Nebraska’s Tim Miles says James Palmer, Isaac Copeland made ‘mature’ decision to come back

Nebraska’s Tim Miles says James Palmer, Isaac Copeland made ‘mature’ decision to come back
Tim Miles said he’s excited about the returning chemistry of the returners, and the feedback provided to Isaac Copeland and James Palmer could help the team down the road. (World-Herald News Service)

Tim Miles had a really good Memorial Day weekend.

“Only thing I missed was making a par on some golf course because I didn’t play,” Miles said during a radio interview Wednesday.

James Palmer and Isaac Copeland — two of his main pieces from the 2017-18 season — both announced that they were withdrawing from the NBA draft to play another season at Nebraska.

“It was a fabulous weekend,” Miles said. “James and Isaac coming back was really important for us. And I thought they made mature decisions for the right reasons, too.”

With Palmer and Copeland back, Nebraska will return 79 percent of its production from last year’s team, which won 22 games overall and 13 in Big Ten play. The Huskers just missed the cut for the NCAA tournament and lost in the first round of the NIT to Mississippi State.

Last season, Palmer was third in the Big Ten in scoring in league games (18.8 points) and fifth in overall scoring (17.2). He added 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field. He was an All-Big Ten first-team selection.

Copeland, a Georgetown transfer and honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last year, averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

“Isaac had every option open to him, and like he says, we have a lot of unfinished business,” Miles said. “It’s the right mindset that you hope to see out of your guys.”

Nebraska did lose players from a season ago, primarily Evan Taylor and Anton Gill. But Miles said he’s excited about the chemistry of the returners, and the feedback provided to Copeland and Palmer could help the team down the road.

“As you look at this, the feedback, what it does is it motivates these guys to get in the gym and work even harder at their craft, and that always helps the college team,” Miles said.

“It should be exciting times at Pinnacle Bank Arena and throughout the Big Ten next year.”

A few other things Miles said on the broadcast:

» Nebraska is working with consultants to bolster its schedule. The Huskers missed out on the NCAA tournament in 2017-18 because of their lack of quality wins, as determined by the selection committee. Miles said they’re working to figure out how to balance scheduling powerhouse programs and schools with less traditional basketball success.

» Miles said Nebraska will announce soon a neutral-site game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Nebraska will play 25 or 26 high-major opponents next season, he said.

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