The folks who know me, know that I am a native Iowan, born in Cedar Falls a few decades ago. My parents are both natives, as were their parents before them. Although I spent my formative years growing up in Western Nebraska, the black and gold of the Iowa Hawkeyes was a mainstay in my household. My loyalties to the scarlet and cream came later in life and led me to Lincoln for my college education.

I’ve been a loyal follower of the Huskers for over 20 years, enough so that I started this blog several years ago - although it wasn’t until this past season that the audience reached a critical mass as Husker Fans united together and rebelled against an evil cancer that invaded our institution. The disease was defeated and sent packing and new era of Nebraska Football is rising from the ashes.

So much of my energy was depleted in the fight that I began to question my loyalties to Nebraska and self-doubt has set in. I lived with the secret for way too long and it is time I open up to our readers.

Beginning today, I am changing the name of the site from Huskerzone.com to Hawkeyezone.com. I’d like to thank our readers for their patronage and hope that they will join me in celebrating the Hawkeyes and everything they are about.

Thankfully, my co-writers are also of similar thoughts, Bugeater will be staying on board, but changing is name to Herky. Husker Brad isn’t fully committed to the football side of things but shared with me in an email conversation a couple of weeks ago that he feels a strong pull to Hawekeye Hoops.

It will take a few days for the domain name to change over, so my apologies for any confusion in the interim. My email is listed on the upper right side of the homepage if you’d like to discuss this change in depth, or just take advantage of the comment form.

 In just his third practice this spring, Bo Pelini already is sending a clear message to his players.  Physical contact is required.  Saturday the Huskers worked out in FULL PADS in MEMORIAL STADIUM.  According to the Lincoln Journal Star,  Bo Pelini liked the effort he was seeing.

I thought the tempo was good. It was physical. We made a lot of strides the first three days, especially defensively. They’ve got a lot to learn. But the tempo’s good, the effort’s good.

The practice was viewed by over 500 kids from age 8 to the eighth grade and afterward they were treated to their own tunnel walk and individual drills with members of the football team.  Pelini hit the nail on the head when he had this to say.

Obviously the fans and the people of this state are huge in our program, and it starts with the kids at this age.

That was a well said statement by Pelini and it shows how much we need the Shanle, Mackovicka, Schlessinger, Leggette, and Tomich kids of tomorrow to have a successful program in the future.

Thanks to questioning from Lincoln Journal Star’s sports staff, we now know Shawn Watson doesn’t need a catchy name for his offensive unit or scheme.

Nebraska used to run the option.

Then came the West Coast offense.

What exactly are we supposed to call it under first-year coordinator Shawn Watson?

“The Nebraska offense,” Watson quickly retorted after Friday’s spring practice inside of Memorial Stadium.

Watson was trying to be humorous in his response while also trying to get his point across.

“Everybody, stop trying to name it! Geez … everybody wants to put a name on it around here. It’s the Nebraska offense. How’s that? Sounds good to me.”

He paused and took a breath before finishing his minirant:

“I get asked that all the time. It’s the Nebraska offense.”

Duly noted.

Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations

The Nebraska football team began the Bo Pelini era with a 2 ½ hour practice in helmets and shorts at the Hawks Championship Center on Wednesday afternoon. Pelini sent the team through drills and breakout work as the Huskers prepare for the annual Red-White Spring Game, which will be held on April 19.

“It was what we expected,” Pelini said of the first day of spring ball. “You are not going to be game ready on the first day. There were a lot of mistakes, but the effort was great. There were a lot of guys flying around and having fun. We will make progress from here.”

[via Huskers.com]

I would first like to thank Doc Sadler and the Nebraska men’s basketball team for an outstanding year.  Next season started Tuesday, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this team!  Thank-you Aleks Maric for a wonderful career and good luck at the next level.  Doc, you have brought a team to NU that we can all be proud of, whether on the basketball court or in the classroom, it’s being done the right way!  Thanks guys for the effort and the excitement.  Nebrasketball is in full effect!

Nebraska’s season ended Monday at Ole’ Miss, with the Huskers dropping a disappointing OT thriller, 85-75.  Ade Dagunduro threw the Huskers on his shoulders during stretches of the game and came up big, tying the game at 70 apiece with 40 seconds left on the clock.  Ade was very aggressive, even with 4 fouls, playing one of  his best games as a Husker.  Ade was poised to win it for the Huskers in regulation, but a double dribble call gave the ball back to the Rebels with .5 seconds left.  What followed could’ve been one of the greatest shots in Mississippi history.  Inbounding from halfcourt, Ole’ Miss put a back pick on Maric and his guy ran to the hoop.  The inbound lob was perfect for a mid air catch and shoot.  Luckily for us this guy didn’t have stick-em on his hands and he fumbled the lob and put up a wild shot.  OVERTIME……

My wife, who is not a basketball fan, was beating my arm and (kids sleeping) screaming for joy about taking it to OT.  I on the other hand, feared what would ensue.  NU is 1-2 in OT games this year.  There was the thriller at the Qwest over Oregon where NU shot down the Ducks.  But there was also Western Kentucky and Mizzou.  In those 2 games, NU didn’t play with the urgency that got them to OT.  Monday was no different.  Ryan Anderson had fouled out in the 4th quarter so there is one of your deep threats gone.  Not to mention all the little things RA does, like passing, rebounding, and stealing the ball.  The shots didn’t fall and the aggressiveness faded.  It was a great game, but NU just didn’t match the intensity or urgency Ole’ Miss had.  Nothing irritated me more than hearing the crowd chant S.E.C S.E.C and I couldn’t help but think that maybe it was because it was important for their team to beat Nebraska.  On paper the Rebels should have won by 20, but NU went into their house and made them work as hard as they had all season for the W.  That says alot about our program and where it’s going.  I look forward to next year with Roburt Sallie, Edwards, and McCray joining a more experience Husker line-up.  Should be exciting!!

Great season Huskers.  Thanks for giving us something to be proud of and believe in!! 

[see the box score courtesy of Huskers.com]

Nebraska held close tonight, fighting back and keeping the game in check. But the gas ran out in overtime as Mississippi outscored the Huskers 15-5 to win 85-75 and end Nebraska’s run in the NIT.

I’m sure Husker Brad will be along soon with his analysis, but as a self-admitted non-fan of hoops, I will say that I like the energy they play with and I’ll likely be in attendance quite a bit more that I have been in the past. Let’s just hope Nebraska can hang on to Doc.

AIR ADE 

Nebraska OVERWHELMINGLY dominated Charlotte in the first round match of the NIT on Wednesday, 67-48.  The Huskers played the most complete game of the season against the 49ers and led by as many as 26 points with just over 5 minutes left.  A hefty dose of Ade Dagunduro, who obviously found his post season legs, is just what Doc Sadler ordered.  Ade seemed to be all over the place, blocking shots, driving in the lane, or hitting an open 3, while going 6 of 8 from the floor and pulling down 5 rebounds.  Off the bench, Jay-R Strowbridge, Paul Velander, and Cookie Miller contributed 27 points, and like Velander’s  three 3’s, they came at times that halted any momentum Charlotte was trying to build.  Nebraska sat Alecs Maric at many times throughout the game and for good at just over two minutes to play.  Maric became only the second Husker to reach 1000 career rebounds ( any guesses who the other is? ) with 1005 and gained sole possession of the fifth spot for points scored in a career at 1612.

NU’s defensive pressure is something, I am sure of, Charlotte has seen nothing like this year.  Leemire Goldwire is Charlotte’s best perimeter player and he averages 19 points a game, mostly off quick 3’s.  Goldwire is also known to get freaky streaky on shooting the deep ball.  His stats after he played the Huskers couldn’t read more appealing to Doc Sadler.  Two 3 pointers, 2 of 13 from the field, and only 6 points.  As a team, Charlotte shot only 31% from the floor while NU shot a respectable 46% ( 23-50 ).  Doc Sadler came up with a brilliant game plan that Nebraska executed almost flawlessly.  A steady stream of defenders was NU’s strategy to stop Goldwire and by the middle of the second half, it was evident NU’s pressure was bothering him.  Sek Henry played an awesome game at the point for NU  (although his six TO’s might suggest otherwise) and by the time he left the game, you could tell he gave all he had.  They all did!  Great Job Nebraska, YOU GUYS PLAYED TREMENDOUSLY HARD TONIGHT!!!

Up next, NU travels to Mississippi on Monday the 24th to play in the second round.  Ole Miss is 22-10 and outside of 2 games this year, no one really beat them soundly.  They average almost 80 points a game , give up 73 and are quite tall in the frontcourt.  This year they are 16-2, including a perfect 10-0 in the non-conference, at home. Doc Sadler had this cutting edge news to say about the Rebels of Ole Miss.

 NU definitely has their work cut out for them.  GOOD LUCK HUSKERS!!

[see the box score courtesy of Huskers.com]

Roburt Sallie, according to Rivals, was just named the California JUCO Player of the year. Not bad for someone who took two years off from the game. I have found 2 clips of Roburt doing some sweet dunks for San Francisco City College. Here or here, either way, you won’t be disappointed!! I can’t wait for next year!

(Admin Update: Embedded videos below)

Rob Sallie Tip Dunk:

Rob Sallie Smash:

Alecs Maric has at least one more home game in his future as a Husker.  The National Invitational Tournament on Sunday selected Nebraska as a #3 seed  and they will face A10 Conference Charlotte (20-13) at the Devaney Center on Wednesday March 19th at 8 P.M. CDT.  Tickets are available right NOW!!! 

Charlotte had some good wins over Temple, UMASS, and Rhode Island (2), but  went just 6-10 in away games this year.  On the flip side, NU has a home record of 16-3 but just a 2-8 record away from the Devaney.  NU can secure more home games with the upsets of higher seeded teams in their bracket, but all semi-finals and finals will be played April 1st and 3rd at Madison Square Garden.

This is the first post season play in the Doc Sadler era for Nebraska.  NU holds a 22-13 all time record in the NIT with one Championship in 1996.  The 1996 team went 21-14 (4-10 in conference) and included future NBA’ers Erick Stickland, Mikki Moore, and Tyronn Lue.  If that team could do it, so can this team!!!  Let’s go HUSKERS!!!

[bracket courtesy of  CBS SPORTS ]

I would first like to welcome the administrator to the land of basketball.  This makes 3 games now that I know you watched.  KU in person, Mizzou, and KU again.

On Thursday, NU played it’s game almost flawlessly en route to a 61-56 win over Missouri.  NU’s game plan was to slow down the game, pick their shots and make the Tigers live via the jump shot.  That’s exactly what they did, only allowing 10 points in the paint all game, while going inside themselves and scoring 38.  Alecs Maric had game highs for the Huskers with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks.  The Huskers shot 47% from the field and held Mizzou’s high powered offense to 31%.  It wasn’t pretty for NU, but because they played hard and got after Missouri defensively, NU was able to inch closer to the elusive 20 season.  NU stood at 19-11 after this win and one more over KU would give the Huskers their first 20 win season since 1999 during the Cookie Belcher/Venson Hamilton days.

[see the box score courtesy of huskers.com]

KU CLAWS BACK IN SECOND HALF

Speaking of execution of game plan, NU worked it to near perfection in the first half of Friday’s quarterfinal game against the Jayhawks.  NU broke open a can of W.A. and looked to be clicking on all cylinders.  NU shot the ball extremely well from behind the arc, going 6 for 12, while the leagues best scoring defense held the high powered Hawks’ offense to a mere 22 points.  That tied a season low for KU, but luckily for them, halftime is mandatory.  NU’s momentum didn’t carry into the second half, nor did the luck they needed to go with it.  KU went on a 16-4 run to open the half and just like that (snap your fingers), the Huskers were down 38-31.  Nebraska soon showed what makes them the team they are by fighting back and making KU work for everything they got.  Unfortunately for NU, Kansas was able to get everything.  This included 21 more FT’s than Nebraska (31 for KU vs 10 for NU),  more points in the paint (30 vs. 18), and more fast break points (8 vs. 0).  The Huskers kept it respectable compared to the other two meetings against KU this year where the average margin of the Jayhawks victory was more than 28 points.  The hot shooting NU has become accustomed to the past several games vanished into thin air as Nebraska shot only 38% from the field.  Many points were left on the floor tonight (NU took 50 shots) and they can be pleased with the fact that they were aggressive and they ( and the Ref’s) beat themselves.

I listened to this game on the radio and I was thoroughly impressed by Kent’s and Matt’s call.  They made mention of the disparity in FT’s and summed it up by stating “Someone in this building wants KU vs. KSU in the semifinals, and they are all wearing the same black and white uniforms!”  There were a couple of times I thought Matt Davidson was going to physically go out onto the floor and hurt someone.  If this was one of Kent Pavelka’s last games, it was a good one, and I am glad I was able to listen to it.  You can’t deny the fact that KU was scared tonight and if only NU was able to capitalize on a few shots  here and there, we’d be playing in the semi’s tomorrow.  However, NU has nothing to hang their heads about because they had a tremendous year and according to NIT-ology, we are in like flint for the NIT tourney.  It disappoints me though.  Yesterday we were a 6 seed and could’ve faced Creighton in the first round at the Qwest, but now, we are a 7 seed who will face a 4 seed.  Texas Tech is listed as a 4 seed and this just makes me chuckle a little.  TT went 7-9 in conference (just as NU did ), went 16-15 overall,  and have lost their last 3 games.  They do have strong wins over KSU and Texas, but NU beat Oregon, KSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M (all NCAA teams), Rutgers, and Arizona State ( a number 1 seed in the NIT).  NU should be a 4 or 5 seed.  They have showed what their defense can do by leading in scoring defense for one of the toughest conferences.  Put them where they need to be NIT (ok it’s getting late, I am starting to rhyme!).  Well, wherever we go, I am sure NU will play with everything they have and will not lie down and quit.  We have Doc to thank for that. 

[see the box score courtesy of huskers.com]