- It's here. Rock bottom. Nebraska is no longer competitive against mid-level teams. They struggle against everyone. Their defense is the worst I've seen, Baylor-type stuff. They got blown out against anyone that is decent. They've lost 5 in a row and are staring down the barrel of a 4-8 season.
Since 2002, every single impressive record the program has built up over 35 years has fallen. These are the darkest of times for Nebraska.
4-8 with tough losses and hopes for the future would be easier to take, there would at least be some hope. But they're not even close in these games. It's over. Time to tear this thing down to the very core.
Some information that will shocker you.
- The Huskers have now allowed 30 rushing touchdowns, setting the new record for rushing touchdowns by an opponent in a season (previous record, 26, 1950)
- The Huskers have now allowed 47 total touchdowns, setting the new record for total TDs allowed by an opponent in a season (previous record, 41, 1948 & 2002)
- The defense has now allowed 4,776 total yards, just 291 yards shy of the worst season ever, with two games remaining
- The defense has allowed 359 points so far, already the record for most points allowed in a single season (prior record, 335 points, 2002, 14 games)
- The defense has allowed 35.9 points per game, and needs to hold K State and Colorado to fewer than 34 points total (17 apiece) to avoid the worst number of points-per-game in Nebraska history
- At 249 first downs allowed, the Huskers are only 23 first downs shy of the worst-ever showing in allowing first downs
- The Nebraska defense is 386 yards shy of setting the new record for rushing yards allowed
- With zero sacks in today's game, the Huskers need to get 8 sacks per game in the next two games to avoid having the worst sack total in school history
- The Huskers are 61 pass completions shy of allowing the highest number of opponent completions in a season
- The Huskers have allowed opponents to complete 57.4% of passes so far this season. That's on pace to be another "worst" - the 2004 team set the record at 56.7%
- The 1968 team set the record for lowest interception percentage (INTs/Attempts) by the Huskers at 3.19%. The 2007 team currently sits at 2.4%
- The most touchdowns ever allowed through the air in a season was set by the 1948 team (19). The 2007 team has allowed 16 so far.
- The fewest takeaways in a season by the Huskers were 19, set in 1962, 1993, and 2000. This year's team has only 11.
- With zero punt return yards today, the Huskers still have only 77 yards with two games left. The worst punt return yardage season was 141, set in 1955.
- Punt return average is still stagnant, with this year's average (5.92) coming in barely above the worst season (5.77).
- The 2007 Huskers have 58 kickoff returns this season, a new record (prior record, 48, 2002)
- The 477.6 yards allowed per game is well above the record of 379.5, set in 1948 (and has already assured that this team will "earn" this record as well, unless they hold Kansas State and Colorado to negative yards).
- Nebraska's turnover margin this season is -14. The worst season in Husker history is -18, set in 1967.
- In the words of Willie Amos after the 2004 season when the Huskers didnt make a bowl game: "Records were meant to be broken."
- Big 12 Rankings
1) Oklahoma - Dominated Texas A&M. Look out for that game in Lubbock in 2 weeks.
2) Missouri - Impressive in Boulder. Could make a case for the title game with wins over 2 top 10 teams in the next month. (Kansas and Oklahoma).
3) Kansas - Sickening to watch them dismantle Nebraska.
4) Texas - Another Oklahoma State comeback.
5) Oklahoma State - Still a dangerous team. Should be 4-1 in conference, but melted down once again and gave up a 3 TD lead in the 4th quarter at home. Inexcusable.
6) Colorado - Got murdered at home, but still a tough team. Missouri's playing at a different level right now.
7) Texas Tech - Has a chance to redeem their season in 2 weeks vs. Oklahoma.
8) Texas A&M - Fran's gone.
9) Kansas State - An 8 point favorite on the road in Lincoln???? After losing to Iowa State??? Man Nebraska sucks ass.
10) Iowa State - They'd beat Nebraska in a rematch.
11) Nebraska - I hate this team.
12) Baylor - Give it up.
- National Rankings
1) LSU - They are playing with fire on a weekly basis. Their biggest opponent each week is their coach's affinity for laying his nuts on the chopping block for 4 quarters.
2) Oregon - In my estimation, the hottest and most talented team going right now, outside of LSU of course.
3) Missouri - They belong here and might prove to be worth of title-consideration by the end of the year.
4) Oklahoma - Along with Missouri, can make a case for the title game if they win out.
5) Ohio State - Sick of them, they're holding up the operation. Will lose to Michigan so we can rid ourselves of this cancer.
6) Kansas - Can't see them staying undefeated.
7) West Virginia - Keeps winning, but no shot at the title game.
8) Georgia - Should represent the East in the SEC title game against LSU.
9) Michigan - Has a chance to help us out by beating overrated Ohio State and knocking them out of title consideration.
10) Arizona State - Had Rudy Carpenter been healthy, they may have beaten an elite Oregon team.
- Must see TV tonight. Houston is kicking ass to start the season. Road wins at LA and Utah, and another win against Portland to open the season. A very intriguing early season matchup. With Dampier out for a while, expect Houston to control the boards, and cover the 6 point spread.
Dallas Mavericks facing improved Yao
Rockets center is stronger, more confident in the post
04:10 AM CST on Monday, November 5, 2007
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com
Before he was waived and moved on as the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Developmental League draft, Darvin Ham imparted some wisdom to the Mavericks that they need to heed tonight against the Houston Rockets.
Ham's message was to pay particular attention to a new and improved Yao Ming.
Not that overlooking the biggest player in the league is possible, but Ham's point is that Yao is not the same movable object that he was earlier in his career. While Yao and Tracy McGrady still have to prove they have moved the Rockets into the NBA's elite with a healthy season and playoff success, it is Yao's play that suggests new coach Rick Adelman's team is to be taken seriously.
All it took to convince Ham was the Mavericks' preseason visit to Houston.
"The one thing that impressed me in guarding him is that he's not passive at all anymore," Ham said. "He is taking the fight to you. There was a time a couple years ago in Detroit when I had him for four or five possessions and you could shoot him an elbow or get physical on him and he'd be leaning over or complaining to the refs.
"Now, he's so bottom heavy, when he gets post position, you're not going to move him. He understands now. He knows how big he really is. If they can be consistent with that and go through him, they're going to have a lot of success."
Gone are the days when you could stick a Raef LaFrentz on Yao and watch the 7-6 center struggle. The Rockets bring a 3-0 start to the season into tonight's game, which will be a nice test for the Mavericks.
So far, they've beaten a Cleveland team that was unready for the season, lost at Atlanta to a youthful, exuberant Hawks team and blasted short-handed Sacramento, a team that's not going to be very good even when its healthy.
So tonight is a much stiffer challenge, though the Rockets still haven't gotten past the first round of the playoffs in the Yao-McGrady era.
Yao is averaging 19 points and 10.3 rebounds. The only time the Rockets beat the Mavericks last season was when Yao had 36 points. When McGrady led the Rockets in scoring, they were 0-3 against the Mavericks.
"They're a terrific team," Avery Johnson said. "A lot of people have them as favorites to win the championship this year. For us, it should be a pretty big test for us because a lot of people are really talking about their potential."
The Rockets believe they are going to improve greatly as the season wears on. They are learning Adelman's system, which has opened up the floor and the offense for McGrady and Yao. They brought former Rockets Mike James and Steve Francis back to the team. Adelman has increased Bonzi Wells' role, something he did when he coached Wells in Sacramento, too.
At the very least, the Rockets figure to shadow the Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs throughout the season for Southwest Division supremacy.
"It's always a very competitive division top to bottom," Jason Terry said. "Obviously, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are big parts of what they do. But their role players have been the ones stepping up."
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