Glimmer of Hope

Last night’s throttling of the Missouri Tigers leaves the Nebraska Cornhuskers with just that.

A glimmer of hope.

After attempting to set the sport of College Basketball back about 50 years in the first 12 minutes of last night’s game, Nebraska’s last Big 12 home game ever, the Huskers used a second half 17-2 run to pull ahead by double digits and never look back.

However, that first half was something else. Missouri went a 5:58 stretch without scoring a single point. The Huskers took full advantage of it by scoring a whopping three points themselves. I made a sandwich, played a game of NBA Hangtime, and learned how to Dougie in that same time period.

So after thinking the Huskers were as good as dead after their defeat to Iowa St. on Saturday, I make my Monday rounds to ESPN’s Bracketology, only to see Nebraska still listed in the “Next Four Out” category. Again, this is behind the “Last Four Teams In” and the “Last Four Teams Out.”

They’re not mentioned in CBSsportsline.com’s Bracketology, but they have Oklahoma State listed as one of the last four teams out, so I think I’m done checking their projections. It must be a mistake. Or just absolute stupidity.

And this was all before the convincing victory over Missouri, who is unanimously considered an NCAA Tournament team, last night.

I declared that Nebraska must win 3 of their last 4 games to be in good NCAA Tournament shape heading into the Big 12 Tournament. They went out and lost the first two games. However, those might have been the best two to lose. Let the wins be the freshest memory.

However, the Huskers must, must, MUST win at Colorado on Saturday in a matchup of Big 12 mutineers. It won’t be easy, and was probably the toughest of their final four games to win (although Colorado is losing to Iowa St in the 2nd half as I write this). Colorado is another team squarely on the bubble much like Nebraska who’s coming off a huge home upset of Texas, just like Nebraska.

Kinda amazing how much these two teams have in common.

So Nebraska finds themselves in this position once again. A big game that they must show up for. If they do win, they’re looking at anywhere from a 5th to an 8th seed for the Big 12 Tournament, which could have huge implications come Selection Sunday.

So don’t give up on Nebrasketball just yet, there still clinging on to just a…

Glimmer of hope.