Shatel: Time to buy dancing shoes? NCAA tournament forecast for Nebraska's in-state basketball teams

First downs and second guesses: I may not be a licensed meteorologist.

Or even a Bracketologist.

But heres my mid-season, post-season forecast: Nebraska mens basketball: 60 percent chance of dancing The Huskers, 14-8, played their way off the bubble with that six-game losing streak.

But back-to-back wins over ranked teams and Quad 1 teams have put NU back in the conversation.

With nine regular-season games remaining, 20 wins are available.

But 20 isnt a magic number anymore.

The NCAA committee wants to see quality wins and a consistent level of play.

Nebraska (NCAA NET 50) has four Q1 wins now and the Big Ten gives the Huskers several chances for more: home games against Ohio State (26) and Maryland (15) next week and Michigan (17) later.

Also, roadies at Northwestern (57), Penn State (54) and Ohio State.

(Road wins against a team 1-75 count as Q1).

Theres work to be done but the Huskers know the formula: high-level team defense, like the kind that beat Illinois and Oregon, and plenty of Brice Williams and Juwan Gary.

Thats the look.

Creighton mens basketball: 80 percent chance of dancing The Jays have completely turned their season around after a 7-5 start with Pop Isaacs shelved for the season.

CU (NET 36) is 9-1 since a road loss at Georgetown on Dec.

18.

Creighton doesnt need the win over Kansas (good thing) for help.

Greg McDermott has created a winning identity with leaders Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth and a group of role players stepping up each game.

Its another Mac Masterpiece.

The Big East is down this year but Joe Lunardi has the Jays safely in his mock bracket as a No.

8 seed.

CU already has a win at Connecticut.

A split, or sweep, of Marquette and UConn at home next week, would seal the deal.

Its not always pretty.

But this program knows how to close games.

This is a culture season and another trip back to the tournament.

Omaha men's basketball: 50 percent chance of dancing Membership in the Summit League means the Mavs road to the NCAAs always goes through a league tournament title.

Thats life as a mid-major.

This UNO team has the make-up and chemistry of a group that could win three straight in Sioux Falls in four weeks.

Its got balanced scoring and a ton of confidence.

Theres something going on here this year.

The Mavs might just ride the Trash Can karma all the way to history.

Note: St.

Thomas is ineligible for the NCAAs.

If the Tommies win the league tourney, the Summit regular-season champ goes.

Creighton womens basketball: Buy some dancing shoes The Jays are 18-4 and two losses are to No.

1 UCLA and No.

6 UConn.

This is a veteran team that should finish second in the Big East.

The only question now is can they improve their NET ranking (34) for seeding? Nebraska womens basketball: 90 percent in Amy Williams Huskers, 16-6, have a NET ranking of 37 and enough good wins.

ESPN has NU in as a No.

9 seed (at UCLA).

There are four home games against Michigan, Iowa, Oregon and Washington left, with road trips to Maryland, Illinois and Northwestern.

Just take care of business and well be watching freshman Britt Prince in her first NCAA tournament.

Omaha Hockey: Shot from Center Ice Omahas NCAA Pairwise (NET for hockey) ranking: its 33.

In NCAA mens hockey, the top 16 teams in the Pairwise get selected to play in the tournament.

Its actually probably the top 13, given upsets in league tournaments.

Thats the road for Mike Gabinets club now: win the NCHC tournament in St.

Paul in March.

Omaha is in decent shape, in third place with 31 points and seven points ahead of Denver in fifth place.

The top four teams in the NCHC host a first-round playoff series, then the four winners go to St.

Paul.

The Mavs will have to get on a March heater.

But they just had a six-game win streak.

Mike Ekeler is a very good hire for Nebraska special teams guru.

Hes been a special teams guy his whole career, going back to when he was a missile on the kickoff squad as a player at Kansas State.

Hes passionate about it.

Ekelers job will be to infuse that passion in Lincoln.

Matt Rhule says that scheme was not the cause of NUs breakdowns last year.

Then it must have been the execution.

Special teams are all about personnel and execution.

Now its about Ekeler getting the best Huskers on the field and having them execute.

Ed Foley is expected to stay on staff at Nebraska, perhaps as a liaison to high school football.

Hell be good at it.

Foleys trips around the state to visit every high school coach are meaningful.

And necessary.

One of the first things Foley did two years ago was visit Gerald and Jill Foltz (parents of Sam Foltz) in Grand Island.

They said no NU staffer had contacted them since their sons death.

When Foley was demoted last month, one of the first people to reach out was Gerald Foltz, who told Foley Youll always have friends in Nebraska.

The Dani Busboom-Kelly introduction press conference on Thursday (2 p.m.) at the Devaney Center is open to the public.

Its believed to be the first time thats happened at NU, other than the select donors who were invited to others.

Cam Jurgens was held out of Philadelphia Eagles practice last week with a back injury but hes been cleared to play in the Super Bowl.

Does anyone think the kid from Beatrice, Neb., is going to miss a Super Bowl? No way.

Sorry, Cam.

I cant do it.

I learned my lesson long ago, delivered many times by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.

Chiefs 31, Eagles 28.

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