LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska fired seventh-year coach Tim Miles on Tuesday after the Cornhuskers finished 13th in the Big Ten and failed to make the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight year.

Athletic director Bill Moos announced the firing two days after the Huskers finished a 19-17 season with an 88-72 loss to TCU in the second round of the NIT.

Much was expected of the Huskers this season. They brought back four starters from a 22-win team that was fourth in the Big Ten, and the question among fans and media wasn’t whether Nebraska would be in NCAA Tournament but how deep a run it could make. But the Huskers went into a free fall in January and February, losing 11 of 13 games.

Miles was 116-114 overall and 52-76 in Big Ten regular-season games. Nebraska was 10th or lower in the conference in five of Miles’ seven years.

“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.”

The only time Miles got the Huskers to the NCAA Tournament was in 2014, when they won eight of their last nine regular-season games to finish fourth in the Big Ten and he was named conference coach of the year. Three straight sub-.500 seasons followed. Last season, Nebraska set a school record with 13 conference wins. But the Huskers were victims of a down year for the Big Ten and weren’t selected for the NCAAs.

The Huskers started this season 13-4 and appeared in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2014. The Huskers were dealt a blow when second-leading scorer and starting lineup fixture Isaac Copeland went out for the season with a knee injury Jan. 26, but by then the season was on its way toward unraveling.

“Thank you to the University of Nebraska for a remarkable journey,” Miles tweeted. “It was a great honor to represent this university the past seven years. I am extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish during my tenure, most notably developing relationships with so many fantastic people associated with the Huskers… My family will always be cheering for the Huskers and look forward to seeing #Nebrasketball make history in the near future.”

The Huskers lost by double digits seven times during the skid, and Miles rankled some fans with one of his comments on a podcast with Jeff Goodman of WatchStadium.com.

“If they fire me, they’re still going to pay me. I’m still a millionaire, so I’ve got that going for me,” Miles said. He later issued an apology.

Under terms of Miles’ contract, which was set to expire in March 2021, he’s owed a $2.52 million buyout.

In a head coaching career dating to 1995, this is the first time the 52-year-old Miles has been fired. Former athletic director Tom Osborne hired the South Dakota native away from Colorado State in 2012 after he led the Rams to a 20-win season and the NCAA Tournament.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt sophomore Cameron Lard has decided to leave Iowa State to pursue other basketball opportunities, head coach Steve Prohm announced Tuesday.

“We appreciate the efforts that Cameron gave to our program during his time with us,” Prohm said. “Cameron has made great strides and we certainly wish him well in the future. We will continue to help him in any way we can.”

Lard saw action in 24 games for the Cyclones last season, averaging 5.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 12.5 minutes per game.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Cyclone family and will never forget the memories made with my teammates,” Lard said. “I can’t thank Coach Prohm and Iowa State enough for what they’ve done for me. Thank you also to Cyclone Nation for all of your support.”

Lard’s departure leaves the Cyclones with three experienced returnees in the post in rising redshirt juniors Michael Jacobson and Solomon Young, as well as freshman George Conditt IV.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Tuesday that the Hawkeye football program will not hold an open spring practice in 2019 because of necessary turf replacement and review of the field drainage system in Kinnick Stadium.

Because of the turf replacement project, Iowa athletics announced a Meet the Hawkeyes, presented by Coca-Cola, spring autograph session in conjunction with Iowa baseball, and a spring practice Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz, featuring head coach Kirk Ferentz and radio play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin.

The autograph session with select members of the Hawkeye football program will take place April 20, when Iowa baseball hosts Nebraska at 2:05 p.m. (CT).

The Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz will take place at the VUE rooftop at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Iowa City. The VUE rooftop will become the new home for the weekly Hawk Talk radio show this fall.

Additional details for both the Meet the Hawkeyes opportunity and the Hawk Talk with Coach Ferentz will be provided in the coming weeks via hawkeyesports.com and official Hawkeye football social media feeds.

The field turf replacement and drainage system review in Kinnick Stadium will occur this spring and summer. Construction crews expect to begin the project as soon as weather allows and a contractor is selected for the review. The project is a result of flooding in and around the stadium last summer.

Spring practice begins with the initial practice on March 27 and concludes with the 15th allowable practice April 26. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 9-4 record in 2018 that concluded with a 27-22 win over No. 18 Mississippi State in the 2019 Outback Bowl. Iowa was ranked 25th in The Associated Press final national rankings.

“While the affected area from last summer was 100 percent repaired and safe for play in 2018, there is a long-term need to replace the turf this summer,” said Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “We explored options for a public practice at an alternate venue, but did not have a suitable option.”

The current playing surface has been in place for two seasons. The turf replacement project is going through the university process of being submitted as an insurance claim. The field graphics will remain the same as the past two seasons.