2024-25 NCAA Tournament Bracketology/Bubble Watch

[Huskers633]

Essegian is so bad. We need to find another pure guy like Keisei. I though CE might be that but he is awful

Unfortunately, players with the offensive skills Keisei have don't come around very often. And really is he wasn't from Japan he probably wouldn't have been at Ranger College and would've been more highly recruited.

 

[Dr.DrakeRamoray]

Why would they not accept? Not only will this team be in the NIT, I think they'll most likely have a home game.

It’s a moot point now that Fred said they would, but as been pointed out in threads on here this team does not like each other, end of season collapse like this is draining, wouldn’t have suprised me to see the team just want to be done

 

[Quint]

It’s a moot point now that Fred said they would, but as been pointed out in threads on here this team does not like each other, end of season collapse like this is draining, wouldn’t have suprised me to see the team just want to be done

The Cockeye game sure looked like a team that was ready to clean out their lockers.

 

[BradWesley]

It’s a moot point now that Fred said they would, but as been pointed out in threads on here this team does not like each other, end of season collapse like this is draining, wouldn’t have suprised me to see the team just want to be done

 

[Irv]

Seems like a decent chance Omaha will get a win in the dance before Lincoln.

 

[SlumpBuster]

Yep, and it's why I continue to lol at the NIL bullshit thrown around here.

2024 season ppg (B1G only)
(13) Tominaga 15.1
(t29) Mast 11.9
(t29) Williams 11.9
(30) Gary 11.5
(55) Wilcher 8.4
(t62) Lawrence 7
(t62) Allick 7
(98) Hoiberg 3

2025 season ppg (B1G only)
(1) Williams 21.4
(t20) Gary 14.8
(66) Essegian 9.2
(68) Morgan 8.9
(90) Worster 6.4
(104) Buyuktuncel 5.2
(124) Hoiberg 4
(135) Meah 2.8

NIL isn't the problem.

Can you help me understand why that proves NIL has anything to do with it?

I mean it looks to me like we should spend more for better players?

 

[PonyBoy]

Can you help me understand why that proves NIL has anything to do with it?

I mean it looks to me like we should spend more for better players?

NIL was good enough in 2023-2024 but not good enough in 2024-2025? Especially when 2024-2025 was in the dance a month earlier? lol, too funny.

College hoops has good players all over the place, including teams with damn near nothing in NIL. I said the same thing in the 2025 portal szn thread.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

Unfortunately, players with the offensive skills Keisei have don't come around very often. And really is he wasn't from Japan he probably wouldn't have been at Ranger College and would've been more highly recruited.

Keisei is just the most recent example, but there has to be some pure shooters out there who also are able to create a little bit. I feel like Essegian is just too one dimensional. Either way, I hope Fred can build a decent roster for next year. Morgan and Meah didn't really pan out.

 

[Huskers633]

Keisei is just the most recent example, but there has to be some pure shooters out there who also are able to create a little bit. I feel like Essegian is just too one dimensional. Either way, I hope Fred can build a decent roster for next year. Morgan and Meah didn't really pan out.

I like Essegian and hope he's back, but I wouldn't be upset if he wasn't. But you're right he can't create the way Keisei did. Outside of his free throw shooting being abysmal I think we got as much out of Morgan as we were going to get. I've been following Nebraska basketball since the mid 90s and I don't remember Nebraska ever having a big guy coming off the bench that could bring what Morgan did. I'm not an expert and maybe those that know more will tell me I'm wrong, but I don't think we used Meah properly offensively or defensively. He was always limited, and I think most knew that (lol Sipple) but I think we tried to make him fit the system instead of trying to match what he did well. If the plan was always to do that he shouldn't have been a take, especially if the rumored amount we paid him is true.

 

[jickey moseph]

I like Essegian and hope he's back, but I wouldn't be upset if he wasn't. But you're right he can't create the way Keisei did. Outside of his free throw shooting being abysmal I think we got as much out of Morgan as we were going to get. I've been following Nebraska basketball since the mid 90s and I don't remember Nebraska ever having a big guy coming off the bench that could bring what Morgan did. I'm not an expert and maybe those that know more will tell me I'm wrong, but I don't think we used Meah properly offensively or defensively. He was always limited, and I think most knew that (lol Sipple) but I think we tried to make him fit the system instead of trying to match what he did well. If the plan was always to do that he shouldn't have been a take, especially if the rumored amount we paid him is true.

Morgan was fine. He was meant to be the second big off the bench and probably meant to be backing up someone like Mast... not Meah.

 

[clifscales]

NIL was good enough in 2023-2024 but not good enough in 2024-2025? Especially when 2024-2025 was in the dance a month earlier? lol, too funny.

College hoops has good players all over the place, including teams with damn near nothing in NIL. I said the same thing in the 2025 portal szn thread.

Good point, Why not keep CJ Wilcher? Twice the shooter as Essegian or Goggles

 

[That SOB Van Owen]

It’s a moot point now that Fred said they would, but as been pointed out in threads on here this team does not like each other, end of season collapse like this is draining, wouldn’t have suprised me to see the team just want to be done

They should let the team vote.

 

[SlumpBuster]

NIL was good enough in 2023-2024 but not good enough in 2024-2025? Especially when 2024-2025 was in the dance a month earlier? lol, too funny.

College hoops has good players all over the place, including teams with damn near nothing in NIL. I said the same thing in the 2025 portal szn thread.

I see. I just didn't understand your point. I don't disagree that we certainly could have been better. I expected a ton more from Worster and Goggles...Meah I think we got exactly what we expected. I hoped Ulis would be better (I know he's been here two years, but still), but he was somehow the worst guard we had.

Would you agree that NIL importance is growing in the sport? Or do you consider it a secondary factor?

 

[SlumpBuster]

Meah didn't really pan

I feel like he was exactly what we thought we were getting out of him. Good shot blocker and lane filler, but a liability offensively.

 

[SlumpBuster]

Good point, Why not keep CJ Wilcher? Twice the shooter as Essegian or Goggles

Eh, CJ would have BAD games too...in fact sometimes it was weeks where he'd disappear.

 

[PonyBoy]

Good point, Why not keep CJ Wilcher? Twice the shooter as Essegian or Goggles

Great question! Did Fred feel he wasn't worth it (NIL wise) and would rather use the money for Essegian and Griffiths with additional seasons to play? Was CJ gone regardless? Did aTm offer more & we (Fred/1890) didn't want to beat it? Wilcher was a hair under 50% from 3 against NCAA tournament teams last year. 👀 That's some unreal shit if you ask me.

I see. I just didn't understand your point. I don't disagree that we certainly could have been better. I expected a ton more from Worster and Goggles...Meah I think we got exactly what we expected. I hoped Ulis would be better (I know he's been here two years, but still), but he was somehow the worst guard we had.

Would you agree that NIL importance is growing in the sport? Or do you consider it a secondary factor?

Ya, probably should've kept ppg by players out of that response & put it on its own.

I'll never understand taking Worster as early as we did, with Ulis on the roster. Worster plays better defense, but they're the same offensively (no outside game) while Ulis is quicker & Worster more physical (boards). 2 PG's that can't shoot, and are both seniors spells doom. If Worster was a sophomore and Fred thought he could correct his shot, that would make more sense to me.

I'm of the belief Fred has the resources to put together a top half (7-11) roster year in and year out. Last season was proof, and so was this season before we melted down...

3-7 v teams under .500 in conference is why this team isn't dancing; 3 wins are Ohio State, Northwestern & Washington with the 7 losses to Ohio State, Rutgers (PBA), Ioa x2 (1 PBA), Minnesota (PBA), USC (PBA) & Pedo State. If that's because of NIL, then we should throw in the towel now & pay someone $2M to run the program. Put the NIL towards wrestling and baseball.

Do you, or anyone for this discussion, believe Nebraska has gone backwards in expenses/resources for Hoiberg in the last 3 seasons?

 

[PonyBoy]

Unfortunately, players with the offensive skills Keisei have don't come around very often. And really is he wasn't from Japan he probably wouldn't have been at Ranger College and would've been more highly recruited.

I'm going to try & find the story about Tominaga and Ranger.

Basically, Billy Gillispie (then coach at Ranger) said he couldn't get anyone to check out Tominaga then begged Doc Sadler to come take a look at Keisei. Literally, begged. Doc went to watch him and immediately turned it over to Matty A & Fred. Matty A got involved and the rest is history.

I don't think Keisei being from Japan is why he ended up at Ranger. Gillispie is as connected as anyone. He knew what he had, tried to get programs to take him & nobody gave it a thought. Except Doc, then Matt & Fred...

 

[Jim14510]

3-7 v teams under .500 in conference is why this team isn't dancing

Disgusting

 

[Stan Raymond]

Great question! Did Fred feel he wasn't worth it (NIL wise) and would rather use the money for Essegian and Griffiths with additional seasons to play? Was CJ gone regardless? Did aTm offer more & we (Fred/1890) didn't want to beat it? Wilcher was a hair under 50% from 3 against NCAA tournament teams last year. 👀 That's some unreal shit if you ask me.



Ya, probably should've kept ppg by players out of that response & put it on its own.

I'll never understand taking Worster as early as we did, with Ulis on the roster. Worster plays better defense, but they're the same offensively (no outside game) while Ulis is quicker & Worster more physical (boards). 2 PG's that can't shoot, and are both seniors spells doom. If Worster was a sophomore and Fred thought he could correct his shot, that would make more sense to me.

I'm of the belief Fred has the resources to put together a top half (7-11) roster year in and year out. Last season was proof, and so was this season before we melted down...

3-7 v teams under .500 in conference is why this team isn't dancing; 3 wins are Ohio State, Northwestern & Washington with the 7 losses to Ohio State, Rutgers (PBA), Ioa x2 (1 PBA), Minnesota (PBA), USC (PBA) & Pedo State. If that's because of NIL, then we should throw in the towel now & pay someone $2M to run the program. Put the NIL towards wrestling and baseball.

Do you, or anyone for this discussion, believe Nebraska has gone backwards in expenses/resources for Hoiberg in the last 3 seasons?

We need better coaching to improve the 3-7 record against the bottom half of the conference.

We need better talent to improve the 4-6 record against the top half of the conference.

We have enough NIL resources to field a team that is in the top half of the conference and able to get a NCAA tournament bid.

We don't currently have enough NIL resources to field a team that will win a conference title or be favored to make the Sweet 16.

Better coaching can make up for a lack of talent, and the inverse is true as well better talent makes up for poor coaching. I think we should try and improve both. Not once this season did I think that we were a talented team nor did I think that we were well coached.

 

[PonyBoy]

We need better coaching to improve the 3-7 record against the bottom half of the conference.

We need better talent to improve the 4-6 record against the top half of the conference.

We have enough NIL resources to field a team that is in the top half of the conference and able to get a NCAA tournament bid.

We don't currently have enough NIL resources to field a team that will win a conference title or be favored to make the Sweet 16.

Better coaching can make up for a lack of talent, and the inverse is true as well better talent makes up for poor coaching. I think we should try and improve both. Not once this season did I think that we were a talented team nor did I think that we were well coached.

The. Best. Nebrasketball. Post. Of. 2024. 2025.