Huskers Set For Matchup Against Bisons

The Nebraska men's basketball team hits the Bob Devaney Sports Center court for the second time in three days when it takes on Lipscomb on Monday, Dec. 22. The game will tip off at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live on the Pinnacle Sports Network and on Huskers.com, with Randy Lee calling the action and Matt Davison adding color analysis. Live stats and streaming video are also available on Huskers.com.

The quick turnaround is nothing new to the 2003-04 Huskers. Nebraska has already gone through a five-game march in just 11 days, which included three games in five days. NU went 4-1 in the stretch, winning all four home contests.

Nebraska looks to remain undefeated at home when it takes on the Bisons. The Huskers are 7-0 at the Devaney Center this season and own a nine-game home winning streak dating back to last season. The last time NU won at least 10 straight home contests came six years ago, when the Huskers won 11 straight from 1996-97 to 1997-98. NU has claimed just two double-figure home winning streaks since the 1993-94 campaign, as Nebraska won 12 straight from 1993-94 to 1994-95.

The Huskers are off to their best start to a season since also going 7-1 to open the 1997-98 campaign. The last time NU opened a season with at least eight wins in its first nine games came in 1994-95, when the Huskers ran off to an 11-1 start and broke in the national rankings.

With another win, the Huskers would tie the mark for the most victories in the non-conference season under Coach Collier. Nebraska has won at least seven non-league games in each of Collier's first three seasons. The last time NU won nine games in non-conference play was 1997-98, when the Huskers finished 20-12 and reached the NCAA Tournament.

About the Huskers
Nebraska looks run its home-court winning streak to eight straight this season when it faces off against Lipscomb on Monday. Much of the Huskers' success has come behind its defensive play, although Nebraska's offense has been highly efficient through eight contests.

NU is averaging 69.6 points per game while hitting 46.8 percent from the floor to rank in the upper half of the Big 12 Conference. Last season, Nebraska hit just 39.8 percent from the floor on the season, and 42.2 percent through its first eight contests.

Four of Nebraska's top five scorers are hitting better than 50.0 percent from the field, including seniors Andrew Drevo and Nate Johnson.

Drevo, a 6-8 forward from Lincoln, is second on the team with 10.4 points per game while hitting 50.8 percent from the floor in 19.8 minutes per game. Drevo has been deadly inside the arc, where he has converted on 67.7 percent (21-of-31) of his attempts. He is also second on the team in three-pointers with nine (on 28 attempts) while adding 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Drevo leads the team with a 1.86-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (13 assists, seven turnovers).

Johnson has been nearly as efficient, averaging 9.7 points in 21.6 minutes per game while hitting at a 52.4-percent clip from the field. Johnson is gaining 3.3 rebounds per contest and leads the Huskers at the free throw line, where he has nailed 86.4 percent to rank among the league's top 10 free throw shooters. Johnson is second on the squad in made (19) and attempted (22) free throws, helping NU to average 70.1 percent from the line as a team.

Junior Corey Simms leads the Huskers by hitting 52.8 percent from the field while averaging 6.4 points per game. The St. Louis, Mo., native is second on the team in rebounding with 5.0 boards per contest and is tied for the team lead with junior Jake Muhleisen with 11 steals. Muhleisen and Simms also rank Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in minutes, averaging 26.9 and 24.8 per game.

Muhleisen, who has returned to full health after missing all but eight minutes of the conference season last year with a fractured hip, is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.1 points per contest while hitting 50.0 percent from the floor. The Lincoln native ranks second on the squad with 15 assists despite moving from the team's primary point guard to the wing.

Junior John Turek paces the squad with 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and is converting on 46.4 percent of his attempts from the field. Turek, who is the team leader with 15 blocked shots, has made his biggest improvement at the free throw line, where he has converted 72.4 percent while leading the team in made (21) and attempted (29) free throws. The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native entered the season as a 41.9-percent shooter from the charity stripe. His 21 free throws this season are nearly half his total made (43) in 30 games last year and more than all 28 games (19) in his freshman campaign.

While the offense has been improved, it is the defensive effort that is receiving the biggest applause. Nebraska has allowed just 52.9 points per game this season, with only four opponents topping the 60-point plateau. NU allowed a season-high 64 points in the season opener.

The Huskers have allowed just 51.7 points per game in seven home victories this season, including an average of only 42.3 points in the last three contests. Nebraska has held its opponent to less than 40 points twice in that three-game span, including a Devaney Center-record low 26 points on Saturday against Bethune-Cookman. The last time NU held at least two opponents to less than 40 points in the same season was 1950-51, when Nebraska defeated Northwest Missouri State 61-39 and Santa Clara 53-38.

Scouting the Bisons
Nebraska will face a Lipscomb Bisons squad that returns nine players from last season's squad and has five newcomers. The Bisons are in their first season competing at the Division I level after spending the past two years as an independent while awaiting Division I status. LU is also in its first season as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Lipscomb was an NAIA member from 1981-82 to 2000-01, when it recorded 13 straight seasons of at least 30 wins, including a 41-5 mark in 1990. The Bisons won the NAIA national championship and finished with a 35-4 record in 1986.

LU finished last year with an 8-20 record, going 0-11 away from its home court in Nasheville, Tenn. The Bisons dropped their first-ever meeting with the Huskers by 10 points, 70-60. The contest was Nebraska's last non-conference game of the season. Guard Corey Simms hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor to record a career-high 20 points and added eight rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Forwards John Turek and Andrew Drevo also scored in double figures, adding 11 and 10 points apiece, respectively, while forward Brian Conklin came off the bench to spark Nebraska with 10 points in 11 minutes. Conklin hit 2-of-3 three-point field goal attempts to lead the Huskers, although NU finished just 3-of-16 from downtown in the contest. Nebraska led 39-22 at the intermission before seeing the Bisons take a seven-point advantage, 38-31, in the second frame.

Sophomore guard James Poindexter leads the 2003-04 Bisons by averaging 14.7 points and 2.3 assists per game. Poindexter has hit 41.6 percent from the floor while Lipscomb has converted on 47.5 percent from the field as a team.

Senior guard Russell Hankins is second on the squad with 11.1 points per game and paces the Bisons with 18 three-pointers in seven contests. Hankins has converted 36 percent of LU's made three-pointers (50) this season.

Along with Poindexter and Hankins, Lipscomb has found double-figure scorers in guard Brian Fisk and forward Chad Hartman, who each add 10.9 points per game this season, while forward Matt Jarboe has added 10.1 points per contest. Hartman leads the Bisons with 6.1 rebounds per game, while center Albert Hacker (4.5 rpg) is the only other Bison with at least four boards per contest.

LU has averaged 79.0 points per contest while allowing 83.3 points, and has been outrebounded 36.1-34.7 through seven games. Lipscomb opened the season with a 92-57 loss at Big 12 foe Kansas State, while also falling to IUPUI in overtime, and Mercer, Georgia State and Pepperdine. Both of the Bisons' victories this year have come at home, with a 77-66 win over Fisk and a 100-59 victory against the University of the South (Sewannee) last Thursday.

The Bisons are coached by Scott Sanderson (South Carolina, 1984), who is in his fifth season at Lipscomb and eighth season as a head coach. The son of former coach Wimp Sanderson (Alabama and Arkansas-Little Rock), Scott Sanderson owns a 71-57 record with the Bisons and 155-83 record overall. Sanderson's brothers are also college coaches, as Jim Sanderson is the head coach at Faulkner University (NAIA) and Barry Sanderson is an assistant at South Carolina.

Last Time Out ? Nebraska 70, Bethune-Cookman 26
Lincoln, Neb. --- The Nebraska men’s basketball team turned in a record-setting defensive performance, holding Bethune-Cookman to a Devaney Center record-low 26 points in a 70-26 victory Saturday.

The Huskers, who improved to 7-1 on the season, topped their previous best, set less than two weeks ago when they tied the Devaney Center record by allowing Delaware State to score just 39 points. The 26 points were the fewest scored by an NU opponent since 1941.

Jason Dourisseau led all scorers, recording a season-high 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor. Dourisseau and Nate Johnson, who both came off the bench, were two of just three Huskers (along with John Turek) to play more than 20 minutes in the contest, as all 15 active players saw time on the court.

Dourisseau added six rebounds and Turek led both teams with 10 boards, marking his third double-figure rebounding effort of the season. Behind Dourisseau and Turek, Nebraska dominated the glass, earning a 50-28 advantage.

The Huskers fell behind early as neither team was able to get the hot hand. After trailing 6-0 with just 3:38 gone in the first period, Nebraska rallied to score 35 of the next 43 points and take a 35-14 lead at the intermission. Nebraska held BCC to just one field goal in the final 11:53 of the first half. The Wildcats (0-5) ended the drought with a basket by Anis Taylor with 12 seconds remaining in the period. Taylor led Bethune-Cookman with 12 points, the only Wildcat in double figures.

It was more of the same in the second period, as BCC did not score a point for the first 10:49. The lackluster offensive performance helped NU outscore the Wildcats 40-2 over a time of 22:42 spanning the first and second half.

Bethune-Cookman, which came into the game averaging just 49 points per game, was held to just 12 points in the second period, another Devaney Center record. Bethune-Cookman missed its first 16 shots of the second half while NU hit its first four and 7-of-11 shots to start the frame. NU finished the game hitting 45.2 percent while holding BCC to just 21.5 percent shooting from the floor, a building record low.

Nebraska postgame notes vs. Bethune-Cookman
** Nebraska limited Bethune-Cookman to just 26 points, a Devaney Center record and the fewest points allowed by the Huskers since defeating Kansas State 33-23 on Jan. 17, 1941. The previous Devaney Center low was 39 points by Delaware State in a 68-39 loss on Dec. 8, 2003. The Huskers also scored just 39 points in the building against Kansas State as part of the 1984 Big Eight Tournament.

** Bethune-Cookman hit just 11-of-52 shot attempts, setting the Devaney Center record for lowest field-goal percentage at 21.2 percent. The previous low was 23.0 percent by Delaware State in 1995.

** The 12 points allowed in a period (second) tied the Devaney Center record, orgininally set by Arkansas on March, 17, 1987 in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

** The Huskers’ 44-point margin of victory was the highest in four years under Coach Collier. The previous high was a 28-point victory against Texas A&M on Feb. 28, 2001.

** The last time NU won by at least 44 points was 1983, when the Huskers defeated Augustana (S.D.) by a 113-69 score. The last time NU defeated a Division I opponent by at least 44 points was 1977 in a 104-60 victory over Montana State.

** The Huskers improved to 9-0 all-time against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents, and 2-0 this season. NU also defeated Delaware State earlier this year, 64-39, in Lincoln. The meeting with Bethune-Cookman was the first ever for the Huskers.

** NU allowed a season-low points in each half. The Huskers allowed just 14 points in the first half and surpassed the mark by allowing just 12 points in the second frame. It was the fourth and fifth time this season the Huskers limited opponents to fewer than 20 points in a period.

** Junior John Turek had 10 rebounds to lead the Huskers, marking his 15th career double-figure rebounding effort and third this season.

** Nebraska recorded 50 rebounds as a team, reaching the 50-rebound plateau for the first time since Feb. 26, 2000, against Colorado.

** Sophomore Jason Dourisseau recorded a game- and season-high 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor. He was the Huskers’ only scorer in double figures, and added six rebounds in 22 minutes.

** All 15 active players saw action for the third time this season. Freshman James Reynolds scored his first career points, going 2-of-3 from the floor with two rebounds and one steal in three minutes.

** Turek recorded a career-high four assists to lead the Huskers. NU had 14 assists on 28 baskets, while BCC had six assists on 11 baskets.

** NU has led by double figures in every home contest this season, including 35-14 against BCC.

** The Huskers reached 70 points for the fourth time this season, and second straight game.

** Nebraska improved to 7-0 under Coach Collier when holding opponents to 50 points or less, including 2-0 this season. Collier’s team have gone 37-0 when allowing 50 or fewer points over the past 14 years.

Gaining Attention
It's still early in the college basketball season, but the Huskers are starting to gain some national attention.

The Huskers were at the top of the list of 'Good Wins' on Andy Katz's Weekly Watch for their victory over Tennessee on Dec. 13. Katz, a senior writer at ESPN.com, noted: "This victory will have legs for the Huskers. Games like this one prove an Big 12/SEC Challenge can work -- if the event ever gets off the ground."

One player in particular grabbed Katz's attention, as junior forward John Turek was one of four players listed on the Weekly Watch's "On Our Radar" section. Turek led Nebraska with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting against the Vols while hitting 7-of-7 free throw attempts.

Gaining Attention II
While the Huskers' overall play against the Vols opened many eyes, it was a single play in particular that made it onto the national scene.

With Nebraska leading by a comfortable 22-point margin nearly midway through the second half, sophomore guard Jason Dourisseau cut into the paint where forward Brian Conklin got him the ball. Dourisseau then put down a solid dunk to give the Huskers' a 50-26 lead with 12:37 to play.

But the play was not over, as the basket standard came crashing down, throwing the home team and 8,206 fans in attendance into a frenzy. The stoppage to fix the basket lasted approximately six to seven minutes before play resumed. NU lost focus after the delay and let the lead slip to 11 points late in the game before cruising away with a 77-62 victory.

The dunk turned into an instant hit on television, as it was played in the opening segment of SportsCenter that night, and was a Play of the Day nominee. While it did not make that day's Top 10 Plays, it was No. 9 on Chris Berman's Weekly Top 10.

Going Deep
For the first time in recent years, the Cornhuskers have a deep bench that has proven valuable to the Huskers in the early season contests. The Huskers have gotten at least 10 players into every contest in 2003-04, including all 15 available players three times. Nebraska's bench has outscored its opponents by a 219-92 margin this year, while helping NU to a 7-0 record at home.

Making the Play
It's still early in the season and a couple of Huskers have already stepped up to provide a big boost down the stretch in tight games.

Junior guard Jake Muhleisen made the first big play before the season officially began. In its final preseason game of the year, NU trailed Athletes in Action by two points with less than 20 seconds remaining. In just his second game back from a hip fracture that sidelined him for nearly all of the Big 12 season last year, Muhleisen hit a running jumper to tie the game and completed a traditional three-point play to give NU the lead for good with 17.4 seconds remaining. Nebraska went on to win 78-73.

After running past Fairleigh Dickinson in the season opener, NU looked to be on its way to a second straight blowout victory against Eastern Michigan before the Eagles made a late run. EMU eventually cut a 27-point deficit to just seven points before junior guard Corey Simms stepped up to help turn the Eagles away.

One of the Huskers' top defenders, Simms had shadowed EMU's top scorer, Markus Austin, all night, limiting him to two points, 15 points below his season average, before turning on the offense and putting NU over the top. Simms scored nine straight points in a four-minute span (7:37 to 3:26) to lead Nebraska to a 67-59 victory. Simms gained his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds.

Simms kept up the heroics against Arizona State when he pitched in a season-high 13 points with a career-best four steals. He recorded nine points with one rebound, one steal and one blocked shot in the final six minutes after Arizona State pulled within four points.

Nate Johnson added to that list has he nailed 10 consecutive free throws ? all in the final three minutes ? to wrap up a 77-62 victory over Tennessee. Johnson had just four points before the stretch run, but put up the best numbers at the free throw line of any player in the Big 12 Conference this year. Johnson also added a game- and career-high nine rebounds in the winning effort.

Home Sweet Home
After easily handling Bethune-Cookman, 70-26, on Saturday, Nebraska now holds a nine-game home-court winning streak and is 36-16 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center under Coach Barry Collier. The winning streak is the longest at home since recording 11 straight between 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Nebraska has been outstanding at home since moving into the Devaney Center in the 1976-77 season. The Huskers hold a 324-100 (.764) 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.

Doling out the 'D'
Nebraska was one of the top defensive units in the rugged Big 12 Conference in 2002-03 and has been just as successful early this season.

The Huskers have gotten off to a good start, as they are allowing opponents to hit just 33.7 percent (147-of-436) from the floor and 23.1 percent (36-of-156) from behind the arc. NU held South Florida to just 2-of-19 shooting from three-point range, the lowest single-game opponent three-point field-goal percentage (.105) in four years under Coach Collier. Over the past five games, NU has allowed just 18 three-pointers on 101 attempts (17.8 percent).

NU's defensive performance against Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 20 ended in record-setting fashion. The Huskers limited BCC to just 26 points for the game, the lowest point total allowed by NU since a 33-23 victory over Kansas State in 1941. It was the second time in two weeks Nebraska's defensive effort had set or tied the Devaney Center record for lowest opponent point total. Delaware State tied the previous building low of 39 points on Dec. 8.

Bethune-Cookman was held to 14 points in the first period and just 12 points in the second frame, tying the building record low for points a period. BCC also shot a Devaney Center record low 21.2 percent (11-of-52) from the field.

Nebraska was also efficient on defense the previous game against Tennessee when the Huskers held UT to just three field goals in the first half, including only one from two-point range, a dunk with 9.9 seconds remaining in the half. UT shot 27.8 percent for the game. The three field goals is the fewest NU has allowed in one period since the 1987 NIT, when the Huskers gave up just three field goals while holding Arkansas to a Devaney Center-low 12 points in the first half.

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.

The overall defensive effort by the Huskers in 2002-03 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.

Hitting 100
One of the most prolific long range shooters in Nebraska history, forward Brian Conklin is getting back on track in his final year in Lincoln, starting the regular season on a tear.

The 6-11, 240-pounder came off the bench to produce 13 points and grab three rebounds in NU's 80-64 season-opening victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. Conklin hit 5-of-8 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-5 three-point field goal attempts, while playing with great intensity on both ends of the court. Conklin has hit 7-of-17 treys in the past seven games to leave him among the league leaders by hitting at a 45.5-percent (10-of-22) clip on the year. Conklin's 10 three-pointers through eight games leads the Huskers, and is nearly half of his total (22) in 30 games last year.

Conklin became only the ninth Husker in history to record at least 100 career three-pointers last season. He finished the year with 110 career treys and currently ranks seventh on the NU career list with 120, just 26 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 hit his 100th career three-pointer against Oklahoma State last season, 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 ranks sixth in the NU record book for career three-point field-goal percentage at 38.6 (119-of-308). Conklin set the NU sophomore record when he drained 65 treys while helping NU set the school record with 267 three-pointers as a team. He also ranks seventh on the NU freshman chart with 23 in 2000.

Lead Blockers
Junior forward John Turek is in the starting lineup for the third straight season after leading the team in blocked shots the past two years. Turek, who has added 15 of NU's 36 blocked shots this season, could become just the fourth player to lead NU in blocked shots for three straight seasons. Only one Husker (Dave Hoppen) 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 106. He became just the sixth player in NU history to record 100 blocked shots, reaching the mark when he recorded a season-high four against Delaware State. He also added four in the next game against Creighton but has not had a blocked shot in the past two contests.

Turek finished last season as only the second sophomore in NU history with at least 90 blocks. He recorded 52 of Nebraska's 96 blocked shots in 2002-03 and ranked sixth in the Big 12 Conference for blocked shots with 1.73 per game. Overall Nebraska returned 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. During 2003-04, 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 is no different. Nebraska has already played teams from some of the top leagues in the nation in non-conference play, including teams from the Pac-10, Southeastern and Missouri Valley conferences, and Conference USA. NU still has a road contest remaining in non-league play at Big Ten foe Minnesota.

NU begins its eighth season in the Big 12 Conference in 2003-04. Nebraska has a 112-110 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 occurrence 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.

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.

Quick Shots
** Nebraska opened the season with five consecutive wins for the second time in four seasons under Coach Collier. NU currently owns a nine-game home winning streak dating back to last season.

** While it's still early, the Huskers have hit 46.8 percent from the field, a much-improved percentage over last year's 39.8 percent. NU's percentage is even greater when considering just two-point baskets, as the Huskers have hit 52.3 percent (158-of-302) from inside the arc.

** Nebraska's new offensive scheme has helped the Huskers put up 69.6 points per game, much higher than last season's 63.3 points per game. NU has reached the 70-point plateau four times in the first eight games, after reaching 70 points just six times in 30 games last season.

** Senior Brian Conklin looks to reach a special plateau this season, as he is on pace to become the second Husker to play his 100th career game under Coach Collier. Conklin has currently played in 96 contests in his fourth year with the Huskers. Guard Cary Cochran is the only Husker to play his 100th career game under Collier, reaching the mark in his senior season in 2001-02 when he finished as NU's career leader in three-point field goals .

** While Conklin and junior guard Jake Muhleisen have already topped the 500-point plateau this season, NU could see that number climb to five this season as Andrew Drevo (currently 485 points), John Turek (459) and Nate Johnson (441) are all within reach of the mark.

** Nebraska has hit 70.1 percent from the free throw line this season after converting on just 64.9 percent from the foul line last year. Junior forward John Turek has played a prominent role in that turnaround, as he is hitting 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the line after entering the season as a 41.9 percent free throw shooter in his first two years. Turek leads the team with made (21) and attempted (29) free throws this season.

** Nebraska has used four different starting lineups in the first eight games of the season. Only Muhleisen and Turek have started every game this year.