Nebraska falls to KU
I got to see my first game at Pinnacle Bank Arena (PBA) for this season. I knew after having back surgery I might not make it to all the games in Lincoln so I set my goal for Dec. 16, which would be the Nebraska and Kansas basketball game.
For some reason not very many people thought that was anything but reasonable for me. Funny how that works.
KU started strong this season and had been rated No. 2 in the nation, but the last couple of games dropped contests to Washington and Arizona State. They had been 22-point favorites over Washington in a game played at the Sprint Center in Kansas City which is virtually a home game for KU. Then they lost to ASU at Allen Field House where Coach Bill Self’s teams have only lost 11 or so since Self was named head coach 15 years ago.
So I thought one of two things: one was KU would be really focused and would be trouble for the Huskers, or they might be doubting themselves and would maybe give the Huskers a chance.
Now the real dilemma for me was that I am a KU fan and have been since I learned what a basketball was. I saw my first KU game when Wilt Chamberlain was playing. But I also have lived in Nebraska for 53 years. I have season tickets for Husker basketball and want them to win too.
Knowing the history of the two teams, my thought process was that I still wanted KU to win, but if Nebraska did win, that would not be so bad either. KU would still have a good team and by the end of the year probably be in the NCAA tournament. The win for Nebraska might give them some confidence for the upcoming Big 10 season and maybe they could parlay that into a bid to the NCAA.
After watching the game, I am not sure what to think about either team. KU is not as strong as they have been the last 14 years where they have either tied or won outright the Big 12 conference regular season title. They are not as deep as they usually are either. That might change because they have some other players who will become eligible in the near future.
I think the Huskers, on the other hand, have the best talent they have had since Tim Miles became the coach. However, they are still weak in the post. That caused them a great deal of grief in the KU game.
Udoka Azubuike, KU’s big post man, is averaging 13 points a game but got 26 against the Huskers because Jordy Tshimanga couldn’t match up against him. The Huskers made a game out of it and had every chance in the world to win. But in my opinion, an ill advised shot, taken too soon in the shot clock, didn’t go in and gave the Jayhawks a chance to get down the court and get a set play ran.
After a KU time out, Svi Myhailuk got a wide open 3-point attempt that was all net. The Huskers, with 23 seconds on the clock and two timeouts left, decided to play on. They couldn’t get a shot to fall and lost by one point.
One team with a storied history of success and one with very little tradition, had a chance to win. The one with the history of success scored a victory.
As I stated, I think Nebraska has the best talent they have had in a number of years but are still weak in an area that must be strong for the Big 10 to be successful. I think that will prove to be a problem.
The game started with noise as the new football coach was introduced to the crowd. Scott Frost came onto the court to thunderous applause. That noise level was reached a couple more times during the game as the Huskers tied the game late and went ahead but died quickly at the end result.
Husker volleyball
PBA stayed open and showed the remainder of the national championship volleyball contest. The Huskers picked up the national championship trophy for John Cook and the fifth national championship win for the Huskers.
The win came against a team, Florida, that had defeated Nebraska at the beginning of the season when the Huskers started 0-2. The Huskers won a national championship when no one really thought it was possible. That always makes it a little sweeter.
John Cook is a coach that can look at a change in players as he did this year, when he had to replace a lot of graduated seniors and revamp his coaching staff, and still be successful. His teams are well coached, they are disciplined in their play, they play hard and they are successful because of it. Again they lose some seniors, but they have a pretty solid group returning. The upper class group of players this year has been in on two national championships during their career and it might just happen again. Go Big Red.