The Visionary Alliance Is Formed: FORZA CONNIE! FORZA AMY! FORZA NEBRASKA!

[ChipperF1]

Amy Stephens joins the staff!!!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=38&u_sid=433665

[HuskerFan86]

Clever Play on words Chipper....
"A Visionary Alliance Is Formed.' Amy Stephens played her high school ball at Alliance High School in Western Nebraska.
These two should create an interesting coaching duo. With their recruiting ties in Nebraska, most of the state's top players will probably stay in state and come to NU.

Any word on the return/departure of Robinette?

[BenEClone]

The dominoes fall almost indefinitely. Often forgotten in the early days of a transition are the remaining assistant coaches. Has there been any word on them? Sanderford recruited players well, I suspect there is talent among the assistants also. ISU is still looking for an assistant and Kearney and Creighton are looking for head coaches. Does NU have anything to offer?

[ChipperF1]

Well lets see...We have a commander and a first officer. Creighton assistant Angela Timmons is considering a move to join Connie's staff, plus she has a few friends who could work in the mix..

As for Kearney's new coach search. Its anybody's guess, although there are some intriguing possibilities.

Creighton is in the middle of a "national" search, but I'm confident that Jim Flanery will move into the position. He's been there 10 years, he's done a solid job under Yori. He is liked by the players and the AD, and is respected in the conference.

[Jennifer]

What about the Nebraska asst. recently hired by Sanderford from my first alma mater UCO (Univ Central Oklahoma-men's team). I think his name is Jim Seward? Will he be retained?

[mred]

Originally posted by BenEClone:
ISU is still looking for an assistant and Kearney and Creighton are looking for head coaches. Does NU have anything to offer?

ISU is looking for an assistant? They hired Jodi Steyer to replace Coach Kebe. Is there something I missed?

[ChipperF1]

Connie makes her first personnel decision.

Yori to K.C. Cowgill..... GET LOST!

http://journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=9771


http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/nu.gif The era of candypants, sissified, ne'erdowell, quit-for-40-minutes basketball is OVER!



[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 06-28-2002).]

[ChipperF1]

"I think his name is Jim Seward? Will he be retained?"

That will be a rough question for Connie. If I had my druthers I'd let him and any other holdover from the previous regime go. You might as well live or die with your own people, as opposing to keeping people who have failed.

Now granted, Seward is not a part of the Sanderfraud Quagmire. However, he was the hire of the previous regime and his theories of strategy may run contra to Yori's. On the question of Jim Seward, you may or may not want to keep him. He may or may not wish to stay. I'd at least talk to him. He could be a valued asset.

So far, Connie has done well in her choices. Getting Stephens well at least bring a semblance of order and Amy running a practice will be a shock to the team early on. She is a demanding woman and she also good with the players and a fine motivator. She brings things that could be of help to the Huskers


[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 06-28-2002).]

[swok34]

hmmmmm, you all got me to thinking when speaking of retaining coaches/assistant's; and I was wondering how OU picked up DeCosta for a year.....I still don't know, but she was the "savior-finder" in finding Stacey Dales.

Pam Decosta
Assistant Coach, Kansas
Metropolitan State, 1991

Coaching Experience:

1999-present Kansas
1997-1998 Oklahoma
1994-1996 Kansas
1993 Denver East H.S.
1992 Fort Lewis College
1989-1991 Metropolitan State



[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 06-28-2002).]

[HuskerFan86]

I wonder what will happen to Jami Kubick now that Sanderford is gone. Also, who will be doing the recruiting on Yori's staff. You cannot bring Division 2 and Missouri Valley-type talent into the Big XII and expect to win.

[CYNIC]

swok34, if I understand your DeCosta question, she was a restricted earnings coach at Kansas or something like that, when Sherri got the job at OU. Sherri hired her. DeCosta loved Coach Washington as a role model and mentor so when a real assistants job came open at KU, she jumped at the chance to go back. She wants to be a head coach and knows she probably made a mistake seeing how the two programs have gone in different directions. I wonder how much longer Coach Washington will coach. She has been at Kansas forever and looks like time may have passed her by. When coach loses their fire, it is over. Program in bad shape and KState stealing all the glory and selling out. She should probably consider retirement for the sake of the program. Would KU fire her? No doubt in my mind that Kansas could be a good to very good program with right coach and support as they have been for a lot of the years under Washington.

[TXSNOS]

I wouldn't write Kansas off too quickly. They have a large class of talented freshmen coming in this year. Look for them to do much better than last year.

TXSNOS

[ChipperF1]

HuskerFan, you are expecting to win right now? You'll have a better chance expecting a Democratic sweep of the congressional delegation in Nebraska first http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

As for "Division II/Missouri Valley-type kids", I'll take those kids if they are willing to work hard, improve themselves work as a unit and fight for 40 minutes.

We've had three years of "Oh My God, Blue Chip, Mercy Mercy Me, Blue Star, Red Star Shining Star For You To See What Your Life Can Truly Be" All-Americans and prized pedigreed recrits. And we've ended up with 26-34 the last two seasons.

Nebraska has recrited three Miss Basketball Nebraskas.

Miss Basketball Nebraska 1998 had a GPA that was a negative number.
Miss Basketball Nebraska 1999, was a High School All-America is now in Division II, partly because of her attitude.
Miss Basketball Nebraska 2001, was a High School All-America, is a convicted drunk driver and left the team.

Three years ago, Shannon Howell turned a national all-star game out and do well. Howell has had maybe one solid performance in a Nebraska uniform in her college career.

Last year, I heard Katie Morse being called, "The Next Karen Jennings". Karen Jennings ought to sue for character defamation.

My point? Pedigree is meaningless. Performance is everything, and after a couple of years of hype, it would be nice to just get some ballplayers and get to the business of playing good basketball. If Nebraska's going to move up the ladder, sorry HuskerFan, there will be no highly prized All-Star Camp Messiah coming to Lincoln until this team start winning. And to get those difference makers, we have to win ballgames with the second and third tier kids we are going to get.

There is precedent for this. Bill Fennelly's first Iowa State team was slow, undertalented and the year before, a joke. They ended up in the NCAA tournament, and now look at ISU.
Look at Kansas State. The dang near last Wildkittens in 2000-2001. Top 15 team last season, with a lot of unknowns and retreads.
Even our own history shows how a team can get it together with kids a lot of other people didn't want. Remember Paul won 23 games with a team that was really garbage the year before.

Lets give the new administration a chance. It's a big risk no doubt, but what the heck. If they can just get this bunch we have to suffer through this coming season to play, they'll earn their money. I'm not too worried about the future, because I don't think Nebraska will ever get a group of uncaring, uncommitted kids like this last group of seniors and juniors again.

[ChipperF1]

"I wonder what will happen to Jami Kubick now that Sanderford is gone."

I hope Yori finds a place for her. I've always like JK, and if they find her sister and bring her to the party in some way, that would be cool, too.

If I had my druthers:

2002-2003 Nebraska Womens Basketball Staff

Head Coach: Connie Yori....she's hired already.
Assistant Coach: Amy Stephens...Stephens could be a lot like Mickie DeMoss is to Pat Summitt. Stephens is an excellent motivator and she can be the "good cop" at times. Plus it helped that Yori and Stephens have been the best of friends for years. These two constant bounced things off of each other when they ran their own teams. This is what I like about this pairing.

Now your other spots (assuming you keep Jim Seward)

Assistant Coach: Jim Seward...Why not take a flyer in this guy? He just got here after all. My only concern is that his strategic leanings did mirror Sanderford's. I think a good chalk talk with him wouldn't be a bad idea.

Now Michelle Clark? Too tied in with the Sanderford system and wants to go to Cincinnati. Say hi to Andy Travis for me.

Assistant Coach: Maurtice Ivy...Former Husker, played with Stephens. Has been a scout with a national recruiting service for the last three years, when not coaching a boys AAU team. Driven, committed, knows hoops and can communicate it to kids. Has a Nancy Lieberman-sized ego, that's the only caveat.

Assitant Coach (I'd go with the 4-assistant brain trust): Doug Woodard...current coach, Bellevue East (NE) High School. He has a state championship to his name. Well respected coach, plus the guy has a way with kids.

Now these choices are radical departure and none of those folks have a great deal of "big-time" experience, but then again, "big-time" experience didn't do a great deal for us last time. I like a clean sheet of paper approach, and I think it can patiently pay off.



[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 06-28-2002).]

[Jennifer]

One thing about Jim Seward--if I recall correctly, his teams were always run-n-gun and high scoring.
Of course, this can mean undisciplined and no defense. Can't speak to that. He has had some good teams in his time at UCO.

[HuskerFan86]

Point well taken Chipper, the past few years, unheralded players have repeatedly destroyed Nebraska teams because they out hustled them and had more will than the Huskers. Players like Carla Bennet from Drake (originally Omaha Westside), who are not "blue chip recruits" can turn out way better in the long run because they have a better work ethic and more desire. I would take a "solid high school player" like Bennet over an "All-everything high school player" like Steph Jones anyday.

I guess I'll just have to be patient while Connie and her staff try and right the ship at Nebraska, and as of now, I'm fairly confident that she can.

[swok34]

I don't think you have to look much further than to OU to see what bringing in the "right person" can do for a program, rather than a storied, credentialed bunch......

I've heard time and time again that Coale doesn't go after a top rated recruit IF they don't have the attitude she's looking for that fits in with her team chemistry mold....

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by swok34:
I've heard time and time again that Coale doesn't go after a top rated recruit IF they don't have the attitude she's looking for that fits in with her team chemistry mold....

Here's a big 12 analysis by a fan over on the Boneyard.
I don't agree with his analysis of OKlahoma.
All I keep reading is 'They don't have the recruiting class of Uconn, of Duke, of Tech' etc.
On that same thread, someone commented that while OU's freshmen will be good, they won't be nearly good enough to win the Big 12 next year. The idea seems to be that since they are not a bunch of Blue Star top 20 players, they just don't stand a chance.
Noone seems to remember that 4 years ago, (well, 5 for Stacey) OU had a few no name recruits and they ended up doing just fine!
Maybe at schools like Uconn, Duke the Blue Star stuff really means something-they are let down if a recruit isn't Top 100 or something. I don't care about the rankings. Let's see what they can do after a year or two at OU!!! Much like this year's graduating class.
I'm tired of reading that there's no way OU will compete for the top of the conference next year because they don't have a bunch of recruits that some of the top schools went after. So Uconn has a bunch of Top 10-20 players to fill the big shoes left by the graduationg class and thus they should be a final 4 team. Whatever. OU has big shoes to fill as well and has the personnel to do it, regarding of blasted rankings.
OK, I'll step off of my soapbox now.
I'll concede that OU may not be as tough this year. I'll eat crow in March if they crash and burn. I just don't see it happening though.

[swok34]

Jennifer.....I read your "discussion" over there yesterday...
good job. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/cool.gif


[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 06-29-2002).]

[ChipperF1]

"I'm tired of reading that there's no way OU will compete for the top of the conference next year because they don't have a bunch of recruits that some of the top schools went after. So Uconn has a bunch of Top 10-20 players to fill the big shoes left by the graduationg class and thus they should be a final 4 team. Whatever. OU has big shoes to fill as well and has the personnel to do it, regarding of blasted rankings."

CAN I GET AN AMEN FOR SISTER JEN...AMEN!

Too many fans believe just because you dont have the "Oh Golly Gee, Like, Wow, Ohmygod Top 100 Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue Star Camp" Recruits, you might as well line up your team
at center court and shoot them.

The ranking are meaningless until the kids are winning games. Although you have to admit, Connecticut and Tennessee hit more than they miss.

I also disagree with one person at the boneyard who says Iowa State is an also ran. I wouldn't count them or Oklahoma out of the hunt at all, meanwhile all the people who see Kansas State as a serious Big 12 title contender, I have some beachfront property near Goodland I can sell you.

[Jennifer]

Here's the link I forgot to post above. http://the-boneyard.com/wbb.pl/read/71815

[Cloneman]

Same old crap. "Iowa State will be no good". People repeatedly say that about ISU in every sport, every year. It gets really old. WBB will be just fine. O'Neill will play. The team will be in the top 3-5 in the conference, etc. etc. ISU has to be the most disrespected school in the country. Noone outside of Ames seems to be able to stomach the thought of ISU being good in anything. Here's my predictions for 02-03:

Football 8-5 Bowl game
MBB 23-7 Top 5 in Big XII, NCAA Tourney
WBB 22-8 Top 5 in Big XII, NCAA Tourney
Wrestling Top 5 nationally (Big stretch there)
WTrack Top 20
Gymnastics Top 15

And so on and so on.

[elfdenmom]

Don't have a clue about the other sports, Cloneman, but I agree with you on wbb. I will be shocked if ISU doesn't finish in the top five in Big XII play.

[TXSNOS]

Latest on Yori at Nebraska: http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=9979

TXSNOS

[KSUron]

Originally posted by Cloneman:
Same old crap. "Iowa State will be no good". People repeatedly say that about ISU in every sport, every year. It gets really old.

Easy there big fella. I never lived in Ames and I consider ISU my second favorite WBB team. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif I am a Coach Fennelly fan.

Maybe you are suffering from the same thing I did for a while when I lived in western Iowa. Too much contact with hawkeye fans. Don't worry, Cyclone WBB will be able to defend itself quite nicely.

Welcome to the board! As you probably already know there are lots of loyal Cyclone fans here but we can always use another one. Us Big XII ?SU's need to support each other. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by KSUron (edited 06-30-2002).]

[TXSNOS]

Yori hires Angela Timmons as assistant coach: http://www.journalstar.com/sports.php?story_id=10357

TXSNOS