Nebraska Basketball: Looking Beyond ‘The Word’
It was a rough week for Nebraska basketball fans. I can assure you, it was even rougher for Head Coach Tim Miles and his team. The Huskers took to the court Sunday and fell to in-state rival Creighton. I detailed that view from the cheap seats Sunday evening. Rivalry loses happen, right? Sure, Nebraska was the more talented team, but they didn’t get the job done.
So, let’s go to Wednesday evening. A bounce back game against an outmatched opponent from a the Southland conference who are in year two of their four year transition into the top division of NCAA basketball. Bounce back game, huh? The University of the Incarnate Word walked into Lincoln and took home an inexplicable, inexcusable 74-73 win over the Nebraska basketball team who as everyone knows was coming off a season where they went to the NCAA tournament… a team coming into a season projected to finish in the top four of the conference by many publications.
Dec 10, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Benny Parker (3) leaves the court after losing to the Incarnate Word Cardinals in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Incarnate Word won 74-73. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
So where does Nebraska basketball go from here? I know one thing, there is no rest for the weary. 6-1 Cincinnati comes calling on Saturday. The Bearkats lead the all-time series 4-0, but this is the first time Nebraska has hosted.
The top priority for Nebraska basketball is to find a way to get their heads back in it. I refuse to believe this team isn’t talented enough to win games against the likes of Creighton and Incarnate Word. The good news? Coach Miles recognizes this, as he stated in his post game comments on Wednesday:
“I’m not trying to calm him down, I promise you that. You have to compete. You have to have a competitors’ mentality. You cannot be afraid of consequence. If you are going to be successful in life, there is some risk involved. Were is your mind? Are you worried? We all have to deal with fear, worry and doubt in this life. Everybody does. So we all have to navigate through fear, worry and doubt; they are the three biggest, de-motivators in life. If you can’t handle them, you can’t be successful.”
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Things are different for Nebraska basketball this year. They are the hunted, not the hunter. And now two teams have walked in to Pinnacle Bank Arena and done something only one other team had previous done previously. They beat the Husker home team.
Perhaps it’s time to put the tagline ‘Heart over Hype’ away. ‘Us Always’ seems more appropriate. To be successful, this team must come together. If you don’t believe me, listen to Tai Webster.
“I think it’s time we come together and have look [sic] at ourselves. We need to talk amongst the team and come and start playing to what our identity really is. It’s on us. It is not on the coaches or anything else. It’s on us to come out, step up and start playing Nebraska basketball.”
Regardless, we are behind their efforts and will continue to cheer GO BIG RED!!!