Steven M. Sipple: In the quiet final phase of the lost season, NU fans should always dream of brighter days | Column

Yeah, Nebraska (15-13, 5-12 Big Ten) played harder than Tuesday night at Penn State. Again, the Huskers did not show up for the match in Happy Valley, and yet their fans were on their nerves for most of the Purdue match. This fan base is hungry. You will not convince me otherwise. It deserves a lot better than it does for the moment.

As the last few seconds passed, you heard an ominous silence.

Shortly after the last gunshot, Tim Miles delivered three letters that no Nebraska fan wants to hear after being asked about the message that he would address to his players while they're on their way. were preparing for Thursday night's game in Michigan, ranked seventh.

"Let's win it," said Nebraska's head coach. "What are you saying, let's play for NIT?"

It's where we are, amigos. When the Nebraska season began, the question was not whether the Huskers were going to the NCAA tournament, but rather how many NU games would win in the Big Dance. But the crew of Miles was composed of 2 to 6 people in January and 2 to 5 people this month. Unless there's a miracle, the Big Reds will be watching Big Dance again, and the NIT is not a lock – even though the NIT teams do not have to have a .500 record.

"You have to tell these guys:" Listen, consider the moment, everything can still happen, let's do our best to win the next game, "Miles said. "Play with the stamina with which we have to play and make things happen."

You feel bad for Miles and his staff. You have pain for his players. Nobody likes to watch this kind of dive. Nobody with a heart, anyway. Nebraska fans yearn for something important for this program. When these fans see Glynn Watson (25 points on Saturday) scrambling his defenseman with a cross dribble, getting up and punching a three-pointer, they long to see the result helping to get the kind of win that will produce a high seed in the tournament of the NCAA. It was not so long ago that Joe Lunardi called the Huskers No. 4.

Nebraska came out of December with a 11-2 record. Then came the spiral. The Huskers were 2-4 in January and were playing against the Ohio State at home when senior striker Isaac Copeland suffered a knee injury late in the season during the second half of the season. the second half of what has become a 70-60 loss. Copeland was playing well at the time, probably better than anyone in the team. His loss has obviously been difficult to overcome.

In quiet moments, especially after her team has won 48-30, as was the case against Purdue, you wonder how many Miles are questioning about the impact of Jordy Tshimanga's decision from the center from six feet to 11 inches to transfer to Dayton last summer. Nobody suggests that Tshimanga would be a panacea. Not even close. But he could help a team that repeatedly loses battles on the boards. The Boilermakers (20-7, 13-3) caught 19 offensive rebounds, exactly half of their 38 misses.

Bouncing is an effort. Certainly, Nebraska played hard. But all too often, it seems that the opponent is content to he wants it more. Too often, it seems like the opponent is just much more concentrated. But an organ 6-11 of the bench would surely help, assuming that this organ is willing to play that kind of role – coming out of the bench. It is harder than ever to convince players to retire from the bench. Jordy did not want to do it.

You're also wondering how many times Miles is considering the impact of 6-3 guard loss Xavier Johnson, who has an average of 16.6 points in Pittsburgh. He signed with Nebraska but had doubts after Kenya Hunter, his main recruiter, left Lincoln for Connecticut. Johnson was released from his letter of national intent. It was a mortal blow for Miles. But he still had a good team, the kind of talent that you think could allow Nebraska to win its first NCAA tournament win.

Yes, many things if-so. It's that kind of season.

"You could write an endless book," says Miles.

I've read this book far too many times to cover Nebraska men's basketball. I'm tired of hearing people say that Miles Huskers are about to become a program that can enter the Big Dance. He did it once in seven seasons. Maybe one day the program will have a coach who hopes to reach the tournament every year and hopes to win victories. Mammoth wins. Victories that move NU in Sweet 16 and maybe even beyond. Of course that can happen.

It looks like a chimera now. Yes, here is the NIT (maybe). Once upon a time, NIT was cool for Nebraska. Now, the mere mention lets a lot of people get cold, as it should be.