Huskers Open Hoops Season Saturday With First Practice of the Year

Lincoln, Neb. --- The waiting has finally ended for the Nebraska men’s basketball team. The Huskers got their first glimpse of the full 2003-04 lineup on the court at the same in a pair of practices at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Saturday that officially opened the season. The Huskers worked through two hours in the morning and came back for an afternoon session, leaving a positive impression on fourth-year head coach Barry Collier.

"It is great to be back on the floor with our team," Collier said. "Coaches just love to be on the floor coaching and finally it’s here. The guys bounced around well today. I thought they showed a lot of energy and they were focused out on the floor. That was very positive."

The Huskers return 11 letterwinners from last season and add five newcomers into the mix, including four scholarship players. The increased depth this season, especially in the backcourt, will be a positive for Nebraska, according to Collier.

"Obviously when you have competition in a competitive situation, you are going to have the cream rising to the top," Collier said. "The most competitive, most successful and most productive players, and the most productive group are the ones that are going to play.

"When you have other people who are clawing to get in that group, then it pushes everybody and they keep each other going. That’s something that we haven’t had as much of (in the past) as we do this year, and I think it’s really going to benefit us. But it still has to be done on the floor so that’s what we started with today."

A solid core of upperclassmen return to lead Nebraska against a challenging schedule.

After earning honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors last season, seniors Nate Johnson and Andrew Drevo are back to pace the Nebraska offense. Drevo led the team with 13.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, as he was also selected the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. His scoring average was the highest ever for a first-year transfer at Nebraska. Johnson was right behind Drevo, pitching in 13.3 points while splitting time between shooting guard, his natural position, and the point. Johnson, who was the 2002 Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, also led Nebraska at the free throw line (72.8 percent), while his scoring average was second on the NU first-year transfer chart, trailing only Drevo.

Johnson’s move back to the 2-guard position comes in part as a result of the return of junior Jake Muhleisen. The Lincoln native was sidelined the final 16 games last season after suffering a fractured hip in the conference opener. Before his injury, Muhleisen, who is in his second year as team captain, had averaged 11.7 points and 3.6 assists per game and earned all-tournament honors twice during the non-conference season. Muhleisen said Saturday that he was encouraged about the prospects of this year’s squad, and was ready to get back into action again.

"It was a pretty exciting day for me," Muhleisen said. "I was pretty nervous coming into today, I felt like a freshman again. I was anxious to get out there to start practicing again, as I haven’t practiced since January. I was really excited for everybody to get out there and start playing the game. We want to get better and improve on last season, and be a better basketball team this year."

Muhleisen also noted that he does not feel any lingering affects of the injury, and that a solid off-season conditioning regiment has prepared all of the Huskers for a positive return.

"I’m feeling good, my hip feels fine," Muhleisen said. "And I’m in good shape. I worked on my game all summer, and everybody worked really hard to get ready for this basketball season."

Muhleisen and Johnson will be joined in the backcourt by returning letterwinners Corey Simms, Jason Dourisseau and Adam Bohac. The five returning guards will be joined by a trio of newcomers in point guards Marcus Neal Jr. and Charles Richardson Jr., along with shooting guard James Reynolds.

Nebraska will also have increased depth and experience in the frontcourt. In addition to Drevo, Nebraska again has the services of junior forward John Turek, who has started a team-high 45 games in his career. Turek led the team and ranked sixth in the conference in blocked shots with 1.7 per game last year, while adding 7.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest.

Also back this season will be sophomore forwards Bronsen Schliep and Wes Wilkinson, and sophomore center Tony Wilbrand, after earning valuable playing time last season. Freshman Shuan Stegall and walk-on center Bob Kempf will also add depth on the wing and up front.

"I really like our team," Collier said. "I think we have excellent balance and depth in different spots. We’re just focused on working hard every day. What you do today can affect tomorrow or the next game. Our goal right now is to get ready for Nov. 22."

Nebraska gets its first taste of live game action on Oct. 29, when the Huskers will play an intrasquad scrimmage as part of the Husker Haunted Hoops event at the Devaney Center. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with trick-or-treating and games for the kids, before the Huskers take the floor for a short scrimmage at 7:30 p.m. Nebraska players and coaches will then have an autograph signing session following the scrimmage.

The Huskers’ first exhibition contest comes shortly after, as NU will take on Alaska-Fairbanks on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7:05 p.m. at the Devaney Center. Following a second exhibition game against Athletes in Action on Friday, Nov. 14, the Huskers open the regular season at home on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Fairleigh Dickinson. Tip off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Nebraska will play nine of 11 non-conference games at the Devaney Center this season, highlighted by matchups against Arizona State, Tennessee and South Florida. The Huskers’ only road contests before starting Big 12 play come on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Creighton and Monday, Dec. 29, at Minnesota. Nebraska opens league play against Iowa State on Saturday, Jan. 10, in Ames, Iowa, and begins its home conference slate the following week with a matchup against Colorado on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Season tickets are still available, including a package that will allow fans to see all 19 home games (exhibition and regular season) for just $99. For more information on season tickets, contact the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 402-472-3111 or log on at Huskers.com