[mNhhh]

IMO, NU couldn't ask for a better coach than Doc. He gets more out of the talent he has than anyone out there. The problem is just that....talent. I hope Doc gets the time he needs to build a winner. He's got some good but inexperienced talent right now. They just need to find some confidece and a go to guy on offense.


Steven M. Sipple: Be patient Nebraska hoops fans -- again

Virtually every day before practice, Doc Sadler reminds himself to be patient, mindful that only three scholarship players on his current roster entered the season with Big 12 experience.

“I think we have a talented group, but what does that really mean?” the fourth-year Nebraska men’s basketball coach asks, reaching into a refrigerator in his office for another diet Mountain Dew.

The problem with patience — trust me, it’s a key word on multiple levels in this discussion — is its connotations. For one, it could mean a 12th straight season in which Nebraska goes without an NCAA Tournament bid, a likely occurrence in the wake of the Huskers’ 0-4 start in league play.

One would understand if fans are growing slightly impatient with the program’s progress under Doc.

Heck, to a degree, Doc understands.

“It’s about winning,” he says. “We’ve done that here, in my opinion. But at the same time, we haven’t won as much as I would like to.”

In the past three seasons, Nebraska produced Big 12 records of 6-10, 7-9 and 8-8, with NIT appearances in each of the last two.

It’s conceivable the Huskers (12-7 overall) could sweep their remaining home games this season, perhaps steal one on the road and finish 19-13 overall and 7-9 in the Big 12. That’s absolutely as much optimism as I can possibly muster at this point.

Which begs a question: Did Sadler begin his Nebraska tenure with a timetable for the program to be at a certain point in a certain season?

No, he says flatly. And by the way, his confidence in his ways is unwavering. The thing is, Doc’s brutally honest. It’s part of his appeal. For example, he shoulders blame for “thinking I could come in here in August (of 2006) and sign players good enough to play in this league. I should’ve just bit the dust that whole year and probably not signed anybody, and spent all my time recruiting for the next year.”

Of the eight players in Sadler’s first recruiting class, only guard Brandon Richardson is playing this season.

“This is my first group of freshmen that can, as a group, legitimately compete in this league,” Sadler says of Jorge Brian Diaz, Ray Gallegos, Eshaunte Jones, Christian Standhardinger and Brandon Ubel.

At the moment, the freshmen are taking their lumps in an ultra-talented and rugged league, presumably gaining experience for better days ahead.

Better days ahead. When it comes to Nebraska men’s basketball, patience isn’t just a virtue; it’s a way of life.

That said, I think Sadler ultimately will produce the results Nebraska fans desire, though it may require another season or two of waiting. Yes, I think Tom Osborne will be patient. I think he should be patient with Doc — within reason, of course.

Oh, there’ll be fan grumbling along the way. In fact, you’re hearing some now. And the questions are fair.

Can Sadler recruit the caliber of players needed to excel in the Big 12?

Is he patient enough with players when they fall short of his demands?

Does he allow players enough freedom on offense?

Doc’s demands on offense are simple: “I want a shot every time (down the court), and I want a good shot. That’s all,” he says.

In Nebraska’s 70-53 loss Saturday at Missouri, Gallegos, Richardson and Jones essentially had the green light on offense.

“Those three and those three only, they know if they’re open, even if there’s 30 seconds on the shot clock, I want them to shoot it,” Doc says. “The other guys, I’ve told them when they can shoot it.”

As for Husker fans perhaps becoming restless, “I think you’d better listen to that more than the pat on the back,” he says. “You hear, ‘Oh, we hope you stay here forever. We love what you’re doing.’ You know, there’s sincerity there. At the same time, you have to understand that people who are unhappy are usually unhappy for a reason.

“As I’ve said before, I really care about the people who care about this program. That’s why playing hard means so much to me. And I do know that we’re talented enough that if we continue to give the effort, then good things are going to happen.”

Doc’s teams always will give excellent effort. His practices are something to behold for anybody who appreciates high-level intensity and attention to detail. And yes, NU has talent. However, talent with minimal experience often equals frustration in the Big 12. Ask Oklahoma (11-8, 2-3 Big 12).

What does youthful talent mean to Sadler?

“Sleepless nights,” he says, pausing to collect his thoughts.

“And patience.”

Trust me, we understand.

[Husker Hunyock]

There have been some grumbling out there this year, but I think that most fans looked at how the Big XII is stacked this year and realized that this may be a bumpy season.

If Doc can keep these guys from getting too frustrated and transferring, this may turn out to be a special class. Unfortunately, it may be a season or two before this happens.

[JiggaBo Pelini]

I am patient......




























...ly waiting for Football season. Fuck NU 41 Ball.

[mNhhh]

JiggaBo Pelini, on 25 January 2010 - 09:31 AM, said:

I am patient......


























...ly waiting for Football season. Fuck NU 41 Ball.

But wouldn't it be fun to have a basketball team we could get behind while we waited for spring ball to begin?

[HuskerFan]

Doc hasn't gotten it done in 4 years. Why does anyone beleive he'll get it done next year.... or the year after that?

Look, all it takes one difference maker for NU to climb from below average to average. And so far, Doc hasn't been able to recruit a single difference maker. Not a single one.

Dude can coach, but he can't recruit.

I say he's canned after NU goes 12-19 next season.

[AZ Husker]

HuskerFan, on 25 January 2010 - 10:53 AM, said:

Doc hasn't gotten it done in 4 years. Why does anyone beleive he'll get it done next year.... or the year after that?

Look, all it takes one difference maker for NU to climb from below average to average. And so far, Doc hasn't been able to recruit a single difference maker. Not a single one.

Dude can coach, but he can't recruit.

I say he's canned after NU goes 12-19 next season.

Why can him? If NU cans him won't there be costs associated with his departure? And more costs if you want competitive coach. Screw that. NU has football, some baseball, women's VBall, and a few other sports. Who gives a fuck about NU hoops?

[rr05]

HuskerFan, on 25 January 2010 - 10:53 AM, said:

Doc hasn't gotten it done in 4 years. Why does anyone beleive he'll get it done next year.... or the year after that?

Look, all it takes one difference maker for NU to climb from below average to average. And so far, Doc hasn't been able to recruit a single difference maker. Not a single one.

Dude can coach, but he can't recruit.

I say he's canned after NU goes 12-19 next season.

I'll give Doc a break in year one since he was hired so late but I see other crap programs turn it around in 1 or 2 years. This is easily gonna be a wasted year. That makes 3 years and we're now the big 12 bottom feeders. Not what I call progress. And after NU starts 1-3 next year in conference play it'll be. "We are still really young, next year will be the year that we make a splash." Of course I think that's the mens b-ball motto.

[mNhhh]

Maybe I give Doc too much slack because I like him as our coach, but I really don't see Nebraska being able to get anyone better than him, at least not until we start winning more consistently.

Sadler is on hell of a basketball coach. His teams work their balls off for him and play some of the best defense in the country. The problem, as well all know, is offense, or lack thereof. A valid knock against Doc is indeed his inability to land a real difference maker. He's come close, i.e. that dude that went to Memphis because he couldn't get in to UNL.

I think Doc could coach circles around most coaches, including Barnes, the HC at Texas and the #1 ranked team in the country. He just needs some talent, and there is a solid but young and inexperienced base that he brought in this year. I hope they give him at least two more years to see what he can do with that talent. Firing and hiring another coach just prolongs the cycle of mediocrity. We start winning a bit and the recruiting becomes that much easier.

[lawrencephillips]

I'm not ready to give up on him just yet, but it's getting tougher to defend him. We finally have a few kids with some actual talent (Diaz, Jones, Richardson, Dinger) but they are all very young. I honestly think these kids can make the dance in a year or two. Whether or not Doc is still coaching here remains to be seen. The youth excuse is getting old, but he made some horrible recruiting mistakes when he first got here that we are now paying for dearly and he admits that. This team had KU on the ropes and beat USC in LA, so we know they can play a little bit. But with a team this young, it's going to be up and down all season. It's just hard to hear the "wait til next year" shit every single year.

Last game at MU, he finally played some of the younger guys more which was good to see, (other than Dinger who had some academic issues). This year is in the shitter already, so the more these young pups play the better off we will be in the future. He better win a few B12 games though or people will start howling. But honestly who are we going to get to coach here? Same problem we always have, the big names won't touch this job. I'm willing to give him a few years to work his plan, because I'm not ready to start all over again.

But honestly, most people thought before the year that a .500 record this year in conference would be a very good year for us and after seeing how tough the league is I think .500 will get a team in the big dance almost for sure. We just don't have enough "big time" players yet for that though. Hopefully some of the guys I mentioned above can become them, but they have a ways to go. I will say that Richardson is going to be a stud if his back doesn't give out on him. If Doc can just land a couple of under the radar guys that develop into borderline NBA guys everyone will forget about this year. I'm just not sure he can though. But I'm pulling for him.

I didn't see your post until I had posted mine mNhhh, but I agree.

[johnnyhusker82]

What record does patience translate into?

[lawrencephillips]

This year I'd guess 3 or 4 wins in conference. But the players are finally here to make me think that next year we can realistically think NCAA tourney. I don't know if they make it, but they have a shot. We knew before this year we had no shot, barring a miracle.

[rr05]

I'm sure TO will be patient with Doc but the natives will get real restless if NU goose eggs the big 12 this year. I'm willing to give Doc next year but I'm expecting, at a minimum, 10 conference wins. If not give a call to Steve Lavin. I don't give a shit if he got UCLA in trouble. The ncaa hasn't done anything to USC and it's been how many years?? Everybody is so worried about the image that NU needs to project and protect. Screw that!! Bring in some 41's that drive 1977 low ride Lincoln Town Cars that can BALL. Also, being able to introduce a white bitch's face to a penis would be plus.

[Coop]

There are fans?

They should have a calling tree or something so he doesn't have to go to the paper when he wants to ask them something.

[Samurai Husker]

[quote name='mNhhh' date='25 January 2010 - 10:33 AM' timestamp='1264437215' post='411734']

JiggaBo Pelini, on 25 January 2010 - 09:31 AM, said:

But wouldn't it be fun to have a basketball team we could get behind while we waited for spring ball to begin?

Does 21-0 meet your standards?

I mean, there IS some good ball being played at Devaney in front of 10,000+ crowds... and they're better looking than Doc's guys, too... 'cause I know that's important here at redout.

Click on player bio's...

[RedHell]

mNhhh, on 25 January 2010 - 10:33 AM, said:

JiggaBo Pelini, on 25 January 2010 - 09:31 AM, said:

I am patient......





















...ly waiting for Football season. Fuck NU 41 Ball.

But wouldn't it be fun to have a basketball team we could get behind while we waited for spring ball to begin?

There is the women's team, although I don't see many of them as chicks I'd like to get behind, in front of, on top of or under, without a big ass bottle of some potent scotch.

[Samurai Husker]

RedHell, on 06 February 2010 - 08:05 PM, said:

mNhhh, on 25 January 2010 - 10:33 AM, said:

JiggaBo Pelini, on 25 January 2010 - 09:31 AM, said:

I am patient......





















...ly waiting for Football season. Fuck NU 41 Ball.

But wouldn't it be fun to have a basketball team we could get behind while we waited for spring ball to begin?

There is the women's team, although I don't see many of them as chicks I'd like to get behind, in front of, on top of or under, without a big ass bottle of some potent scotch.

O RLY?

Two words: Layne Reeves... although Khyre Cooper's got that covered.

Kaitlyn Burke? Jessica Periago? Shall I go on?

Seriously, they play some damn good basketball... but if it takes the hawtness to get people to take notice, I'll play that card. 21-0 and good looking ain't a bad season.

[RINGKONG-MK2]

look its a checker board.

[rr05]

RINGKONG, on 07 February 2010 - 08:44 AM, said:

look its a checker board.

KING ME!!!