NU Opens 2003-04 Season Saturday Evening

Lincoln -- The Nebraska men's basketball team tips off the 2003-04 season at home this weekend when it takes on Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:05 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The game can be heard live on the Pinnacle Sports Network and on Huskers.com, with Randy Lee calling the action and first-year commentator Matt Davison serving as color analyst. Live stats and video are also available on Huskers.com.

The Huskers look to get out to a hot start against the Knights and will be aided by the confidence gained in two successful exhibition contests. Nebraska defeated Division II Alaska-Fairbanks, 83-54, and Athletes in Action, 78-73, last week to run its all-time record in exhibition contests to 37-5.

Each game provided valuable learning tools for the Huskers. NU was able to get 14 players into the contest against UAF, with 11 Huskers scoring at least one point in the blowout. Against AIA, Nebraska was in a tougher fight, as the Huskers had to step up before rallying from six points down in the final three minutes to earn the victory.

Nebraska played solid, fundamental basketball in its two exhibition contests this year. The Huskers had 32 assists against just 24 turnovers (1.33-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio) in the two games combined, while forcing their opponents into 43 turnovers (21 assists, 0.49-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio).

NU's defensive pressure has been impressive early in the year. The Huskers have 19 steals, including 11 in the opener against Alaska-Fairbanks. Last season, NU recorded double- figure steals in just three contests.

The defensive effort has also helped hold opponents in check as they are hitting just 36.3 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from three-point range. Nebraska has countered with a potent offensive attack that averaged 80.5 points in the two contests, while the Huskers hit 45.5 percent from the field. Nebraska was extremely efficient inside the arc, as NU has hit 50.5 percent (48-of-95) of its two-point shots.

Leading the charge in the preseason was senior forward Andrew Drevo and senior guard Nate Johnson. Two of the top scoring transfers in NU history, the pair finished the exhibition run combining for 29.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Drevo hit 12-of-22 attempts (54.5 percent) from the field and added five blocks and four assists, while Johnson hit 9-of-18 shots (50.0 percent) with three assists and two steals.

Johnson also went 8-of-8 at the free throw line, where he led NU last season by hitting at a 72.8 percent clip. Johnson's effort was the second-best on the team in the preseason, topped only by Jake Muhleisen's 9-for-9 effort. As a team, the Huskers hit 76.3 percent (29-of-38) from the charity stripe, well above last year's 64.9 percent.

Scouting Fairleigh Dickinson
Nebraska opens the season with an unfamiliar foe in Fairleigh Dickinson, as this will be their first meeting on the hardwood. Nebraska has faced a Northeast Conference (NEC) school just twice before, earning a 2-0 record with wins over Wagner in 1990 and Monmouth in 2000.

The Knights return 11 letterwinners, including two starters, from last season's 15-14 (9-9 NEC) squad. FDU is led by senior guard Marcus Whitaker, who averaged 7.7 points and 4.5 assists per game last season. The Trenton, N.J., native pitched in 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists in FDU's lone exhibition game, a 96-76 victory over Team Dasani on Monday. Whitaker hit 4-of-5 three-point field goal attempts, helping Fairleigh Dickinson record 12 three-pointers. FDU averaged 8.5 three-pointers last season to rank 18th in Division I.

Returning with Whitaker to the starting lineup is sophomore forward Gordon Klaiber. A native of Greenbelt, Md., the 6-8, 193-pound Klaiber averaged 7.3 points and 4.0 rebounds last season while starting 21 games for the Knights. He was fourth on the team with 23 three-pointers and led the squad with 25 blocked shots. On Monday, Klaiber recorded a double-double with game highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds. He hit 9-of-14 shots from the floor, including 3-of-4 three-point field goal attempts, and added two assists and two blocked shots in 30 minutes.

Along with Whitaker and Klaiber, the Knights also return sophomore guard Chad Timberlake, an NEC All-Rookie Team selection last season. Timberlake averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while hitting 51.9 percent from the floor in 2002-03. He pitched in seven points, two assists and one rebound in the Knights' exhibition victory.

The Knights are coached by Tom Green (Syracuse, 1971), who is in his 21st season in charge of the program. Green has produced a 321-255 record in his career, all at FDU. He is the all-time leader in wins in the Northeast Conference and at Fairleigh Dickinson, and has been named the league's coach of the year on two occasions. Green led the Knights to their only postseason appearances, earning NCAA bids in 1985, 1988 and 1998, along with an NIT berth in 1991.

Getting to the Point
After losing its top two point guards to injury midway through the 2002-03 season, the Nebraska coaching staff made it a priority to get quality depth in the backcourt this season. The results so far have been positive.

Working into the mix at the point this season has been a pair of newcomers in Marcus Neal Jr. and Charles Richardson Jr. Neal, a junior college transfer from Polk (Fla.) Community College, brings an offensive mindset to the point, where he can slash to the basket and score or dish it to an open teammate. Richardson, a true freshman from the Chicago area, is also an effective passer who brings a high level of energy and intensity to the defensive end.

Neal has started each of Nebraska's two exhibition games, averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. Richardson has come on in relief, producing 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game in 15.0 minutes of action.

With the two newcomers taking over at the point, incumbent Jake Muhleisen has been able to move out to the wing, where he can be effective as a scorer or passer. Muhleisen averaged 9.0 points with 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in the exhibition season. Muhleisen has played some point, most notably in the final minute of action against Athletes in Action, when Muhleisen's three-point play put NU ahead for good with 17.4 seconds left.

Home Sweet Home
When the Huskers open the regular-season home slate against Fairleigh Dickinson, Nebraska will be looking for its 23rd straight victory in a home opener. The last time NU lost its first home contest of the year came in the 1980-81 season, when NU fell to Wyoming, 62-59, in overtime. Included in that streak was a 71-69 upset of No. 5 Michigan State in 1990-91.

The Huskers have won five of their last six season openers, including two of three under Coach Barry Collier. Nebraska earned a season-opening victory over Centenary, 68-45, last year at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Nebraska has been outstanding at home since moving into the Bob Devaney Sports Center in the 1976-77 season. The Huskers hold a 317-100 (.760) record at home during that span, including 21 seasons (of 27) of at least 10 home wins. Last year, Nebraska went 9-6 at the Devaney Center, including a pair of three-game winning streaks in the non-conference season. Nebraska has defeated a ranked team at home 21 times during that span, including once in each of the past three seasons under Coach Collier.

Taking Charity
One area Nebraska has looked to improve this season is taking advantage of its opportunities at the free throw line. To help that cause, every Husker has put in at least one extra hour, four days a week shooting free throws outside of practice. From the way Nebraska has shot it at the charity stripe in its first two exhibition games, the extra effort seems to be paying off.

Nebraska hit 18-of-19 free throw attempts (94.7 percent) against Athletes in Action in its final preseason contest, including nailing 11-of-11 attempts in the second period. Last year, Nebraska hit just 64.9 percent from the line during the regular season, and surpassed 75.0 percent from the foul line in just four contests. The last time NU hit at least 90.0 percent from the line in a regular-season contest was Jan. 6, 2001, when Nebraska hit 9-of-10 attempts against Missouri.

Every free point was needed, as the Huskers rallied from a six-point deficit in the final three minutes to earn a 78-73 victory. NU hit 7-of-7 attempts in that time frame. Athletes in Action was also nearly perfect at the line, hitting 21-of-23 free throw attempts (91.3 percent) for the game. AIA nailed 16-of-17 attempts in the first period, but was limited to just six attempts (five made) in the second half.

Doling out the 'D'
Nebraska was one of the top defensive units in the rugged Big 12 Conference in 2002-03 and looks to continue that trend this season.

The Huskers finished last year ranked first in the league in three-point field-goal percentage defense by allowing opponents to hit just 30.2 percent (193-of-639) from behind the arc. The total was a Nebraska single-season record, breaking the previous mark of 30.3 percent (154-of-508) set by the 1992-93 squad.

Nebraska held 25-of-30 opponents under 40 percent from outside the arc, including 14 to less than 30 percent from downtown. Five opponents were held to less than 20 percent shooting from outside. Kansas State shot an opponent season-low 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from three-point range, as NU snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 68-61 home victory.

The overall defensive effort by the Huskers was also outstanding. Nebraska limited opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting from the field for the season to rank seventh in the league statistics. The top six in the conference were also among the top 30 nationally.

The total was the third-lowest at Nebraska since 1960-61, which is the last time the Huskers limited their opponents to less than 40 percent from the field for a whole season.

Nebraska held 13 opponents to less than 40 percent from the field in 2002-03, including six to less than 35 percent. Nebraska’s first opponent of the season, Centenary, felt possibly the toughest defense of the year, as the Huskers limited the Gents to just 20.0 percent shooting (10-of-50) for the game.

Tremendous Transfers
Seniors Andrew Drevo and Nate Johnson made their mark on the Nebraska basketball program in their first year with the team in 2002-03. This season, they will each look to etch their names among the greatest two-year players at Nebraska.

The two transfers ? Johnson from Penn Valley CC and Drevo from Division II Morningside College ? finished the season ranked first and second in scoring (Drevo, 13.9; Johnson, 13.3) for NU; second and third in free throw percentage (Johnson, 72.8; Drevo, 67.3); first and third in three-pointers (Drevo, 48; Johnson, 18); third and fourth in field-goal percentage (Drevo, 41.1; Johnson, 40.6); first and fifth in rebounding (Drevo, 7.3; Johnson, 3.8); second and fourth in assists (Johnson, 63; Drevo, 38); and second and fifth in steals (Johnson, 30; Drevo, 21).

Johnson and Drevo, who both ranked among the top 25 in overall and league-only scoring, put themselves among elite company in their first year with the Huskers. Only 10 of the top 60 scorers in NU history were two-year players after transferring into Nebraska’s program. While Johnson and Drevo did not make it onto the NU career list in 2002-03, they are set up nicely to reach it this season. In fact, if Drevo records another season like he did in his first year (402 points to lead the team), he would break Bernard Day’s mark for a two-year player at Nebraska, which stands at 802 points.

Drevo and Johnson finished 2002-03 ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in scoring average among first-year transfers at Nebraska, respectively. Day, who ranks 39th on the NU career scoring list (802 points, 12.7 ppg over 63 games in 1985-86 and 1986-87), previously held the highest scoring average for a first-year transfer with 13.1 points per game (392 total) in 1985-86, while only two others on the NU career list have averaged at least 12.0 points per game in their first year with the program (Derrick Chandler, 12.3 ppg in 1991-92; Kimani Ffriend, 12.0 ppg in 1999-2000). Tony Farmer, who averaged 12.4 points in 1990-91, would have likely also made the career list, but only played one season at Nebraska.

Hitting 100
One of the most prolific long range shooters in Nebraska history, forward Brian Conklin looks to get back on track in his final year in Lincoln in 2002-03. The 6-11, 240-pounder finished second on the squad with 22 treys last year although he hit just 25.9 percent from three-point range.

Despite the sub-par performance, Conklin became just the ninth Husker in history to record at least 100 career three-pointers last season. He finished the year with 110 career treys and enters this season ranked seventh on the NU career list, just 37 three-pointers shy of moving into the school's top five. Cary Cochran owns the NU career mark with 268 three-pointers in his four-year career.

Conklin surpassed the 100 mark against Oklahoma State, when he recorded three triples. Two weeks later, Conklin hit a season-high five three-pointers against Baylor. The five treys tied the team season high, which Jake Muhleisen established in the second game of the year against Alaska-Fairbanks.

While Conklin hit 25.9 percent (22-of-85) in 2002-03 as opponents keyed on him outside the arc, he still finished the year ranked sixth in the NU record book for career three-point field-goal percentage at 38.9 (110-of-289). Conklin set the NU sophomore record when he drained 65 treys while helping NU set the school record with 267 three-pointers. He also ranks seventh on the NU freshman chart with 23 in 2000.

Lead Blockers
Junior forward John Turek returns for this third year in the lineup after leading the team in blocked shots the past two years. Turek could become just the fourth player to lead NU in blocked shots for three straight seasons, and only one Husker has ever had at least a share of the team lead for four straight years. Turek ranks sixth in the NU record book for career blocks with 91, making him only the second sophomore in NU history with at least 90 blocks.

Last season, Turek recorded 52 of Nebraska's 96 blocked shots and ranked sixth in the Big 12 Conference for blocked shots with 1.73 per game. Overall Nebraska returns 98.9 percent of its blocked shots from last season, including Turek and Andrew Drevo (19).

Tough Schedule Ahead
Nebraska’s schedule will again be one of the toughest in the nation, as it has been the past three years when the Huskers ranked among the top 60 nationally in schedule strength. NU will face a slate of teams that posted a 407-280 record last year, including 12 teams that reached postseason play (eight NCAA, four NIT).

The Huskers' non-league slate is normally set to help Nebraska get ready for the Big 12 season, and this year will be no different. Nebraska plays teams from some of the top leagues in the nation in non-conference play, including teams from the Big Ten, Pac-10, Southeastern and Missouri Valley conferences, and Conference USA.

NU begins its eighth season in the Big 12 Conference in 2003-04. Nebraska has a 107-109 overall record since the start of Big 12 play, including a 47-65 mark against league foes. Nebraska has defeated eight ranked league opponents since the start of Big 12 play, but has not been ranked in the top 25 since joining the Big 12. The league has sent two teams to the NCAA Final Four in each of the past two years, with Big 12 teams producing a 500-299 record during that time.

Huskers Succeed On and Off the Court
Forward John Turek and center Tony Wilbrand were among 15 student-athletes named to the 2003 academic All-Big 12 Team last spring, something that is becoming a common site for the Husker basketball team. Turek, who became the 33rd Husker to be named to the academic all-conference first team, was the third Husker to be selected to the first team under coach Barry Collier, joining Cary Cochran and Brian Conklin who earned the honor in 2002. Over the previous 10 years, only five Huskers had been named to the first team.

Behind Turek and Wilbrand’s effort, the Huskers succeeded in the classroom as the team held a cumulative grade-point average above 3.0 through the spring. Eight Huskers were named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for their academic achievement in the 2002 fall and 2003 spring semesters, including one with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Overall, six Huskers have accounted for 23 honor roll certificates over the past four years.

The academic all-conference team was made up of student-athletes who competed in at least 60 percent of their team’s games and held at least a 3.2 GPA (cumulative or the past two semesters) for the first team and between a 3.0 and 3.19 for the second team.

There Is No Place Like Nebraska
The Huskers have set out to keep the best players in the state at home and the results have been positive. Nebraska has two state players of the year (Jake Muhleisen, 2001; Wesley Wilkinson, 2002) on its current roster, and now have eight in-state players on the roster. Last season, NU had nine players from the Cornhusker state, the most in 30 years.

NU Signs Three to National Letters of Intent
Shooting guard Joe McCray (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Laurinburg [N.C.] Institute), center Aleks Maric (Sydney, Australia; Life Center [N.J.] Academy) and forward Dillion Sneed (Chicago, Ill.; Colby [Kan.] CC) have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Nebraska and play basketball beginning in the 2004-05 season, Nebraska Coach Barry Collier announced during the early signing period.

McCray was tabbed No. 53 among high school seniors by The Sporting News, and among the top 100 seniors by ESPN.com, Athlon and Lindy’s. McCray was rated the country’s best scoring guard by Rivalhoops.com and the No. 20 shooting guard by Athlon.

The 6-5, 185-pound McCray had a breakout performance at the ABCD Camp in New Jersey. He was ranked as the second-best wing forward at the camp by HoopMasters.com and No. 24 overall out of 250 elite high schoolers.

McCray led Dillard (Fla.) High School to four straight state titles in Florida’s largest class (6A) under Coach Darrel Burrows. McCray, a third-team all-state selection as a senior, helped Dillard move into the USA Today Top 25 as a senior, when the team went 32-1. He was a two-time all-tournament team selection in the state playoffs and was the state finals MVP as a junior.

McCray is attending prep school at the Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute this year under Coach Chris Chaney. A versatile athlete, McCray was also a top prospect at wide receiver before receiving interest in his basketball talents from several top schools, including Connecticut, Michigan State, Alabama and Miami.

A 6-11, 269-pounder, Maric (pronounced MAR-itch) is a talented post player who is a physical presence in the paint. He also possesses a solid shooting touch and range with tremendous strength and has the ability to run the floor well for a big man.

A native of Sydney, Australia, Maric came to the United States in late October, and was quickly ranked among the top 70 prep players nationally by Hoop Scoop. Playing at the Australian Institute for Sport under Coach Marty Clarke last year, Maric averaged 10 points and 13 rebounds last season, and helped his team to the gold medal at the Under-19 World Championships in Greece in 2003. Under the guidance of Coach Rob Beverage, Maric helped his New South Wales team to the silver and gold medals in his state the previous two years, respectively. Maric is enrolled at Life Center Academy, an independent private Christian high school in Burlington, N.J., where he will complete his high school requirements this season.

A 6-7, 230-pound forward, Sneed significantly boosted his rating with his solid play at the King of the Court All-American Junior College Challenge and Rick Ball’s Elite Eighty Camp this past summer. Sneed helped Colby (Kan.) Community College to a top-10 national ranking and a 7-0 start in 2003-04. He averaged 8.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 19 minutes per game to start the season, while hitting 26-of-34 shots (.765) from the floor.

The Chicago native averaged 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game as a freshman, but has displayed a tenacious presence on the boards while showing solid ability to finish inside in 2003. Sneed averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Gordon Tech High School in Chicago for Coach Scott Bogumil. Sneed, who led the team with 2.4 blocks per game, hit 49.8 percent from the floor while helping Gordon Tech to a 23-5 record in 2002. Sneed was named to the All-Catholic League team before leading his squad to the regional title in the state playoffs, where he recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds in the regional championship game.

Huskers in the Pros
Nebraska has had 24 players selected in the NBA draft since 1949, with Venson Hamilton being the latest selection in 1999 (2nd round, 50th pick). There were three former Huskers on opening-day rosters this season, including Eric Piatkowski (Houston Rockets; injured list), Tyronn Lue (Orlando Magic; 14.9 ppg, 4.2 apg) and Erick Strickland (Milwaukee Bucks; 9.0 ppg, 3.5 apg). Mikki Moore was also on the Seattle SuperSonics preseason roster, but was released in October before the start of the season.

The three Huskers on opening-day NBA rosters tied for the third-most representatives of any team in the Big 12 this year. Kansas led the way with eight former players opening the season in the NBA, while Iowa State was second with four former Cyclones in the league. NU and Missouri had three players apiece, while Texas and Texas Tech each had two on the list. Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma and Oklahoma each had one while Kansas State and Texas A&M were the only league members without a former player on an opening-day roster. Former Husker Eric Piatkowski has the second-longest tenure of current Big 12 players in the league with nine years, trailing only Anthony Peeler (11 years).

Nebraska also has had several players playing overseas in recent years. This season, Cookie Belcher is playing his third season with Laurentia Biella in Italy's 'A' League (17.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg), while Kimani Ffriend is playing with the Yugoslavian team Reflex (10.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Eric Johnson (Galicia; 12.4 ppg, 2.0 apg) and Venson Hamilton (Bilbao; injured list) are playing in Spain, while Richard van Poelgeest is playing in Denmark (Weert; 8.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg). All stastics are through Nov. 14.