Barry Collier lasted six years at Nebraska. Doc Sadler is wrapping up his own sixth year. My question to you this morning: Who had a better (or worse) run?
Let me offer a few numbers to help guide you.
Overall record:
Collier: 89-91
Sadler: 100-82
Advantage Sadler. Collier had some dreadful losses in non-conference play, including UMKC, Sam Houston State, Alaska-Fairbanks and Ball State. In non-conference play, Sadler generally doesn’t beat anybody good. But he doesn’t have many bad losses.
Conference record:
Collier: 36-60
Sadler: 33-58
Advantage Collier, especially because these Huskers have seven more Big Ten games and don’t project to win more than one or two.
Conference tournament wins:
Collier: 2
Sadler: 2
NIT appearances:
Collier: 2
Sadler: 3
Advantage Sadler, though Collier had the best postseason win — at Creighton in 2004. Nebraska went to the NIT third round that season; Sadler never won more than one game in an NIT.
Top-25 wins:
Collier: 8
Sadler: 9
Advantage Sadler, but not by much.
Top-10 wins:
Collier: 1 (Oklahoma State, 2005)
Sadler: 1 (Texas, 2011)
Each coach had some notable near-misses, Collier more than Sadler. Remember Cary Cochran and John Robinson coming oh-so-close to ruining KU’s perfect conference season in 2002? Remember Corey Simms’ missed 3 to win at Allen Fieldhouse in 2005? Still stings if you’re a Husker fan.
In conclusion, what’s remarkable is how similar the numbers are. But which era is worse? That’s my question to you.
***
>> I could mock the Big Ten for proposing a plus-one after all these years opposing it. But let’s celebrate the idea. Semifinal games at home sites is worth strong consideration. I really like the idea of playing those games before the bowl season begins.
>> In case you were curious, Eli Manning was a junior when Mississippi beat Nebraska in the 2002 Independence Bowl. Eli completed 25 of 44 passes for 313 yards. I was a student reporter that fall at the Daily Nebraskan. Before the bowl game, I talked to Manning for a short profile. I went back and read the story this morning.
What stood out is the reason teammates called him “Easy.” He took the game less seriously than Peyton. Peyton reminds me a little bit of Phil Mickelson, who analyzes everything from 10 different angles. No detail is too trivial. But sometimes, especially in pressure moments, it’s better to be the guy who quiets his mind and just plays. That’s Eli. Always has been.
>> Cool story about how Eli still relies on his old coach, David Cutcliffe, for help in the offseason.
>> Some people need to lay off the Tom Brady criticism. Did he miss a few throws in the Super Bowl? Yes. But he also didn’t have his best receiver. And if Wes Welker makes the catch down the seam, Brady’s critics are pronouncing him the greatest QB of all-time.
>> Lane Kiffin is getting creative with scholarships in the wake of NCAA sanctions. Looks like USC won’t be hurting much after all. Last fall, I predicted USC as the No. 1 college football program of the 2010s.
>> Remember the days when Royals ownership got ripped all the time for its stinginess? Those days are back. If Kansas City allows this crop of talent (Hosmer, Gordon, Butler, Moutakas) to leave town without a division title, its fans should give up forever. Kansas City should’ve gone out and found a starting pitcher to give itself a chance in 2012.
>> Daniel Chopra, PGA tour pro, had two holes-in-one in the same practice round. Sounds pretty cool, right? Now consider he did it at two of golf’s most famous par 3s, Pebble Beach’s 7th and 17th. That’s cooler than winning a tournament.
>> UNK head coach Darrell Morris spoke to the Kearney Hub last week after Signing Day. He expressed frustration that several Loper targets, including Grand Island quarterback Ryker Fyke and Gretna’s Andy Janovich, chose to walk on at Nebraska. Said Morris: “They’re our biggest competitor, and that should scare them. How they think they’re going to win the Big Ten recruiting the same guys I am, I have no clue.”
Morris may have been joking, maybe not. But he’s been doing this long enough to know the appeal of Nebraska’s walk-on program. He shouldn’t be surprised. I think Husker fans would have reason to worry if Bo Pelini were distributing scholarships to the same players wanted by UNK. But he’s not. If Bo can find one player from each walk-on class — just one — who turns into a starter, that’s a coup.
>> What a phenomenal night of college basketball on Wednesday. Syracuse-Georgetown, Kansas-Baylor and Duke-Carolina. Check out this stat from Pat Forde: In the past 75 meetings between Duke and Carolina, Duke has won 38, UNC 37. Total points in those games: Duke 5,858 to Carolina 5,857.
>> Thanks for reading. See you Thursday.
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At least Barry GRADUATED more players. LOL
Bottom line is both head coaches were terrible. Eh. So the question is a FUTILE, moot one! dUh.
Is it Spring practice, yet.
Biggest difference is charisma and likability which Sadler has in spades over Collier. But unfortunately, both need to have the same ending, being replaced. It is time for the AD to step up and pay a real BCS coaching salary. We are at the bottom of the conference in coach pay for b-ball and nothing will change unless we pony up for some coaching talent, that or get incredibly lucky with a hire. But NU has not been lucky, well ever really.
The bad news for Nebrasketball is that unless they find a total diamond in the rough for a HC, things will probably stay about the same.
Dr. Tom will let Doc stay an extra year too long. He did the same thing with Mike Anderson. Oh, and then he will hire Matt Davison to be coach.
Several articles here (and in the Lincoln paper) discussing the end of the Sadler Era. I like the sound of that.
While Doc had his folksy charm, Barry was a better recruiter and game-day coach. Plus, Barry’s team were more exciting to watch (but neither could hold a candle to NeeBrasketball in terms of excitement!).
I am ready for a new direction in Nebrasketball, a new coach to put the icing on the cake for the final season at The Bob, who will get people interested in watching Husker Hoops at their new home, The Pinnacle.
My dream coach would have these qualities:
1) Be a very good recruiter
2) Run an up-tempo style of Offense
Kinda like Danny Nee.
I think you pretty much have to run an up tempo to get the “good” recruits. I also want an offense that can penetrate the paint. Gotten tired over the years watching NU just make passes around the perimeter, and every once in a while pass into the top of the key. How about getting some players that can post up?
They post up just fine, if you ever watch them, but none of the guards try or care to enter the ball to them.
Oh, another more thing. What would Doc’s numbers look like without Aleks Maric, who was recruited by Barry? I think everyone would say that Barry was the better coach if Aleks had not returned in ’06.
It’s easy to forget that Doc’s 2 very good seasons at UTEP were with guys brought in by Billy Gillespie. I think we can expect to be the bottom of the B1G as long as Doc is around.
Can you smell what the Doc is cooking? I think it’s burnt meatloaf.
NU needs to give careful consideration and really do it’s homework when hiring its next basketball coach. Often it’s the assistants who are the reason for a program’s success. Butler/Collier was a good example. After Collier left I believe Thad Matta (assistant)took over and they were still successful. Matta then went to Xavier and ultimately to Ohio State. All of the teams he has been involved with have been successful. Matta was the reason for Butler’s success…not Collier. AD’s need to look behind the scenes and see who is really doing the coaching.
If Matta was the reason for the success for Butler how can you explain Lickliter and Stevens? Heck Stevens has done better than the past four that were there before.
Motta was the reason for Colliers success and Lickliter won with players Motta recruited as well. But you are right on the money with Stevens who is a heck of a coach, he would be a home run if we could get him to come to NU, though that is unlikely.
Matta my bad.
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It’s not so much tempo, it’s freedom. Doc tries to micromanage the offense, which is odd because he’s proven completely inept at designing plays to maximize the little talent his players do have.
We need a name or someone with tremendous AAU ties. When you start every conference game with a talent deficit, you are in trouble no matter who your coach is.
Could the Huskers beat UNK?
Recruit like Baylor and pay them to play.
I think that Doc is the bigger disappointment but only because the expectations were so high after Collier was fired. I also remember Doc’s acceptance speech when he was saying with his southern drawl “if there’s a loose ball and nobody on the floor dives for it, there better be guys on the bench lined up at the scorers table to check themselves in.” People were freaking out over his enthusiasm and promises. At the end of the day, the biggest loser will be the citizens of Lincoln who will be stuck paying for an arena that a below average NU basketball team will leave high and dry with attendance.
I love Doc as a person, and he did a spectacular job with the nation’s shortest starters a few years back…Cookie, Cek Henry, Ryan, Daganduro, etc….but it’s just gotten worse since then. The style of play is boring, and the defense this year is even horrible. It’s time for a change. Recruiting a good coach with our new arena and practice facility and Big Ten presence shouldn’t be too hard. (although the Big XII was and is better, in my opinion!) What about a hire like Iowa State made with Fred Hoiberg? What about someone like Bruce Chubick or Eric Piatkowski? It’d be like the Iowa State hire…Fred had no coaching experience…or, draw parallels to Erstad? Just a wild hair thought.
Hoiberg spent a number of years as director of player personnel with the Timberwolves. He has experience in the NBA and can sell that to players. Also, he was known as a good judge of talent I don’t think Tyra Lue or any other NU alums come close to that.
I’ld take Collier, don’t like living on solely JUCO’s and way too many guys leaving the program under Sadler.
Dumb comment by Morris, anytime you can get someone to walk-on that a DII school is offering a SCHOLARSHIP to is a great coup. Hoping that was a joke.
Kiffin is scum.
I see no reason NOT to go after one of the best coaches here, and offer him buckets of money. Here’s why – get an Izzo, or Self, or any other coach that has a team consistently going to the Big Dance. Pay him top dollar, say $2M per year. Easily affordable, since the arena would be SOLD OUT to every game, excitement would likely eclipse the best of the Nee Era.
Proof -
Final year at The Bob:
Seats: 13,595
Average Ticket Cost: $20 (this is a bit low with donations and such, but that is a good thing)
Number of Home Games: 15 (could be a bit higher, not likely to be lower)
Revenue from selling out The Bob on it’s final season with one helluva coach: $4,078,500.00 (and that does not take concession or parking fees into account.
That’s a $2M profit, from the gate alone.
Moving into The Pinnacle:
Seats: 15,920 (quoted at 15,000 PLUS 20 Loge boxes PLUS 900 Club Seats
Average Ticket Cost: $25 (increase in price due to Loge/Box seats plus direct donations, again, this is a bit low)
Number of Home Games: 15 (could be a bit higher, not likely to be lower)
Revenue from selling out The Pinnacle with one helluva coach: $5,970,000.00 (and that does not take concession or parking fees into account.
Now were over $3M profit.
11 coaches make more than 2 million a year. Izzo makes 3.5 and Self makes 3.6. Rick Pitino makes more than 7.5 million. To bring a really big time coach to NU the pay would have to exceed what Bo is making. That is not going to happen. The budget for assistant coaches would have to be significantly increased as well. I do’t see this happening any time soon.
They should go after Rick Majerus, but I Tom will do it. Also, St. Louis is a better job than NU.
*but I doubt Tom will do it*
Great idea, other than the fact that Majerus is toxic. How about we call that “Plan B”?
Unfortunately it looks like Doc is not going yo get the job done, and six years is more than enough time to see some improvement. The school has really dropped the ball on the basketball program and it is time for a major commitment, not just in facilities, but on the coaching staff. Time for a meaningful change, open up the pocketbook and show us that you really care about basketball at Nebraska, because that certainly has not been the case for quite some time, if ever.
Whomever is the Lil’ Herbie A.D., be it Ozzie or his replacement, will ABSOLUTELY NEVER pay top dollar to hire a PROVEN major college hoopdom coach… NEVER!
And the Simple bUbba reason why, is y’all Lil’ Herbie good ol’ boys love that pigskin action too much. Eh. That’s why Lil’ Herbie MCB will always be a 3rd Rate program.
Again, y’all Lil’ Herbie good ol’ boys and Lil’ Herbie media-nexus types and Lil’ Herbie moneyed BOOSTERs ran off the best thing going in the small town Capital town. That be that uppity, slick-yapping CITY SLICER. lmao
Now, y’all are REAPING WHAT YOU SOWED!! And I’m being totally serious!