Oh me of little faith! 

Count me among those who did not expect to see the Husker men's basketball team extend the postseason past the first round.  Not that I didn't think they could---I just didn't think they would.  And surely not 75-60. 

Neither did you.  But that's why we love sports.  That's the madness of March.  That's the Power of Red! 

Holy cow!  Where has this team been?  Credit Doc Saddler, his assistants and the players for coming to play in Kansas City.   Doc shortened the bench, found the right chemistry and away they went...executing the game plan, hanging on to the ball, rebounding and hitting 17 of 20 from the free throw line.  That'll work!

Will it work against Texas A&M?  Who knows?  Actually Nebraska gave the Aggies all they wanted back in January.  Let's find out Thursday.  1:00pm on KNEB (960) AM.  Doc could have the prescription for another upset!

Its Tournament Time.  Nebraska State High School Boys tournament, Big 12 Men's Tournament and the Big 12 Women's Tournament all opening this week.  The Big 12 Champion Husker Women's team will be in action Friday on KNEB 960 AM.  Airtime is 9:45am, tip at 10:00 our time on KNEB 960 AM.

Matt Coatney, the voice of the Huskers, says he is packing for the weekend.   Big 12 Coach of the Year Connie Yori said she is too and admitted that hasn't always been the case over her years of coaching. 

Despite the confidence we all have in this special team, it will a tall order.  Three straight days, three straight games all with a huge target on their backs.  All against teams they have already played and beaten.....and with an all out full court game offense and defense.  Bench play will be so important in the coming days and weeks.

We all love a winner.  Its easy to jump on the bandwagon---when the bandwagon is rolling through a historic record setting season.  But its important to remember how hard these coaches and players work--on and off the court.

I had the chance to meet one the girls on this team in the fall of 2008.  I had gone to Lincoln for a football game.  Visiting my son, who is a student at UN-L, he introduced me to a friend of a friend--who happened to be one of the basketball players.   And she was hitting the books.  Yep, spending her Saturday afternoon--in the fall--with a home football game--hitting the books.   Just part of the commitment these student athletes make.  Nebraskans can be rightly proud of the academic as well as athletic achievements of these students.

Now one more thing.  The post season honors have been pouring in for our Husker team.  Kelsey Griffin has been named Big 12 Player of the Year.  She is also up for National Player of the Year honors.  You can help her win.  Here's how:

Vote and show your support of Kelsey Griffin right now:
http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com
OR
Text W6 to 74567

Go Big Red!  Win or lose--we're proud of you!     

Can it get any worse?  Nebraska loses to Colorado--who didn't start a single senior--ending a 36 game Big 12 road losing streak for the Buffs.  Nebraska never lead in the 81-68 loss.  

Its not about losing to Colorado.  I happen to think they are up and comers in Big 12 basketball.  Its about the effort, sloppy play, inability to score.  You can teach and preach defense all you want, but if you can't score you won't even compete, let alone win.  Runs of 19-4, and 19-5 by CU sealed NU's fate.  All too common this season.

Tom Shatel said it the other day.  Doc's bandwagon is in the shop.  I'll say.

Still, I'm not giving up on him or the program.  I'll always cheer on the Huskers.  I'll always tune in when they're on, watch them when I can, and always hope for the best.  I think Doc is on the right track....of course I remember saying that about Barry Collier too.  Cockeyed optimist I am.

Its 6:00am as I write this.  Doc has had the boys on the practice court for an hour already.  Yeah, 5:00am for a hard workout.  Not sure what that will accomplish, but I'm not the coach.

All I know is, folks used to get all wrangled up about Joe Cipriano and Moe Iba.  I think they're lookin' better all the time. Crowds (if you can call last night's turn out a crowd) weren't leaving with eight minutes left in the game like they did last night. 

Can't say I blame them.

A few  thoughts on the Winter Olympics.  Wow!  What a finish!  The Gold Medal Hockey Final on Sunday was terrific.  The Americans have nothing to be ashamed of in losing to Canada.  The game went the way it perhaps should have....with Canada winning on home ice in the game most important to that nation.  You have to understand how vital hockey is to the folks up there.  If you live in Nebraska and follow Husker football......you should get the idea.  Its much the same.

Neat to see a Husker win gold in the Olympics.  Curt Tomasevicz was brakeman on the 4-man Bobsled team, led by Steve Holcomb.  Saw some Husker clad fans in the crowd Saturday night.  Don't see that everyday.  Pretty cool.  And the fact he comes from Shelby, Nebraska, population 690 makes it even more special. 

Husker men close out the home schedule tonight with Senior Night against Colorado.  The forgettable season has to have been frustrating for seniors Ryan Anderson, Sek Henry, Ben Nelson and Chris Balham.  5:04 Husker Courtside on KNEB 960 AM.

Tomorrow night---entirely different Senior Night for the Husker Women's team.  The unbeaten and Conference Champion Huskers close out the Devaney Center part of their schedule against at good Kansas squad.  5:45pm on KNEB 960 AM with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesh.

Imagine the task of replacing these super six seniors: Kala Kuhlmann,  Yvonne Tuner, Cory Montgomery, Nicole Neals,  Nikki Bober (sidelined with ACL injury) and the sensational Kelsey Griffin....Big 12 Player of The Week, again this week.

Better yet, let's not think about replacing any of the these ladies just yet.  There is a lot of basketball to be played.  Much still to be accomplished.  Let's get on with it!  Go Huskers!

“We lost Mom today.” I replayed the message on my cell phone voicemail again. “We lost Mom today” The words in my brother's voice were calm, yet stunning. Our mother, Phyllis Ernest had been called home.

Time stood still, February 27, 2009.

I sat down and thought. “It's here......the day we knew would day come is here”

I had just arrived home from work that afternoon. I was just going to call her. I had heard of a traffic accident involving a home town man. I thought I would call her and find out what she knew. Suddenly I realized I wouldn't be calling her again...ever.

I immediately called my brother back. “Not much to tell just yet, she had died at home, apparently peacefully. Not expected, not unexpected.  We'll have to start arrangements in the morning.”

The realization came the four of us grown kids were on our own—completely. Dad had gone ahead of mom almost 30 years ago. Recalling the arrangements we made for him were foggy at best. I was just out of college at the time. The phone rang again, word was moving through the family circles. We divvied up the outgoing calls we would need to make. The world just stopped.....or so I thought.

In the quiet of my home I can hear the trains passing in the distance. What? The trains hadn't stopped? Don't you know? I looked out the window. Neighbor kids were coming home from school—laughing, playing. Completely unaware. Of course they wouldn't be. They didn't know my mom. They didn't get the call. Their world was the same.....as it should be.

It was just my world that had changed.

Life events like death, or the birth of your first child -- like a lot of things -- happen whether you are prepared or not. And I find that even if you think you are—you're really not. But time doesn't stop. Life goes on. You take a step and plod your way forward. You have to. And you can with the help of others, and the foundation of faith.

My mother loved to garden and grow houseplants. African violets and geraniums among her favorites. She was always propigating plants, taking cuttings and starts, repotting-- keeping them going. As we divided some of her personal effects, one of those little geraniums came to live with me. Its taken a little while to adjust to its new surroundings but its still going. A little of mom in my home.

She has been gone one year today. That little geranium is blooming this morning. Its little pink pedals unfurling just in the last few days.

In the Gospel of John, we find the following passage: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).