Nebraska Heads South to Face Red-Hot Cowboys

The Nebraska men's basketball team hits the road this weekend to take on No. 7 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena and can be heard on the Pinnacle Sports Network and Huskers.com, with Randy Lee calling the action and Matt Davison adding color analysis.

The Nebraska-Oklahoma State matchup will feature two of the most efficient offensive teams in the league.

OSU enters the game ranked first nationally in field-goal percentage by hitting 52.6 percent from the field, while the Huskers are second in the league and 33rd in the nation, hitting 46.7 percent of their shots. Outside the arc, the teams are the best in the Big 12, as OSU leads the league by hitting 41.0 from downtown while Nebraska is second at 40.3 percent. The Huskers rank seventh in the NCAA this week for three-point shooting (OSU is not ranked as it does not meet the minimum of 5.0 made threes per game).

The teams are also similar on the other end of the court, as Nebraska ranks in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense, while the Cowboys rank in the top 30 in each category.

OSU will be Nebraska's fourth ranked opponent in 2003-04. The Huskers hold a 1-2 mark vs. top 25 teams this year, including a 19-point win over Kansas last weekend. NU's two losses to ranked teams have come by a combined four points, including a two-point road setback against Texas in January.

Following Saturday's contest against the Cowboys, Nebraska returns to Lincoln for its final homestand of the season. NU begins the two-game home stretch with a contest against No. 22/23 Texas Tech at the Devaney Center on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.

About the Huskers
Nebraska looks to put Wednesday's five-point setback against Kansas State out of its mind, and will need to do so quickly as it heads south to take on one of the hottest teams in the country in Oklahoma State.

Despite the loss, NU has won three of its last four games, including an 83-77 road victory last week at Texas A&M. The victory was Nebraska's first away from home in league play since 2002, after suffering streak of 13 consecutive defeats. NU's two true road wins this year tie for the most since winning six road games in 1998-99.

The Huskers have been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league this season. NU ranks second in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage by hitting 46.7 percent from the floor. Nebraska's shot selection has been impressive as the Huskers' strong shooting, which ranks in the top 35 nationally this season, has come while attempting the fewest shots of any team in the Big 12.

Behind the three-point stripe, the Huskers have been as good as any team in the country. NU ranks seventh nationally ? and second in the league standings behind Oklahoma State ? by hitting 40.3 percent from downtown, with three players hitting better than 48.0 percent from three-point range this season.

Nebraska has averaged 69.5 points per game, but holds a +9.9 scoring advantage to rank third in the league and 29th nationally. The Huskers' defensive effort has played a large role in that, as NU has held 17 opponents to 65 or fewer points this season. Nebraska is allowing opponents to hit just 38.6 percent from the field (ninth nationally) and 30.9 percent from three-point range, while gaining a +4.7 rebounding advantage. NU has held at least a +4.0 rebounding advantage for a whole season just four times since 1953.

On the road, Nebraska has hit a respectable 44.8 percent from the floor and 76.4 percent from the charity stripe while averaging 65.9 points per game. NU's three-point shooting has fallen off away from Lincoln, as the Huskers have hit just 34.3 percent from long range.

Taking down the Cowboys in Stillwater will be a tall task, but the Huskers have proved that when they are executing well, they can compete with any team in the league. Nebraska has faced three ranked teams in league play this season and owns a 1-2 record after dismantling No. 12/13 Kansas, 74-55, last Sunday in Lincoln. Before that contest, the Huskers had dropped two-point decisions to No. 18/16 Texas, 63-61, in Austin and No. 25 Oklahoma, 52-50, in Lincoln.

The Huskers have played well against ranked teams this season, hitting 47.4 percent from the floor and 45.8 percent from three-point range. Nebraska owns a +5.0 scoring advantage over ranked squads after the blowout against the Jayhawks and a pair of near-misses, and has held ranked foes to just 56.7 points per game. NU has also been more consistent at the charity stripe by hitting 75.0 percent (33-of-44) while ranked teams have combined to hit just 63.3 percent (19-of-30) against the Huskers. Nebraska has also held nearly even on the glass with a rebounding deficit of just 31.7 to 31.3.

Who's Hot?
Several players have stepped up for the Huskers this season, including:

? Senior guard Nate Johnson leads Nebraska with 15.8 points per game over the past four contests. Johnson has hit just 38.6 percent (17-of-44) from the field during that span but his penetration into the lane has provided numerous trips to the charity stripe. Johnson, who ranks fourth in the league in free throw percentage (86.4), has hit 91.3 percent (23-of-26) from the line over the past four games and has nearly double the attempts of any other Husker.

While his shot has not fallen as often as earlier in the year, Johnson has been more productive in other areas during the streak. He is averaging 5.8 rebounds in those contests to lead the squad while ranking second on the team with 2.5 assists per contest.

? Forward Brian Conklin is on pace to shatter the Big 12 Conference and Nebraska school records for three-point field-goal percentage by hitting 56.0 percent (42-of-75) from beyond the arc this season, including 62.5 percent (25-of-40) in league-only games. No Husker has hit better than 48 percent from three-point range for a whole season, while only one player in league history has topped 50 percent (Kirk Hinrich, Kansas; 50.5 percent, 2000-01).

Over the past four games, Conklin has been in a zone, as he has hit 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from three-point range. Conklin has hit 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from three-point range on the road this season. At home, Conklin has hit 28-of-49 (57.1 percent), including a streak of 13 straight made three-point attempts over four games.

? Forward John Turek has come off the bench the past five games after starting 49 straight contests dating back to his freshman season. Turek has been more productive during those five contests, averaging 9.8 points, a team-high 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game. His nine blocks in that span are nearly half of NU's 20 blocks. In the five games before the change, Turek averaged 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.

? Guard Corey Simms, who is averaging 4.5 points per game this season, has experienced a recent offensive surge, as he has scored at least eight points in two of the past three contests. Simms has averaged 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds while hitting 54.5 percent from the floor in the past three games, after gaining 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds on 30.8 percent shooting in the previous six games. He scored 10 points. vs. K-State his first double-figure game in 14 contests.

? Guard Marcus Neal Jr. has been on a tear from long range the past four games. Neal has hit 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) from three-point range in that span, helping NU to a 3-1 record. He started the season by hitting just 8-of-31 (25.8 percent) in his first 18 games as a Husker. Neal has recorded at least one trey in six straight games, after hitting a three-pointer in just three of the first 16 games of the year.

Scouting the Cowboys
Oklahoma State enters the weekend contest as the hottest team in the league and one of the hottest teams in the nation.

Overall, OSU brings in a 20-2 record and No. 7 ranking in the coaches and AP poll. The Cowboys opened the season with a 10-1 record including wins over Pepperdine, at Arkansas and vs. SMU. OSU's lone loss in the non-conference slate came on Dec. 6 when BYU grabbed a 76-71 victory in Salt Lake City.

OSU has won 16 of 17 since the loss to BYU. The Cowboys own a league-best 10-game win streak while running to a 10-1 conference record. OSU's lone loss in Big 12 play came in the season opener, when the Cowboys fell at nationally ranked Texas Tech, 83-62, in Lubbock, Texas. In the first five games of the win streak, OSU won three contests by five or fewer points. In the last five games, the Cowboys have won each game by double figures, including two by at least 20 points.

Oklahoma State features one of the most efficient offenses in the country, as the Cowboys rank first nationally in field-goal percentage (52.6), second in scoring margin (+17.5), 18th in assists per game (17.1), 25th in scoring offense (78.8 ppg) and 31st in rebounding margin (+5.2). OSU also hits a league-best 41.0 percent from three-point range, although it averages just 4.7 made treys per game.

Defensively, the Cowboys rank 24th nationally in field-goal percentage defense by allowing opponents to hit just 39.8 percent from the floor. That stingy defense has also allowed just 61.3 points per game to rank 30th nationally in scoring defense.

OSU has four players averaging double figures with guard Tony Allen leading the way at 15.7 points per game (15.5 ppg in Big 12). Allen, who adds 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, has hit 50.6 percent from the field this season, but has been hampered by hitting just 26.5 percent from three-point range and 63.3 percent from the charity stripe. He leads the Big 12 Conference by averaging 2.0 steals per game this season.

Along with Allen, guard John Lucas has been the Cowboys' biggest catalyst this season after transferring from Baylor. Lucas has seen his scoring average rocket to 17.5 points per game in conference play (14.3 ppg for season). Lucas ranks second in the league in assists per game (4.7, 103 total) and free throw percentage (88.7), and leads the team with 46 three-pointers. In conference action, Lucas has hit 53.0 percent from outside the arc.

Forwards Ivan McFarlin and Joey Graham add 12.3 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. McFarlin has hit 56.2 percent from the floor while adding a team-high 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Graham adds 4.7 rebounds per game and is hitting 55.1 percent from the floor. OSU's four leading scorers rank in the top 15 in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage.

Junior Daniel Bobik adds 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The transfer ranks second in the league in three-point shooting by hitting 49.4 percent (38-of-77) from outside the arc.

The Cowboys are coached by Eddie Sutton, who is in his 14th season guiding Oklahoma State and 34th season as a head coach. Sutton owns a 744-290 record as a head coach and is 314-126 with the Cowboys.

Series History
Nebraska and Oklahoma State meet for the 108th time in the series that dates to the 1926-27 season. Nebraska leads five conference series, including holding a 59-48 series advantage over the Cowboys. OSU has closed the gap recently as it has won 19 of the past 27 contests, including four of the last five meetings.

Nebraska ended OSU perfect seasons twice in the 1990s. In 1996-97, NU took a 67-62 victory over 11-0 OSU in Stillwater, and in 1991-92, the Huskers defeated second-ranked and 20-0 Oklahoma State, 85-69, in Lincoln.

Oklahoma State leads the series in Stillwater by a 29-14 margin, with all but two victories coming in Gallagher-Iba Arena. However, the Cowboys are just 2-2 against the Huskers in the last four meetings in Stillwater.

Last year, the Huskers led No. 13/14 Oklahoma State by five points, 30-25, at halftime before the Cowboys came back with 52 points in the second frame to take a 77-70 victory in Lincoln. Nebraska pulled within six points twice in the final two minutes but OSU held on behind the play of Victor Williams, who scored a game-high 25 points, including 20 in the second half. Ivan McFarlin added 17 points and eight boards for OSU. The Huskers were led by Brennon Clemmons, who had 21 points, six boards and five assists, while Nate Johnson had 17 points and Brian Conklin added 12 points and seven boards off the bench.

The last time Nebraska traveled to Stillwater, OSU escaped with a 70-64 victory. The Huskers, who had led by two, 47-45, with 11:52 remaining, had to rally to pull within one, 58-57, with 5:05 to play before the Cowboys' McFarlin dominated the stretch run. McFarlin hit a pair of free throws and added a dunk in the final two minutes to seal the win. McFarlin finished the game with 20 points and 17 rebounds ? including 10 offensive boards ? for the 11th-ranked Cowboys. John Robinson II had 22 points and six boards to pace the Huskers, while Jake Muhleisen added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists.