Three-point stance: NU's Cali link, Roy Williams, Big Ten ripple effect

Today's edition examines Nebraska's chances with five-star Darnay Holmes, explains why Roy Williams is not an elite coach and looks at how Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh have impacted Big Ten recruiting.

In the 2016 recruiting class, the six five-star recruits in the state of California either stayed home at USC, UCLA or Stanford or signed with playoff teams Alabama and Oklahoma. In 2015, the seven five-star recruits in California stayed home at USC, UCLA or Stanford or continued a family legacy at an out-of-state program. In 2014 the three five-star recruits in California either stayed home at USC or went to Oklahoma. In 2013 the three three five-star recruits in Cali either stayed home or went to Notre Dame.

You get the point I’m making here, which is why it be beyond impressive if five-star cornerback Darnay Holmes followed his two best friends, Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and Tristan Gebbia, to Nebraska.

Since the inception of Rivals.com only two five-star prospects have signed with Nebraska: a running back out of Cali named Marlon Lucky and a Husker legacy named Baker Steinkuhler. Since the inception of Rivals, prior to 2017, nearly 75 percent of all California five-stars either stayed in-state or went to Notre Dame. So if Holmes decides to choose Nebraska, it would certainly be a big deal.

I remember when Lucky committed and was playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Nebraska fans traveled in packs to San Antonio just to watch their biggest recruit in years practice and play in an all-star game. That, in my experience, never happened before and hasn’t happened since even with in-state fan bases like Texas or Texas A&M.

It may not seem that cool to UCLA, Stanford, Arizona, Ohio State or other fan bases but to me, with no dog in this fight, I think Holmes committing to Nebraska would be just as fun as when Lucky committed.

When Johnson Jr. jumped on board I felt the Huskers would probably get Gebbia but didn’t think they had a shot at Holmes despite his interest. Usually the locals win out in battles like this one but, in this case seeing how close he is to his teammates, it just might happen. And if it does, expect another road trip to San Antonio from the rabid fans from Huskerland.

North Carolina's loss to Villanova on Monday night gives Tar Heels coach Roy Williams a career 2-3 record in national title games.

I don't proclaim to know much about college basketball, but Williams is not a great coach. Follow along here because it has nothing to do with breaking down film, substitutions or in-game strategy. I base it simply on this: Williams has coached at two powerhouse programs for nearly 30 years. I’m talking about programs, Kansas and North Carolina, where five- and four-star recruits are commonplace and where recruiting a top five class is often a given.

While Williams has won two national titles, certainly nothing to sneeze at, shouldn’t he have a few more on his resume?

If there was a college football coach who worked for nearly 30 years at two juggernaut programs that were built by other legendary coaches and essentially recruited themselves who went 2-3 in title games over that span, he would be considered an underachiever for sure.

This uneducated, very part-time hoops fan thinks so at least. Only five coaches have won more than two national titles in hoops: John Wooden, Mike Krzyewski, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight and Jim Calhoun. So Williams still has a chance to join college basketball royalty if he can win one more, but right now I think 28 years coaching Kansas and UNC with two titles to show for it is a bit weak.

Agree or disagree?

Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh have been very, very good for the Big Ten. In our early 2017 team rankings, five of the top 15 schools in the country currently hail from the Big Ten.

We would expect Ohio State to be No. 1 in the team rankings. That’s not a shocker under Meyer. Michigan at No. 6 under Harbaugh is no surprise, either. But take a look at the trickle-down effect of the attention being paid to Big Ten football. Iowa at No. 12? Wisconsin at No. 14? Northwestern at No. 15? Michigan State and Nebraska give the Big Ten seven team in the top 25 right now, more than any other conference except for the SEC.

It’s doubtful that all seven programs will remain in the top 25 come National Signing Day but the early start is indicative of the aggressiveness Meyer brought to the conference and the constant attention it gets now from Harbaugh.