Life in the Red Group

Posted by: 4BigRed on November 5, 2009 8:41AM CST Can't wait to see Standhardinger. Hope he's the stud he's been made out to be! NSAB!!!!

Posted by: ChelseaFC on November 5, 2009 8:41AM CST Tough time for the old coach BAMMMM!!!!!!!

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 5, 2009 8:47AM CST I've been having this crazy thought in my head that Gillispie will need to lay low somewhere as an asst. coach while he repairs his rep. NU, anyone?

Posted by: redone on November 5, 2009 9:28AM CST You don't repair you reputation by laying low if you know anything about coaching. Look at the coaches that are on tv as announcers during other games or work as analysis. You don't go and hide after being let go from a position. Look at the NBA coaches that are fired, they show up as analysis during games. Football coaches also. I don't think Gillispie's reputations needs any repairing, look what he did at Texas A&M.

Posted by: Coughunter on November 5, 2009 10:05AM CST I heard Billy and Suh were going out drinking together. Billy wanted advice on how to not get busted for drinking and driving. BAM!!!

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 5, 2009 10:16AM CST Really??!! Gillespie's reputation doesn't need any repairing? So, the DUIs actually help his reputation? Really?!? Huggins "hid" at KSU for a year and that seemed to work out well for both parties. KSU is enjoying it's most success ever and Huggins is now at his dream job with his alma matter. If you knew anything about coaching, you wouldn't make dumb comments. How do you work as "analysis", anyway?

Posted by: TheOneAndOnly on November 5, 2009 11:12AM CST I hope Sadler gave Gillespie a ride home from the Devaney Center yesterday....

Posted by: Trashman on November 5, 2009 11:21AM CST Hopefully everyone is done on here about the whole redshirting thing. I've went back and forth with many on here since last year about how Doc should not need to redshirt players for the Big 12. He should be recruiting Big 12 talent or nothing at all. Guards and small forwards should be ready for college ball immediately upon arriving or they are little use to us. Power forwards and centers can be redhirted at size discretion. This can kind of be comparable to the OL/DL/LB of football. Redshirting should be a thing of the past unless for size or medical needs. Doc has finally come around on this and has some decent freshman players. We'll be better than 11th outta 12. I propose a new ban on the word "REDSHIRT" unless previously specified from this thread forward!!!!!!! No more!!!!!!! Ok I'm out.

Posted by: Outside The Box on November 5, 2009 11:30AM CST The sabbatical year of researching top programs certainly paid off for Solich as he got a cherry gig at Ohio.

Posted by: Coughunter on November 5, 2009 12:23PM CST HA!!! Solich, Gillispie, and SUH all in one conversation. Who knew? At least Frank wasn't driving...he was passed out and couldn't get the car in drive.

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 5, 2009 12:52PM CST Anyone know how Bear Jones is doing? He seemed to be a promising scorer before the surgery.

Posted by: Islander/Husker on November 5, 2009 2:03PM CST I wonder if McCray will be able to go considering his elbow injury. Seems like I read where he may need surgery but he is trying to play without doing that.

Posted by: Guido on November 5, 2009 2:17PM CST Regardless of the opinions, each year Doc has been at NU, he has exceeded the pre-season Big 12 coaches and media's expectations in both the win-loss record and the end of season position in the conference standings. Doc always seems to get his team to outperform their perceived potential. I don't expect this year will be any different. An 11th place conference position would equate to 3 or 4 conference wins and an overall record of slightly under .500. I know this isn't the "Guess how many wins NU will have thread." But, ... if I was a betting man, I'd be willing to put my money where my mouth is and predict a 7th, 8th or 9th place finish in conference for a total of 17 wins or more. Any takers on under 17? 17 wins would be a push. I'll take the over. I'll be in the Journal Star parking lot this Saturday to shake on it (with many witnesses). We'll have to make it for a steak dinner to get around the gambling laws. :)

Posted by: ScottF on November 5, 2009 2:42PM CST 17 wins and a second division finish in the Big 12 isn't exactly a bold prediction. Doc has pretty much done that every year. If that defines success for Nebraska basketball then Doc should have a long tenure in Lincoln.

Posted by: redone on November 5, 2009 2:42PM CST You don't lay low after being let go from a position in coaching. Look at the college coaches that are working in announcer or working as an analyst after being fired. NBA coaches are a great example. He really doesn't need to hide, he is a pretty good coach, look at what he did at Texas A&M. Lay low, get real if you claim to know anything about coaching.

Posted by: Inbread on November 5, 2009 2:56PM CST Basketball=YAAAAAAWWWWWNNNN Well at this time of year anyways. How long before baseball starts?

Posted by: redone on November 5, 2009 2:57PM CST Father of a future husker---If your going to produce an husker like what we have now, we are in deep sh__. You just showed you don't know anything about Kansas ST basketball my friend. Are you just that young or just that ignorant? Kansas ST has been the NCCA big dance and has been to the final four 6 times. How many times has Nebr. been in the big dance, maybe 3-4 and with what results, out, out, out, in the first game.

Posted by: Outside The Box on November 5, 2009 3:02PM CST K State also sold their soul for Huggy and Beasley. And that worked out pretty well for them.

Posted by: Blackshirtbacker on November 5, 2009 3:08PM CST Redone is right about K-State basketball. They have had some pretty decent success. Coach Kruger had the program rolling at one time. Do you remember Mitch Richmond? Before him Coach Hartman had it going for years. Think about his 3-2 zone with a guy by the name of Rolando Blackman scoring on the other end in the old Big 8.

Posted by: Brian Rosenthal on November 5, 2009 3:10PM CST Bear Jones is doing fine. In fact, Doc said this week that Bear has put together two of his best practices since he's been here. He's also one of Nebraska's best perimeter shooters. Sounds like Toney will play through his elbow injury this season, then have surgery. Doctors told him he can't do any more damage to his elbow; it's just a matter of how much he can play through.

Posted by: Guido on November 5, 2009 3:26PM CST ScottF - It's the coaches and media that are predicting an 11th place finish and a sub .500 record (not me). I'll take the 18 or over wins, not the 17 or under. An 18-14 record (or better) and middle of the pack record with 4 players (3 new to the team) starting who didn't start last year in what should be one of the tougher conferences again this year is neither great nor horrible. But it is exceeding the "experts" expectations. Doc still has several of Collier's recruits on his roster to go along with probably the worst (or near) practice facilities in the conference. I'm glad they are finally talking about addressing that need. If you think that they will not get to 18, let me know on Saturday and I'll get my order in (medium rare thank you).

Posted by: Trashman on November 5, 2009 3:52PM CST Is there going to be some name tags at the LITR Hoopla? I better do some serious cropping so I can match my avatar. I expect PT to be carrying his make believe fish.

Posted by: Coughunter on November 5, 2009 4:05PM CST Several of Colliers recruits??? Who? Ryan Anderson and Sek Henry? Ryan Anderson who is probably the best player on this team the past two years??? Yeah you're right. Better get rid of them and have a team with no experience.

Posted by: PT Husker on November 5, 2009 4:07PM CST Trash You will know me by the size of my Rod.

Posted by: Trashman on November 5, 2009 4:13PM CST Oh.......I'm not sure about this party, you better not drink anything. Don't you think we should give this shindig a new name? Maybe like "Clive at Five"? Featured Guests I'll email: M-A-S-O-N W-A-L-D Mike and Teri P (with an i) Busiecreek

Posted by: ScottF on November 5, 2009 4:16PM CST Guido - Doc has "several" Collier recruits on his roster? I count two - Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson. Let's stop with the excuses, I and many others expect significant improvement one of these years and if Doc can't win 18 games with this team and the usual weak non-conference schedule, then there is something seriously wrong.

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 5, 2009 4:30PM CST Redone - I'm familiar with KSU's history. Maybe it would have been better to say "most success" since 1980. My bad. Beasley was their best player ever at the college level and may turn out to be their best pro, and I guess I was thinking more along those lines. But Redone if you keep insulting me and everyone else on LITR, I'm going to e-punch you in the junk. Okay, douche bag?

Posted by: Outside The Box on November 5, 2009 5:15PM CST lol at "e-punch". RLuben would be proud.

Posted by: redone on November 5, 2009 6:01PM CST Maybe we can hire Bill and replace Doc or maybe Bill could give Doc some pointers, like game planning, recruiting technics, and over all coaching.

Posted by: redone on November 5, 2009 7:05PM CST Father of Husker-- You say you know a lot about K-ST basketball, I will say you full of ****. Let me give a little history lesson so that you know something. First let me thank Blackshirtbacker for his knowledge of K ST. he knows basketball. Now, coach, Jack Gardner 1939-1953--147wins-81 losses inshrined in Naismith Hall of Fame. Tex Winter 1954-1968--262w,117L Bob Boozer & Jack Parr- players and now assistant coach to Phil Jackson Los Angeles Lakers. Inventor of triangle offence. Cotton Fitzsimmons 1968-1970--34w-10L--Left to become head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Jack Harman--1970-1986--295w-126L--Lead K ST to 6 big 8 titles, 16 NCAA tournament. Lon Kruger--1986-1990--81w-32L--K ST advanced deep into the NCAA tournament all 4 years as head coach. That my friend, father of husker is just a small history of Kansas ST basketball not to mension the all americans like Dick Knostman1953, Mike Evans 1978 and Bob Boozer 1959, R. Blackman 1981 Mitch Richmond as was mentioned by my good friend-Blackshirtbacker above. O, one more thing 22 NCAA tournament appearances, 6 final fours, 8 Elite eights, 18 Sweet sixteens, 26 Conference Championships and 46 NBA draft picks. Now F o husker you can say you know something about K-St, basketball. This is just a small history lesson with only a small part of the facts. Kansas ST was king in basketball until they hired a loser from Nebraska- by the name of Dana Altman and now with Martin as coach things are on there way up. Do watch this years Kansas ST basketball team, they will do quit well, like last year and the year before that.

Posted by: redone on November 5, 2009 7:29PM CST Gillispie will be coaching some where and it will be soon, as an opening comes a long.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 12:03AM CST I'm going to e-punch you in the junk. Bwaaa! Outstanding.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 12:18AM CST BTW... Ryan Anderson is the only remaining Collier recruit. Sek Henry is a Doc recruit (more specifically a Tony Benford recruit). Also, I don't think Doc would b!tch about Barry's leftovers, as they've worked out pretty well for him. I mean really, Barry wasn't a stellar recruiting God, but even he was able to bring in a roster of players, where a good majority of them were 3 stars or better. Can't say the same for Doc.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 12:31AM CST And yeah yeah yeah, Doc gets the most out of his players. Yes, we all know that. But wouldn't some of you like to see what he could get out of a couple solid 4 star beasts, and not a roster chock full of 2 star projects? I almost wonder if Doc's recruiting strategy is still rooted in that JuCo coach mentality where you don't spend a long period of time recruiting a few quality players, and instead put out a ton of feelers and wait for someone to drop into your lap when that player's other option didn't work out. What's the maximum return on that type of strategy? Is it what we've been getting? A group of overachievers who get a .500 record in conference and manage to pull off a couple shockers per year? I think we'll start to get those answers this year. Having a team with more perceived talent than the past couple years, we'll see how much higher above expectations they can perform. With most all of them returning next year, we'll have a pretty good idea if they'll be able to break into that next level, or if they'll continue to be middle-of-the-pack overachievers.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 12:50AM CST Ok, one more thing (wish I woulda been on earlier today so I wasn't here talking to myself). I have to say that I greatly disliked the Brandon Ubel pick-up. I watched several of his games when he signed and even though he had a decent stroke and nifty skills around the hoop, I just didn't see his game (offense or defense) translating to the B12. He seemed more equipped to play in the P10 or a mid-major. Having said that, I'm intrigued as hell that he'll be in the starting line-up as the season gets underway. I'm just hoping that since the time I watched, he's put on massive weight (upper body strength especially) and developed a nasty attitude. Otherwise I just can't see him not getting abused by the quality frontcourts in this league. I wish the kid luck, but I can't help but think this has more to do with McCray and Q being hurt, and Standhardinger being ineligible for the 1st half of the season, than it does Ubel being that awesome. We'll see I guess. BTW.. Q is supposed to be my impact player of the year. Kid better lose some weight, heal up, and show some hustle in practice. We're gonna need his rebounding and physicality in there this season.

Posted by: redone on November 6, 2009 8:12AM CST Coughunter and Scottf, both of you guys have to excuse the ignorance of Guido he doesn't know what he is talking about because he still has a dirty diaper on and no one in his family knows how to change it. Please cut him some slack. Looks like Father of Husker is still reading his history lesson. Thanks again Blackshirtbacker for your input.

Posted by: Outside The Box on November 6, 2009 9:08AM CST Two observations: 1) Apparently the wikipedia entry for KSU basketball that redone plagarized stops at 1990. Either that, or their program has been mostly irrelevant for almost 20 years. 2) No matter how you slice KSU's hoops "success", it still pales to their big brother in Lawrence.

Posted by: Guido on November 6, 2009 9:24AM CST So far all I see from the folks who are oozing all the negativity is that none are willing to put their money where their mouth is (taking me up on the 17 or under wins). I guess you can go pound sand then! P.S. Ryan Anderson's commit date: 10/29/05 Sek Henry's commit date: 3/6/06 Doc Sadler's hire date: 8/8/06

Posted by: Coughunter on November 6, 2009 9:32AM CST Sabado, you're an idiot like most husker football fans. It has nothing to do with recruits or how many stars somebody gives a 17 year old kid. It has to do with coaching and you seem to contradict yourself in your previous comments.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 11:01AM CST Guido... I'm not sure where you got your information, but it's wrong. Perhaps that's the date Sek committed to ASU. As you'll see here, he was Doc's first commit... http://nebraska.scout.com/2/560714.html Apology accepted.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 11:08AM CST Guid... And I hope you're not counting me among the negative. I don't think I said anything about them sucking this year (only wondering what the ceiling is for Doc's method). And the bar is actually set pretty damn low. I doubt it will be impossible for them to go 12-3 in the non and then pick up an additional 5 wins in the B12 for the minimum 17. Which is also why no one will take your bet. It's like Scott said, you're not exactly stepping out on a ledge.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 11:20AM CST Coug.. For you to say that it's only coaching, is dishonest at best. Doc is a great coach. That's pretty obvious. This year will be the first where he'll officially show how good of a recruiter he can be (since all but one player is his). Basketball recruiting is much different than football recruiting. Apples and oranges, really. These kids have eyes on them all year round from the age of 15 on (some even earlier). Their regular season, special tournaments, and AAU ball make the evaluation of a player that much more accurate. What does football have? A handful of games, maybe a combine, and a few camps per year. And the majority of kids don't even get on the radar until they're juniors and seniors. So to think that "stars" (or scout evals) don't matter in basketball, is pretty naive. I'd actually be willing to bet the number of bluechip busts in basketball is quite few when compared to football.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 11:23AM CST Coug... BTW, all I'm saying is that I'd like to see Doc take his success on the court and translate it into bigger wins in recruiting. To start moving into consistently getting 3 star guys, with the occasional 4. Not just 2's, with the occasional 3.

Posted by: Sabado Gigante on November 6, 2009 11:34AM CST Here's a question for all the "2 stars are just fine" thinkers. Do you believe Frank Martin is a great coach? My answer? Martin is a sh!t coach. But he and his staff are damn good recruiters. You give Martin and Doc a team of the same caliber each and Doc wins 100 out of 100 games. Sorry, stars matter in basketball.

Posted by: Guido on November 6, 2009 11:39AM CST Sabado - You are definitely not a troll. You have valid points and your assessment of the team is similar to mine most of the time. There is some talent now assembled in Lincoln and I believe that Doc will get the most out of it. It is the "experts" who predict a 11th place finish that really bothers me. An 11th place finish in coference equates to an average of 3.5 conference wins over the past 7 years of conference play. That, with only 2 losses in non-conference play (in 15 games) would put NU at the under 17. Did they not watch Doc reach a .500 record last year with a spool of thread, duct tape and a couple of safety pins? I do not expect NU to go undefeated in non-conference play. But, nor do I expect them to finish in the bottom 1/3 of the conference standings. They will probably finish in the middle of pack again. This is a relatively young team and I see good things on the horizon for the group of players that Doc and his staff has assembled. They are even beginning to "look" like a Big 12 team, with some size and height on the roster now. I look forward to this season to see the continued improvement. Are they Kansas or Texas? No. But, with a little luck (lack of injuries), I can actually see this team getting to the NCAA tourney this year. They are as good as anything that the MoValley has to offer and should be able to keep the state D1 crown again (which would make it 3 of 4 under Doc).

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 6, 2009 11:41AM CST Redone - you are still a d-bag... Back to my original point, that you still can't comprehend, coaches most certainly do lay low if they have been fired and have done something wrong besides losing. Please tell me which news channel Todd Boseman was doing his analysis for, or where Kelvin Sampson is doing play by play at??? Sampson is an assistant coach for the Bucks - just like I was suggesting for Gillespie - take an asst. coaching job. All I was trying to do was make an innocent little suggestion for something to talk about and you had to attack it and start with insults. I'm not going to continue to trade barbs with you because the only thing I could possibly care less about then the distant glory days of KSU basketball, would be you.

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 6, 2009 11:49AM CST I think Doc is recruiting the kind of players that would be great players to compliment a super star player. Problem is, we don't have that super star player. I'm optimistic that Doc will get one and heck, maybe some of the talent he has now will turn into one. He's definitely got the kind of talent that can take us to the Big Dance, but maybe not go past the second round.

Posted by: Outside The Box on November 6, 2009 12:02PM CST There should be no question on Doc's coaching abilities (I'll stand by my assertion that Doc could take any 12 people with a pulse and coach them to an 11th place finish in the conference). That leaves recruiting. I'm not here to make excuses, but NU has short comings (no pun intended) compared to most of the conference when it comes to recruiting (specifically facilities, tradition, location). My personal concern is the health of our team. It seems like every year we have 1-2 "promising" players who get hurt and can't contribute.

Posted by: Guido on November 6, 2009 12:05PM CST Father of future Husker - Doc had one of those difference makers committed and even enrolled at NU (Roburt Sallie). But due to a stupid conference rule stating that a student-athlete can't first try to be a student first, he was declared ineligible. And I will give Barry full credit for initially recruiting him before Doc re-recruited him from JUCO. Doc will find another one of them (if he isn't already on campus).

Posted by: Father of future Husker on November 6, 2009 1:05PM CST Guido - I'm well aware of Sallie. He went off for 30+ in the tourney last year for Memphis. I'm hoping that Bear or Gallegos or Neimann or one of the Germans turn out to be special.

Posted by: Guido on November 6, 2009 1:37PM CST Agreed - As I said, I hope that special player is already on campus. There is now lots of potential in Lincoln - probably more than has been assembled there at any one time since the mid 90's. But, that potential needs to be realized. If they listen to the coaches and play together as a team, they will do just fine.

Posted by: Outside The Box on November 6, 2009 1:39PM CST Sabado - one thing I will point out: the NU hoops practice of recruiting "2 star projects" didn't start under Doc, or even Barry. Danny Nee LOVED to recruit big guys with limited hoops experience (and by his logic, unlimited potential) using the old adage "You can teach a lot of things, but you can't teach tall". For every Mikki Moore, there was a Brant Harriman.

Posted by: Guido on November 6, 2009 1:55PM CST Al McGuire said it about the same in the 70's and 80's: "You can't teach height."

Posted by: Coughunter on November 6, 2009 2:40PM CST Maybe I'm stupid, but I don't remember Sallie being a JUCO....I'm pretty sure he was a soph last year due to lost eligibility from the xfer.

Posted by: Tice on November 6, 2009 3:51PM CST Maybe?

Posted by: Coughunter on November 6, 2009 4:00PM CST I guess it's better than being a D-bag like you though tice....by the way, I did ask Doc last year if any of the players that were on the team when he arrived were any of his recruits and he stated jokingly, only Maric since he had to get him to stay. He said all other players where already committed prior to him arriving. But he must have been lying.

Posted by: redone on November 6, 2009 5:46PM CST Father of husker-- Your the one that started it all by shooting off you mouth about that you know alot about K-ST basketball, it just shows you don't know crap about it. I just want to give you a little short history, so dig you head out of your A$$ and try an clean up your ignorance, punching bag. Martin out recruited Doc and can out coach as has been demonstrated the last two years and another this year as K-ST is 27 NCAA rated and where is Nebraska??????? Gillispie should take over for Doc and show him how to coach. Gillispie got in over his head at Kentucky, which I saw coming, he was a good fit at Texas A&M but, not for a big time college like Kentucky. Basketball is a game of how many wins, and is not based on one loss to a particular team, until you get into the NCAA tournment.

Posted by: Busiekcreek on November 6, 2009 9:00PM CST zz

Posted by: Guido on November 7, 2009 1:28AM CST Besides for the lack of defense in the 1st half, having only 8 assists on 29 baskets (27.5%) in the 1st exhibition game does not bode well as a . It was 46.0, 48.5, and 48.9% the past 3 years. I envision some gruelling practices coming with some extra defense and passing drills. The new players will learn soon enough that if they don't play defense, they don't play. P.S. My bad on the Sek commit date. 3/6/06 was when Roburt Sallie committed (he would have been a nice addition).