2003-04 Outlook: Huskers on the Rise

We will.

Two simple words, six letters. That's the attitude the Nebraska men's basketball team takes into the 2003-04 season as it looks to make a step forward under fourth-year head coach Barry Collier.

Entering the new campaign, the Huskers believe in the power behind those two little words, and know that belief, along with hard work, team unity and the guidance provided by Collier and his energetic staff, can make this season a successful one.

"We have a lot of enthusiasm and are optimistic about this season," Collier said. "We like the makeup of this team, but everyone will have to stay focused and continue to show a strong work ethic, which we expect every year."

Focus, work ethic and a winning attitude are valuable commodities, but the Huskers have more than that on their side this season. They also have greater experience, more depth and players with a better knowledge of the game.

"I think we have excellent balance and depth in different spots," Collier said. "We're focused on working hard every day, because what you can do today may affect tomorrow or your next game."

Senior guard Nate Johnson averaged 13.3 points-per-game in his first season in the Husker program.

The Huskers return 11 letterwinners from last year while adding five newcomers into the mix. Five Huskers return after playing prominent roles in the starting lineup last season.

Nebraska's depth will create significant competition at every spot on the floor, which could go a long way toward helping the Huskers reach their goals this season.

"Obviously when you have competition, you are going to have the cream rise to the top," Collier said. "The most competitive, most successful and most productive players and most productive groups, 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 past years) 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're starting with."

A quick look at the statistics also shows the Huskers have what it takes to get it done on the floor this year.

Nebraska returns nearly 90 percent of its scoring from last season, along with more than 90 percent of its three-pointers and almost 80 percent of its assists and rebounds.

The Huskers also return all but one player from the core that helped NU rank as one of the top defensive teams in the Big 12 Conference last season. Nebraska allowed opponents to hit just 40.8 percent from the floor, the third-best field-goal percentage defense by the Huskers in nearly 40 years, and held foes to a school-record 30.2 percent from outside the arc, the best three-point field-goal percentage defense in the conference.

That experience on both ends of the court has helped energize the Huskers for 2003-04 while giving them a renewed sense of optimism.

"Our experience level is improved because we have a junior and senior class with six players who have previous starting experience," Collier said. "And obviously, with repetition being the mother of teaching, those guys have been through the Big 12 previously and have a greater understanding of what it takes to succeed."

Bringing It Up
Competition will be the key word when talking about the Husker backcourt and the multiple lineups that could be seen in 2003-04. One of the most intriguing story lines surrounding Nebraska this season will come in the backcourt as finding the right combination to put on the floor will be a tough but welcome challenge for the Husker coaching staff.

"We have some experience, and we have good players at each position," Collier said. "Because of our depth, no one will start out locked into a position. That can be a good thing as they will be challenged to rise to the occasion."

Senior Nate Johnson is one Husker ready to greet that challenge head on. Johnson returns primed for a tremendous final campaign after a solid off-season in the weight room, where Collier said Johnson was, "pound for pound our strongest player."

The 6-1, 195-pound Kansas City, Kan., native showed strength and quickness while attacking opposing defenses last year. Johnson finished his first season with the Huskers ranked second on the team and 21st in the Big 12 Conference with a 13.3 points-per-game scoring average. Johnson's scoring prowess helped him rank second in Nebraska history in scoring average for a first-year transfer.

Defensively, Johnson was second on the team with 30 steals (1.1 spg), including 22 in league play where he ranked 14th. He added 3.8 rebounds per game and is one of three returning guards to average better than 3.5 boards last season.

A 2003 honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection, Johnson has the ability to create scoring opportunities and convert. He hit 40.6 percent from the field last season while leading the team in free throws (83), free throw attempts (114) and free throw percentage (72.8).

This season, Johnson looks to improve those numbers while also adding a more consistent effort from behind the three-point arc. Johnson will be aided in that effort by concentrating at shooting guard, instead of splitting time between positions. Last year, injuries to Nebraska's starting and backup point guards forced Johnson into that role, one he had never assumed before at any level. For his part, Johnson responded well, collecting 63 assists (2.3 apg) to rank second on the team.

Johnson's creativity in the lane will be brought back into full swing as Nebraska has a solid group of point guards to get him the ball.

Jake Muhleisen returns after missing the second part of last season with a hip injury.

Junior Jake Muhleisen heads the list of experienced ball-handlers able to get the Huskers into the right positions on the floor. Muhleisen gives Nebraska a significant boost in the backcourt, as he is also a capable scorer who could move to shooting guard or out to the wing if one of Nebraska's newcomers steps up at the point.

Muhleisen's return is somewhat amazing after suffering a serious injury in the first game of the conference slate, which prompted Johnson's move to the point. At Kansas, Muhleisen fell hard to the floor after a collision while driving the baseline. The resulting injury was a fractured hip socket, which did not require surgery, but sidelined him for two months on crutches.

During the off-season, Muhleisen underwent a vigorous rehabilitation process and is back to 100 percent health. During that time, Muhleisen added 10 pounds to his frame and added strength which will help him endure the battles of a long season.

Underrated by many in his first two seasons, the 6-4, 200-pounder is capable of a breakout year in 2003-04. The Lincoln native is an intelligent player with great court vision, as demonstrated by his 152 assists against just 89 turnovers in 42 career games (3.6 apg).

Fundamentally sound in all facets of the game, Muhleisen is the only Husker to average double-figure points over the past two years, picking up 11.7 points per game for his career. Despite missing 16 games last season, Muhleisen is the Huskers' top returning career scorer with 492 points.

Muhleisen also possesses the intangibles that coaches love. A student of the game, Muhleisen is a natural leader who is in his second year as the Huskers' captain.

"Jake has worked hard to overcome his injury and has done a great job," Collier said. "His role is as our team leader and showing others what needs to be done to provide a positive outcome for our team."

While Muhleisen is the incumbent at the point, the Huskers also have a pair of newcomers who look to make an impact this season. The arrival of Marcus Neal Jr. and Charles Richardson Jr. could allow Muhleisen to see extended time on the wing, giving Nebraska a more powerful offensive lineup.

Neal joins the Huskers from Polk (Fla.) Community College where he was an honorable-mention All-American last season after averaging 20.2 points, 5.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. At 6-0, 175 pounds, Neal has good athletic ability and possesses a creative and offensive mindset that will provide an advantage for the Huskers. His winning attitude will also be welcomed by the Huskers after he led Polk to a 23-9 record in 2002-03 and its first conference title in seven seasons.

Neal can change the complexion of a game with his offensive abilities, which helped him set the career scoring record at Polk CC by averaging 18.9 points per game (1,189 total) over two seasons. Neal's scoring and ball-handling talent led him to be ranked among the top 60 junior college players in the nation by at least two media services last season.

Along with Neal, Richardson will compete for playing time at the point, but brings a somewhat different style to the court. A true freshman, Richardson looks to pass first and score second, although he is a solid shooter who averaged 15 points per game last season. Richardson added eight assists and six steals per game while helping his high school team to a 25-4 record and regular-season top 25 national ranking.

At 5-8, 155 pounds, Richardson lacks size, but he more than makes up for it in speed, agility and play-making skills. Regarded as one of the top defensive guards in the Chicago prep ranks last year, Richardson has the ability to cause turnovers and get the offense moving up the floor quickly, creating advantages the Huskers will be quick to take charge of this season.

Another benefactor of better play at the point will be junior guard Corey Simms, who was one Nebraska's most improved players last season. Simms progressed so much between his freshman and sophomore campaigns that he earned a spot in the starting lineup in the third game last season and remained there for 25 of the Huskers' final 26 contests.

Much of Simms' success came from his defensive ability. He was selected the Huskers' top defensive player at the end of last season, after continually shadowing the opponent's top wing player. Simms also gave Nebraska a rebounding advantage from the backcourt by pulling down 4.9 boards per game to help NU improve its rebounding average by nearly three rebounds per game over the previous season.

The Huskers will count on Simms finding the same type of improvement in his offensive game this year. Last season, the 6-5, 205-pounder averaged 7.4 points per game, nearly doubling his freshman total. His ability to drain the open shot helped him hit 46.1 percent from the floor, second only to Muhleisen's 46.9 percent in 15 fewer games.

Using Simms' success as a model, the Huskers are excited about the prospect of sophomore Jason Dourisseau duplicating that dramatic improvement between his rookie season to this year.

The 6-5, 195-pound Dourisseau showed flashes of outstanding offensive play last year while adjusting to the college game. The Omaha, Neb., native averaged 4.9 points and 17.4 minutes per game while playing on the wing, easily the best numbers by an NU freshman last season. Dourisseau also provides Nebraska with another long-distance option, as he was fourth on the team last year with 16 three-pointers.

While Dourisseau and Simms look to work into the rotation on the wing, Nebraska's other returnee in the backcourt hopes to see the most playing time of his career at the point.

Senior Adam Bohac gives Nebraska a different look running the offense. One of only two Huskers to letter in each of the past three seasons, the 6-1, 180-pound Bohac played in 13 games last season, which nearly equaled his first two year's total. Bohac's value in practice is immeasurable, as he plays a physical game while providing a positive work ethic and leadership.

Looking to take advantage of the experience of the veterans will be another true freshman guard, James Reynolds. After signing with the Huskers in late July 2003, Reynolds will be asked to provide offensive power at shooting guard this season, and he has the credentials to do just that.

As a senior last season at Los Angeles' Crenshaw High School, Reynolds, a 6-2, 180-pounder, averaged 18.5 points while helping the team to a 20-6 record. The team's best long-distance shooter, Reynolds' range extends past the three-point line, while his athleticism helps him create his own shot.

With the depth the Huskers have accumulated in the backcourt this season, the challenge for the coaching staff will be in utilizing all the parts to make the most effective offensive force possible.

"You have changes every year based on the personnel on your team," Collier said. "The key is allowing them to play differently, and utilizing the personnel you have on the floor at any given time."

In the Paint
While Nebraska's lineup will likely contain three guards most of the time, the Huskers also have a capable group of frontcourt players who could change the outcome of more than a few games this season.

Nebraska's returning letterwinners up front includes two players who accounted for nearly half of Nebraska's rebounds and more than 75 percent of its blocked shots in 2002-03. NU's size in the frontcourt could also play a role in the Huskers' success this season, as seven players are listed 6-8 or taller.

"We have some size and depth up front that could be a factor this season," Collier said. "And while we have a little experience at those positions, there are still things we need to improve on. We need the frontcourt players to provide consistent defense, rebounding and scoring. And we need the team as a whole to become more focused at the free throw line and convert at a higher percentage."

That focus can already be seen in senior forward Andrew Drevo. An honorable-mention All-Big 12 and All-Newcomer Team selection in his first year with the Huskers in 2002-03, Drevo returns in the best shape of his career after shedding 20 pounds in the off-season while working on all facets of his game.

Drevo offers a different dimension to the frontcourt. He provides opposing coaches nightmares in finding a way to match up with him, as Drevo is capable of working down low with his back to the basket or stepping outside the arc and draining three-pointers. While he does not give away open shots, Drevo has also shown solid ability to get the ball to his teammates in a position where they can be most effective.

The 6-8, 250-pounder returns after posting the best scoring average ever for a first-year transfer at Nebraska last season. Drevo averaged a team-high 13.9 points per game, which accounted for more than 20 percent of NU's scoring last year. Drevo's long-range touch helped him hit a team-high 48 three-pointers while nailing 41.1 percent of his attempts from the field. He was even better in the final week of the regular season, as he was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after averaging 21.5 points per game in road contests at Oklahoma and Colorado.

On the glass, Drevo led the team and ranked 10th in the conference with 7.3 rebounds per game, including seven double-figure rebounding efforts. Drevo turned those efforts into double-doubles in a team-high six contests.

Drevo's success on the defensive end was not limited to rebounding. He added 19 blocks on the season to rank second on the squad, and was fifth with 21 steals.

When defenses focus on stopping Drevo, NU has another frontcourt option in junior forward John Turek.

Turek made great strides offensively last season when freed up because of Drevo's presence on the floor. Turek looks to take it to the next level this year after averaging 7.8 points per game as a sophomore, which was good enough for fourth on the team.

Junior John Turek averaged 6.6 rebounds a game in 2002-03.

The 6-9, 240-pound Turek also poses an impressive figure on the boards, where he grabbed 197 rebounds (6.6 rpg) in 2002-03, up from a Nebraska freshman-record 152 in his rookie campaign. His ability to get his nose to the ball helped him record seven double-figure rebounding efforts last year, including a team season high 16 boards on two occasions.

When he is not bringing the ball down off the glass, look for Turek to swat it away from opposing teams. He already ranks sixth on the NU blocked shot chart with 91 blocks over the past two seasons, including a team-high 52 last season when he ranked sixth in the conference (1.7 bpg).

The one player who could benefit the most this season when opponents key on Drevo and Turek is senior forward Brian Conklin.

With a renewed willingness to take the shot, Conklin could return to the form that helped him hit an NU sophomore record 65 three-pointers two years ago. Despite being limited from outside the arc last season, he is still one of the top long-range shooters in Nebraska history, ranking fifth on the school chart after hitting 38.1 percent from outside the arc over the past three years.

Nebraska's depth and experience in the frontcourt will be greater than the past two seasons. Providing some of that depth will be returning sophomores Tony Wilbrand, Wes Wilkinson and Bronsen Schliep.

Roaming the paint down low, Wilbrand's work ethic helped him earn more playing time as last season wore on, seeing action in 21 games, the most of any Husker who did not make a start. Wilbrand uses his 6-10, 250-pound frame well and can help Nebraska on the glass, where eight of his 13 rebounds last season came on the offensive end.

Wilkinson was one of the most heralded prep players in the state during his senior year at Grand Island High School. While he still looks to make adjustments to play at the collegiate level, the 6-9, 205-pounder gained tremendous experience last year, as he was one of just four players to see action in all 30 contests, including three starts. He will provide Nebraska more positive minutes in the post this season, and is versatile enough to move out on the wing, where he has worked to improve his mid-range and three-point shooting.

Also working hard for time at the three and four spots, the 6-7, 215-pound Schliep looks to continue his solid progress from last year, when he was named the team's most improved player. A smart and athletic player, Schliep earned the team's Lifter of the Year Award, and provides speed and size on the wing.

Nebraska will have another guard/forward working into the mix in 6-6, 215-pound freshman Shuan Stegall. One of the top players in the state of Georgia as a prep last year, Stegall has the potential to provide solid minutes in his rookie season. Stegall gives Nebraska another athletic scorer and rebounder while showcasing a physical presence on the wing.

Standing in at 6-10, 220 pounds, freshman Bob Kempf also brings a physical game to the court. The lone walk-on this season, the Shickley, Neb., native utilizes his height to his advantage on both ends of the court and has a chance to provide solid minutes at center this season.