Tuesday Notes...

-Anyone looking for a sign that quality & depth in college basketball has hit a new low? Newly-crowned #1 Texas has to go to OT to beat Texas A&M in Austin, then goes on the road and is the underdog against Kansas State. The Longhorns promptly got blasted 71-62, and the Mildcats were clearly the better team. Had they not gotten tight for a while in the second half and started short-arming shots, they'd have won by 25.

-The 'Horns point guard, Dogus Balbay, is the worst point guard PYB has ever seen on a top-ranked squad. No threat to shoot from outside, can't get to the rim, racked up four assists and six turnovers Monday night. Can't make plays. That being said, UT is easily the worst top-ranked team PYB has seen.

-Nebraska's loss at home against Iowa State was a season-killer. Their best player, Brandon Richardson, played very limited minutes after suffering another one of his myriad of injuries. Bear Jones, the only other Division-I-capable guard NU has, did not play because of the flu. Still the Cornhuskers took the lead and should have won the game. Doc may not have done his best coaching job ever, but four of his top five players are freshmen or sophomores. Bad games will happen.

The real heat needs to be directed at the Huskers' physicality, or lack thereof. 2009-10 marks another season where NU has been physically dominated in conference play. Sure, there are a lot of young bodies out there. But NU has not developed players as they stay in the program...not to the point where they can bang in the paint and become the aggressor rather than being tossed around like the Ayatollah's corpse in an Iranian funeral procession. NU's players also miss too many games with injuries...not torn ACLs or broken legs, but nagging back injuries, thigh bruises and the like. PYB contends this has to do something w/ the training staff's methods in Lincoln...just a theory, but it's gone on far too long for it to be total coincidence.

Look for more soon from The Donger on the state of NU hoops....

Know Who You're Messing With...

Talk about getting your just desserts....Protesting against hare-brained movies stars or plastic politicians is one thing, but bikers are a whole other ball game. These guys apparently never watched Gangland on TV....


http://glossynews.com/society/201001070305/activists-missing-after-declaring-war-on-leather-at-motorcycle-rally/

Huskers Need a Win as 'Clones Blow In

NU faces an absolute must-win on Saturday as Iowa State visits Lincoln. They cannot afford to go 0-3 in conference, after playing half a decent game against Kansas Wednesday before succumbing by 12 points in the end. If NU can defend its home court the rest of the way (not entirely impossible) and its pathetic fan base can help them by showing up in numbers more than 5500 a game (not very probable), and then steal one on the road (mildly possible)...8-8 is a possibility (possibly). That would make the Cornhuskers 20-12 going into the B12 Tourney. We'll do that math again, if NU is fortunate enough to win tomorrow.

This is the type of game where NU needs its home crowd to show up, and show up in force. There is bound to be a semi-letdown after a big game like Kansas, but crowds need to be there to add the extra emotion for the home team to get over the hump and get the win no matter what. If not, hello NIT--again.

As for the KU game, NU hung in there the best it could before eventually faltering. Despite being 0-2 in conference, anyone who knows anything about basketball (which eliminates 85% of Nebraska's population, including the Creighton 'fans' who go to the Qwest in ever-dwindling numbers for the beer and the 'scene'..ha ha ha), knows that NU finally has some talent that can succeed at the Division I-A level. PYB has seen four, if not five, above-average major-college talents so far:

Brian Diaz: Great hands, coordination and offensive ability for someone 6-foot-11. Just needs to get stronger.

Brandon Richardson: Sophomore guard put up 18 vs. high competition Wednesday, just needs to get past the injury bugs that have plagued him. Smooth skills and shooting.

Eshaunte Jones: Has had his best performances when logging heavy minutes against top competition. Seems to be honing his shot from downtown as he gains experience.

Christian Standhardinger: Flopped a bit against KU, but all the skills are there. He just needs to find his rhythm and figure out the best way to get shots in Doc's system.

The players listed above included three freshmen and one sophomore. NU's biggest limitation is lack of a go-to scorer.....and PG Lance Jeter needs to become at least a threat to pull up from 10 feet, or drive to the hoop for a layup, or shoot a couple three pointers a game.....if not, defenses will be able to help with five defenders on the other four players. And improving three-point defense is a must, as the Huskers look continually confused and gave up 13 more to the Jaycocks on Wednesday.

We'll find out tomorrow....in the meantime, enjoy the pic of drunken Larry Eustachy....what happened to the good times??

From the Get a Life Department....

Letters to Tom Shatel....Get a life...or at least a hobby...

From: Dave, Kansas City
Published Thursday, Jan. 14

Tom, now that the Kiffins are at USC, and given the ties back to Lincoln for Monte, do you think we'll see some more NU vs. USC games in the not-so-distant future? I'd sure as heck like to get a crack at them again!

The NU schedules are pretty set the next few years. How long do you think Lane will be there?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

From: Bill M., Miller, Neb.
Published Wednesday, Jan. 13

Thanks for the great coverage in 2009, is spring ball here yet? Could you give us an update on Kody Spano? His name has not been mentioned all fall and I am wondering if he is done with football. I have heard that it is extremely difficult to come back from his type of injury twice. Hope he still has a chance, thanks.

I saw him in San Diego and hear he's going to be back. That should really help the quarterback position, especially because I would doubt Lee will do much in the spring, so Cody and Kody can get the snaps then.

Pic of the Day...

Clipper Jinx...Redux....

PYB touched on the amazing depth of the Clipper Jinx....add this one to the annals....Blake Griffin gone for the year....maybe it's karma for all his injury faking while in college....or this faggy, whore-laden picture...

Wednesday Thoughts....

1. KU is favored by 12.5 points over Nebraska in Lincoln tonight. Everyone predicts a BIG JAYCOCK win because they're MAD MAD MAD over their loss at Tennessee on Sunday. Maybe if they showed up Sunday they wouldn't have lost. KU continues its ineptitude against non-conference opponents, where it doesn't get to manhandle opponents and get every call imaginable.

Hell, the 'Hawks needed a terrible and-one call at home against the Big Red last week...Cornell that is...to seal the game. Then they were completely dominated in Knoxville by the Vols, who were playing with six scholarship players. Sweet. This is Doc Sadler's deepest squad in terms of athletes (albeit still not strong enough to bang inside vs. older players), so PYB wouldn't be surprised to see the Cornhuskers keep it within the spread....we know big dollars will go on KU and Vegas ain't stupid.

2. Colt McCoy gets engaged....hopefully for him his arm is the only thing that feels like a noodle....

3. For all you bettors out there.....bet against Milwaukee the rest of this week and get rich.....after playing a back-to-back at LAL and PHX Sunday/Monday, the Bucks play four out of five nites at Portland, Golden State, Utah and Houston. Michael Redd went out for the year w/ another ACL tear on Sunday. Brandon Jennings is shooting 32% from the field and 30% from the FT line the last month. Cha-ching...

4. Anyone heard of Tacki-Mac golf grips? Just got a deal on some yesterday at Golfsmith....come in all colors and feel pretty good. But PYB needs some consumer reports....the kid at the shop said they'd been around forever....

5. Lane Kiffin to USC. A definite upgrade for the Trojans, as far as coaching skills go. Pete Carroll was a glorified cheerleader. That shit doesn't play in the NFL, which is why he'll be fired within two years. $7MM per year AND president duties to a guy who flopped in his first attempt in the league? Please.