Which bring us to Sunday’s 1 p.m. regular-season finale against backsliding Iowa. It’s a safe bet 12,000-plus Nebraska fans will be at Pinnacle Bank Arena even though the home team has dropped 11 of its last 13 games to fall to 15-15 overall (5-14 Big Ten). It’s a hungry fan base. But I’m guessing it will be kind to Miles. It should be kind to the coach because during his seven years in charge, the program has improved -- much of it because of his doing, but some of it because NU has built and maintained excellent facilities and plays in a strong conference that happens to have a lucrative media rights deal. But we know where this story is going. There’s a cold reality we must acknowledge: Miles, with a record of 112-112 at Nebraska (51-76 in the Big Ten, a .402 clip), clearly isn’t the coach who can push the program to greater heights. And let's be real, the program possesses the wherewithal -- financially, for sure -- to hire a coach who you intuitively know will produce wins in the Big Dance. You know the type of coach I’m talking about. It’s Fred Hoiberg or Dana Altman or Thad Matta or Kelvin Sampson, to name a few. You know intuitively any of those coaches would push Nebraska to levels it’s never come close to experiencing. It likely wouldn't take long. The program’s ready for it, positioned for it. No more lame lack-of-internal-support excuses.<doc-sep>After Nebraska basketball ended the regular season on a high by upsetting Iowa, you have to wonder, does Tim Miles have any hope of saving his job? The last couple of months have been just awful for the Nebraska basketball team and its fans as the Huskers slogged their way through an extremely difficult schedule with loss after loss. Finally, Nebraska basketball was able to give fans something to cheer about Sunday, as the Huskers pulled off an incredible come-from-behind win over Iowa that required a nine-point comeback to win in overtime 93-91. When head coach Tim Miles walked off the floor for what some presume will be the final time, it got me thinking, does he have any chance of saving his job? After the way the Huskers collapsed at the end of the regular season, it would take something pretty spectacular and my guess is that only a Big Ten tournament championship would do it. Obviously, that sounds like a long shot and truthfully, there probably isn’t more of a long shot in college basketball this week than the Huskers, who are seeded 13th in the Big Ten tourney in Chicago. For starters, Nebraska basketball would need to do something no Big Ten team has ever done and that’s win five games in five days to win the tournament championship. Michigan has won four straight to win the last two tournaments, but even then the Wolverines were seeded much higher. They also didn’t have only seven scholarship players, which is what Nebraska suited up against Iowa Sunday. But still, the Huskers beat a team that is likely headed to the NCAA tournament and just a couple of weeks back, they beat a Minnesota team that should also be part of the 68-team field. That means Nebraska is still capable of beating quality teams, even if James Palmer, Isaiah Roby and Glynn Watson have to basically do everything themselves. What remains to be seen is if they can do it at a neutral site. At the very least, a win over Rutgers could help Nebraska get into the NIT and it would guarantee a winning record. That’s something at least and with nine wins now over top 100 teams in the NET rankings, Nebraska deserves a berth in the 32-team NIT field. But that wouldn’t help Miles and maybe nothing will, except something that seems impossible, such as winning the Big Ten tournament championship.<doc-sep>CHICAGO -- Nebraska will make a decision on coach Tim Miles' status after the season ends, athletic director Bill Moos announced Friday. Moos issued a statement shortly after the Cornhuskers lost 66-62 to No. 19 Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. Despite only six healthy scholarship players, Nebraska beat Rutgers and No. 21 Maryland in the first two rounds of the tournament, after beating Iowa in overtime Sunday in its regular-season finale. The Huskers are 18-16 and went 6-14 in the Big Ten. "We will await Sunday's announcement to see if we receive an invitation to participate in the NIT," Moos said in a prepared statement. "Once our season is completed, my evaluation of our men's basketball program will draw to a close." Moos didn't attend Nebraska's past two Big Ten tournament games but has been in communication with Miles, who is 115-113 in seven seasons at the school. He has led the Huskers to one NCAA tournament appearance and an NIT appearance last season despite a 13-5 record in the Big Ten. "I love coaching, I love being at Nebraska, I love this group of guys," Miles said. "As you move forward, in this business, I want to keep going and whatever happens just happens. I really don't think I'd make a very good insurance salesman or financial guy. ... It's coaching." Last April, Miles received a one-year contract extension through the 2020-21 season. Moos, who came to Nebraska in 2017, did not hire Miles, who is 399-332 in 24 years as a college coach. "He's a good coach," senior guard James Palmer said. "He recruited me hard coming here. He's a good dude off the court, and he takes care of us, so I think he should definitely stay."<doc-sep>The Nebraska Cornhuskers currently find themselves in the bottom half of the Big Ten basketball standings, and they recently endured a seven-game losing streak that raised questions about coach Tim Miles' job security. Asked about the possibility that he could be fired after six-plus seasons in Lincoln, Miles told podcast host Jeff Goodman he's not worried about being on the hot seat. "If they fire me, they're still going to pay me. … I'm still a millionaire," Miles said on the podcast, recorded Sunday night. "So I've got that going for me." Not surprisingly, Miles faced criticism over his comments, and by Thursday, he was forced to walk back those remarks. "Earlier this week, my (sarcastic) attempt at humor during a podcast failed ... I apologize to anyone offended or taken aback by my flippant remark," he tweeted. Now in his seventh year in Lincoln, Miles' Huskers have made the NCAA tournament once during his tenure. Nebraska is 15-12 overall and 5-11 in the Big Ten. Despite his team's struggles, Miles said he still thinks there's a path for the Huskers to make the NCAA tournament this season. BRACKETOLOGY:What Zion Williamson injury means for Duke BUBBLE TRACKER:How this mid-major league could get three bids Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner<doc-sep>
Who knows if Nebraska basketball head coach Tim Miles will get fired or not, but if he does, here are five guys who could replace him. When it comes to Nebraska basketball, there is no question that the 2018-19 season has been a massive disappointment. For a good chunk of the season, the Huskers looked like they were headed towards one of their best seasons ever. Nebraska got some solid wins in non-conference play over Clemson, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall and most importantly, Creighton. It was Miles first ever win against the Huskers top basketball rival and it seemed like that win, plus a key road win at Indiana in January was a turning point. I’ll admit, I was convinced Nebraska would be a tournament team after beating the Hoosiers. I figured they would be able to put together a winning record in Big Ten play and cruise into the NCAA tournament, even with a decent seed based on the strength of the Big Ten. However, since that win, everything has gone wrong for Nebraska basketball. The Huskers are just 2-11 since that defeat and are now one game ahead of Northwestern for last in the Big Ten at 5-14. The Huskers do have eight wins over top 100 teams and there is no question, the program has made strides under Tim Miles leadership. However, if Nebraska finishes with a losing record, that will be the fourth time in five years. And with James Palmer, Glynn Watson, Isaiah Roby, who could be a first-round pick in the NBA draft at some point and Isaac Copeland, even though he got injured, the Huskers should be better. Of course, if you want to replace a coach, you should know you can do better, so with that in mind, here are five potential candidates to replace Tim Miles.