Huskers Face Red Flash Tonight

Lincoln -- The Nebraska men's basketball team opens the new year with its final regular-season non-conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 6, when the Huskers play host to the St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The game tips off at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live on the Pinnacle Sports Network, with Randy Lee calling the action and Matt Davison adding color analysis. The game can also be heard around the world on Huskers.com, where live stats and streaming video are also available.

Nebraska owns a four-game winning streak going into Tuesday's contest, and has won nine of 10 contests to date. The start is NU's best to open a season since the 1994-95 campaign, when the Huskers started 11-1.

The contest against the Red Flash will be Nebraska's first in more than a week, when NU earned a 77-60 road victory against Big Ten foe Minnesota. It was just the fifth win in the series by the Huskers in Minneapolis.

Nebraska will try to round out a perfect home non-conference season against the Red Flash. Tuesday's contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and St. Francis (Pa.) on the hardwood.

The Huskers have won eight straight games at the Devaney Center this year and own a 10-game home winning streak dating back to last season. It is just the third double-figure home winning streak for Nebraska in the past decade, and the first since NU won 11 straight at home from 1996-97 to 1997-98.

The game against SFU will be Nebraska's final tune up before conference play. Nebraska opens the league slate on Saturday, Jan. 10, when NU travels to Ames, Iowa, to take on the Iowa State Cyclones. The game will mark the start of NU's eighth season in the Big 12, one of the top leagues in the nation.

About the Huskers
The Huskers have played with good intensity and found a solid chemistry that has helped NU to an undefeated 8-0 home record heading into the final non-conference regular-season game of the season. Nebraska's last perfect home record in non-conference play came in 1997-98, when the Huskers went 7-0. The last time NU remained undefeated at home through nine non-conference regular-season games came in 1992-93.

A win against St. Francis (Pa.) would give NU a 10-1 overall mark, the best non-league record for the Huskers since 1994-95. Nebraska went 11-1 in the non-conference slate that year and posted an 18-14 overall record before reaching as high as No. 19 in the national rankings, the last time NU was ranked. The last time NU won at least 10 non-conference games in the regular season was 1995-96, when the Huskers won 11 non-league games while playing in three regular-season tournaments.

Several of Nebraska's victories have come against teams from the top conferences in the nation, including the Southeastern (Tennessee), Big Ten (Minnesota) and Pac-10 (Arizona State) Conferences, along with a win over a Conference USA school (South Florida). NU won by an average of more than 15 points over those squads, while limiting them to a combined 33.2 percent shooting from the floor, including just 24.0 percent from three-point range. Nebraska also outrebounded the Vols, Gophers, Sun Devils and Bulls by a combined 42.0-37.0 (+5.0) average.

The big wins came behind a solid defensive effort. NU ranks among the national leaders in scoring defense, allowing just 53.5 points per game, the best mark among Big 12 Conference teams. In the last NCAA rankings, the Huskers were 10th nationally, although Collegiate Basketball New's website, rpiratings.com, unofficially has the Huskers fourth in the nation through Jan. 2, trailing only Air Force (48.7 ppg), Utah (52.3) and Pittsburgh (53.3).

No opponent has scored more than 64 points against the Huskers this season, with four opponents scoring 52 or fewer points. Twice this season Nebraska has held its opponent to less than 40 points, including a Devaney Center-record low 26 points by Bethune-Cookman.

Nebraska has limited opponent's ability to score by forcing them into poor shots. Husker opponents have hit just 35.1 percent from the field and 23.3 percent from beyond the arc. Only four teams have shot better than 40.0 percent against NU, with Lipscomb's 53.8 (21-of-39) percent shooting marking the only time this season a team has hit better than 50 percent against Nebraska.

While their foes have had trouble scoring, the Huskers have been knocking down shot after shot this season. NU has averaged 70.9 points per game, including scoring at least 70 points in each of the past four games. Nebraska has averaged better than 70 points per game for a whole season just once in the past five campaigns.

The Huskers have been selective with their shots, and the patience has paid off as five of Nebraska's top seven scorers are hitting at least 50.0 percent from the field. As a team, Nebraska is hitting 47.7 percent from the floor.

Senior guard Nate Johnson leads the team by hitting 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field including 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from three-point range. The Kansas City, Kan., native leads Nebraska with 11.4 points per game despite coming off the bench in the past eight games. Johnson has added 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists, and ranks among the top five in the Big 12 in free throw percentage, hitting 87.5 percent at the foul line.

Senior Andrew Drevo joins Johnson as the Huskers' only other double-figure scorer, averaging 10.2 points per game. Drevo, a 6-8, 250-pound forward, is also second on the team in three-pointers (12), blocks (8) and assists (21) while adding 3.7 rebounds per contest. Drevo, like all of the Huskers, has been much more efficient from the floor, hitting 51.4 percent of his attempts this season after connecting on just 41.1 percent last year.

Juniors John Turek and Jake Muhleisen are averaging better than nine points per contest. Turek has gained 9.8 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per contest while Muhleisen has added 9.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Turek leads the team with 19 blocked shots, while Muhleisen leads the team with 12 steals.

Johnson, Drevo and Muhleisen have helped the Huskers get on record pace from behind the arc, where Nebraska has hit 37.6 percent this season. Senior Brian Conklin's resurgence as a serious threat from downtown has also helped the Huskers, as the 6-11, 240-pound forward leads Nebraska with 15 treys on 31 attempts (48.4 percent). Conklin averages 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds off the bench.

A pair of newcomers have done a good job of getting the ball to NU's scorers. Freshman Charles Richardson Jr. leads the team with 30 assists while committing 18 turnovers, and junior transfer Marcus Neal Jr. ranks third on the squad with 18 assists against 12 turnovers.

Scouting the Red Flash
The St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash head into Tuesday's contest against the Huskers with a 3-6 record. SFU returned nine letterwinners and four starters from last year's 14-14 squad.

The Red Flash have won three of their last five games, after dropping four straight to open the season. SFU, which has played seven of its first nine games on the road, owns home wins over Bucknell (84-79) and American (75-63), and a road victory against VMI (66-62).

St. Francis (Pa.) has averaged 67.7 points per game this season while allowing 72.4 points. The Red Flash have hit just 44.0 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from three-point range, while trailing on the boards, 33.2-31.3. SFU has also hit 72.8 percent from the foul stripe, and has averaged 15.1 turnovers against just 11.1 assists per contest.

The Red Flash have been led by sensational scorer Darshan Luckey, who is averaging a team-high 18.8 points per contest. The sophomore ranked among the top 25 scorers in the country last season, when he poured in 21.6 points per contest as a rookie.

Luckey leads the team in scoring after hoisting up a team-high 146 field-goal attempts. He has hit just 54 of those attempts, good for just 37.0 percent from the field. Luckey, who is averaging 34.6 minutes per game, has hit 12-of-41 (29.3 percent) attempts from beyond the arc but has been outstanding at the line, where he's hitting 81.7 percent (49-of-60).

Jason Osborne and Erick Wills give St. Francis (Pa.) a trio of double-figure scorers. Osborne, who also leads the team with 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, averages 11.3 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting. Wills has been the Red Flash's most well-round player early in the year by averaging 10.7 points while leading the team in three-pointers (20), assists (29) and steals (17).

The Red Flash are coached by Bobby Jones (Western Kentucky, 1984), who is in his fifth season at St. Francis (Pa.) and fifth season as a head coach. Jones owns a 42-77 record with the Red Flash.

Last Time Out ? Nebraska 77, Minnesota 60
Minneapolis -- The Nebraska men’s basketball team turned a tight game into a rout, as it exploded for 46 second-half points while on its way to a 77-60 road victory over Minnesota. The win helped the Huskers improve to 9-1 on the season and marked NU’s first true road victory since the 2002 campaign. Minnesota dropped to 6-3 on the year.

A pair of seniors came off the bench to power the Huskers’ attack, as guard Nate Johnson and forward Brian Conklin combined for 42 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Nebraska’s bench, which had more than doubled its opponents’ scoring totals entering the game, scored 56 of the Huskers’ 77 points, coming up just four points shy of Minnesota’s team total. UM had just seven points off the bench.

Johnson was hot from the minute he entered the game, attacking the Golden Gopher defense and scoring 10 points in the first half. All 10 of his points came in a six-minute span, including a pair of conventional three-point plays. Johnson’s effort helped Nebraska stay in the contest, as the Huskers went into the intermission trailing by one, 32-31. It was just the second time this season NU trailed at the break, with both coming on the road.

In the second period, Nebraska blew the game open with a hail of three-pointers. The Huskers hit 6-of-10 three-point attempts in the second frame, and finished with a season-high 11 treys on 20 attempts.

Johnson hit back-to-back three-pointers just 33 seconds apart to give NU a 56-47 lead with 10:10 to play. The six points were part of a 26-6 run that put NU ahead 65-49. Eighteen of the points in the surge came on three-pointers, with Conklin draining three trifectas in the run including the last two. The Hubbard, Ohio native was nearly perfect from beyond the arc, as he hit 5-of-6 three-point attempts before finishing with a season-high 17 points.

With NU ahead 67-53, Johnson then iced the game by hitting 7-of-8 free throws in the final 2:34. Johnson, who now leads the team with a 11.4 points-per-game average, finished with a career-high tying 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-2 from downtown, with six boards, three assists and two steals in a team-high 31 minutes.

The Huskers’ offensive explosion, which helped NU to its fourth straight game scoring at least 70 points, was the perfect mix with Nebraska’s play on the defensive end. The Huskers limited the Gophers to just 33.3 percent shooting (21-of-63), including 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from three-point range. In contrast, the Huskers hit 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field, including 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the second half.

Nebraska finished the game with 19 assists against 18 turnovers, although NU had just five turnovers in the second half as it routinely broke the Gophers’ press. On the boards, NU grabbed a 40-33 advantage, including a 28-14 margin on the defensive glass. Johnson, Corey Simms and John Turek each finished with a team-high six rebounds, including five offensive boards by Turek. The junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, added eight points and three blocked shots despite playing just 14 minutes because of foul trouble.

Senior Andrew Drevo also found himself in foul trouble, and finished with just five points and three rebounds. In their absence, sophomore center Tony Wilbrand played a career-high 21 minutes, adding four points and two boards.

Freshman sensation Kris Humphries led the Gophers, picking up 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Minnesota native came into the game ranked among the top five players in the nation in scoring and rebounding and has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week twice in the first six weeks of the season. Guards Maurice Hargrow and Ben Johnson added 14 and 11 points, respectively, while no other player scored more than five points.

Nebraska postgame notes vs. Minnesota
** Nebraska won for the fourth time in the last seven meetings with Minnesota, and just the fifth time ever at Minneapolis. The Huskers’ win was the largest against the Gophers in Minneapolis since a 41-24 victory in 1935. The Huskers now trail in the series 47-15, but hold a two-game winning streak over the Golden Gophers, both by double figures.

** The win marked the first true road victory for Nebraska since an 82-72 win over Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, on Feb. 20, 2002. Nebraska had lost 11 straight true road games, but had picked up a pair of victories away from Lincoln (68-45 over Centenary at 2003 Top of the World Classic; 60-57 over UC Santa Barbara at 2003 ASU Hoops Classic).

** The Huskers’ 17-point road win marked the Huskers’ biggest margin of victory away from the Devaney Center since a 75-58 win over Texas A&M on Feb. 11, 1998.

** Nebraska held Minnesota to just 33.3 percent (21-of-63) shooting from the floor marking the sixth time this season the Huskers have held their opponent to less than 35 percent shooting. The Golden Gophers also hit just 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from behind the arc, the sixth NU opponent to shoot less than 25 percent from three-point range. NU has now held seven of 10 opponents to five or fewer three-pointers in a contest.

** The Huskers scored 46 points in the second half to put away the Gophers. It marked the second-highest point total for any half this season, trailing only the 47 points NU scored in the second half against Tennessee.

** Nebraska outrebounded the Gophers 40-33, the eighth time in 10 games this season that NU has outrebounded its opponent. The Huskers now hold a 39.2-31.0 advantage on the glass this season, and are 8-0 when outrebounding opponents.

** Nebraska finished the game hitting 12-of-16 attempts from the free throw line, its fifth game connecting on at least 75.0 percent from the foul line this season. NU was just 2-of-2 in the first half before hitting 10-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe in the second period.

** The Huskers hit 51.9 percent from the field to mark their third contest this season shooting at least 50.0 percent from the field, and second straight. It was the second-highest field-goal percentage for Nebraska this year.

** Nebraska hit 55.0 percent from three-point range, the second-highest mark by the Huskers this year. NU’s only better contest from beyond the arc came against Delaware State, when NU hit 9-of-16 (56.3 percent). The Huskers’ 11 three-pointers against Minnesota were a season high, and were the most since hitting 13 against Baylor on Feb. 27, 2002. The last time NU hit at least 11 three-pointers away from Lincoln was Feb. 16, 2002, when NU hit 14 treys at Iowa State.

** Conklin played a season-high 24 minutes against UM and sophomore Tony Wilbrand played a career-high 21 minutes, while filling in for John Turek and Andrew Drevo who were in foul trouble much of the game. Wilbrand, who tied his career high with four points, more than doubled his previous career high of 10 minutes against Texas last season.

Playing with Passion
Despite coming off the bench for the past eight games, senior guard Nate Johnson has been a catalyst for Nebraska's offense this season. Johnson, who has had a positive, team-first attitude since joining the Huskers in 2002, leads the Huskers with 11.4 points per game. He is one of just two Huskers, along with senior Andrew Drevo, currently averaging better than 10 points per game, and leads the team by hitting 55.9 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from three-point range.

Johnson has performed well throughout the season, but is coming off possibly the performance of his career. The Kansas City, Kan., native scored a game-high 25 points while adding six rebounds (tied for team high), three assists and two steals. The 25 points tied Johnson's career high set in a 79-75 overtime victory against Denver last season.

Johnson's performance against Minnesota was at least as impressive as last year's meeting with Denver at home. Against the Pioneers in 2002-03, Johnson scored 12 points in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime while hitting 9-of-13 attempts from the charity stripe.

Playing on the road against Minnesota last week, Johnson hit 7-of-12 attempts from the floor and 9-of-10 from the foul line. Johnson had 10 straight points for the Huskers in the first half, helping Nebraska stay within striking distance as it trailed by just one, 32-31, at the intermission.

In the second frame, Johnson added 15 points, including a pair of three-pointers in a 36-second span. The two treys were part of six straight for the Huskers during a 26-6 run. Johnson also hit 7-of-8 free throw attempts in the final 2:34 to ice the contest.

Bombs Away
Coming into the season, the Huskers believed they could be a much better shooting team than last year. So far, that has been exactly the case, especially from long range.

Nebraska has hit 37.6 percent from beyond the arc this season to rank second in the conference in three-point field-goal percentage. That average is up considerably from last year's 30.2 percent shooting from long range. In fact, if Nebraska finishes the season at its current pace, it would be the second-highest mark in school history, trailing only the 38.3 percent the Huskers put up in 2000-01. Only twice ? in 1991-92 and 2000-01 ? has NU shot better than 37.0 percent as a team from three-point range for a season.

The Huskers have hit 62-of-165 three-point field-goal attempts this season, averaging 6.2 treys per game. Nebraska hit a season-high 11 three-pointers on the road against Minnesota last week, marking the first time since February 2002 that NU had at least 10 treys.

The Huskers' rate of success from downtown has it on pace for 167 three-pointers through the regular season, which would rank seventh in NU single-season history. Each of Coach Collier's first three squads currently rank in the top 10, including a Nebraska record 267 three-pointers in 2001-02.

Going Deep
For the first time in recent years, the Cornhuskers have a deep bench that has proven valuable to the Huskers this season. 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' bench by a 308-127 margin this year, while helping NU to an 8-0 record at home.

Nebraska's bench provided an outstanding performance against Minnesota, helping the Huskers to their first road win of the season with a 77-60 victory. Players coming off NU's bench contributed 56 points in the victory ? just four less than Minnesota's total ? and outscored UM's bench by 49 points.

The Huskers coming off the bench hit 18-of-29 field-goal attempts against the Gophers, including 9-of-12 from downtown, while the Husker starters were 9-of-23 from the field and 2-of-8 from long range. Nate Johnson led the charge with a career-high tying 25 points off the bench, while Brian Conklin set a season high with 17 points, including hitting 5-of-6 from three-point range.

Husker Men and Women Off to Record Starts
The Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball teams are off to record starts during the 2003-04 season. The teams opened with a combined mark of 18-2, which surpasses the best 20-game combined start in the history of the two programs.

The previous best starts for the men’s and women’s basketball programs came in 1995-96, when the women opened with a 9-1 mark, and the men went 8-2 mark for a combined 17-3 record.

If the Husker men earn a victory over St. Francis (Pa.) Tuesday, the teams would close their non-conference schedules with a combined 20-2 start. The women finished the non-conference schedule with a 10-1 record with a 69-62 victory over St. Bonaventure Saturday. The 20-2 combined mark would easily better the previous combined 22-game starts of both programs, which has occurred on four occasions with a combined 18-4 record.

The previous combined best overall regular-season non-conference record by the Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball programs came in 1991-92, when the two teams combined to go 21-4 with the men rolling to an 11-1 mark, while the women notched a 10-3 record.

Making the Play
The season is not even to the midway mark 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.

Johnson got back into the act on the road at Minnesota, tallying 25 points to tie his career high, including 10 straight points in the first half that kept NU in the game. Johnson, who ranks among the top five free throw shooters in the conference, hit 9-of-10 attempts from the charity stripe, including 7-of-8 attempts in the final 2:34 to clinch the Huskers' first true road victory in nearly two years.

Home Sweet Home
After running past Lipscomb, 75-52, on Dec. 22, Nebraska now holds a 10-game home-court winning streak dating back to last season and is 37-16 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 325-100 (.765) record at home during that span, including 21 seasons (of 27) of at least 10 home wins. That home winning percentage ranks 30th nationally among schools with at least 400 games at their current arena according to College Basketball News' website, rpiratings.com.

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 this season.

The Huskers have gotten off to a good start, as they are allowing opponents to hit just 35.1 percent (189-of-538) from the floor and 23.3 percent (45-of-193) 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 seven games, NU has allowed just 27 three-pointers on 138 attempts (19.6 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 then hit 7-of-20 three-point attempts over the next eight games before making five treys against Minnesota on the road. He was 5-of-6 from three-point range while helping Nebraska to a season-high 11 triples on night.

The recent outburst against the Gophers helped Conklin rank sixth in the league by hitting at a 48.4-percent (15-of-31) clip on the year. Conklin's 15 three-pointers through 10 games paces the Huskers, and is nearing his total of 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 125, just 21 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 Jake Muhleisen's mark for the single-game season high.

While Conklin hit 25.9 percent (22-of-85) in 2002-03 as opponents keyed on him outside the arc, he ranks fifth in the NU record book for career three-point field-goal percentage at 39.1 (125-of-320). 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 each of the past two years. Turek, who has recorded 19 of NU's 42 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 110. 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.

Turek finished last season as only the second sophomore in NU history with at least 90 career 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 is again 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 faces 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 was no different. Nebraska has already played 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.

That strong non-league schedule has prepared Nebraska well for the rugged grind of the Big 12 campaign. NU begins its eighth season in the Big 12 Conference in 2003-04, where it owns a 47-65 mark . The Huskers have a 112-110 overall record since the start of Big 12 play. Nebraska has defeated eight ranked league opponents since the start of Big 12 competition, but has not been ranked since joining the Big 12. The league has sent two teams to the NCAA Final Four the past two years, with Big 12 teams producing a 500-299 record.

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
** The Huskers are now 9-1 on the season, their best start since opening the 1994-95 campaign with an 11-1 record. Nebraska’s nine victories in the non-conference season are the most in four years under Coach Barry Collier, and just two wins less than last season’s total (11-19 overall record). NU won seven non-league games in each of Collier’s first two years and won eight contests before Big 12 play last year.

** The Huskers have hit 47.7 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 52.2 percent (193-of-370) from inside the arc.

** Nebraska has hit 71.7 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 71.0 percent (22-of-31) from the line after entering the season as a 41.9 percent free throw shooter in his first two years.

** The Huskers have allowed just 51.8 points per game in eight home victories this season, including an average of only 46.7 points in the last three contests.

** Nebraska has held its opponent to less than 40 points twice this season, including a Devaney Center-record low 26 points 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.

** NU is now 7-0 under Coach Collier when holding opponents to 50 points or less, including 2-0 this year. Collier’s teams have gone 37-0 all-time when allowing 50 or fewer points.

** NU has outrebounded eight opponents in 10 games this season, after outrebounding just 12 opponents in 30 games last year. NU also tied in rebounding once last season.

** Nebraska has held opponents to 20 or fewer points in a half six times this season. Of those six occurrences, four have been in the first period.

** The Huskers have allowed more than five three-pointers just once in the past seven games (Tennessee had six). NU has given up more than seven treys only once in 2003-04, when Arizona State hit 10-of-25 three-point attempts. ASU was 10-of-22 from inside the arc.

** 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 98 contests in his fifth year with the Huskers (redshirted in 1999-2000). 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.

** Conklin, junior guard Jake Muhleisen and senior forward Andrew Drevo have already topped the 500-point plateau this season. NU could see the number of Huskers reaching that mark climb to five this season as Nate Johnson (476) and John Turek (472) are also within reach of the plateau.

** Jake Muhleisen needs 18 points to reach the 600-point plateau (52 career games) and 31 assists to reach 200 career assists.

** Corey Simms needs 24 points to reach 400 career points (67 career games). He recorded his 250th career rebound in NU's last game, against Minnesota.