Blow it up

- Observations from the most disappointing season of the Cuban era. It's a close race with 2003-2004, but at that point, we knew they were a fatally Nellie-flawed team who would never win. This year, after a near championship, and then a 67 win season, we all thought this was the year where all those lumps taken were going to pay off.

What happened?

1) The West got better, and I severely underrated this. In fact, I remember writing that the West's newfound strength from teams 1-9 was overrated. I stand corrected.

2) Management over-valued Josh Howard and under-valued Jason Terry beginning at the start of the 2006-2007 season. Not in salary, but in personnel decisions. Avery and the guys at the top made the decision that Howard was a #2, a legit scoring option when Dirk gets double and triple teamed, and the all-star they needed to satisfy the 2-star theory to win a title. They were horribly wrong. And they pushed JET to the bench, devalued him as a #2 scorer, and minimized his role for the sake of Howard.

He launches jump shots at all times. Drives to the hole maybe 30% of the time. Can't dribble. Like I've been saying for 3 years, Howard's real value to the team is when you don't run plays for him, you let him roam and do the gargbage work, defend the other team's best player, and just let him go free. Run plays for him and make him your focal point, and you're dead. I don't want a 22 and 7 Josh Howard. I want a 17 and 9, with 3 steals and 3 assists.

3) They overreacted when they were injured and made a trade. They were sitting near the top of the West, had used the current mix to beat some really good teams, and really just needed to stay healthy. But they blew it up, gained salary, lost draft picks, and got worse.

Written immediately after the trade, before Kidd had even played 1 game with Dallas.
http://notexrant.blogspot.com/2008/02/cuban-panics.html

The trade could possibly have worked if they had a coach that would adapt to his personnel. Which leads to this.....

4) Avery has now become this team's worst enemy. He can't let a Hall of Fame point guard run the team like he knows how. He's micromanaging a bunch of millionaires, which never works unless you win titles. He's been outcoached at the highest levels in the past 2 playoffs. And he won't adjust his style to his personnel, perhaps the most fatal thing a coach can do. If you don't have the players, your "system" won't work. SEE: Bill Callahan and Charlie Weis.

His best route would be college. There, its ok to call offense and defense every time down the court. There, you can treat 18 year olds like 12 year olds. There, you can be a dictator. Those guys are around for only 1-4 years, so they don't have a chance to tire of his act, because they'll be gone.

5) This could be the dumbest team in the NBA. How many game changing technicals have we seen in the past 3 years? How many suspensions have we seen in the playoffs? 1 is too many, and they've had 2. I'll go back to what Dirk said after game 6 of the 2005 playoffs, after losing to Phoenix. "Our basketball IQ is not where it needs to be." Translation - I'm surrounded by a bunch of spare ass idiots who don't know basketball basics and how to react to adversity.

6) It's time to blow it up. I want Avery out. I want everyone outside of Dirk and Kidd on the block. Kidd mainly because his contract will prevent him from being attractive on the trade market. At least until next year, when it becomes expiring gold. If you make moves this summer and it's still not working, deal him during the season next year.

Upgrade the IQ on this team. Give me sharpshooters. Give me cheap slashers, they're everywhere.

I'd roll next year with a superstar (Dirk), a PG (Kidd), a center (Dampier), and a collection of cheap athletes and sharpshooters. I don't care if its a bunch of Kyle Korvers. Athletic wings are everywhere as well, and on the cheap.

7) The current mix has proven that they can't get it done anymore. They peaked 2 years ago and are sliding down exponentially. I'm ready for major change this summer.




- Just pitiful last night......



Dallas Mavericks waste golden opportunity in loss to Nuggets

01:27 AM CDT on Friday, March 28, 2008
By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com

DENVER – Holding onto a playoff spot in Dirk Nowitzki's absence is difficult enough.

It just got tougher.

The Mavericks lost two games in one Thursday night. Not only did Denver's 118-105 victory narrow the gap in the standings, it gave the Nuggets what could be a crucial tiebreaker.

For the first time in 13 years, Denver won the season series (2-1) against the Mavericks. If these teams wind up tied for the final playoff spot in 20 days, Denver will advance, and the Mavericks will turn their attention to the lottery.

"Just disappointed, man," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. "We're battling our butts off out there."

And it still wasn't enough. The Mavericks remain the No. 7 seed, but only one-half game separates them and Golden State. Their lead over Denver is one game.

What happened Thursday provides a more accurate picture of what lies ahead for the Mavericks without Nowitzki than their victory over the LA Clippers two nights earlier.

The Nuggets are not the Clippers, although they looked like it early. The Mavericks scored 70 points in the first half for only the second time this season. They shot 59.6 percent from the field, picked up 49 points from Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Kidd and took a 70-60 lead into the locker room.

Denver was a desperate team in the second half. The Nuggets hit the Mavericks with a 22-9 run in the third and never looked back. What had been a 15-point deficit mushroomed to a 16-point lead for the Nuggets in the second half.

"We played a pretty good first half," Kidd said. "But once they took the lead, they became even more aggressive, and well, we just sat back.

"We watched. We didn't come out with the same intensity we did in the first half."

The Mavericks watched as Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and Allen Iverson 31. The Mavericks turned the ball over – something they stressed they couldn't do – 17 times and scored only eight points in the paint in the second half.

The Mavericks scraped together only 35 points in the final two quarters. Howard finished with 30 points. But Kidd and Stackhouse combined for just eight points in the second half.

"I don't know how to elaborate," Howard said. "We made silly mistakes and turnovers and they were able to capitalize on it."

The Pepsi Center is not a nurturing environment. The last time the Nuggets played a game here, they scored 168 points. Denver averaged 126.3 points and beat teams by an average of 23 points in its previous six home games.

The Mavericks were simply their latest victim.

"If it comes down to the last game and we're tied with them, we can't do nothing but look at ourselves and know we had opportunities, not only tonight but the game at home where they came in and took it from us," Stackhouse said. "We can't do anything but look in the mirror.

"That's all we can do from here on out."




- And the Stars are looking just as bad right now. 1-8 in their last 9 games. Another stomach punch loss.

March 19 vs. Anaheim - Dominate the whole game, get late dumb penalty, allow a trickled goal sneak through with less than 10 seconds to go.

March 22 vs. LA - Dominate the entire game again, lose 2 goal lead and allow 3 goals in 1:30 and lose to the worst team in hockey.

March 27 at San Jose - Don't dominate, but play well enough to win on the road against the hottest team in the NHL. Turco gets a dumb 4 minute minor late, and then allows the tying goal. Modano has a breakaway that gets stopped not once, but twice in the final part of the 3rd period. And even more frustrating was the 2nd shot laying on the goaline and not moving, allowing the SJ goalie to swipe it away.

It's pouring right now for Dallas.



Point blank: Dallas Stars lose in OT to Sharks

02:45 AM CDT on Friday, March 28, 2008
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
mheika@dallasnews.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Marty Turco is a direct reflection of his team right now.

The Dallas Stars goalie did almost everything right Thursday.

But stress the "almost."

Turco had a spectacular game, until he took a foolish four-minute high-sticking penalty and helped hand the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 overtime victory at the HP Pavilion.

The win pushes the Sharks’ point-scoring streak to 17 games at 15-0-2. San Jose (46-21-10, 102 points) can clinch the Pacific Division title with a win Friday against Anaheim. The Stars’ slump runs to 1-7-1 for the month of March. They now have 90 points and still are battling to maintain a playoff spot in the West.

Turco said he felt like his team had one of its best games of the month. Still, he said it came up short at all the wrong times.

"We made progress, but you don’t feel much better,’’ Turco said. "Mental mistakes are a lot easier to change than when your game’s not there. Tonight, I thought we did some good things."

Turco claimed responsibility for one of the biggest mistakes of the game. In the middle of overtime, he clipped Joe Pavelski in the head with his stick. Turco was trying to put a stiff arm into Pavelski to force the Sharks forward further around the net and create space for a Stars defenseman to carry the puck. But Pavelski leaned into a turn to go around the net, and Turco hit him square in the face.

"That thing in overtime was nothing short of dumb,’’ Turco said. "There’s no excuse. It was what it was, it doesn’t matter what you were trying to do. I always am trying to help my guys out, but in that case, he didn’t really need any help. It was just a reaction – and something that’s easily stopped.’’

Turco said that was the encouraging thing about the mental mistakes – that they can be controlled. But Stars coach Dave Tippett wasn’t as optimistic. B.J. Crombeen took a foolish instigator penalty in the second period when he was sticking up for teammate Toby Petersen after Petersen received a clean hit from Sharks defenseman Kyle McLaren. The Sharks scored on the ensuing power play. Then, Trevor Daley compounded Turco’s penalty in overtime by taking a hooking call that gave the Sharks a two-man advantage.

“These rules changes three years ago - how we can keep sticking our stick in a guy’s stomach just baffles me,” Tippett said. “And the Marty one, I don’t know what he’s thinking there, whether he’s protecting himself, I’m not sure what he’s thinking with that one. Those are just mental mistakes that have to come out of our game.”

And while Turco did a great job of clearing up a few shots on his penalty, he was unable to keep the puck out of the net once the Sharks went to the 5-on-3 power play. Sharks center Joe Thornton tried to thread a pass to Patrick Marleau, but the puck deflected in off of the skate of Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher for the winner.

Of course, the game would have never advanced to that point had Mike Modano scored on a short-handed breakaway seconds earlier. Modano blew past Sharks defenseman Brian Campbell and tried to make a stop and tuck move but lost control of the puck. He gathered it behind the net and tried to stuff in a backhand, but Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov came up with two big saves and prevented the puck from going completely over the goal line.

“I had him on the original one, but it just rolled off my stick,” Modano said. “The second one just missed.’’

Tippett said the team is simply finding ways to lose games.

“It’s a game of inches,” Tippett said. “He thinks it’s in … and it’s not. That’s kind of where we are right now."

The Stars are hoping to get out of the slump by playing a heavy schedule. They continue the California road trip with games at Los Angeles on Saturday and at Anaheim on Sunday.

"We battled hard and did some positive things, but we had some mental mistakes and those mistakes keep biting us," Tippett said. "We’ll take the point and keep pushing forward, though."



- The Texas Rangers are about to get our full attention this summer. F everything else. I want my playoff money back from the Stars. Give me back my lost sleep from the NBA playoffs. Screw everything else, I guess it's time for baseball.



Batting fourth for your Texas Rangers: Hank Blalock

Rehearsal reveals veteran fills cleanup spot ahead of Bradley

09:17 PM CDT on Thursday, March 27, 2008
By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rdurrett@dallasnews.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Manager Ron Washington treated the final spring training game in Arizona on Thursday like a dress rehearsal.

Kansas City started left-hander Mike Maroth, allowing Washington to use the lineup that he wants in the season opener against Seattle lefty Erik Bedard on Monday. He'll do the same tonight when Texas faces the Chicago White Sox and former Ranger lefty John Danks in Oklahoma City.

Hank Blalock, hitting fourth, followed Michael Young and Josh Hamilton in the batting order. Milton Bradley hit fifth.

Washington said all spring that Bradley would be the cleanup hitter, but Blalock's red-hot spring and Bradley's timing issues at the plate helped change the manager's mind.

"I'll take the same approach no matter where I am, but I'm comfortable at cleanup and I want to produce and help this team score runs," Blalock said. "I can tell you Milton is an animal. And when he's healthy, there's no one better to have as protection in the lineup."

Both hitters looked good in the third inning Thursday. Blalock tagged Maroth for his fourth homer of the spring. Four pitches later, Bradley hit a long home run.

Blalock had just one at-bat in the No. 4 slot during his shortened 2007 season and hasn't hit there on a regular basis since 2005. Blalock has 668 career at-bats at cleanup and has a .266 average with 22 homers and 97 RBIs.

To give Hamilton a break, Washington made him the designated hitter Thursday. But when the club gets to Seattle, Hamilton will play center field. He will be flanked by David Murphy in left and Marlon Byrd in right.

The lineup will include four left-handed hitters – Hamilton, Blalock, Murphy and Ben Broussard – despite a lefty on the mound. Washington will bat Broussard ninth to break up some of the left-handed hitters. Broussard, Blalock and Hamilton are batting a combined .226 against lefties in their careers.

"They have to learn how to fight lefties, so I'm not concerned about that," Washington said. "I believe that if a lefty makes a mistake, they're going to make them pay. If we get deeper in the season and any of them show they can't handle lefties, we'll make an adjustment."

No bullpen decision yet: The Rangers have one more spot to fill and it's in the bullpen. The two in-house candidates: Robinson Tejeda, who is out of options, and Wes Littleton. General manager Jon Daniels said the club is also on the lookout for possibilities from outside the organization. Littleton was supposed to pitch Thursday but was held back because the Rangers will use relievers against the White Sox tonight.

Briefly: RHP Luis Mendoza (blister) expects to throw again in a few days. "I get this every spring and it heals," Mendoza said. ... RHP Jason Davis, a non-roster invitee, asked for and was granted his release from the team. ... Texas released C Chris Stewart and INF Edgardo Alfonzo. ... Washington said the regulars will play seven innings against the White Sox tonight and then get one or two at-bats Saturday in Frisco. ... LHP Kason Gabbard is scheduled to pitch Saturday.


PLAY BALL


Here's the Rangers' planned opening day lineup:

Pos. Player '07 avg.
2B Ian Kinsler .263
SS Michael Young .315
CF Josh Hamilton .292
3B Hank Blalock .293
DH Milton Bradley .306
LF David Murphy .340
RF Marlon Byrd .307
C Gerald Laird .224
1B Ben Broussard .275

2008 Spring Football preview

- Bo Pelini's first spring practice is around the corner. Time to preview.....

Huskers positional breakdown

By The Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008 - 12:25:18 am CDT

Heading into spring football practices, there are a few questions to be answered on the roster. Here's a breakdown of each position for the Huskers.

Offense

Quarterback

After throwing for 1,399 yards and starting the last three games of 2007, senior Joe Ganz enters spring ball as the No. 1 quarterback.

It’d be a major surprise if he loses that spot, but some of those with hopes of challenging him are Zac Lee, Patrick Witt, Beau Davis and Kody Spano.

Husker coach Bo Pelini said “we believe the competition at the quarterback position is going to be very good.”

Returning starter: Ganz.

Key loss: Sam Keller.

Running back

Finding someone to tote the rock will not be a problem. Senior Marlon Lucky is the Big 12’s leading returning rusher, ending last season with 1,019 yards on the ground and 705 yards receiving.

Lucky will certainly be pushed by a plethora of young talent: Quentin Castille, Roy Helu, Cody Glenn, Marcus Mendoza and possibly even Kenny Wilson, who is optimistic about returning after sitting out 2007 with a broken leg.

While Lucky was the highlight last fall, flashes of brilliance were shown by Helu and Castille, both sophomores. Glenn is worth keeping your eyes on. The senior is said to be “full-go” heading into spring.

Returning starter: Lucky.

Key losses: none.

Tight end

The Huskers will be looking to replace the graduated Sean Hill, Josh Mueller and J.B. Phillips, who started 34 games at NU.

Senior Hunter Teafatiller, who had four touchdowns last year, brings the most experience to the position. Nebraska will need players such as sophomores Mike McNeill and Dreu Young to come on strong.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Hill and Tyson Hetzer, a junior college recruit, will also get a good look this spring.

Returning starters: none.

Key losses: Hill, Mueller, Phillips.

Offensive line

Pelini has called it the strength of the team. “We think that we’re not only going to have a good starting line, but we’re going to have a little bit of depth there,” Pelini said.

The Huskers return players with a total of 67 career starts on the O-line — Lydon Murtha, Matt Slauson, Jacob Hickman and Mike Huff are all guys who have significant starting experience.

Sophomore Jaivorio Burkes could be a special talent at tackle. Mike Smith, Keith Williams and D.J. Jones will also definitely be in the mix. Hickman seems to be a logical choice to replace Brett Byford at center. Losing pro prospect Carl Nicks at left tackle could hurt.

Returning starters: Hickman, Huff, Murtha, Slauson.

Key losses: Nicks, Byford.

Receiver

Nebraska needs youth to step up here. The Huskers lose four seniors who totaled 293 receptions and 34 touchdowns, most notably Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn.

Seniors Nate Swift and Todd Peterson will have to be the leaders. Swift has 103 career catches and 12 scores. Who else? Niles Paul, Menelik Holt, Will Henry, Chris Brooks, Wes Cammack and Currenski Gilleylen will all be competing for playing time.

“It’s just all if it comes mentally,” Ganz said of the young receivers. “They have all the ability in the world. It’s really going to be up to me, Nate and Todd to really bring them along. It’s a big opportunity for them. It’s a big spring.”

Returning starter: Swift.

Key losses: Purify, Nunn.

Defense

Defensive line

The Huskers return four starters on a defensive line that is coming off a difficult season. Zach Potter and Barry Turner return at the end spots, while Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh are back inside.

The Huskers lacked depth on the line, got dented often against the run and recorded just 13 sacks last year. But, still, there’s plenty of fan optimism, with new coaches and a new system in place. Turner is believed to be a guy with high potential, and Potter and Suh showed flashes of what Husker coach Bo Pelini will want to see on a more consistent basis this fall.

After transferring from junior colleges, seniors Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield both learned on the job last year as backups at defensive tackle. Other guys who will battle for playing time are Pierre Allen, Ben Martin and Clayton Sievers. David Harvey and redshirt freshmen Will Yancy and Jared Crick also look to get in the mix.

Returning starters: Potter, Turner, Suh, Steinkuhler.

Key losses: none.

Linebacker

It’s no easy task to say who will emerge at linebacker come fall. Spots are wide-open after the departures of Bo Ruud, Steve Octavien, Corey McKeon and Lance Brandenburgh.

One returning player who figures to be a favorite to win a starting job is Phillip Dillard, who had 37 tackles at the MIKE position last fall. Other returning Huskers looking for playing time are Latravis Washington, Blake Lawrence, Austin Stafford, Nick Covey and Tyler Wortman.

The landscape will change in the fall when freshman recruits such as Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Alonzo Whaley and Micah Kreikemeier report to camp. It’s possible position changes could also eventually factor in here. Major Culbert will start the spring at safety but might be tried at linebacker.

Returning starters: none.

Key losses: Ruud, Octavien, McKeon, Brandenburgh.

Secondary

The Huskers lose six seniors here but return two starters in safety Larry Asante and cornerback Armando Murillo. Anthony Blue, Prince Amukamara and Rickey Thenarse all seem strong candidates for the other starting positions.

Blue will have to come back from an ACL tear that is keeping him out of spring ball.

Other players who will look to impress are Anthony West, Eric Hagg and Matt O’Hanlon. Hagg and West both saw action as freshmen last season.

Returning starters: Murillo, Asante.

Key losses: Zack Bowman, Cortney Grixby, Tierre Green, Andre Jones, Ben Eisenhart, Bryan Wilson.

Special Teams

Kicker

It doesn’t appear the kicking game will be a problem for the Huskers in 2008. Nebraska returns sophomore Alex Henery, who is yet to miss a PAT (45-for-45 ) or a field goal (8-for-8) in his college career. Then there’s strong-footed Adi Kunalic to handle kickoffs. He became a fan favorite last season, leading the nation in touchback percentage.

At punter, senior Dan Titchener is back. He has pinned teams inside the 20-yard line on 42 of his kicks the past two years.

Senior Jake Wesch is around as a backup and would seem the likely candidate to continue with holding duties.

Returning starters: Henery, Kunalic, Titchener.

Key losses: none.

Returners

Plenty of players will get a chance to show what they can do returning kicks. Three guys you might see back deep in various situations are Marlon Lucky, Niles Paul and Nate Swift.

Lucky has the most experience of anyone around on kickoff returns, having returned 22 in his career.

The Huskers will be looking to find someone who can replace Cortney Grixby, who set a Big 12 record for kickoff return yardage last season.

Returning starters: none.

Key losses: Grixby, Andre Jones.



- Cliffs Notes to Husker Spring Football



By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008 - 12:25:19 am CDT

It’s not known if Clifton Hillegass ever gave any attention to Husker football, but the man behind Cliffs Notes was a Nebraska native.

Since the beginning of Cliffs Notes in 1958, young minds have used the guides to help understand what they just read or — in some cases — get a quick summarization on something they didn’t read at all 10 minutes before a test.

What we have here isn’t exactly Cliffs Notes on Dickens.

Pelini, yes.

Nebraska’s spring football season begins today, the first under head coach Bo Pelini.

With so many words written and said about Husker football, here’s an attempt to offer a guide to some of the basic things to know and expect about spring camp and this Nebraska team.

We’ll tackle “The Old Man and The Sea” at a later date.

WHAT’S PELINI’S GOAL FOR THIS SPRING SEASON?: Laying bricks, even if the going is slow.

Pelini said this week that “you can make the mistake of trying to be the Patriots tomorrow.”

With new coaches in place, patience will be important this spring. But Pelini said he does want to make sure basic principles on both sides of the ball are established.

“Build a foundation,” he said. “Just keep building a foundation, which we have been doing down in the weight room and in the conditioning program. (We’ve been) developing the athleticism and that type of thing, and now we just get to put in some X’s and O’s.”

WHO WILL BE THIS TEAM’S SPOKESMEN?: Every year, a certain few players seem to emerge as spokesmen for the team. Sam Keller, Bo Ruud and Ndamukong Suh often faced the difficult questions during a 5-7 season last year.

Who will fans hear from the most this year?

Quarterback Joe Ganz will field plenty of questions and most likely do very well at answering them. Defensive end Zach Potter, safety Larry Asante, offensive lineman Matt Slauson and receiver Nate Swift are also impressive dealing with the media.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Ganz said of being a spokesperson. “I consider myself a vocal leader of the team, so talking to the press and the media just comes along with playing the position and being a leader of the team.”

WHAT POSITIONS HAVE THE MOST OPEN RACES?: Linebacker, the secondary and wide receiver.

No starters return from last year’s linebacker corps. The secondary brings back two starters — Asante and Armando Murillo — but will need youth to emerge. The same could be said at wide receiver, where the Huskers will need new names to step up and help out seniors Swift and Todd Peterson.

WHAT’S THE PRACTICE SCHEDULE?: The Huskers will work out about two hours each practice, with today’s beginning at 3:30 p.m.

All but one of the practices will be on the Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays leading up to the April 19 Red-White Spring Game.

ARE PRACTICES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?: Nope. Not until the Spring Game, at least.

Pelini’s practices will be closed to the media, a common thing with many college programs.

“I just don’t want distractions,” Pelini said. “I don’t like the media making their determinations based on who’s doing what. That’s the part I don’t like. I want the message to get out, but I want to make sure the correct things are getting out there.

“I don’t want some guy making his determination of where our football team is and what we’re doing or not doing, and who’s playing well and who’s not playing well, based on his perception of what a guy might or might not be being asked to do. I just want to make sure the information getting out is correct.”

WHO’S OUT?: Two key Huskers you won’t see this spring are defensive tackle Suh and cornerback Anthony Blue, who tore his ACL. Both recently had surgery.

Running back Kenny Wilson, who missed last season because of a broken leg, will be limited at the start of spring drills.

“He’s coming along,” Pelini said. “He has good days and bad. He worked his butt off, and he went through everything in the winter.”

But Pelini also said another senior running back, Cody Glenn, who’s been bothered by foot problems, is “full-go.”

WILL THE QUARTERBACKS WEAR GREEN?: Yes, Pelini said, you’ll probably see green hands-off jerseys on Ganz and crew.

HOW PHYSICAL WILL THINGS GET?: “We’re not going to be out there playing tag,” Pelini said. “I’ll promise you that.”

Pelini has said he doesn’t envision many full-blown scrimmages, but that there would be plenty of mini-scrimmages.

As for maybe seeing the No. 1 offense go against the No. 1 defense in the Spring Game (something Bill Callahan did not do in his four years at Nebraska), Pelini said it was a possibility.

“It depends on where we are at that point. I’m sure there will be some aspect of 1s versus 1s,” Pelini said. “But it’s hard to commit to that yet until you know where things are and how the spring goes and where we are at that point injury-wise.”

HOW WILL A TEAM COMING OFF A 5-7 SEASON FIND CONFIDENCE?: Pelini said he believes confidence will take care of itself once players see some success.

“If they start feeling the success and believing in the system, believing in their coaches, believing in each other, then that mental psyche will take care of itself over time,” Pelini said.

“Me sitting up there in front of them and trying to read a bunch of psychological books to try to talk to these guys, that isn’t what it’s all about. It’s about developing their confidence in the belief of what's going on.”



- Spring Ball story lines.



LINCOLN — The fishbowl has been cleaned and is ready for use again.

Just in time for the biggest spring prac­tice ever at Nebraska.
Well, at least since four years ago, or, the last time a new coach came to town, turned Nebraska football up­side down and shook it like a snow globe.

Remember that?

Four years ago, a guy came in here and said he was going to change the culture of Big Red, make it like the National Football League and throw the ball just because. Funny, but the culture didn’t change. The coach did. What wasthat guy’s name again?

Bo Pelini is back. And as spring ar­rives like a welcome warm breeze after a long, cold winter, the metaphors will come to life this spring in and around Memorial Stadium. What will they do? What can they possibly do in 15 prac­tices?

Here are the most intriguing charac­ters of a most intriguing spring:

 Coach Bo: We won’t begin to find out what sort of head coach Pelini is until he’s got fourth-and­five on Missouri’s 32, with three minutes left and MU up 24-21 and he has to decide whether to kick or punt or go for it. Can’t wait.

But it will be interesting to see if Pelini carries himself like a head coach. So far, he’s won all of the press conferences. I’m curi­ous as to how much time he’ll spend on offense, how much he’ll yell, how much he’ll hug, how tough and physical his practices will become. At least we know that the Huskers won’t play “tag.” Last year, the second- and third-teamers were so bored at practice they got into water fights.

Husker fans will be able to read between the white lines. They know passion and chemis­try. By the time of the 15th prac­tice, or spring game on April 19, we’ll have a good indication of how well the “passion” founda­tion brick was laid this spring.

There will be other indicators, too: Constant helmet repair, play­ers leaving . . . that will tell us that things are getting done.

 Shawn Watson: He has gone from Bill Callahan’s caddy to the main guy in the cockpit, pushing all of the buttons on offense. Wat­son’s cupboard is not deep with proven receivers, but it’s choc­k- full of bruising backs and an of­fensive line with run-blocking potential. Throw in a quarter­back who can run the zone read, and who knows what Watson will do? But one thing about Watson’s offenses at Colorado: They al­ways fit the scheme around the personnel, not the other way around.

 Joe Ganz: When Watson was retained as offensive coordina­tor, Ganz was all but assured pole position for the job, given his re­lationship with Watson. This is a confident, not cocky, kid who can make plays. It will be interesting to see how Ganz will react on top.

 Marlon Lucky: Senior year, money year, new offense with new guy calling the shots. A big finale sits in front of Lucky like an open field. It’s hard to call Lucky a “sleeper.” But he’s myX factor for the 2008 season.

 Cody Glenn: He’s been in­jured and lost in the shuffle. But way back when, like two years ago, he showed bruising poten­tial. Watson used big backs at Colorado (as we remember all too well). Keep an eye on Glenn, as well as Quentin Castille and Roy Helu Jr.

 Matt Slauson: This colorful and passionate big ugly has all­star potential. He needs some stability. Put him at right guard, run the diesels behind him and call it good.

 Jaivorio Burkes: Big body, long arms. Love his potential at tackle.

 Barry Turner and Zach Pot­ter: Former defensive coordina­tor Kevin Cosgrove wanted his players big. Too big. No wonder Jayhawks were jogging right by these guys. Turner and Potter each have dropped about 20 pounds. Much has been expected of Turner. He’s underachieved. But I believe that Turner and Pot­ter, at the bookends on defense, will be examples of how Pelini will transform this defense by putting players in the right place and motivating them. The defen­sive line will be better than peo­ple think, and it starts at the ends.

 Larry Asante and Rickey Thenarse: It says right here that safety will be the most improved position on this team in 2008. Two reasons: the head coach played safety, and new secondary coach is Marvin Sanders. Under Peli­ni’s cover-two scheme, the safe­ties serve as cover for the cor­ners as well as head-hunting missiles for receivers on cross­ing slants. Remember all of those plays made by the Bullocks twins in 2003?

Asante and Thenarse have tal­ent. And they can hit. Asante says that big hits are all about being in the right position. There will be blood.

 Ron Brown and Mike Ekeler: Brown, the gray fox and the most underrated assistant under Tom Osborne, should be rejuvenated after some time off. Ekeler will have people running into walls, just like he used to at Kansas State. Maybe they can still sneak him onto the kickoff team.

 Players who leave: If Peli­ni’s practices are as hard as we think, expect some attrition. Maybe NU will lose a bunch of the Callahan players who came to NU to play for the NFL, not for Nebraska.

 Tackling dummies: Vaca­tion’s over for them.




- Some encouraging news.....



Situation looking better for Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki

It's possible forward could return a little sooner than expected

10:40 PM CDT on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

For his 43rd birthday, all Avery Johnson wanted was one more point than the Los Angeles Clippers.

He got a bonus gift in the form of good news about Dirk Nowitzki's early recovery.

The first 48 hours are supposed to tell a lot about an injury, and the Mavericks said they got all the right results about Nowitzki's left ankle and knee problems. It's looking like the original two-week prognosis by owner Mark Cuban might be a worst-case scenario.

"From what I'm hearing, he's doing really well," Johnson said Tuesday. "That doesn't mean he's going to be back anytime soon. But for the type of injury, he's doing well. Hopefully, we'll catch a break with it. And he'll heal like he normally heals, and it won't take that long."

Officially, the team still says Nowitzki is out for an unspecified time.

Nowitzki, wearing a dapper brown jacket and the protective boot on his left leg, joined his teammates on the bench during the first quarter.

While his teammates went about the business of picking up the slack, Nowitzki was moving well. He chatted and laughed with trainer Casey Smith and equipment manager Al Whitley during timeouts. His presence was a reminder that things could have been so much worse.

"When it happened, I really thought it was a bad knee injury," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Johnson was still thanking the hoop gods Tuesday.

"That [fall] won't make your hair gray, that will scare you," he said. "Dirk's had big falls for quite a while. And you just hold your breath. I'm just thankful he didn't say 'knee.' And we know what kind of injury I'm talking about."

That would be a serious ligament injury.

Doing fine in LA: Nick Fazekas' rookie season has been a lesson in the business of the NBA. He was drafted 34th, spent most of his time with the Mavericks at Tulsa in the Development League, then was waived to make room for Keith Van Horn to be part of the Jason Kidd trade.

He was signed in late February by the Clippers to a 10-day contract, then was signed for the rest of the season.

"In this league, a lot of negatives can be turned into a positive," Fazekas said. "When one door closes, a lot more open up, and that's kind of what happened. I've had a lot of opportunity here in LA to showcase what I can do. There's been a lot more opportunity than what I got here."

Fazekas had good things to say about the Mavericks organization and president Donnie Nelson for the way they handled his departure.

And the Clippers have had nothing but praise for Fazekas.

"When we first got him, we didn't think that much of him," Dunleavy said. "But we threw him in some games, and he would kind of always be in the right place at the right time, and he just kind of grew on us. At first, it was like, 'Whoa, what did we bring in here?' But he's been getting the job done.' "

Allen gets the nod: Malik Allen smiled and said "no problem."

All he had to do was fill in with 23 points and nine rebounds as Nowitzki's replacement in the starting lineup, right?

He had no illusions of grandeur, although he played solidly Tuesday with six points and nine rebounds.

"I'm not going to be Dirk," he said. "I'm not going to try to step out of my box. [But] without question, it's an opportunity for individuals and more importantly for our team. It's no secret we've been struggling. This would be a good time to build some confidence. And there's no better way to do it than without our best player."



- Dirk's stand up routine.

Hello lottery

- No Dirk, no go-to scoring option, no crutch for his very average teammates anymore. These next 12 games could be horrific. Hello lottery.

Where they go from here, and possible lineups.....

Dallas Mavericks weigh their options without Dirk

Without Dirk, lineup will have a different look - but which one?


03:47 AM CDT on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
esefko@dallasnews.com

Dirk Nowitzki has missed one game this season, and it was a forgettable one for the Dallas Mavericks.

They were hammered by Houston when Nowitzki was benched by an NBA suspension on March 6.

Now the Mavericks are staring a lot more than just one game without their best player. The schedule, despite two games upcoming against the Los Angeles Clippers – including tonight's – is demanding. Five of the next seven games are on the road against playoff contenders.

So what do the Mavericks do without Dirk?

"We've just got to play hard as hell – every day, every game," forward Brandon Bass said. "It's got to be a team thing. No individual is going to replace him."

Bass is one of the options coach Avery Johnson has. Bass could replace Nowitzki at power forward in the starting lineup. Malik Allen also is an option.

The Mavericks could go small, with Josh Howard sliding over to power forward and Devean George, Eddie Jones or even Jason Terry filling out the starting lineup.

Jason Kidd now becomes even more of a focal point for the Mavericks than he has been since he was acquired in a Feb. 19 trade. The Mavericks are 9-8 since, and they still haven't beaten a winning team since Kidd's arrival.

"Without Dirk, we're going to have to make the extra pass and do the little things –box out, not foul as much, don't put teams in the bonus," Kidd said.

"The beauty of this is nobody's really talking about us. We have to put up wins without him."

Offensive offense: The Mavericks know where their biggest problem is. They just aren't exactly sure how to fix it.

"We've got to score," Kidd said. "And we've got to get more shots up. If you were to ask anybody if we were going to hold Boston and San Antonio to under 35 percent [shooting], we'd have a pretty good chance to win that game."

Johnson said the Mavericks don't want to change a thing about their defense. If there's any concern about players pressing to make up for Nowitzki's absence, it shouldn't have any impact on the defensive end.

Tough session: Johnson said the first practice without Nowitzki was one of the best workouts the team has had of late in at least one respect.

"This was probably one of our most physical practices in the last two to three weeks," he said.


NOW WHAT?
Some possible rotations for the Mavericks during Dirk Nowitzki's absence:


Go strong
New starter: Brandon Bass

What it does: Gives the Mavericks a more traditional power forward who spends most of his time in the paint and can make 15-foot jumpers


Go long
New starter: Malik Allen

What it does: Gives them a big man who can make longer shots, stretching opposing defenses and creating gaps for Josh Howard and Jason Terry


Go small
New starter: Devean George, Eddie Jones or Antoine Wright

What it does: Makes them better defensively, assuming George or Josh Howard can guard opposing power forwards


Go really small
New starter: Jason Terry

What it does: Gives the offense its best chance to start percolating again, as Terry and Jerry Stackhouse spread the defense better than any other healthy combination they have.




- The optimist's view.....



Losing Nowitzki can be good for Dallas Mavericks

07:42 PM CDT on Monday, March 24, 2008

Give Avery Johnson this much: He may not coax the best out of his point guards, but he sure slings a mean metaphor.

Just when Dirk Nowitzki's injury provided the rest of the Mavs an excuse to fold, Johnson magnified their dilemma.

"There's no Dirk coming out of a phone booth or anything," Johnson said. "They've got to stop looking."

Moral: If the Dirkless Mavs are going to salvage this season, they're going to have to save themselves.

And that's why Nowitzki's absence really is a good thing. Bear with me on this.

The Mavs can go one of two ways: They can close ranks and hold off Golden State and Denver, proving their mettle and getting a much-needed jolt when Nowitzki returns going into the postseason.

Or the Mavs can continue to flop-flop-flop along on a flat tire as they have since the Jason Kidd deal, a ride that should only get bumpier without Nowitzki, and slide off the road into the lottery.

Frankly, I'm not sure which is better. Tells you all you need to know about this season, doesn't it?

Consider the first possibility: No matter how much you hated the Kidd trade, he's certainly drawn the best from Nowitzki and Erick Dampier, of all people.

Nowitzki hasn't played this well since he earned all those MVP votes. He wanted a change at point guard, and he got it. Kidd's presence, particularly when he's pushing the ball, makes Nowitzki's life easier.

Question: So if Nowitzki's playing so well with Kidd, what's wrong?

Answer: It isn't the defense, despite warnings by the trade's critics.

If you think it's Kidd's shooting that's killing the Mavs, let me tell you a story.

A Mavs assistant confided after the trade that Kidd's indelicate shooting touch would keep him from succeeding.

Of course, that was the trade that sent Kidd from Dallas to Phoenix a dozen years ago. Kidd has dragged his woebegone shot through a Hall-of-Fame career.

And the assistant with the scouting report? He's been out of the league for years.

If it's any consolation, Kidd has been working on his shooting. A few media members with attention-deficit issues were distracted Monday from Nowitzki's impromptu news conference by the sight of Kidd putting up jumpers.

A few of us even counted.

"How many is that?" someone would whisper.

"Four."

Clang.

"Zero."

Bottom line: Kidd will never be a good shooter, but he can be better than he's been lately. He simply must keep shooting. And not worry that Johnson will pull him after the next brick.

Johnson could also help by letting Kidd post up smaller point guards. The concept worked for Kidd in the past, and it's time for Johnson to put it in the playbook.

Time for everyone to step up, actually. Houston did it when Yao Ming went down with an injury.

Sure, the Rockets had already won 12 in a row, and their bench is both younger and livelier than the Mavs'. But Yao's loss still could have been devastating. The Rockets simply wouldn't allow it.

"Adversity, sometimes, you can see somebody's true colors," Kidd said.

"This is just beginning. It should be fun."

Better than if he'd said, "terrifying."

Josh Howard must step in for Nowitzki like Tracy McGrady did for Yao. Brandon Bass must live up to the potential he's shown this season. Jason Terry has to come up big.

Avery Johnson? He has to find a way to make Kidd comfortable. If the former point guard can't, the Mavs won't make the playoffs.

You could argue that it won't make any difference if they do, given how poorly they've played lately. I'd counter that you never know what might happen in the playoffs, especially with the West so tight.

But for argument's sake, let's go with your pessimism. If the Mavs don't make the playoffs, the first-rounder that went to New Jersey with Devin Harris stays home instead.

Now, the Mavs in the lottery doesn't mean Michael Beasley's coming to Dallas. But an interesting point guard – Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, D.J. Augustin, Tywon Lawson, maybe Darren Collison – could be available. One of them could spend a year as an understudy to Kidd and perhaps provide a long-term answer.

Of course, that assumes Johnson would like any point guard, but that's a diatribe for another day.



- More lineup shuffling in response to a 1-7 stretch. At this point, any change is welcomed, since the current mix isn't working. They better find some sort of cohesiveness by April 9th when they open up the playoffs on the road.



Modano, Dallas Stars realign again

Modano is recast as the shooter on a new line with Richards, Barnes

01:26 AM CDT on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
mheika@dallasnews.com

FRISCO – Get the Dallas Stars rewrite.

At a time when their story has taken a turn for the worse, a new script was being penned Monday on the practice ice.

Mike Modano was moved to the left wing on a line with Brad Richards and Stu Barnes. Jere Lehtinen returned to the top line with Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow. Steve Ott was given the chore of leading the checking line with Joel Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson. And a new third line of Niklas Hagman-Toby Petersen-B.J. Crombeen emerged with not only energy and grit, but maybe the possibility of scoring a goal or two.

"When things aren't working, you have to expect change," Modano said.

In many ways, the line juggling represents a significant change in mindset for the Stars. Then again, that change might be needed. The Stars are in a 1-7-0 slump and about to depart on a four-game road trip that could determine whether or not they make the playoffs.

Many thought before the trade deadline that co-general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson would get a scoring partner for Modano. In fact, Hull said that was exactly what he was looking for. However, the Stars ended up getting Richards, a playmaker, and have since been trying to make that move fit on the ice.

While Richards played right wing with Modano at center a few games back in what Tippett determined was a disappointing fit, the switch should have Modano as the shooter, Richards as the playmaker and Stu Barnes as the puck hunter on a second scoring line.

"That's fine with me, I'll look to shoot," Modano said. "Brad is a great passer and Stu is smart and does great things with the puck."

The move should allow Modano and Richards the opportunity to find answers together – and possibly take some pressure off the top line.

"The bottom line is, we need some production out of Richards and Modano," Tippett said.

Richards said he is frustrated by the Stars' 2-7-0 record with him in the lineup, but said he also is bolstered by the fact he is becoming part of the team during four weeks' worth of practices.

"I'm going to be better, and I'm going to feel more comfortable. I believe that," he said. "I don't want to look for people to do things for me. I need to hold onto the puck and help create things for myself and my linemates. That's what I do, and that's the best way to get into the game for me."




- I trust 2 people with hockey knowledge in Dallas. Razor and Mike Heika. So I must stay on board with this shuffling. He makes great points here.



Maybe Dave Tippett really does read this blog.

Or maybe you guys are just smart.

The lines today at practice were:

Morrow-Ribeiro-Lehtinen
Modano-Richards-Barnes
Lundqvist-Ott-Eriksson
Hagman-Petersen-Crombeen

Apparent scratches were: Miettinen, Winchester, Barch.

Tippett said he was just looking at a few things _ and he does have two more days of practice before he has to decide on the lines against San Jose. But quite honestly, these lines make sense (just as you guys have explained). Modano wants to play on a scoring line, so try him at a wing. Richards has been holding onto the puck more, so maybe he is getting more comfortable and could create scoring chances for Modano.

Lehtinen has been great on the top line, Barnes brings energy to the second line, Ott, Lundqvist and Eriksson each are playing well and could form a solid checking line, and the fourth line actually seems to make sense with some speed, some grit and some ability to still score a goal or two.

Zubov did not practice with the team. Boucher did and looked good. Still, Tippett said he didn't expect either to play Thursday against the Sharks. Both are close, but the Stars need to be careful and keep the long-range health of both in mind.

Big night to watch the Northwest Division. There is a chance the Stars could wake up Tuesday in sixth place (if Minnesota and Calgary both win). That said, the Stars should probably cheer for a Flames win, as it pushes Colorado further down and allows the Stars a better chance to make the playoffs or at least not finish in eighth place (and probably face the Red Wings in the first round).




- Thankfully, the Rangers look like they're going to hold on to Marlon Byrd. Good clubhouse guys and leaders are severely underrated in baseball, and he's the best one they have.



Trade of Texas Rangers' Byrd looking more unlikely

Discussions with Cubs have seen both sides unwilling to budge


02:30 AM CDT on Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com

MESA, Ariz. – Texas Rangers outfielder and trade target Marlon Byrd and Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry exchanged pleasantries on the field at HoHoKam Park Monday morning.

It may end up being the only thing the Rangers and Cubs exchange this spring.

With less than a week remaining until the season begins, on-and-off trade talks that started two months ago appear to be going nowhere. Hendry remains insistent that he won't give up a top pitching prospect in addition to outfielder Matt Murton for Byrd. The Rangers remain insistent that they won't deal Byrd without one of those prospects.

Normally, that would be that, and the teams would move on. But, a club source indicated that the Cubs have recently re-engaged the Rangers because Hendry hasn't been able to land the extra outfielder he has been seeking.

"I made the decision to wait until spring training to get an outfielder who could play all three positions," Hendry said. "Now, it's time for me to get something done. I'd feel better about my contributions to the club if I could get something done this spring."

The Cubs may instead turn to recently released Reed Johnson.

General manager Jon Daniels, tending to a family obligation, was not with the club Monday, but he has declined to comment on the talks with the Cubs since spring training began. In January, Daniels told Byrd he was not looking to deal him but would if he got a desirable package from the Cubs.

The Rangers have held firm on wanting one of the Cubs' top three pitching prospects, either Jose Ceda, Sean Gallagher or Donald Veal in addition to Murton.

Byrd and Murton, who was in Chicago's lineup Monday, started both meetings between the Rangers and Cubs this spring. Byrd played center the first time and right on Monday, displaying his versatility.

Byrd said he's heard nothing but rumors since his conversation with Daniels in January.

"I'll feel a lot better when someone comes up and says it's a done deal, one way or the other," Byrd said. "But I think I'll feel this way right up until opening day."




- Nebraska Spring practice notes......



NU Football Notes: Glenn a 'full go' after good winter, Pelini says

BY RICH KAIPUST AND MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini delivered the first good news on I-back Cody Glenn in quite some time.

"He's full go, as far as I know," Pelini said Monday. "He had a good winter. He's doing well."

Glenn injured a foot late in the 2006 season and has never been the same since. After missing the final three games of that sophomore year, he saw his junior season all but wasted as he played in just five games with 27 carries.

"I really like Cody because he's the kind of guy who will do anything to help the football team," Pelini said. "He's really a team guy, has the right attitude, and I think he's going to be a good football player for us."

I-back Kenny Wilson also has the chance to do some limited work as spring practice starts Wednesday and runs through the Red-White game on April 19. Wilson has been sidelined by a broken leg since last winter.

"He's coming along," Pelini said. "You just don't want to put him out there and have him get set back."

Strength coach getting results

Winter conditioning looks to have worked wonders for a few Huskers. Defensive end Zach Potter and guard Matt Slauson on Monday appeared in noticeably better shape than last season.

Quarterback Joe Ganz talked of the intense workouts and running sessions directed by new strength coach James Dobson.

Pelini said the Huskers emerged well from nearly two months of work.

"I think we're a more athletic team now," the coach said. "I think they're in better shape. I think it went very well. I'm really happy with that aspect of it."

Just as important, he said, the Huskers are buying into the teachings of Dobson. His plan differs from the offseason regimen in previous years.

Potter said the Huskers prefer this system, which stresses efficiency in the weight room.

"I joked with my dad that I actually feel an ab (muscle)," Potter said. "I can't see it, but I can feel it."

Dobson, formerly an assistant strength coach at Iowa, is the first member of Pelini's staff to work with the NU players in a physical setting.

"They see themselves getting better, developing the athleticism and the flexibility necessary, along with the strength," Pelini said. "Our job is to take these guys and develop them, make them better — not just better football players but better athletes."

Only loss Slauson foresees is pounds

Slauson looked noticeably slimmer Monday. The senior has dropped to 328 pounds after finishing last season in the 345 to 350 range.

Slauson even wants to shed another 10 to 15 pounds.

"It's my last year, and I have to put on the best show I can because I can get a ring," he said. "We have to win the Big 12 championship. It's going to happen. And we're going to go to a BCS game. It's going to happen. And I have to make sure that I tie up all the ends on my side."

Christensen still suspended

Slauson said he's not been in contact with suspended teammate Andy Christensen since the offensive lineman was arrested March 8 on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault.

But some other Huskers have stayed in touch, Slauson said.

"We all like Andy a lot," Slauson said. "It's a real unfortunate deal. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of that goes."

Christensen, a senior from Bennington, is free on bond and has not gone to trial. Pelini said Monday that Christensen remains indefinitely suspended.

Players barred from some bars

As a result of Christensen's arrest and other alcohol-related problems this year, Pelini has declared off-limits several downtown bars to the Huskers for the rest of this semester, according to Ganz.

Ganz said it's a "small sacrifice" for the Huskers to make for the betterment of their team. The quarterback said he's confident his teammates will adhere to the rules.

"We're grown men," the quarterback said. "We understand what we have to do."

The players 21 and older are not restricted entirely from drinking, Ganz said.

Pelini promises no 'playing tag'

Slauson liked hearing Pelini say the Huskers could be in for a physical round of spring practices. He already was looking forward to tangling with defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler in drills.

"It's going to be fun," Slauson said. "If I could strap it on today, I would."

Pelini hasn't gone into much detail about planned scrimmages or scrimmage time. But he reiterated that NU must become a more physical football team.

"We're not going to be out there playing tag, I promise you that," Pelini said, chuckling at his own comment.


Huskers eager to start spring practices

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Monday, Mar 24, 2008 - 04:31:56 pm CDT

Spring football practice at Nebraska begins in two days. That’s 124 days too late, as far as senior offensive lineman Matt Slauson is concerned.

“I’ve been ready since Nov. 23,” Slauson said, referring to the date of Nebraska’s last game.

“I mean, everyone’s so stoked, especially me, coming off a really disappointing year, and this being my last year. I want to get a ring so bad.”

Slauson was among five players who spoke at Monday’s news conference at Memorial Stadium. Words like confidence, intensity and excitement were fairly abundant.

Much of that has to do with the anticipation of a fresh start under first-year coach Bo Pelini.

“It’s his drive to win,” safety Larry Asante said. “I love Coach, and I think he’s after our best interests. He wants to win, first and foremost, and I want to win. Whatever we’ve got to in order to win, I’m down for it, and I’m going to do it.”

Wednesday is the first of 15 spring practices, culminating with the annual Red-White Spring Game on April 19. More than 47,000 tickets have been sold.

Pelini promised physical practices.

“We’re not going to be out there playing tag,” Pelini said. “I’ll promise you that.”

Said Slauson: “It’s going to be straight up hitting, and it’s going to be fun. The big guys in the trenches usually like that.”

Senior defensive end Zach Potter said players aren’t using last year’s 5-7 record as motivation for this season. Rather, 2007 is forgotten.

“I think if you look at all the numbers and the record, it’s going to put you down,” Potter said. “We need to keep the confidence up, and if we look back at the numbers and stuff from last year, it’s just going to hurt us.”

Pelini said only two players — Ndamukong Suh and Anthony Blue — will be held out of spring practices because of injury. Running back Kenny Wilson, who missed last season with a broken leg, will be limited at the start of spring drills.

“He’s coming along,” Pelini said. “He has good days and bad. He worked his butt off, and he went through everything in the winter.”

Pelini also said senior running back Cody Glenn, who’s been bothered by foot problems, is “full go” heading into spring.

“He had a good winter. He’s doing well,” Pelini said. “I really like Cody because he’s the kind of guy that will do anything to help the football team.”

Pelini said it’s too early to talk about possible position changes, but said there will likely be some as spring ball progresses.

“We never make anybody move,” Pelini said. “You make somebody move to another position, and their heart isn’t in it, then it’s not good for anybody on the team. It has to be their decision.”

Have any players approached Pelini about wanting a position change?

“No, but I’ve joked around with a couple of guys, and they said they’re open to it.”

Done

- I don't even know what to say today.

Mostly Cloudy Forecast: Dark Days Without Dirk

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com

DALLAS -- Not as bad as it looked on TV?

There's a chance that sentiment might actually wind up applying to the stomach-turning twisting and folding that Dirk Nowitzki's left leg did Sunday afternoon.

As for the Dallas Mavericks' standing in the Western Conference race, well, that's as disturbing as it appears on pretty much any screen you choose. Television, computer, handheld, whatever.

If Nowitzki misses the next two weeks, as Mavs owner Mark Cuban fears, Dallas will have to play three games without the reigning MVP against its two nearest rivals in the race to clinch the West's seventh and eighth seeds, as well as road games against the Lakers and Suns. The seven games on the schedule in this two-week span include a Thursday trip to No. 9 Denver -- which can clinch the season-series tiebreaker with a victory -- and a home-and-home with No. 8 Golden State.

But this might be the truly troubling part:

Even if Nowitzki were to make it back faster somehow -- if the damage he sustained in Sunday's 88-81 loss to San Antonio was purely in the "left lower leg" as the Mavs described it and not his left knee -- Dallas has no guarantees that it'll be way better off.

That's how discombobulated and unsure Nowitzki's team looks these days, as it braces for a stretch with five out of six games on the road after Tuesday's presumed home gimme against the Clippers.

As Mavs swingman Jerry Stackhouse summarized it: "You and everybody else in the dang Dallas world knows that a lot of what we do revolves around Dirk. So if he's out, you can't just abandon everything and start something new on the fly. We haven't had success trying to tweak this thing on the fly yet. We need him to heal up. Fast."

The latest update on the tweaking leads to more unpleasant reading for the Mavs. After this fall-from-ahead defeat, they've dropped to 0-8 against teams with winning records since making the Jason Kidd trade.

They had targeted the past week as maybe the season's most pivotal, with visits from the Lakers on Tuesday, Boston on Thursday and San Antonio on Easter. After painfully narrow losses in the first two games -- and a loud blowup between Cuban and coach Avery Johnson in between after the Mavs fell into a 25-point hole against L.A. -- Dallas was hoping to follow the Phoenix blueprint and turn this Sunday afternoon showcase with the Spurs into a turning point.

Phoenix, remember, launched its first good spell in the Shaquille O'Neal era with an ABC home victory over the Spurs two Sundays back. Cuban even tried to lessen the tension and add to the flipping-the-page karma here by showing up in an "Avery's Team" T-shirt that he proudly grabbed and popped as he walked down an American Airlines Center corridor before tipoff.

Dallas then went out and celebrated Kidd's 35th birthday with a full-blown nightmare at lunchtime. Tim Duncan shot 1-for-10 in the first half, Tony Parker shot 4-for-21 overall and the Mavs wound up collapsing against a vulnerable opponent that, just like Boston, didn't even manage to shoot 35 percent from the floor. After two Nowitzki free throws made it 54-42 roughly halfway through the third quarter, Dallas began settling for jumpers and stagnating in the halfcourt, leading to the surrender of 19 consecutive points.

San Antonio had scored 14 of those 19 in a row by the time Nowitzki's left leg was pinned and pressed by the landing of Ime Udoka after Nowitzki's blocked Udoka's driving layup. Which is another way of saying that the Mavs' confidence was already draining away when they were subjected to the frightful sight of their franchise player going down in what to some had the look of a season-ending heap.

History says Nowitzki will actually rebound faster than anyone who saw the footage would dare imagine … as long as the damage is restricted to the ankle area. He's done it so many times that he makes you think he has bionic ankles, with one theory in Mavsland suggesting that Nowitzki -- thanks to years of countless deep-knee bends and other unorthodox exercises with his German mentor Holger Geschwindner -- can play through ankle sprains so easily because of his world-class flexibility.

But his team, with or without Nowitzki, is out of wiggle room. The Mavs are only 9-8 since Kidd arrived -- with Kidd himself managing to score only 10 points over the past three games with defenses sagging off him more and more -- and thus prompted a bit of a press-room scramble Sunday. More than one scribe was moved to double-check and make sure that the first-round pick which Dallas sent to New Jersey as part of the Kidd trade is indeed lottery-protected, because the team that made a run at 70 wins last season might be forced to use that pick if it can't win a few games over the next two weeks.

Which only puts more pressure on Kidd, whether or not Nowitzki can soon go, at a time when Johnson says teams "are playing five in the paint on us" and when Kidd is increasingly tentative in halfcourt sets. He's admittedly struggling to find a way to "be myself and just play" or to "stop thinking and just react."

"… Losing three in a row, whether it's at home or on the road, is not a good place to be," Johnson conceded. "We'll talk to them again and pick them up. Hopefully they'll come into practice tomorrow with a renewed sense of optimism, knowing that the season is not over."

If you were watching on this painful Easter Sunday, that might have been the best thing anyone could say about the Mavs' season.