Husker Corner
Fansided

Nebraska Basketball: Senior Night Ruined by Wolverines

By Brandon Cavanaugh

Mar 5, 2017; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Tim Miles looks over notes during the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Michigan won 93-57. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Tim Miles looks over notes during the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Michigan won 93-57. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Never before in the history of the Pinnacle Bank Arena has the Nebraska basketball team lost by the margin it did to Michigan on Sunday night, on Senior Night of all days.

The Big Red walked off the floor on the bad end of a 93-57 massacre that saw the end of Tai Webster’s double-digit scoring streak. It seemed like everything good that was still left in the Huskers’ season was squeezed out of the team in The Vault as Michigan seemingly couldn’t miss from beyond the arc.

Sure, the Wolverines were 63 percent from the floor and that’s an awful number if you’re the losing squad. What makes the loss even worse is that the Maize and Blue tossed up 27 long range shots and 52 percent found their way home.

Prior to the game, BTN announcers pointed out that Michigan lived and died by the long ball. During Nebraska’s final home game, not only did they live by it, they took the Big Red’s knees out with it. The Huskers never recovered.

Derrick Walton, Jr. would lead the scoring effort for the Wolverines with 18 points while Zak Irvin added 15 and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman sank 13. Two other Michigan Men would see double figures as well.

So here we find ourselves at an interesting crossroads. Nebraska crashed through a losing streak that saw multiple single-point losses before a brief rebound and now we’ve seen four collapses in a row.

Is it mental fatigue? A lack of confidence? Regardless, fans are looking to Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst to address Tim Miles’ job. Several aren’t interested in seeing Miles retained.

While there are plenty that like Miles, see the youth on this team and would like him to get another shot, it’s hard to argue with the detractors.

In the meantime, Nebraska will face Penn State on Wednesday, March 8 in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. The Huskers won their previous game against the Nittany Lions 82-66.

If there’s any more fight left in this team and Miles wants to at least put an inkling of positive spin on the season, a win — any type of win — is essential.

Home/Nebraska Basketball