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Timing.


Norm Peterson

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(To break up this very long post, I've divided it into six parts.)

 

Timing.

 

 

It’s everything, right?

 

Nebraska basketball had some success this past season – more success than we’ve seen in a dozen years or more – and everyone around here seemed to have this intuitive sense that we needed to parlay that on-court success this past spring into recruiting success this fall.  To strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.  Not to lose the opportunity of timing.

 

The timing was good for us because just as we were ascending into a position of national relevance (carrying a pre-season ranking into the ’14-’15 season) a young kid from Chicago – a kid who just happened to have Nebraska ties – was ascending as well, into national recruiting prominence as a Rivals 4-star player.

 

A few years back, though, when Nebraska’s hoops fortunes weren’t so promising, another kid came along with Nebraska basketball ties, another kid with 4 stars from Rivals, and he chose to take his talents to Texas instead of following in his father’s footsteps at Nebraska.  So, timing clearly matters.

 

Sometimes the stars have to align and the right events have to take place in the right sequence at the right moment for everything to fall in place the way you want it to, the way you hope for it to.  And I submit that a lot of somethings have been falling into place in the right sequence at the right time for a number of years now, actually, to bring us to the point where we are today.

 

 

 

 

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Let’s go back to …

 

March 2000. Nebraska fires Danny Nee and replaces him with Barry Collier, whose Butler team has reached the NCAA Tourney 3 out of the last 4 years. 

 

A year later …

 

2001.  North Dakota State, in order to replace departing head coach Greg McDermott, hires a young unknown who, in four years, had built Southwest Minnesota State into a Division II power.  Contemplating a move to NCAA Division I, the hire pays off for the Bison as Coach Miles builds a program at NDSU that will reach the NCAA tourney with the players he recruited 2 years after he leaves.

 

July-August 2006.  Barry Collier quits at Nebraska to return to Butler as AD.  Nebraska hires Doc Sadler from UTEP whose teams reached post-season play in both of his seasons at the UTEP helm.

 

A year later …

 

2007.  A moribund Colorado State basketball program hires a relatively unknown coach from North Dakota State to turn their program around.  In 5 years, they go from the dormat to The Dance.

 

I point these out just to show how our openings hadn’t aligned, so far, with Tim Miles’ career moves.  Not that we would have hired him in 2000, but his availability has to correspond with our opening, right?

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2006-2009. Nebraska basketball sees steady, yearly improvement under Coach Doc Sadler, winning 6 and then 7 and then 8 games in conference play.

 

February 24, 2009.  Nebraska surrenders an 18-point lead at home to Texas A&M as Josh Carter buries a contested 3-pointer at the last second to give the Aggies a two point win.   Doc Sadler would later say that, had the Huskers won that game, his team would have made the field for the NCAA tourney.

 

Argue that last point all you want, but, if true, it buys Sadler another year or two, at least, as the coach at Nebraska.

 

June 11, 2010.  Nebraska announces it has joined the Big 10 Conference.

 

April 2011.  The University of Nebraska is voted out of the American Association of Universities, an affiliation every other Big Ten school enjoys and one thought necessary to receive an invitation from the Big Ten Conference.

 

2010-2012. As Colorado State steadily improves, Nebraska basketball plateaus and then plummets.  A cascade of injuries, dissension and self-inflicted recruiting wounds deal blow after blow to the Huskers’ fortunes.

 

August 2011.  A Rivals 4-star power forward whose dad played basketball for Nebraska enrolls at the University of Texas, spurning a Husker offer.

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August 2011.  A moderately recruited wing from Galveston, Texas enrolls at Texas Tech after choosing the Red Raiders over the CSU Golden Rams.  About that same time, an under-rated and under-the-radar wing from Olathe, Kansas commits to play basketball for Nebraska.

 

October 14, 2011.  The Hendricks Training Complex, one of the finest dedicated practice facilities in all of basketball, college or pro, opens.  But, because of stagnating results on the floor, the Huskers are unable to effectively leverage their shiny new toy as a recruiting tool.

 

Timing.  We weren’t good when we needed to be.

 

March 9, 2012.  After an initial three seasons of optimism followed by three seasons of ever-increasing dissatisfaction, Nebraska AD Tom Osborne reluctantly lets Doc Sadler go.

 

That same year …

 

March 2012.  Colorado State dances under Tim Miles.  His star is rising, but not too fast.  The former coach at Mayville State has no hoops pedigree.  The big boys haven’t really noticed what he’s done at the various places he’s been.  But Tom Osborne has noticed, and gives Tim Miles an interview.

 

If the Nebraska job comes open a year earlier, Tim Miles is not on Nebraska’s radar; if the Nebraska job comes open a year later, we’re not on his.  Timing.

 

March 23, 2012.  Nebraska hires Tim Miles as its next men’s basketball coach.  At the time, Miles says he’s always wanted to coach in the Big Ten Conference.

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Later that same spring …

 

An under-rated and under-the-radar wing from Olathe, Kansas confirms his commitment to attend Nebraska and a kid from Galveston, Texas, dissatisfied with his coach and dissatisfied with his role at Texas Tech, seeks another place to call home. 

 

With rather pedestrian averages of 13.1 minutes and 3.1 points per game and a reputation for losing his cool on the floor, his phone isn’t exactly ringing off the hook with college coaches seeking his services.

 

But a phone call with Tim Miles and, shortly thereafter, Terran Petteway is a Husker.

 

November 8, 2013.  Gleaming, new and impressive Pinnacle Bank Arena opens as the new venue for Nebraska Men’s Basketball, hosting Florida Gulf Coast, a/k/a “Dunk City.”

 

Nineteen wins later, Nebraska finds itself on the right side of the NCAA Tournament Bubble for the first time in 15 seasons.

 

September 22, 2014.  A highly-regarded Rivals 4-star with a connection to campus commits to the Cornhuskers rather than taking his talents to a school in his state.

 

August 18 - September 22, 2014.  The combination of impressive, new facilities, new coach, and new direction of the program allowed us to land three current or former Rivals 4-stars in the span of just more than 1 month.

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Timing.

 

It has all come together at the right time.  In the right sequence.  At the right place.

 

If Nebraska hadn’t done well this last season, we probably don’t land White, Watson or even Morrow.

 

If we hadn't signed Terran Petteway, we don't do well this last season.

 

If Tim Miles hadn’t given Terran Petteway a new opportunity, he's somewhere else.

 

If Petteway hadn’t fallen into a rut at Texas Tech, he doesn't call Tim Miles.

 

If we didn’t hire Tim Miles, we don’t have Terran Petteway.

 

If we’d pulled the trigger on Doc a year earlier or a year later, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

As painful as it was at the time, if Josh Carter misses that last-second three and, as a result, we make the dance in 2009, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

If we hadn’t come on line with the facilities that we built and joined the Big Ten when we did, Tim Miles might have listened to someone else’s offer.

 

And if the AAU had voted us out a year earlier, we might not have been invited to join the Big Ten Conference in the first place.  And, ergo, we maybe don’t have Tim Miles for that reason alone.

 

It’s all about timing.

 

And, finally, our timing is working out.

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That's an awesome post. 

 

The only "timing" that went against NU (at this point at least) was that the firing of Doc and the "unknown" of Miles let Agau slip away.  The rumors were that he was a heavy NU lean.  Then we switch coaches, and he moves on.  Now, who knows if Akoy ever ends up here even if Doc would have stayed, but it would have been interesting as Doc was on him for quite some time.

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That's an awesome post. 

 

The only "timing" that went against NU (at this point at least) was that the firing of Doc and the "unknown" of Miles let Agau slip away.  The rumors were that he was a heavy NU lean.  Then we switch coaches, and he moves on.  Now, who knows if Akoy ever ends up here even if Doc would have stayed, but it would have been interesting as Doc was on him for quite some time.

Small price to pay, actually, for where we are.  But you make a good point.

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Good stuff - NU has put a lot of checkmarks in the plus column in the past few years, but without the proper timing of all of them working together, NU wouldn't be putting together the amazing resurgence of the program we're currently enjoying. 

 

And the proper timing allows each plus to build upon the previous one.

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A few years back, though, when Nebraska’s hoops fortunes weren’t so promising, another kid came along with Nebraska basketball ties, another kid with 4 stars from Rivals, and he chose to take his talents to Texas instead of following in his father’s footsteps at Nebraska.  So, timing clearly matters.

 

 

 

 

Norm having a senile moment here, who are you referring to?

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A few years back, though, when Nebraska’s hoops fortunes weren’t so promising, another kid came along with Nebraska basketball ties, another kid with 4 stars from Rivals, and he chose to take his talents to Texas instead of following in his father’s footsteps at Nebraska.  So, timing clearly matters.

 

 

 

 

Norm having a senile moment here, who are you referring to?

 

Jonathan Holmes, son of former Husker Joe Holmes.

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Good stuff - NU has put a lot of checkmarks in the plus column in the past few years, but without the proper timing of all of them working together, NU wouldn't be putting together the amazing resurgence of the program we're currently enjoying. 

 

And the proper timing allows each plus to build upon the previous one.

It's said that luck is where preparation meets opportunity.  But preparation isn't luck.  It's effort.  Luck is whether you meet an opportunity or not and whether you recognize the opportunity when you see it. 

 

We've done some things to give us a chance if the opportunity ever knocked, but bringing in Terran Petteway -- without whom this stuff isn't happening -- was what I'd call a fluke.  Fluke because, first of all, a number of unrelated and unplanned events had to conspire in sequence to even get him here.  And second because no one -- absolutely NO ONE -- looked at Terran Petteway at the end of his freshman year at Texas Tech and thought to him or herself, "If that kid sits out a year somewhere else, he's going to come back as a redshirt sophomore and score 17 points per game in a major conference."

 

No one could have expected Petteway to become what he became, but he did and, as a direct result, NU made the tournament and Miles' and NU's preparation now has a chance to meet opportunity in the form of Ed Morrow, Glynn Watson and Andrew White.

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A few years back, though, when Nebraska’s hoops fortunes weren’t so promising, another kid came along with Nebraska basketball ties, another kid with 4 stars from Rivals, and he chose to take his talents to Texas instead of following in his father’s footsteps at Nebraska.  So, timing clearly matters.

 

 

 

 

Norm having a senile moment here, who are you referring to?

 

Jonathan Holmes, son of former Husker Joe Holmes.

 

Thanks, my mind doesn't work like, hey who was the kid you were referring to?

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Timing.

 

It has all come together at the right time.  In the right sequence.  At the right place.

 

If Nebraska hadn’t done well this last season, we probably don’t land White, Watson or even Morrow.

 

If we hadn't signed Terran Petteway, we don't do well this last season.

 

If Tim Miles hadn’t given Terran Petteway a new opportunity, he's somewhere else.

 

If Petteway hadn’t fallen into a rut at Texas Tech, he doesn't call Tim Miles.

 

If we didn’t hire Tim Miles, we don’t have Terran Petteway.

 

If we’d pulled the trigger on Doc a year earlier or a year later, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

As painful as it was at the time, if Josh Carter misses that last-second three and, as a result, we make the dance in 2009, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

If we hadn’t come on line with the facilities that we built and joined the Big Ten when we did, Tim Miles might have listened to someone else’s offer.

 

And if the AAU had voted us out a year earlier, we might not have been invited to join the Big Ten Conference in the first place.  And, ergo, we maybe don’t have Tim Miles for that reason alone.

 

It’s all about timing.

 

And, finally, our timing is working out.

Let me put this another (better) way.

 

If we get kicked out of the AAU a year earlier, we probably don't join the Big 10.

 

If we don't join the Big 10, we probably don't get Tim Miles (who always wanted to coach in the Big 10).

 

If Doc gets fired a year earlier or a year later, we don't get Tim Miles.

 

If we don't get Tim Miles, we don't get Terran Petteway.

 

If we don't get Terran Petteway, Bon Jovi would still suck but Mike Peltz would get more minutes this last year.

 

If we don't get Terran Petteway, we don't do nearly as well this last year.

 

And if we don't do nearly as well this last year, we don't land White, Watson and Morrow.

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Timing.

 

It has all come together at the right time.  In the right sequence.  At the right place.

 

If Nebraska hadn’t done well this last season, we probably don’t land White, Watson or even Morrow.

 

If we hadn't signed Terran Petteway, we don't do well this last season.

 

If Tim Miles hadn’t given Terran Petteway a new opportunity, he's somewhere else.

 

If Petteway hadn’t fallen into a rut at Texas Tech, he doesn't call Tim Miles.

 

If we didn’t hire Tim Miles, we don’t have Terran Petteway.

 

If we’d pulled the trigger on Doc a year earlier or a year later, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

As painful as it was at the time, if Josh Carter misses that last-second three and, as a result, we make the dance in 2009, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

If we hadn’t come on line with the facilities that we built and joined the Big Ten when we did, Tim Miles might have listened to someone else’s offer.

 

And if the AAU had voted us out a year earlier, we might not have been invited to join the Big Ten Conference in the first place.  And, ergo, we maybe don’t have Tim Miles for that reason alone.

 

It’s all about timing.

 

And, finally, our timing is working out.

Let me put this another (better) way.

 

If we get kicked out of the AAU a year earlier, we probably don't join the Big 10.

 

If we don't join the Big 10, we probably don't get Tim Miles (who always wanted to coach in the Big 10).

 

If Doc gets fired a year earlier or a year later, we don't get Tim Miles.

 

If we don't get Tim Miles, we don't get Terran Petteway.

 

If we don't get Terran Petteway, Bon Jovi would still suck but Mike Peltz would get more minutes this last year.

 

If we don't get Terran Petteway, we don't do nearly as well this last year.

 

And if we don't do nearly as well this last year, we don't land White, Watson and Morrow.

 

 

Just to add a little to this, Norm: 

 

If T.O. doesn't lose the governor's race, he isn't available to take over on extremely short notice when Harvey finally figures out SP must go.  If T.O. isn't available, the attention to basketball in the form of the Hendricks Center may not have happened.  The Arena may not have happened without the Icon's support.   The timing of Doc's termination may not have happened as it did.  The decision to hire Miles may not have happened, and the ability of NU to hire Miles may not have happened without having a reputable AD.   The decisions of the last 5 years with regard to basketball in our athletic department are looking pretty good.  While we have had plenty of T.O. doubters on this board, I personally don't think the unfolding events have been luck or a coincidence. 

 

The circumstances and timing of T.O. taking over the athletic department after the dark times of the Pedey regime factor heavily into the current positives for our beloved program.

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Timing is important and it's a big factor here, but timing is an important factor in any investment.  Dr. Tom and others at the University recognized that we have great college sports fans in Nebraska but that our men's basketball was not up to par and was a lost opportunity.  The investment came in the form of the practice facility, paying a coach (and the perfect one was hired) and more importantly paying a his staff and the the city's vision for the arena.

 

With an investment like this the athletic department is expecting a solid ROI and the early returns are good.  It's funny that as a long suffering fan, I was thinking, wow we could be decent, win a tournament game etc.  Now I am starting to think that we are shooting for higher returns in than that.  As a long time holder of Nebraska Basketball "stock" I am on board with that idea. :)

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Timing.

 

It has all come together at the right time.  In the right sequence.  At the right place.

 

If Nebraska hadn’t done well this last season, we probably don’t land White, Watson or even Morrow.

 

If we hadn't signed Terran Petteway, we don't do well this last season.

 

If Tim Miles hadn’t given Terran Petteway a new opportunity, he's somewhere else.

 

If Petteway hadn’t fallen into a rut at Texas Tech, he doesn't call Tim Miles.

 

If we didn’t hire Tim Miles, we don’t have Terran Petteway.

 

If we’d pulled the trigger on Doc a year earlier or a year later, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

As painful as it was at the time, if Josh Carter misses that last-second three and, as a result, we make the dance in 2009, we wouldn’t have Tim Miles.

 

If we hadn’t come on line with the facilities that we built and joined the Big Ten when we did, Tim Miles might have listened to someone else’s offer.

 

And if the AAU had voted us out a year earlier, we might not have been invited to join the Big Ten Conference in the first place.  And, ergo, we maybe don’t have Tim Miles for that reason alone.

 

It’s all about timing.

 

And, finally, our timing is working out.

Let me put this another (better) way.

 

If we get kicked out of the AAU a year earlier, we probably don't join the Big 10.

 

If we don't join the Big 10, we probably don't get Tim Miles (who always wanted to coach in the Big 10).

 

If Doc gets fired a year earlier or a year later, we don't get Tim Miles.

 

If we don't get Tim Miles, we don't get Terran Petteway.

 

If we don't get Terran Petteway, Bon Jovi would still suck but Mike Peltz would get more minutes this last year.

 

If we don't get Terran Petteway, we don't do nearly as well this last year.

 

And if we don't do nearly as well this last year, we don't land White, Watson and Morrow.

 

 

Just to add a little to this, Norm: 

 

If T.O. doesn't lose the governor's race, he isn't available to take over on extremely short notice when Harvey finally figures out SP must go.  If T.O. isn't available, the attention to basketball in the form of the Hendricks Center may not have happened.  The Arena may not have happened without the Icon's support.   The timing of Doc's termination may not have happened as it did.  The decision to hire Miles may not have happened, and the ability of NU to hire Miles may not have happened without having a reputable AD.   The decisions of the last 5 years with regard to basketball in our athletic department are looking pretty good.  While we have had plenty of T.O. doubters on this board, I personally don't think the unfolding events have been luck or a coincidence. 

 

The circumstances and timing of T.O. taking over the athletic department after the dark times of the Pedey regime factor heavily into the current positives for our beloved program.

 

True what you say.  But you gotta give me some props for getting Peltz and Bon Jovi in there.

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Timing is important and it's a big factor here, but timing is an important factor in any investment.  Dr. Tom and others at the University recognized that we have great college sports fans in Nebraska but that our men's basketball was not up to par and was a lost opportunity.  The investment came in the form of the practice facility, paying a coach (and the perfect one was hired) and more importantly paying a his staff and the the city's vision for the arena.

 

With an investment like this the athletic department is expecting a solid ROI and the early returns are good.  It's funny that as a long suffering fan, I was thinking, wow we could be decent, win a tournament game etc.  Now I am starting to think that we are shooting for higher returns in than that.  As a long time holder of Nebraska Basketball "stock" I am on board with that idea. :)

Investment was important.  And there were a lot of factors that were NECESSARY for our success this year to be realized, but none of them SUFFICIENT by themselves.

 

And I will say this:  Everything else could have happened exactly the way it did, but if Billy Gillispie doesn't fall off the wagon at Texas Tech and Terran has a happier freshman season, we don't see him and none of the rest of this happens.

 

We might still have been decent last year, but take away that All-conference G/F from our roster and the 17 ppg he contributed, and this team isn't dancing.

 

We might have made all this investment and not seen the return we're looking at seeing.  A lot of just plain good fortune joined with effort to produce the outcome we're looking at now.

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