Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[WM Wolverine]

So you get a bye?

[iam416]

As it turns out, OSU got the easiest quarterfinal game, which isn't too much of a shock given they were the #2 seed.

That said, this is exactly the kind of game that will be ugly beyond ugly. I think 60 will win comfortably. I'm anticipating a game like 56-49 or some similarly unwatchable nonsense.

[entropy]

UNL has no depth and no size. But I couldn't be prouder of the way they continue to fight..

[iam416]

They've made some very positive gains this season, Entropy. They're generally competitive, especially in Lincoln.

[WM Wolverine]

They aren't embarrassing the B10 and are building a great BB facility, interesting to see that programs future...

It would be great for PSU to build up their BB program and land some of those recruits that go to Villanova, Seton Hall, Pitt, Georgetown, Syracuse, etc. They might be hurt by being a rural campus while attempting to recruit kids from the big city.

[iam416]

Nebraska will likely follow PSU's arc. PSU, when they first entered the B10 or shortly after, opened the Brice Jordan. Great facilities at the time. They had some modest success, including a S16. They were never good enough to challenge for the league, but were generally good enough to be a pain in the ass and have tourney aspirations most years.

The way it goes for PSU is they sign some kids who are decent and by the time they're seniors, they're good enough to be a winning team.

UNL will never attract the talent that the top of the B10 does. But they can still get quality 4-year "program" players. And with a good coach, that's enough to be a solid program. With a really good coach and a slight uptick in player quality, you're Wisconsin.

I think UNL will be closer to Wisky than Penn State, but that's the range they're in, IMO.

[Hannibal]

I think that they'll be closer to Penn State than Wisky. Wisky's recruiting geography is significantly better.

[entropy]

Hoping for Wisky... I think we have the coach

[WM Wolverine]

Wisky is pretty high but realistic aspirations. If you have the facilities and coach, you could do quite well and still struggle to be in the top half of the B10. The league is that tough (lots of talent in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio & Michigan), though the B10 appears a lil' weaker next season than the past couple.

[iam416]

On the same point, I like McCaffery at Iowa. I think he'll have Iowa back to being a "solid" program. That's the thing with the B10 is that there are almost no weak spots. Nearly every program has a coach that is pretty damn good. PSU probably does not. I also don't think Carmody is that good, but I think he maximizes his ability with NW. After that, you're looking at Tubby -- I mean, that's where the 9th/10th best coach in the B10 is.

And now they're out-recruiting almost everyone and so much of the good Midwest talent is staying home (we'll see how the Chicago kids fall for the 2014 class and Tyus Jones).

[WM Wolverine]

It'll be interesting to see how expansion shakes out with Virginia, NC, etc not to mention the dynamic of the 'new' Big East competing with the B10 for basketball recruits/media attention. Lots of BB recruits in the northeast that PSU, Rutgers should have a chance at yet both look like bottom feeders in the B10.

[iam416]

On the expansion note, according to reasonably credible OSU guy, GT is close to being 16. UVa is in per very credible guy. Makes sense -- UNC can't leave untilt he ACC is destroyed. This will destroy it. Plus GT is actually enamored with B10 academic benefits.

[entropy]

Wisky is high... But you have to aim for something. In this league, a tourney bubble team means you are pretty good.

[entropy]

In other baseball news:

Facility Renamed Alex Gordon Training Complex

Lincoln - On Friday afternoon the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a request to rename the Haymarket Park Baseball and Softball Practice Facility to the Alex Gordon Training Complex following a generous $1 million donation from Alex and Jamie Gordon.

"I wouldn't be where I am right now without the University of Nebraska," Gordon said. "I spent three amazing years there. I grew as a person and became a better baseball player there. Ever since I was drafted I knew I wanted to give back at a certain point. It just finally came to a time where I felt ready to do it, and I am really happy to make this donation."

"It's great that Alex is able to give back to this program," Head Coach Darin Erstad said. "You can see how much Nebraska means to him. We always appreciate it when former student-athletes are able to give back to the program and the whole Nebraska family appreciates what Alex is doing."

A native of Lincoln and a standout third baseman for the Huskers from 2003 to 2005, Gordon has become one of the top outfielders in Major League Baseball since being drafted second overall in 2005 by the Kansas City Royals. A Gold Glove winner the past two seasons, Gordon set offensive career highs in hits (189), doubles (51) and triples (5), while hitting 14 home runs and producing 72 RBIs last season. His 51 doubles in 2012 led the Majors, after he led the league and set a club record with 20 outfield assists in 2011.

During his time at Nebraska, Gordon was a two-time first-team All-American and in 2005 he became the first player in school history to win the Golden Spikes Award, the Brooks Wallace Award, the Dick Howser Award and be named ABCA Player of the Year. He also led the 2005 Huskers to a school-record 57 wins and the program's first-ever win at the College World Series.

"Mike Dobbs (a four-year letterwinner on the mound for Nebraska from 1982-1986 and now a staff member of the Huskers Athletic Fund) and I have been discussing different possibilities over the last year, and when he came up with that, I thought it was cool," Gordon said. "I really like the indoor facility. It helps in the off-season and helps in recruiting, so I thought it was a great idea for both parties."

Nebraska's baseball and softball teams share the 22,000-square foot facility that opened in September of 2011. Construction of the $4.75 million facility started in November of 2010 and was completed in less than a year. The facility features a large indoor practice area (including six batting cages), along with restrooms and storage facilities. It is located on the northeast corner of Haymarket Park, just a few feet from the baseball team's locker room, clubhouse, athletic medicine facilities and administration offices.




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[entropy]

7 hours ago ? By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON
(0) Comments

The expected stamp of approval was given by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday for a five-year extension to the deal between Husker athletics and adidas.

The Regents passed the measure by a unanimous 7-0 vote.

As reported last week, the deal is worth $15.53 million. Of that number, $8.03 million comes in cash paid by adidas to NU. The other $7.5 million comes in athletic apparel and equipment.

The deal replaces an eight-year agreement that was about to run out in June. Nebraska has been associated with adidas since 1995.

?We are pleased to extend our contract with adidas as we look to continue to grow and extend our Nebraska Athletics brand world-wide,? Husker athletic director Shawn Eichorst said in a statement. ?Their products are of excellent quality across all sports and through the years they have also provided superior customer service to our programs. Adidas has been a great partner for us and we look forward to working with them over the next five years.?

The last deal in 2005 gave Nebraska a guaranteed base sum of $22.875 million over eight years, which was thought to be one of the highest dollar figure apparel and footwear contracts at the time.

Other notable programs linked with adidas include Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Indiana, Cincinnati, North Carolina State, Mississippi State and Kansas.

* The regents also approved a request to rename the Haymarket Park Practice Facility to the Alex Gordon Training Complex following a $1 million donation from the former Husker and his wife Jamie Gordon.

* Also, the new volleyball court at the Bob Devaney Sports Center will now be named Terry Pettit Court, in honor of the former Husker volleyball coach.





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