(Continued from page 47)

After we met, I remember calling him and telling him we had only $500 for an assistant's position. I said something like, 'I'm sure you don't want it. It was good to meet you.' And I wished him luck."
• Miles was surprised by Smith's response.
• "Craig said, 'Coach, I've already moved to Mayville,' " Miles said.
• And that's how it all began for Miles and Smith, two coaches from small towns in the region that have helped turn around one men's basketball program after another.
• Smith is from Stephen, Minn., while Miles is from Doland, S.D.
• Now, they face their biggest challenge at Nebraska, a Big Ten program that has struggled but wants to play with the big boys in one of the country's top conferences. Nebraska has had two losing seasons in the last three years and the Cornhuskers have not made the NCAA tournament since 1998.

• Miles recently hired Smith as a Nebraska assistant. It's the fourth time that Miles has called on Smith. After Mayville State, Miles hired Smith at North Dakota State. When Miles went to Colorado State, Smith followed.
• After Miles left Colorado State for Nebraska this spring, Smith stayed behind in Fort Collins. He was named the interim coach but Larry Eustachy eventually landed the Rams head job.
• "It was a great experience," Smith said of his interim position. "I just tried to hold down the fort. I tried like heck to

(Continued on page 49)