Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Northwestern Wildcats Game Preview

by Rodger Sherman on Feb 2, 2012 1:26 PM CST in 2011-12 Northwestern Wildcats Basketball

Major moral dilemma today: Northwestern plays Nebraska at home at six, but Sigma Nu - my IM basketball team which I've already inextricably linked with Northwestern's basketball team has a pivotal matchup for our playoff hopes at 6 p.m. As you'll see, I've included a poll below about which I should attend. CAVEAT: this poll does not carry the same weight as the previous "Choose Rodger's own adventure" poll, where you told me to go to a Northwestern game instead of go to McGee's, since I've already more or less made up my mind. Although the thought of missing a Northwestern home conference game enrages me to no end - I'm pretty sure I haven't missed one in four years - there are significantly more home games left on Northwestern's schedule than there are games left on Sig Nu's. I'll try and make it to the game for the second half - especially with the Red Panda acrobat in the house! - but my desire for IM success has to trump my desire to be a part of the crowd tonight. I just want to see if you agree or disagree.

Oh, so, yeah, also, Nebraska.

Are they good?: Although the Huskers are a half-game up on the real NU in the conference standings, they're either the worst or second worst in the conference on the real. Doc Sadler's bunch pulled off a pretty hot upset of Indiana at home, but other than that, their season is a study in mediocrity: no real wins against good teams, decent play against sub-par opposition, and a few losses to teams you don't want to lose to. (Wake Forest, that is.)

What are they good at?: Nebraska isn't an awful team defensively!

What are they bad at?: This team's offense is, welp. First off, nobody on the team can shoot. Brandon Richardson shoots about 38 percent from three, but only takes about two and a half shots per game from there, so, well, that's three points. Second off, nobody on the team can really do anything besides Bo Spencer. Spencer is in his first year with the Huskers after playing three years at LSU, and everything the team does revolves around him. He chucks, shooting 30.1 percent of the team's shots while on the floor, and has taken twice as many threes as anybody else on the team despite being a 29 percent shooter from deep. He creates most of the team's opportunities, assisting 28 percent of baskets made while on the court. And he turns the ball over a decent amount, 19.9 percent of the team's possessions when he's playing. So, when Spencer is on the court, 78 percent of the team's possessions end with either a Spencer bucket, assist, or turnover, and you have to assume a decent percentage end with him passing the ball to a player who misses a shot. (For comparison, Dave Sobolewski's number is about 48 percent, Jordan Taylor's about 61 percent, and Brandon Paul's about 68 percent.) Outside of Spencer, this team doesn't really have anything going on. Sure, he's very talented, but not talented enough to be a one-man team in Big Ten play successfully.

Why is Doc Sadler "Doc"?: Sadler has a master's in education from Northeastern State! His birth name is Kenneth, and he isn't important enough to be put on the Wikipedia page for "Doc".

What do a 6-foot-11 Brazilian, a 6-foot-11 Puerto Rican, and a 6-foot-11 German do in Lincoln, Nebraska?: Not sure. Ask Jorge Brian Diaz, Andre Almeida, and Christopher Niemann. I'd assume it involves crying, competing to see which one is the better center, and discussing how none of their respective culture's cuisines prominently rely on corn and settling conversations about whether salsa, samba, or Wagner is more enjoyable by agreeing that it's better than the Big and Rich album Kye Kurkowski blasts on his iPod speaker dock in the locker room before games and then sitting in silence.

Can NU win?: I'd say NU should win. Nebraska isn't a good Big Ten team and they're on the road. Things are not fantastic for Northwestern now. They have to get this one.

Poll

Where should I be at 6 p.m. tonight?

Welsh-Ryan Arena, watching Northwestern play Nebraska

16 votes

Blomquist Gym, playing for Sigma Nu

39 votes

55 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

you better show some respect

whenever the doc’s brought up

by Loretta8 on Feb 2, 2012 1:48 PM CST reply actions

that's

for even thinking of having them thoughts thought up

by Rodger Sherman on Feb 2, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

Neb 52; NU 62

I think NU just runs away with this game. I saw Nebraska earlier this year, and they are just awful. I know they had a little bit of a run earlier, but I just don’t buy it.

L8, I saw your tweets yesterday about Carmody v Hardy, and here is my thoughts.

I agree that Carmody should go, and while I agree with you that IT IS NOT MY FIRST CHOICE, I would not be upset if Hardy became the head coach. You asked the optimal question of what could Hardy do that Carmody has not or will not. If Hardy was the coach, I know recruiting would be better, because he would be the HC telling his ‘NU story’ that he has described to people many times and I think he would place a better emphasis on defense. Do I think Hardy has the same offensive coaching acumen Carmody does? No, not at all, but I don’t think the drop off would be so severe that better players and better defense couldn’t make it up.

Also, while I agree with Sec. 112, yourself, and many others that having an outside coach would be ideal, I think that NU feels they have hit such a home run with Pat Fitzgerald so they can recreate it with Tavaras Hardy. Young, Chicago kid, had an investment career, African-American (not ONE of NU’s coaches is black, Asian, Latino, Indian, etc), not trying to start an affirmative action debate, but just pointing it out, and a guy that represents NU well and talks about his NU story.

I very much could see Hardy as the coach next year, and I don’t think it would be the worst thing in the world b/c of improved recruiting and improved defense.

by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 2, 2012 1:56 PM CST reply actions

i think you could be right about recruiting

but Hardy is currently on the staff using that exact same pitch already. hes landed some solid guys, but he also has to get some of the blame for the current roster being so short. carmody is the head man and deserves the lions share of the blame, but hardy is the top recruiter and NU hasnt been able to recruit enough bodies the last 3 years to fill out a roster.

now its possible that some recruits are saying “ok i like what youre selling tavaras, but i dont like carmody so im going somewhere else”, and that could make a difference. but most of his players seem to like him, theres of course that story of craig moore yelling at the NU student section for starting a fire carmody chant back in 08. so i really dont know.

as for the defense part, i really dont know. i think if he had some good ideas of how to improve the defense, NU would currently be implementing them.

theres also the fact that Hardy played center in college, and all the centers while hes been a coach have sucked. thats mostly due to crappy recruiting and ive detailed how terrible carmody has been at developing centers, but i cant say i have too much faith in hardy’s ability to develop a big man.

yeah, Hardy as a coach wouldnt be terrible, we likely wouldnt see a return to the dark ages, but i think the ideal scenario is Hardy staying on as an assistant for a new guy with some experience.

whoever they hire, by far the most important thing is getting a guy who can recruit, in particular someone who can recruit to a school with academic standards. thats why i’m so into Amaker, the guy is getting top 100 recruits nationally to come to Harvard. Harvard basketball has been worse than Northwestern over the last 50 years and their gym is a complete dump, my high school has a nicer gym, seriously. if he can recruit like that at Harvard he should be able to do even better at NU.

by Loretta8 on Feb 2, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

Some good points.

Love the discussion.

I’m not saying players DON’T like Carmody, but I’m saying that players like Hardy more and would be more inclined to come to NU if they knew that they were playing for him. For example, some of the elite recruiters (Calipari, R Williams, B Self, J Wright, etc) are the lead recruiter on MANY players of their class. As you know, I live in DC, there are MULTIPLE stories of Jay Wright, Jamie Dixon, and Jim Calhoun at high school games making their presence felt. Clearly, we saw Carmody watching some games of Sanjay Lumpkin in MN, but clearly that is not his strength.

I don’t care what Craig Moore did on 2008, b/c as a player, you are appreciative of your coach regardless ability. Those fans were making that comment/sign after a 2-14 & 1-17 seasons, I’m hardly going to blame them.

My opinion on Carmody’s defensive acumen is that he is similar to Mike D’Antoni. It is just not a point of emphasis for him. I just think he thinks he can win with offense, even in games when NU gives up 65+ points, he discusses offensive execution, that is his thing.

Agree on big man/center analysis. Great point.

Also, would another coach want Hardy as the TOP assistant, remember, he is the ‘Associate Head Coach’ whatever that means.

I’m 100% in agreement, the #1 priority in college sports is not coaching, but recruiting, and while Amaker didn’t succeed at Michigan, I’m 110% for him at NU.

by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 2, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Fitz vs. Hardy

I would also prefer to see someone outside the program come in and take the reins, if Carmody is let go at the end of the season. If that results in Hardy leaving the program, it’s not the end of the world for him or for NU, though I’d hate to see him go.
I think the difference between Fitz when he was hired as head coach and Hardy going into next season is that Fitz’ resume as a coach is deeper and more diverse. After Fitz graduated in ‘96, he tried out for the Dallas Cowboys, then took his first coaching position as a graduate assistant at Maryland in ’98. He joined Barnett’s staff in Colorado for the ‘99 season, then was linebackers and special teams coach at Idaho in ’00. At that point, Walker brought him to Evanston, and he spent six years as an assistant and recruiting coordinator before becoming the head coach in ’06.
Hardy graduated in 02, and his only coaching experience is six years on Carmody’s staff, plus coaching an U-16 boys team while working at JP Morgan. True, he has the title of “associate head coach,” while Fitz was mostly a low-level or mid-level assistant. While basketball coaching and football coaching aren’t necessarily equivalent, I don’t think it would hurt Hardy to get some more coaching experience under other head coaches and maybe in other places, just to have a more well-rounded resume.

by Herman on Feb 2, 2012 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

Agree, let me clarify my position a bit.

I ABSOLUTELY agree that Pat F is 100x the player Hardy is/was, and has a much more extensive coaching background than Hardy.

The PRIMARY reason I think NU would stick with Hardy is to recreate the Pat F buzz/marketing/story, not from an issue of coaching acumen or resume.

I agree, I like Tavaras Hardy and know him a little bit personally, and I know if he is not at NU then he’ll get another great job and maybe return to NU in the future.

by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 2, 2012 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

Not a fan of Hardy for now

Until this year, i barely saw the guy get off the bench to offer instructions. I just get the feeling he’s not a strong Xs and Os guy.

I have a few other problems with Hardy as an immediate choice:

1) The B10 is not a training ground. That has been one of the issues with Carmody. How many years did it take before he realized he needed a big man or something in the ballpark of defense?
2) Choosing Hardy tells me that you’re not interested in winning very soon.
3) The deal-breaker would be very easy for me if I were the AD (I’m sure many are hoping that will happen soon): I’d ask Tavaras what his philosophy is on offense. If he says he is a PO guy all the way – and I don’t know how he couldn’t be – that would be a deal breaker. As I’ve said, a center that shoots the three is too important to everything in the PO. So the PO needs that guy, and he needs to be big enough to defend the usual B10 center. I think those guys are few and far between.

OTOH, I love the idea of bringing in the old guy – the proven winner who is on the back nine of his career, and this is his last stop for 5-7 years. The understanding would be that he is there to act as a mentor for Hardy, but also act as a impartial consultant for the good doctor on whether Hardy is the right move. NU should have a good idea by then if Hardy is head coach material.

One other thing for consideration: I have a good friend who is a high school head coach in the western suburbs. He says the idea that Hardy is the lead recruiter on everything is very blown out of proportion. We’ve argued it and I’m not sure I still believe him, but it’s something to consider.

by Sec.112 on Feb 2, 2012 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

Question.

Does he say that Hardy is not as involved in recruiting or that Carmody is more? Please clarify.

I’m fine w/all your other points.

by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 2, 2012 3:35 PM CST up reply actions

Neither

Henderson was more involved and more successful than people gave him credit for.

As an aside, this weekend, heard more troubling things about Carmody and recruiting from the famous “very good source” – a guy with great NU connections/not my buddy.

by Sec.112 on Feb 2, 2012 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

Please share the negative Carmody updates.

by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 2, 2012 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

Amaker, seriously???

Ask UM about Amaker. He has coached at the D1 level for 15 years and has 1 NCAA appearance. If that’s not Carmodyesque, I don’t know what it. He can’t coach big time basketball.

Some guy on Rivals wants NU to hire Chris Collins. Shoot me now. I would seriously consider rooting against NU if CC was head coach. He is just seems like a monumental douche.

by Curdog7 on Feb 3, 2012 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

Hold up now...

The turnaround at Harvard is pretty damn impressive. If you want to say he would be bad, b/c he didn’t succeed at a Big Ten school, I’ll buy that. But, let’s not say he can’t coach.

I don’t want a Duke assistant, b/c Coach K is the reason for their success. 100%, no one else.

by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Feb 3, 2012 8:22 PM CST up reply actions

michigan was on probation for much of the amaker era

and the job he has done at harvard has been nothing short of brilliant. that program has sucked for 50 straight years, had zero 20 win seasons before he showed up, in year 3 he had their first 20 win season, in year 4 they won their first ever share of the ivy league and set a new school record for wins, and this year he has them in the top 25 for the first time in program history.

his recruiting classes, at Harvard where their gym isnt even as nice as the Cambridge high school gym, they have always sucked, and there are no scholarships, are comparable to what NU has brought in the last few years. and at both Michigan and Seton Hall he recruited very well.

you got any better ideas?

by Loretta8 on Feb 3, 2012 9:28 PM CST up reply actions

I voted that Rodger play in his intramural game

That said, would any of you other folks out there be interested in attending tonight’s game if you had a free ticket from yours truly? As of now I’ve got an extra and I’d be happy to give it away to a loyal SoP reader.

by busplunger on Feb 2, 2012 2:26 PM CST reply actions

i will also not be in welsh-ryan arena tonight at tip-off

i will be in class until 9 eastern.

then i will stop at the liquor store on the way home and buy lots of beer.

then i will “live”-blog the game while watching on DVR while drinking said beer. the finished product should be entertaining, at least to whichever teams fanbase wins the game.

by Loretta8 on Feb 2, 2012 2:32 PM CST reply actions