Fansided

Nebraska has officially pulled the plug on Tim Miles

By Brad Berreman

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 14: Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Tim Miles looks on in action during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Maryland Terrapins on March 14, 2019 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 14: Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Tim Miles looks on in action during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Maryland Terrapins on March 14, 2019 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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After lingering in limbo late in the season, Tim Miles has been fired as the coach at Nebraska.

It was rumored for a while and ultimately inevitable after a loss to TCU in the second round of the NIT on Sunday, but Tim Miles was officially fired as Nebraska men’s basketball coach on Tuesday. The news was first reported by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Miles had a 116-114 record over seven seasons in Lincoln (52-76 in the Big Ten), with a lone NCAA Tournament berth in 2014.

After a 22-11 mark last year, and tying for fourth place in the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers entered the season with tournament aspirations but dropped to 19-17 this season and 6-14 in Big Ten play.

Miles got a one-year contract extension after last season, when Nebraska became the first Big Ten school to win more than 11 games in league play but not get an NCAA Tournament berth. So he is owed a buyout, subject to offset should he get another job right away.

Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos was complementary of Miles, while also making it clear he wants more from the basketball program.

"Tim Miles is a good basketball coach who has put his heart, soul and energy into the Nebraska men’s basketball program over the past seven years,” Moos said.“Ultimately, we have not maintained a level of consistent success and stability on the court, and after a full review I have made the decision to move in another direction for the leadership of our program."

It appears Moos has a replacement in mind, with former Chicago Bulls and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg being linked to the job at Nebraska virtually as soon as Miles’ status was cast into doubt.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Nebraska has already reached out to Hoiberg and there’s mutual interest. The smell test says that the school reached out in some capacity well before Tuesday, it’s just become public with Miles officially gone.

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Hoiberg was linked to the job at UCLA after Steve Alford was fired, but Nebraska seems like a better for him.

There’s no denying that Miles was almost precisely a .500 coach over his tenure, but barring the development of an actual search Moos and Nebraska are taking a risky bet that Hoiberg will do a lot better.