KLIN

This Feels Good

I'm sitting here courtside at the Qwest Center waiting for Kansas and Portland State to start the NCAA Tournament. This tournament rules the sports world for three weeks and is probably the single greatest sporting event in the country. It will sure feel nice when Nebraska is here.

It feels good to be in mid-to-late March and still be able to talk Nebraska basketball. More than that though, the winds of change have continued their sweep across Nebraska giving Husker fans not only a postseason birth, but a postseason game to host. Yeah, it's still the NIT, but at least it is the NIT.

NU was lucky to have any extra games to play under Barry Collier, but Doc has brought the change. I've heard more and more people every week start to say things like "Doc must know what he's doing" or "Doc is a great coach" or even, "Did you see the Husker game last night?"

Nebraska basketball isn't an afterthough this year like it has been in the past. It's no longer just a way to pass time between football and baseball (or football and the next football season for those of you who haven't jumped on the Nebraska baseball kick yet).

Our KLIN parking pass is about a block away from the Devaney Center. During that walk Wednesday night on my way to watch the Huskers play I was surrounded by crowds. They were crowds of fans, in red, excited to see the Huskers play in the postseason. They didn't care that it was the NIT, because they, like more and more people with every win, believe it won't just be the NIT in years to come.

I'd like to guarantee that Nebraska will be an NCAA tournament team next year, but I can't do that. There are too many questions, but I'm not going to worry about next year until it shows up. Why look forward to potential successes of seasons to come when Nebraska is still alive in 2008?

I'm not now, nor do I ever anticipate becoming a Creighton fan and I could take a shot at the bluebirds for their NIT showing, but I'll refrain. Rather than put Creighton down for having less that 8,000 people show up for their first round game at the Qwest Center against Rhode Island on Tuesday, I'll applaud Husker fans for the turnout of well over 9,000 fans at the Devaney Center Wednesday night for NU's NIT opener against Charlotte.

It might have been lower ticket prices that brought out the good crowd on only three days notice, but I prefer to think it was the effect Doc has already had on this program. I just can't help but think that this is just the beginning of something big.

Nebraska delivered Wednesday night. Charlotte couldn't match up and it was obvious from the outset. Ole Miss presents a different test though. Remember when the Rebs start the season with like 12 or 13 straight wins and were ranked in the top 15 nationally? They are a good team that started to struggle mid-season. Nebraska is a good team that hasn't let a slump hang on too long.

Think about it this way. Nebraska is a good enough team to beat who I think is the best team in the NIT: Arizona State. They've done it. So, if you've already thrown out the prospect of a trip to Madison Square Garden in New York for the NIT Final Four. Don't be so quick to dismiss the Huskers. Sure they might lose in Oxford to Ole Miss, but then again, they might not. Who knows what Doc is capable of?