nice story. I like Doc. I have for a while and believe he is a great coach. If you make the tourney, you guys have to get all over TO to keep Doc the way you would if it were the football team. Guy is a real talent and you wouldnt want to lose him to a more "traditional" basketball school. Quote Link to comment
WIHusker Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I've been clamoring to lock him up to a lifetime contract for a while now. What he has done with this team is nothing short of phenomenal... and if he could catch some breaks on the recruiting trail and actually have the star recruits qualify(Sallie, Joaquim), we could start to become a force in all three major male sports. And Fro, I also really like Anderson. He is a real talent too, he works hard, cares about his players, and seems to be a good recruiter. Took him a while to get Mizzou going, but thats what happens after Quinn. I think y'all are well on your way back to the top of the Big XII. I loved watching the win over KU, anything to knock them down a peg or a hundred is awesome! Quote Link to comment
fro daddy Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Anderson has really proven he has what it take this year. it was pretty slow going, but as you said Quinn buried the program and MA was only able to add 2 players his first 2 years. THis season they brought in 7 new guys and it really shows. The best part is he has gotten rid of all the thugs and crap that Snyder brought in. He is really a no nonsense guy. Alot of Tiger fans respect and admire that. BTW - as a Tiger fan, it wouldn't bother me too much if Doc got gathered up by Alabama or someone like that. lol Quote Link to comment
WIHusker Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Well I think Doc wanted a large D1 school after UTEP, and he came here, likes it, so I think he would only leave if Arkansas came calling. Quote Link to comment
kc_husker Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Andersons going to Alabama or MU is going to give him a huge pay raise for not doing a thing like they did with Pinkel Quote Link to comment
redout22 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I like it. Hopefully after tomorrow there will be more praise Quote Link to comment
HANC Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Said all along that Doc will eventually turn this program around to the point that we expect the tourney every year. Still will have to fight "tooth and nail" the next couple of years, but it will happen. TO needs to lock him in....... The guys are playing hard, but not holding my breath for this year.....too many "costly" non-conference losses and too many tough games the remainder to get my hopes up....not saying it won't happen, just not going to bank on it.... Quote Link to comment
huskerfan500 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I love Doc's coaching and personality (not in a gay way, I know what you were thinking) but i hate to say this but his recruiting might be a problem forget about the non-qualifiers, think about how many kids have had to transfer because they weren't good enough to play. Now I am not saying NU has no talent but it obvious they could use some more, and yet many could not beat out the players we have now. Don't get me wrong Doc gets every ounce of talent of his players, and is a great coach, but I am seeing a reoccurring trend of players coming in and transferring or not even qualifying (or signing up for a class without knowing) I am sorry for being downer but I just had to get it out Quote Link to comment
T-BONE Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Thats all true huskerfan500 its hard to get blue chip recruits here. We just have redshirt and hope they turn into something. Quote Link to comment
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