Nebraska BBall Program Now better than Us

**Wesley** · 03-09-2008, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

Agreed, none of us has all the facts and that's why I don't speculate, just go by what is known and what the record shows. It's been insinuated by some that something bad must have been going on in Morgan's program to get him fired, but if it hasn't come out by now, I seriously doubt there is anything to it. The D-1 scheduling thing turned out to be a non-issue, and the NCAA so much as said so. He recruited a lot of talented players and good kids, and raised the team gpa, and for anybody to try to cast a shadow on his program isn't being fair imo.

When coaches are let go, majority of people rationalize and say good riddance. This may be what happend. It makes them feel better for the future that improvement is on the way.

**Steve** · 03-09-2008, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

Message to "Steve"- You said you have yet to see anybody supply an explanation for Morgan's mediocre third year. You must not have read any of my or several other's posts on the subject, so here we go again. We had lost Homan and Staple from the NCAA 2nd round team, and ALL of our bigs were first year players. Had we not lost Faulkner and George, that would not have been the case. Haluska also would have given that team a huge boost. The starters on that team actually were younger and had less experience than this year's team. However that team still won the Big 4 over an Iowa NCAA team, Greg's best UNI team, and a rising Drake team, and it still managed a winning record. Want to compare that to this year? Yes Greg took over a bad situation with all the defections, but that was the risk JP took when he fired a coach that was very popular with his players and recruits. When Morgan took over for Larry after Larrygate, he was able to keep the current players (except Haluska) and kept the recruits coming. Greg wasn't able to do that, and I'm not necessarily blaming him. It should have been one of the factors JP considered when he fired Morgan, and now we're paying the price.

Reading this simply confirms that it was time for Wayne to go. Faulkner and George were his recruits and were questionable talents to begin with. Behavior and academic performance led to their dismissal which hurts rather than helps the case for Wayne. The win over Iowa was a plus. The UNI win was a close win at home. Drake was not a good team that year - lost something like 11 of 12 down the stretch.

Wayne's record down the stretch in February with veteran guards was very similar to what Greg put together with walk-ons playing key roles. When Greg gets as many of his scholarship recruits on the roster as Wayne had in year 3, I don't think that there will even be a debate about the issue.

**ISUChippewa** · 03-09-2008, 07:43 PM

Faulkner and George were his recruits and were questionable talents to begin with.

I don't know about Reggie George, but I thought that for the limited minutes he played in Faulkner showed a lot of promise. He was definitely an impact player off the bench the few times he did play.

You are correct in stating that George and Faulkner were WM's recruits, and that he bares some indirect blame for them not producing the worth of their scholarships. I wonder if you feel the same way about McDermott and Clayton Vette and Marcus Brister? I do (and I'm not taking a shot at Mac, but those two kids were wastes of scholarships for this season).

**cy1225** · 03-09-2008, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Steve

Here's what I'll say about Wayne - he's not as good of coach as GMac both in terms of X & O's as well as guiding the program in the right direction. I've yet to hear a Wayne supporter come up with a valid defense of his disappointing season #3 when the carryover from LE had worn off.

You are also wrong in your appraisal of NU's talent especially when in comes to the all important back court play. If you check their schedule, you will soon find out that they defeated a few more teams than just ISU during the season. Many of those opponents were coached by guys who have proven that they know what they are doing at the D1 level.

Carryover from LE what a joke!! LE last two years at ISU were nothing and his first four year at Southern Miss have been nothing. The only person who benefited from a carryover was LE from Floyd.

**cy1225** · 03-09-2008, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

Message to "Steve"- You said you have yet to see anybody supply an explanation for Morgan's mediocre third year. You must not have read any of my or several other's posts on the subject, so here we go again. We had lost Homan and Staple from the NCAA 2nd round team, and ALL of our bigs were first year players. Had we not lost Faulkner and George, that would not have been the case. Haluska also would have given that team a huge boost. The starters on that team actually were younger and had less experience than this year's team. However that team still won the Big 4 over an Iowa NCAA team, Greg's best UNI team, and a rising Drake team, and it still managed a winning record. Want to compare that to this year? Yes Greg took over a bad situation with all the defections, but that was the risk JP took when he fired a coach that was very popular with his players and recruits. When Morgan took over for Larry after Larrygate, he was able to keep the current players (except Haluska) and kept the recruits coming. Greg wasn't able to do that, and I'm not necessarily blaming him. It should have been one of the factors JP considered when he fired Morgan, and now we're paying the price.

Excellent analysis and right on the money.

**Kyle** · 03-09-2008, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

When Morgan took over for Larry after Larrygate, he was able to keep the current players (except Haluska) and kept the recruits coming. Greg wasn't able to do that, and I'm not necessarily blaming him.

I haven't really seen any big recruiting drop off since Mac started. The difference has been in player retention. As you seem to recognize, it is a lot different to promote an assistant vs. clean house.

**Steve** · 03-09-2008, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by cy1225

Carryover from LE what a joke!! LE last two years at ISU were nothing and his first four year at Southern Miss have been nothing. The only person who benefited from a carryover was LE from Floyd.

OK, I'll suit up with Homan, Vroman, Sullivan, Blalock, Stinson, Jefferson, and Staple.

You get yourself, Clark, Mardsen, Gray, & Jiri. I'll even give you Skogs on waivers incase your are as bad as I am at BB so that you can have 5 to play.

When can we play or at least end this silly discussion that Wayne didn't inherit a better situation than he left behind.

**cyclonez7** · 03-09-2008, 08:22 PM

How did this thread turn into comparing McDermott to Morgan, from comparing ISU to Nebraska?

**ISUFan22** · 03-09-2008, 08:28 PM

Because, the Wayne Morgan dead horse will continue to be beaten until there are only flies and dust left to swat at.

**83Clone** · 03-09-2008, 08:33 PM

Back to the subject of Nebraska-if their program is in such great shape, how did they let the best high school player in the state out of their grasp?

**isuno1fan** · 03-09-2008, 08:43 PM

I like Doc Sadler and I hope Nebbie can become good at BBall. Only helps the B12 overall. I'd rather have Nebbie be good than Texas, Baylor, A&M, or Tech.

**Ficklone02** · 03-09-2008, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by 83Clone

Back to the subject of Nebraska-if their program is in such great shape, how did they let the best high school player in the state out of their grasp?

Maybe not the type of player for his program...maybe McD got in much earlier on him, who knows.

I too like Sadler, and I wouldn't mind them being decent in bball, you know, as long as we can still beat them. It is disconcerting, however, that Sadler has made more progress in two years than we have....well, actually its hard to argue for that matter that we have made more progress in the past two years than any big 12 school, let alone Nebby. At least I have Drake to cheer for until we become good again.

**Steve** · 03-09-2008, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by 83Clone

Back to the subject of Nebraska-if their program is in such great shape, how did they let the best high school player in the state out of their grasp?

They actually lost the top 2 - Wes to us and Josh Jones to Creighton. Jones is an amazing story. He is lucky to be alive let alone be playing D1 BB next year. He had a serious heart valve infection last summer that required open heart surgery last fall. It took him most of the season to regain his strength and stamina, but got it back in time to lead his team to the class A title again.

**becrisgreg** · 03-09-2008, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Steve

They actually lost the top 2 - Wes to us and Josh Jones to Creighton. Jones is an amazing story. He is lucky to be alive let alone be playing D1 BB next year. He had a serious heart valve infection last summer that required open heart surgery last fall. It took him most of the season to regain his strength and stamina, but got it back in time to lead his team to the class A title again.

Not to mention the #3 player ( Antoine Young) is also going to Creighton. The 4th Division I player form Nebraska (Jesse Carr) is going to Colorado State. Not 1 of them had interest in going to UNL, despite offers from Doc.

**Landshark** · 03-09-2008, 09:09 PM

[quote=ISUChippewa;399998]Faulkner and George were his recruits and were questionable talents to begin with.

Remember when Faulkner stepped out of the smoke while being introduced during the "Basketball kick-off" or whatever they called it that night? He was pretending to smoke a joint....that was the beginning of the end right there!!!