Following his team’s 74-46 drubbing at the hands of Iowa, Nebraska head coach Tim Miles went with his best Coach Carter impersonation, banning his players from using their shiny new locker room and the TVs, iPads and pool table that come with it.
“There will be chains on the doors locking it from the outside,’’ Miles said to media after the game, “until further notice.’’
The Hendricks Complex, a vital part of the complete renovation that the University put forth for the basketball program–and also a key selling point that NU used in luring Miles away from Colorado State–is one of the finest basketball facilities in the country.
Miles has never been gun shy about his public perception, as he was known for using Twitter during halftime of games while at CSU, and became the first college coach to ever tweet at halftime of a NCAA Tournament game. This move, however, misses its mark.
Nebraska is one of the nation’s most disappointing teams in 2014-2015, as the Cornhuskers entered the year on many people’s Top 25 ballots, or at least were close to it on others. Led by Terran Petteway, one of the Big Ten’s breakout stars a year ago, NU started the year just 8-4, and have since gone just 5-10 in conference play. Eight of those losses have been by double-digits.
The head coach did say that he doesn’t enjoy throwing his players under the bus, but that is exactly what this move looks like. I doubt that he will forego his use of any offices or facilities that he has available to him. I doubt that he plans on relinquishing any of this year’s salary.
No, Miles seems to believe that the responsibility for this season’s struggles fall directly on his players’ shoulders, rather than the coaching staff.
Wake up Mr. Miles, the buck stops with you.
