%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
>>>Game Information
Game: 24
Game Date: Feb. 13
Release Date: Feb. 12
Tip off: 7:05 p.m. CST
Television: FSN Midwest in Nebraska (NU telecast)
(Greg Sharpe, play-by-play; Matt Davison, color)
FSN Midwest in Kansas (KSU telecast)
(Ben Boyle, play-by-play; Stan Weber, color)
Radio: Husker Sports Network
(Kent Pavelka, play-by-play; Andy Markowski, color)
Internet: Huskers.com (live radio, stats)
Satellite Radio: Nebraska broadcast on Sirius channel 153
Venue: BobDevaneySportsCenter (13,595)
Corporate Sponsor: Alltel
National Anthem: Big Red Express (pep band)
The Nebraska men's basketball team hits the DevaneyCenter floor for the second time in four days when it takes on KansasState on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in a midweek matchup pitting two of the league's first-year head coaches in NU's Doc Sadler and KSU's Bob Huggins. The game will be the first rematch of the season for Sadler's Huskers, who lost to Huggins' Wildcats in Manhattan, Kan., on Jan. 27.
The game between the Huskers (14-9, 3-6 Big 12) and Wildcats (18-7, 7-3 Big 12) will tip off at 7 p.m. and can be seen live in Nebraska and Kansas on FSN Midwest, per Big 12 Conference rules. Veteran broadcaster Greg Sharpe will call all the action for the Husker telecast with Matt Davison adding color commentary.
The Nebraska telecast can be seen in Lincoln on Time Warner (Channel 37); Cox (47) and Qwest (33) in Omaha; Charter (26) in Grand Island/Kearney; Cable One (32) in Norfolk; Arapahoe Cable (41) in Arapahoe; Cable TV (19) of Stanton; Glenwood Telecomm (17) in Blue Hill; CedarVision Cable (14) in Hartington; and Huntel (23) in Blair. In the state of Nebraska, satellite subscribers can view the telecast on DirecTV (channel 648) and Dish Network (445). Fans should check local listings in Kansas for KSU telecast information.
The contest can also be heard on the 25-station Husker Sports Network and on the Internet at Huskers.com. Kent Pavelka, the basketball voice of the Huskers, will call the action while Andy Markowski adds color commentary.
>>>Nebraska Looks to End Home Losing Streak
After suffering an 11-point setback against No. 6/7 Texas A&M at home last Saturday, Nebraska hopes to get back on track with its third win in four games when it takes on the Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday.
The Huskers are down to just nine scholarship players on the active roster after sophomore guard Jamel White was suspended for the remainder of the season. Despite the depleted numbers, Nebraska expects a strong effort as it tries to snap a three-game home losing streak when it squares off with KSU. The losses came against Texas, which has been in and out of the top 25 throughout the season, and top-10 opponents Kansas and Texas A&M in succession.
The current skid marks the seventh time in building history that NU has dropped at least three consecutive games. The DevaneyCenter record is four straight home losses set in 1995-96 and 2002-03.
A win Tuesday would give the Huskers' their 10th home victory this season and 15th overall, guaranteeing NU at least a .500 regular-season record for the fourth straight season. It would also provide a season split with the Wildcats, marking the eighth time in the Big 12 era each team has won once in the regular season. Last year, the teams split games with the visiting team winning each contest.
KSU has proven to be a tough team this season on the road as it owns a 5-5 mark on opponents' home courts, and is 7-6 overall away from Bramlage Coliseum. Nebraska will counter with a defense that has allowed just 58.1 points per game in the DevaneyCenter this season on 40.0 percent shooting.
The Huskers have also been strong offensively at home as they have hit 50.9 percent from the floor while posting 70.8 points per game. Point guard Charles Richardson Jr. has set up the offense while leading the team and ranking second in the conference with 5.78 assists per game.
Richardson's current average is on pace to place him third on the NU single-season chart for assists per game, where he will join Brian Carr as the only Huskers to ever post at least 5.0 assists per contest over a complete season.
A native of Maywood, Ill., Richardson needs seven assists to become the fourth player in NU history with at least 140 assists in a year, joining an elite list that includes Carr (237 in 1985; 201 in 1986; 166 in 1987), Tyronn Lue (152 in 1998; 144 in 1996) and Jack Moore (145 in 1980).
>>>Following Up Texas A&M
? Nebraska dropped its second straight home contest against a top-10 team and third straight home game overall.
? The Huskers recorded a season-low three free throw attempts, making two. The only miss was by Charles Richardson Jr., who saw his consecutive made free throw streak end at 20 as he missed his first in league play (18 attempts).
? Texas A&M recorded an opponent season high seven blocked shots, including five in the first half. It was also the first game this season the Huskers did not record a blocked shot.
? Nebraska had just 11 turnovers in the contest, including only two after the intermission.
? Nebraska had a better shooting percentage in the second half (43.3 percent) than the first half (30.8), marking its seventh straight game with an improvement after the intermission.
? The Huskers recorded 11 3-pointers, their second-highest mark of the season. NU has now posted 11 treys in a game six times, and added a season-high 15 3-pointers against Miami.
? Freshman Ryan Anderson led the Huskers in rebounding with six boards, the first time in conference play a Husker other than Aleks Maric led the team. The last time Maric did not lead the Huskers in rebounding was against SavannahState on Jan. 3, when Paul Velander had seven to pace NU.
? Anderson also led the Huskers in scoring with 18 points, all in the first half. Against three ranked opponents this season, Anderson averaged 18.7 points per game.
? Charles Richardson Jr. recorded a conference career-best eight assists against three turnovers.
>>>The Series vs. KansasState
Nebraska and KansasState are meeting for the second time this season and the 212th time in the series that began in 1905-06 with a Husker victory. NU won the first three contests of the series but Kansas State currently leads by a 121-90 margin after winning by 16 points in Manhattan, Kan., earlier this season.
The Huskers will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak to the Wildcats as KSU also won last year's final meeting on the Huskers' home court. The Huskers still lead the series by a 57-33 advantage in Lincoln, including a 21-10 mark in the DevaneyCenter.
K-State earned a 66-64 win over Nebraska in the DevaneyCenter on Senior Day last year. The last time KSU won two straight on the Huskers' home court was 1988 and 1989.
KSU has won 13 of 22 matchups during the Big 12 era including five of the last seven. K-State's last sweep of the Huskers came in 2003-04 when the Wildcats won by 17 at home, 78-61, and by five, 63-58, in Lincoln.
The last time the Wildcats won three straight over Nebraska came during the first two years of the Big 12 era, as KSU took the last matchup of the 1997 campaign and both games in 1998.
Nebraska-Kansas State (last five meetings)
Date Location Result AP Rank
2005 Lincoln NU, 95-85 (2 ot) -/-
2005 Manhattan KSU, 73-53 -/-
2006 Manhattan NU, 57-42 -/-
2006 Lincoln KSU, 66-64 -/-
2007 Manhattan KSU, 61-45 -/-
For a complete listing of the Nebraska-KansasState series, see page 102-103 of the 2006-07 Nebraska Media and Recruiting Guide. The last two box scores and career statistical information for the Husker-Wildcat series can be found on page 11 of the game notes.
>>>Scouting the Wildcats
Kansas State comes to the DevaneyCenter looking to improve on its 18-7 record. The Wildcats, who are tied for third in the conference standings alongside Texas with a 7-3 Big 12 mark, have won eight of their last nine games, including a 61-45 victory over the Huskers in Manhattan, Kan., on Jan. 27.
Like the Huskers, KansasState is well-traveled this season as it has played 13 games away from its home court. KSU owns a 5-5 true road record this season, including a solid 3-2 mark in conference play, and is 2-1 in neutral site games. The Wildcats lost their last road contest at Kansas, 97-70, after winning their previous game in Austin, Texas, against the Longhorns, 73-72.
KSU is led by guard Cartier Martin, who is averaging 15.7 points per game on the year while hitting a team-high 45.7 percent from the floor. Martin leads the Wildcats with 43 3-pointers and is KSU's top shooter at the free throw line, where he has connected on 80.8 percent (84-of-104) to rank among the league leaders.
Forward David Hoskins has averaged 14.5 points per contest and has gotten to the charity stripe a team-high 172 times, where he has made 130 (75.6 percent). Hoskins also leads KSU with 5.9 rebounds per game, second on the squad behind Akeem Wright's 6.0 boards per contest. KSU holds a +3.7 team rebounding advantage (37.6 to 33.9) on the season.
Hoskins (61), Clent Stewart (61) and Blake Young (62) each have more than 60 assists on the season while Lance Harris and Wright each have more than 50. Harris also provides the Wildcats with another potent outside threat as he has hit 40 3-pointers while connecting on 37.0 percent of his attempts. He is the third active Wildcat averaging double figures with 10.3 points per game.
The Wildcats are coached by Bob Huggins, who is in his first season at KSU and 25th season as a head coach. Huggins owns a 585-206 career record.
>>>White Suspended for Remainder of Season
Coach Doc Sadler announced on Sunday, Feb. 11, that sophomore guard Jamel White was suspended from the team for the remainder of the season for violating team policy. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., White played in 22 games this season and 55 games over the past two years while averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 assists per game during his career.
Without White, the Huskers now have nine active scholarship players available for the remainder of the season.
>>>Return Game
Nebraska made an impressive 21-8 run to end the game at Texas Tech, culminating with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Charles Richardson Jr. that gave the Huskers a 61-59 victory, NU's first win in Lubbock since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.
Nebraska overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to win the game, the largest deficit the Huskers have overcome to win a contest since 1997 when the Huskers defeated KansasState after trailing by 20 in the opening period and by 18 at halftime. That game against KSU marked the largest halftime deficit overcome by a Nebraska squad since complete box scores are available beginning in 1972-73.
The win over Texas Tech marked the largest comeback at any point in a game during a road victory by the Huskers since the Big 12 began in 1997.
Largest NU Deficits Overcome to Win (Big 12 era only)
Year Opponent Time Deficit Overcome
2007 at Texas Tech Any time 13 points
at Texas Tech Halftime 13 points
2006 Baylor Any time 11 points
Oklahoma Halftime 8 points
*2005 Oklahoma State Any time 11 points
2004 at Creighton (NIT) Any time 9 points
three opponents Halftime 1 point
2003 vs. UC Santa Barbara Any time 12 points
vs. UC Santa Barbara Halftime 10 points
2002 Colorado Any time 11 points
Iowa State Halftime 5 points
2001 Missouri Any time 11 points
at Kansas State Halftime 8 points
2000 Eastern Illinois Any time 10 points
Eastern Illinois Halftime 6 points
1999 Texas A&M Any time 12 points
Texas A&M Halftime 8 points
1998 Baylor Any time 10 points
vs. Virginia Halftime 7 points
1997 Kansas State (ot) Any time 20 points
KansasState (ot) Halftime 18 points
* did not win any games when trailing at halftime
>>>Save the Date
The game between Nebraska and OklahomaState originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13, was postponed because of winter weather conditions in Oklahoma that prevented the Cowboys from leaving Oklahoma City on Friday or Saturday. It was the first weather-related postponement of a basketball game since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, the Big 12 Conference, in conjunction with Nebraska and OklahomaState, announced that the makeup date would be Monday, March 5 at 7 p.m. The contest will be the last Big 12 regular-season game this season, as both teams will then travel to Oklahoma City for the Big 12 Championship on March 8-11. The placement of the game will give Nebraska three games in six days to end the regular season, including home contests against Iowa State (Feb. 28) and Oklahoma State with a meeting at Colorado (March 3) in between.
>>>Chairmen of the Boards
Junior center Aleks Maric entered this season as the top returning rebounder in the Big 12 Conference after posting 8.1 boards per game last season. Currently he ranks fifth in the league with 7.7 rebounds per game in 2006-07.
Maric is nearing a milestone as he has 589 rebounds in his career entering Tuesday's game with KansasState. He needs 11 boards to get to the 600-rebound plateau, a mark only 14 other Huskers have reached. Maric also needs just 80 boards to move into the NU career top 10.
Maric set his career high last season with 17 rebounds against KansasState in Manhattan, Kan., and has averaged 9.4 boards in five career contests against the Wildcats.
Nebraska Career Rebound Leaders (since 1952)
No. Player (seasons) Rebounds
1. Venson Hamilton (1996-99) 1,080
2. Leroy Chalk (1969-71) 782
3. Dave Hoppen (1983-86) 773
4. Rich King (1988-91) 761
5. Andre Smith (1978-81) 753
6. Chuck Jura (1970-72) 740
7. Carl McPipe (1976-79) 723
8. John Turek (2002-05) 682
9. Rex Ekwall (1955-57) 679
10. Eric Piatkowski (1991-94) 669
11. Mikki Moore (1994-97) 661
12. Bob Siegel (1974-77) 632
13. Herschell Turner (1958-60) 626
14. Bruce Chubick (1991-94) 618
15. Aleks Maric (2005-present) 589
>>>Taking Advantage of Charity
Looking at the numbers, there are few better than point guard Charles Richardson Jr. when it comes to stepping to the free throw line.
Richardson, who has not missed more than one free throw in any game this season and has eight perfect games at the stripe, leads the Huskers by hitting 88.5 percent (46-of-52) on the season.
The 5-9 senior captain hit 20 consecutive free throws between Jan. 6 against Western Kentucky and Feb. 6 at Texas Tech. His consecutive free throw streak tied the Big 12-era mark for a Husker.
Richardson had a chance to extend his streak to 21 straight but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 in the second half against Texas A&M on Feb. 10. He has now hit 17-of-18 attempts in conference play, including 15 over two games against Missouri and Texas Tech.
The Nebraska school record is 39 consecutive free throws made by Jack Moore in 1982. Moore set the NU single-game record with 15 made without a miss during that record stretch.
Consecutive Free Throw Streaks since 1996-97 (min. 18)
Year Player FT Made w/o Miss Games
2007 Charles Richardson Jr. 20 9
2004 Nate Johnson 18 6
2001 Cary Cochran 20 12
1999 Cary Cochran 18 16
>>>Perfection
As Nebraska's unquestioned leader, senior point guard Charles Richardson Jr. is the player who wants the ball in his hands at crunch time. Against Missouri, he proved why the Huskers have so much faith in him as he helped NU break the Tigers' press repeatedly and iced the game down the stretch with his strong free throw shooting.
Richardson also scored 12 points on the day, including 10 at the free throw line. He finished 10-of-10 at the charity stripe, entering into elite company.
According to official box scores, it was only the fourth time in the Big 12 era that a Husker was perfect at the free throw line while attempting at least 10 free throws, and only the second occurrence on the road. The only other time a Husker was perfect at the line while attempting at least 10 free throws away from Lincoln came in 1998 when Tyronn Lue went 10-for-10 at Kansas.
Since Jack Moore set the NU single-game record for free throws without a miss (15) in 1982, only nine Huskers have been perfect at the line while reaching double-figure attempts. Only Dave Hoppen, the Huskers' all-time leading scorer, has done it twice during that span.
Perfect Games at the Free Throw Line since 1982 (min. 10 att.)
Player Opponent (date) FT-FTA
Charles Richardson Jr. at Missouri (2/3/07) 10-10
Nate Johnson Tennessee (12/13/03) 10-10
Jake Muhleisen KansasState (2/9/02) 11-11
Tyronn Lue at Kansas (1/3/98) 10-10
Jamar Johnson at Southern Utah (11/30/91) 10-10
Tony Farmer at Oklahoma (3/8/91) 12-12
Beau Reid Wyoming (1/23/89) 10-10
Pete Manning at Oklahoma (3/5/88) 11-11
Dave Hoppen at Oklahoma (1/29/85) 10-10
Dave Hoppen Southern Colorado (11/29/84) 11-11
Jack Moore OklahomaState (2/10/82) 15-15
>>>Climbing the Coaching Ladder
First-year coach Doc Sadler has gotten the Huskers to play hard on a consistent basis. He has said from day one that getting everyone to play hard and compete was his only goal for the year, and if they accomplished that, the wins would take care of itself.
With seven regular-season games remaining plus the conference tournament and possible postseason play, Sadler already ranks fourth among first-year Husker head coaches in terms of victories. He needs one more to become just the fourth Husker mentor to record 15 wins in his first season in Lincoln. Three more victories this year will assure Nebraska of its third winning season in four years.
First-year Nebraska Head Coaches (by wins)
Coach First-year record
Paul Schlisser 22-2
Danny Nee 21-12
Moe Iba 15-12
E.O. Stiehm 14-1
Doc Sadler 14-8
Sam Waugh 13-1
Barry Collier 13-15
>>>Most Improved
Senior guard Charles Richardson Jr. has been a Husker fan favorite throughout his career and will long be remembered for his determination and gutsy play despite his size. With a strong senior season as possibly one of the league's most improved players, Richardson is also on the verge of permanently etching his name into Husker lore as he nears several single-season and career top 10 categories.
Richardson moved into the NU career top 10 for assists against Texas and now has 353 in his career to rank ninth, just one behind Clifford Scales (8th) and two behind Jarmar Johnson (7th). With 133 assists this year, Richardson needs two more to move onto the Nebraska single-season top-10 chart. Richardson already claimed a spot on the NU senior class chart as he ranks fourth, one behind Jaron Boone, who had 134 assists as a senior, and two behind Eric Johnson, who had 135 in his final season. Brian Carr owns the school record for assists by a senior at 166 in 1987.
Richardson also is within reach of the Husker top 10 chart for career steals (needs 14), single-season steals (needs 16) and moved onto the senior class list as he now has 47 to tie for eighth. With a strong run at the league championship or in the postseason, Richardson, who is averaging 35.5 minutes per game, could also challenge for the most minutes played in a season by a Husker.
Behind Richardson's solid hand setting the offense, the Huskers are on pace to set the school record for 3-point percentage.
>>>Nearing the Plateau
Junior center Aleks Maric has been the Huskers' most consistent scoring threat this season as he has been the focal point of the offense. Entering the game with KansasState, Maric leads the team with 16.6 points per game, an average that ranks eighth in the Big 12 Conference.
Maric has 365 points this season and is now 31st in NU history with 920 career points. Maric, who scored 339 points last year in 31 games, needs eight points to move into 30th on the Nebraska career list, as he will pass Jamar Johnson (927 points between 1992 and 1994).
At his current pace, Maric would finish with the highest scoring average by a Husker since Tyronn Lue had 21.2 points per game in 1998 before becoming an early entry into the NBA Draft. Maric needs 80 points to reach 1,000 for his career, where he would become the 24th member of the elite club and the first Husker since Cary Cochran in 2002 to reach the mark. The eighth and most recent NU junior to top the 1,000-point plateau was Cookie Belcher in 1999.
>>>Iron Man
Senior point guard Charles Richardson Jr. is giving everything he has to help the young Husker squad reach its potential this season. Richardson is looking for his third postseason appearance after leading Nebraska to NIT bids following his freshman and junior campaigns.
To his credit, Richardson has held up well after averaging 35.48 minutes per game this season, a mark that ranks third in the Big 12 conference. Only Jarrius Jackson (37.56) of Texas Tech and JamesOn Curry (36.71) of OklahomaState have averaged more minutes per game this season among league foes.
Richardson ? who has played all 40 minutes of a game five times this season, most recently against Texas A&M ? is on pace to average more minutes per game in a season than any Husker since Tyronn Lue in 1997 and 1998 when he averaged 35.9 minutes per game. Before Lue, Dave Hoppen (38.5 mpg) in 1985 was the last Husker to average more than Richardson's current pace.
>>>Digging the Long Ball
A pair of Husker guards have had impressive nights, scoring career highs while scorching the net from long range late in the non-conference slate.
Freshman Ryan Anderson was the first as he scored 29 points against Hawaii. Hitting primarily from long range, the rookie hit seven 3-pointers on a school-record tying 13 attempts. Anderson's 3-point total was the second-highest single-game effort in school history and tied the NU freshman record. He is the first true freshman to ever record seven 3-pointers in a game (Cary Cochran was a redshirt freshman in 1998-99). Anderson also hit six 3-pointers against No. 6 Kansas in a home loss.
Senior Marcus Perry matched Anderson's effort with seven 3-pointers of his own against Miami. Perry scored a career-best 25 points, 12 more than his previous scoring high, and led Nebraska to a season-best 15 3-pointers on 33 attempts.
Nebraska Single-Game Record ? 3-pointers Made
Rank Player (season) 3-pointers
1. Cary Cochran (2001-02) 8 (13 att.)
2. Marcus Perry (2006-07) 7 (12 att.)
*Ryan Anderson (2006-07) 7 (13 att.)
Cookie Belcher (2000-01) 7 (11 att.)
*Cary Cochran (1998-99) 7 (9 att.)
Chris Cresswell (1991-92) 7 (10 att.)
*school freshman single-game record
Perry took over the team lead as he now has 46 3-pointers in 18 games and has had at least five treys in a game three times, most recently against Texas. Perry has hit 43.4 percent (49-of-113) from long range to rank fourth in percentage and sixth in treys per game in the Big 12 statistics. Perry had 31 3-pointers (36.0 percent) in 32 games last year.
Anderson ranks second on the squad with 38 3-pointers and has hit an impressive 46.9 percent (38-of-81) from long range this year and currently is fifth on the Nebraska freshman chart, one behind fourth place (Cary Cochran, 39 in 1999). Only three Husker freshmen have ever recorded 40 or more 3-pointers, although Anderson would become the third in three years if he reaches the mark.
Anderson has already had at least five treys in a game twice this season, including a 5-of-5 effort at Rutgers that tied the NU single-game mark for 3-point percentage (minimum of five attempts). At his current rate, he would finish with the third-best single-season 3-point percentage in school history (minimum 25 made).
>>>3s All Around
Nebraska knocked down the long ball with amazing frequency throughout the early season schedule and into conference play as the Huskers ranked 27th nationally in 3-point percentage last week. NU, which hit a season-low 20.0 percent on the road against KansasState, has hit 39.0 percent from long range this year.
NU's best game from beyond the arc came against Rutgers, when the Huskers hit a season-high 64.7 percent. Nebraska hit 11 treys on 17 attempts, and connected on its highest percentage in a game since hitting 66.7 percent (10-of-15) against Pacific in 2000. Nebraska's accuracy reached a pinnacle in the second half against RU when NU hit 8-of-11 3-point attempts (72.7 percent).
Freshman Ryan Anderson tied the school record for 3-point field-goal percentage (minimum five 3-point attempts) at Rutgers as he hit 5-of-5 from beyond the 3-point line. Anderson also posted the second-highest single-game effort in school history with seven 3-pointers against Hawaii. He was only the fourth player in NU history to record at least seven treys, joining Cary Cochran (twice), Cookie Belcher and Chris Cresswell.
Senior Marcus Perry became the fifth player to reach the mark as he hit seven 3-pointers against Miami, helping Nebraska to a season-high 15 treys on the game. The 15 3-pointers were the third-highest total by a Nebraska squad ever and tied the record for most 3-pointers away from the DevaneyCenter. The team record for 3-pointers is 18 set against No. 1 Kansas in 2002.
Nebraska Single-Game Team Record ? 3-pointers Made
Rank Opponent (season) 3-pointers
1. Kansas (2001-02) 18 (37 att.)
2. North Carolina A&T (2005-06) 16 (36 att.)
3. vs. Miami* (2006-07) 15 (33 att.)
at Texas (2001-02) 15 (36 att.)
* neutral site
>>>Know the Huskers
The Nebraska roster went through a makeover at the beginning of the second semester as a pair of players announced they were leaving the team while another player was added.
On Dec. 27, true freshman forward Kris Douse announced his decision to transfer and left the squad before the trip to Miami. Then on Jan. 7, sophomore forward Jim Ledsome, a native of Severna Park, Md., announced he was transferring to Delaware to be closer to his family and concentrate more on academics while still playing Division I basketball.
The Huskers also made an addition to the roster as 6-8, 265-pound forward Jeremy Barr enrolled at Nebraska and joined the basketball team. Barr, who played last season at USC and was a top-125 recruit out of Houston's WestburyChristianHigh School, began practicing with the Huskers on Jan. 8 (the first day of second semester classes). He will be eligible following the completion of the 2007 fall semester and will have five semesters of eligibility remaining.
>>>Back on Defense
The Huskers have put up stretches of outstanding team defense at times this season. Nine times Nebraska has held its opponent without a field goal for at least 6:00 off the clock, while the Huskers held teams without a basket for at least 5:00 11 other times.
The longest defensive stand came against the Houston Cougars in the third-place game of the Rainbow Classic. UH hit its first five shots and seven of its first eight 3-point attempts, but NU clamped down near the end of the first half and put on a defensive show in the second period.
Houston was held to two baskets over the final 4:49 of the first period and then Nebraska allowed just one bucket in the first 16:08 of the second half. The Cougars first basket of the second period came at the 18:22 mark and NU did not allow another basket until the 3:54 mark, a span of 14:28 between baskets, likely one of the longest streaks in school history.
Nebraska Defense -- No FG allowed over at least 4:50
Date Opponent Time between FG
11/18 Creighton 7:06 (1st half to 2nd half); 5:01 (2nd half)
11/21 Lubbock Christian 5:53 (1st half)
11/27 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6:10 (1st half)
5:08 (1st half to 2nd half); 6:48 (2nd half)
11/29 North Texas 5:08 (2nd half)
12/9 vs. Oregon 5:29 (1st half); 5:21 (2nd half)
12/17 Alabama A&M 8:08 (1st half to 2nd half)
12/23 vs. Houston 14:28 (2nd half)
12/30 vs. Miami 7:28 (2nd half)
1/3 Savannah State 6:50 (1st half)
1/20 Colorado 5:09 (1st half); 5:50 (1st half)
1/27 at Kansas State 5:41 (1st half); 5:57 (2nd half)
2/3 at Missouri 7:17 (1st half to 2nd half)
2/6 at Texas Tech 7:31 (to open the game)
2/10 Texas A&M 5:02 (2nd half)
>>>Getting to the Point
The Huskers posted a season-high-tying 82 points against Miami, the most points by a Husker squad away from the DevaneyCenter since posting 83 in a one-point loss to Hawaii in the 2004 National Invitation Tournament. The last time NU scored at least 82 points away from home during the regular season was also 2004, when the Huskers dropped an 87-83 overtime decision against No. 7 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.
Nebraska added 81 points against SavannahState and 82 points against Western Kentucky, marking the first time since 1999-2000 that NU scored at least 80 points in three consecutive games. Last year, Nebraska scored at least 80 points only four times during a 19-win season.
>>>Getting Defensive
Coach Doc Sadler took over the Husker program after gaining a reputation as a strong defensive coach at Texas-El Paso. The Miners finished last season ranked 15th nationally by allowing just 59.5 points per game, including setting a Conference USA season record by giving up just 56.0 points per contest in league action.
That defensive effort has carried over to Lincoln as the Huskers have held 14 of 23 opponents to 62 or fewer points in their first year under Sadler. Nebraska's 62.0 points per game allowed is fourth on the year in the Big 12 and its 64.0 points per game in league games-only is third. NU ranked 45th nationally in scoring defense last week.
>>>Doubling Down Low
Center Aleks Maric established himself as a dual threat in the post last season as he recorded 10 double-doubles to tie the Nebraska sophomore record.
Maric's 10 double-doubles last season were third in the Big 12 Conference behind NBA Draft picks LaMarcus Aldridge and P.J. Tucker of Texas, and his seven double-doubles in conference play were a league high. Maric also was the top returning rebounder in the league after averaging 8.1 boards per game in 2005-06.
This season, the 6-11, 270-pound Australian has posted five more double-doubles and now has 18 career double-doubles. He also tied the NU freshman record with three double-doubles in 2004-05.
Since 1972 when complete game-by-game statistics are available, Maric's career total is tied for sixth in the Nebraska record book and is just two one of fifth place.
Nebraska Career Double-Doubles
Rank Player (Years) Double-Doubles
1. Venson Hamilton (1996-99) 45
2. Carl McPipe (1976-79) 25
3. Dave Hoppen (1983-86) 22
4. Rich King (1988-91) 21
5. Derrick Chandler (1992-93) 19
6. Aleks Maric (2005-present) 18
Kimani Ffriend (2000-01) 18
8. Steffon Bradford (2000-01) 16
Andre Smith (1978-81) 16
10. Mikki Moore (1994-97) 11
>>>Plus 20
Junior center Aleks Maric leads five Huskers who have combined to post 11, 20-point games this season. He has recorded seven of those games with at least 20 points, including a season-high 29 points in 29 minutes in the season-opener. Against Colorado, Maric had his second-best scoring effort of the year as he had 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting in 29 minutes of action.
Along with Maric, freshmen Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson have each added games scoring at least 20 points, including 29 points by Anderson against Hawaii, the second-highest single-game scoring total by a Husker freshman in history and just one point off the school frosh record. Anderson also just missed the plateau with three 19-point contests so far this season.
Senior guard Marcus Perry dropped in 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting against Miami. His total included seven 3-pointers ? the second-highest single-game total in school history ? as he nearly doubled his previous career scoring high of 13 points set last season. Jamel White, who was suspended for the remainder of the season on Feb. 11, led NU past Western Kentucky in the non-conference finale by scoring 23 points.
>>>Anderson Hits Scoring Stride
Coach Doc Sadler said that freshman guard Ryan Anderson was the first young player to fully buy into the new coaches' system this year, and it paid dividends for the rookie on Dec. 22 against Hawaii as he scored a career-high 29 points.
Anderson's 29 points were the second-highest total by a Husker freshman in school history, trailing only the 30 points Tyronn Lue ? who is currently playing for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks ? posted against Oregon in 1995. Anderson broke the 20-point barrier by hitting 8-of-20 shots, including seven 3-pointers, against the Rainbow Warriors.
Nebraska Freshman Single-Game Scoring
Rank Player (season) Points
1. Tyronn Lue (1995-96) 30
2. Ryan Anderson (2006-07) 29
3. Jamel White (2005-06) 28
Erick Strickland (1992-93) 28
5. Dave Hoppen (1982-83) 27
Jerry Fort (1972-73) 27
Anderson has also barely missed the 20-point plateau three times this year when he had 19 points in a game. He is only the fifth Husker freshman in school history to record at least four games of 19 or more points, joining Joe McCray (10, 2005), Jerry Fort (6, 1973), Dave Hoppen (5, 1983) and Eric Piatkowski (4, 1991).
>>>Setup Man
Senior point guard Charles Richardson Jr. has been on a tear this season. The 5-6, 165-pounder from Illinois has gotten the Husker offense into high gear, much like his days running the powerful ProvisoEastHigh School squad that included current NBA players Dee Brown and Shannon Brown, each also a college standout at Illinois and MichiganState, respectively.
This season, Richardson has collected 133 assists against just 46 turnovers through 23 games. His 5.78 assists per game rank second in the league while his 2.83:1 assists-to-turnover ratio paces the Big 12. In last week's NCAA statistics, he ranked 22nd nationally in assists per game.
Richardson's 133 assists are a significant part of the reason why Nebraska ranked 25th in the nation in field-goal percentage during last week's NCAA statistics reporting period. Entering Tuesday's game against KansasState, NU has hit 47.7 percent from the field to rank fourth among the Big 12 leaders.
As a freshman, Richardson recorded 66 assists in 31 games and then had 54 assists in 26 games as a sophomore. Last season, Richardson recorded a career-high 100 assists in 28 games, becoming the first Husker since 2002 to record at least 100 assists in a season. With four assists against Colorado, Richardson became the first Husker since Tyronn Lue to record at least 100 assists in consecutive seasons. Lue reached the mark each of his three years at Nebraska (1996-98).
Only one player in school history has averaged at least 5.0 assists per game for a whole season. Brian Carr, the Huskers' all-time assist leader, surpassed the mark in each of his final three seasons, including posting a school-record 7.90 assists per game as a sophomore in 1985.
>>>One to Remember
After recording 28 assists in his first five games combined, senior point guard Charles Richardson Jr. set the tables in record fashion at Rutgers. Richardson posted a career high with 15 assists, becoming the first Husker to record double-figure assists in a single game since Jake Muhleisen had 10 assists against Minnesota in 2002. Richardson's previous game high was nine assists on two occasions, including earlier this season in an upset of No. 20/25 Creighton.
The 15 assists were the most by a Husker since Brian Carr set the school single-game record with 18 assists at Evansville on Jan. 5, 1985. The total was the third-highest single-game mark by a league player during the Big 12 era.
Richardson is just the eighth Husker since 1984 to post double-figure assists. Tom Wald in 1994-95 and Beau Reid in 1988-89 are the only Huskers since Carr to post two double-figure assist games in a season. Carr had eight double-figure assist games in 1984-85, five in 1985-86 and two in 1986-87.
>>>First Time
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler has won at every level, but the Huskers' victory over No. 20/25 Creighton gave Sadler another first in his career. Not only was it his 50th win as a head coach at this level, but Sadler earned his first career victory over a ranked Division I team. Sadler entered the game with the Bluejays with an 0-3 record against ranked squads over the past two years at UTEP, with all three games played away from home.
Overall, Sadler is 1-5 against ranked teams as a head coach, including 1-2 at Nebraska.
Date Team (AP rank) Result
Feb. 10, 2007 Texas A&M (6) L, 55-66
Jan. 29, 2007 Kansas (6) L, 56-76
Nov. 18, 2006 Creighton (20) W, 73-61
Feb. 2, 2006 at Memphis (4) L, 56-66
March 3, 2005 vs. Utah^ (18) L, 54-60
Feb. 19, 2005 at Pacific (19) L, 66-73
^NCAA Tournament
>>>Getting the Job Done
Nebraska's strong shooting performances this season can be attributed in part to better shot selection, but another big reason is the presence center Aleks Maric has made in the paint.
A junior from Sydney, Australia, Maric ranks eighth in the conference with 16.6 points per game this season, including seven 20-point contests. Despite drawing constant double teams, Maric has dominated the paint and leads the Big 12 Conference by hitting 60.2 percent (139-of-231), the only player in the Big 12 shooting at least 60 percent from the floor this season. Maric also ranked 21st nationally in field-goal percentage last week.
In the season opener ? just 11 days after he had his appendix removed ? Maric scored 29 points in 29 minutes against Nebraska-Omaha. Three times this season Maric has scored as many points as he played minutes, including a season-best ratio of 19 points in 18 minutes against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Overall, Maric has shot better than 70 percent from the floor in four games and at least 60 percent in eight other games. In conference play, he has hit 54.4 percent (49-of-90) to lead the league.
>>>Back on Track
While senior guard Charles Richardson Jr. has been a catalyst for the Husker offense this season, his lone classmate ? senior guard Marcus Perry ? is getting back into action.
One of 10 current Huskers to miss practice or playing time with an injury this season, Perry suffered a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery during the exhibition season. He missed the first three regular-season games before making his season debut against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 27. He also suffered a stress fracture in his foot that required him to wear a boot when not on the court and still limits his practice time.
The team's top long-range threat, Perry got untracked quickly despite the extended injury layoff as he hit nine of his first 17 attempts (52.9 percent) from 3-point range in his first three games back and averaged 10.3 points per game during that span.
Perry nearly reached uncharted territory as he hit seven 3-pointers against Miami while scoring a career-high 25 points. He was 7-of-12 from beyond the arc against the Hurricanes, matching the second-best 3-point effort in school single-game history. Perry added five more 3-pointers against SavannahState to give him 12 over two games. He had his third game with at least five treys against Texas when he scored a team-best 17 points.
Last year Perry ranked fourth on the team with 31 3-pointers in 32 games while hitting 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. Currently he leads the team with 49 3-pointers while shooting 43.4 percent from long range to rank fourth in the Big 12 Conference and 21st nationally last week.
>>>Making a Splash
After an injury-plagued redshirt freshman year with the Huskers last season, guard Paul Velander looked to be on the same track this year as he had ankle surgery in the offseason and then had a stress fracture in his foot during preseason workouts.
After getting back on the court for two games, he suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the rotation for three more contests. But his outlook has changed since his return against Oregon as Velander, a walk-on, has given the Husker offense an unexpected lift with his shooting touch, effort and toughness.
In the first extended action of his career against Oregon, Velander drew a foul and forced a turnover on an inbounds during his first play, and then hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing trip down court. Velander added three more treys and finished the day with a career-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range and played a career-high 20 minutes, double the previous amount of time he had seen on the floor in his career.
After struggling a little in the tournament in Hawaii, he got back on track against Miami by hitting 4-of-7 from long range for 12 points off the bench. He added 10 points and a career-high seven rebounds against SavannahState, two more boards than he recorded in the first 10 games of his career combined.
>>>Locking Down
Coach Doc Sadler has always had his teams ready to play solid defense for 94 feet, whether on the Division I level or when he was a head coach in the junior college ranks. Sadler's first Husker squad is showing similar traits and improving in that area each game.
To date, the Huskers have allowed just 62.0 points per game ? a mark that ranks fourth in the league only behind Texas A&M (56.0 ppg), Oklahoma (57.7) and Kansas (61.3) ? entering the week.
It makes sense that Nebraska and Texas A&M would be near the top of the defensive statistical categories as the school's head coaches have the same approach to playing the game: play hard and play every foot of the floor on defense. They have a long history together as well, as A&M coach Billy Gillispie hired Sadler at UTEP as an assistant and when Gillispie left to coach the Aggies, Sadler took over as the Miners' head coach.
>>>Shutting the Door
Nebraska has had a solid offensive performance to open the season as the Huskers rank among the national leaders by hitting 47.7 percent from the floor through 23 games. While its defensive effort may have been overshadowed early on, this year's NU squad has already proven to be among the stingiest in recent NU history.
The Huskers have allowed more than 62 points only nine times in 23 games this season. At home, only three teams (Western Kentucky and top-10 foes Kansas and Texas A&M) have scored more than 62 points against NU.
At their best early in the season, the Huskers held two opponents ? Lubbock Christian and Arkansas-Pine Bluff ? to 42 points each in back-to-back games. The two-game stretch marked the first time since 1982 that Nebraska held consecutive opponents to less than 50 points apiece.
>>>Heating Up the Floor
Entering the season, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said that he thought the Huskers would be a solid shooting team. Sadler's prediction has been an understatement as the Huskers have connected on 47.7 percent of their shots from the floor, including a solid 39.0 percent from 3-point range, heading into the game with the Wildcats.
The Huskers have hit at least 50 percent from the floor in eight games this season, and better than 48 percent in three other contests. Nebraska hit at least 50 percent from the floor in only five games all of last season.
Nebraska opened the season on fire as it shot 59.7 percent (77-of-129) from the field over the first three contests of the season, hitting at least 55.0 percent from the floor in each game. That is the longest stretch a Nebraska squad has hit at least 55.0 percent in each game since the 1991-92 team connected on 55.2, 55.2 and 63.4 percent against Wisconsin, Texas A&M and Eastern Washington, respectively.
>>>Maric Earns Big 12 Honors
Junior Aleks Maric was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Monday, Nov. 20, following his performance in the Huskers' first two games of the season. The 6-11, 270-pound center led Nebraska to a 2-0 start by averaging 23.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while hitting 65.5 percent (19-of-29) from the floor.
Maric, who returned to the court for the season opener just 11 days after an appendectomy, posted 29 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes against Nebraska-Omaha in the Huskers' first regular-season game. He hit 11 field goals on a career-high 18 attempts and missed his second career 30-point contest by just one point. Last year, Maric had 37 points at ISU, the fifth-highest single-game mark in NU history and first 30-point game since 1997.
Against No. 20/25 Creighton on Nov. 18, Maric posted 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Huskers to a 12-point victory. Maric was saddled with foul trouble in the first half, but played 19 minutes in the second period when he recorded 15 points and eight boards.
Maric was the first Husker to be named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week since 1999 when Venson Hamilton won it in back-to-back weeks on Jan. 18 and 25. Maric is only the third Husker to earn the conference's top weekly award, joining Hamilton and Tyronn Lue, who won the award three times including twice in 1997-98.
Maric earned Big 12 Rookie-of-the-Week honors as a freshman on Feb. 28, 2005. He was one of nine Husker newcomers to earn the honor since the formation of the league for the 1996-97 season.
>>>More Honors
Junior center Aleks Maric was not the only Husker to earn an honor following the first week of the season. On Monday, Nov. 20, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler was tabbed the Coach of the Week on collegeinsider.com's Weekly Honor Roll. The web site said:
"Expectations at Nebraska just got a little higher, and credit new coach Doc Sadler. The Huskers finally ended a seven-game losing streak to in-state rival Creighton, surprising the mid-major darlings 73-61 to open the season 2-0. Nebraska shot 67% from the field, scored on its final 13 possessions of the game, and discovered it has a clutch performer in freshman guard Ryan Anderson (19 points and a key 3 in the final minutes). Yet, it all comes back to Sadler, who came to Lincoln this year after an impressive two-year stint at UTEP. With the win, he has already made a difference, earning some much-needed positive attention for the basketball team at a traditional football school."
>>>More Honors . . . Part 2
Individual awards have come in bunches for the Huskers this year. Junior center Aleks Maric was the first Husker honored as he was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Nov. 20.
Maric followed up with an impressive showing at the Outrigger Rainbow Classic as he helped the Huskers to a third-place finish. Maric averaged 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while being named to the all-tournament team. He also hit 62.9 percent from the floor and had two 20-point contests as well as a season-high 15 rebounds against Houston.
In the first game back from the trip to Hawaii, senior guard Marcus Perry was honored as the player of the game for the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic as he scored a career-high 25 points. Perry hit 8-of-13 from the field, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range, while nearly doubling his previous scoring best. He helped Nebraska to 15 3-pointers on the day, the most ever by a Husker squad away from the DevaneyCenter.
>>>Hot Shots
Nebraska scorched the nets in a 12-point victory over nationally ranked Creighton on Nov. 18. The Huskers hit an impressive 67.6 percent (25-of-37) from the floor, their top single-game shooting percentage since hitting 72.3 percent (34-of-47) against UNC-Wilmington nearly nine years ago on Dec. 5, 1997.
The single-game percentage ranks fifth in the country in the NCAA statistics, but does not top the Big 12 rankings as OklahomaState has already hit 67.9 percent (36-of-53) against Florida Atlantic to take the top spot in the league. Last year in all of Division I, a 67.6 field-goal percentage for a single game would have ranked sixth nationally on the season.
>>>Overtime
? Nebraska's wins over Missouri and Texas Tech gave the Huskers their first two-game conference road win streak since 1999.
? The Huskers have hit at least 50.0 percent from the floor in the second half of five of nine conference games this season.
? With the win over Western Kentucky, Nebraska finished 11-3 in non-conference play. It marked NU's most wins before conference play since 1994-95, when the Huskers also had 11 pre-conference wins. The last time NU had more than 11 wins before league play was 1990-91, when it had 13 wins before the start of Big Eight action.
? With a win over North Texas on Nov. 29, Nebraska improved to 5-0 to start the season. The win marked the second time in school history that NU started consecutive seasons with a 5-0 record and the first time in more than 80 years since the 1911-12 and 1912-13 campaigns.
? Nebraska hit 62.2 percent from the floor against Western Kentucky, its second straight and third overall game above 60 percent. The last time Nebraska had consecutive games of shooting at least 60.0 percent from the field was February 1984 when NU shot at least 60 percent in three straight games.
? Nebraska forced Arkansas-Pine Bluff (24) and North Texas (25) into a combined 49 turnovers, the most in consecutive games for the Huskers since 1993. That season the Huskers forced 19 against Southern Cal (Dec. 23, 1992) and 33 against Texas-Arlington (Dec. 21, 1992). In the game before the UTA matchup, the Huskers forced Appalachian State into 25 turnovers on Dec. 19.
? Nebraska has forced six teams into at least 20 turnovers this season.
? Nebraska recorded 15 steals against North Texas, the most by a Husker squad since posting 15 against Oklahoma in 2001. NU came back to nearly match the mark with 14 steals against Alabama A&M.
? Nebraska's game against Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 14 marked the earliest season-opener in program history, tying the mark set in the 1998-99 campaign. Prior to this season, Nebraska had played only four games before Nov. 19, but played twice this year before that date.
? Maric moved into the NU career top 10 for blocked shots with four against North Texas. He now owns 80 blocks in his career, good for ninth place on the Husker chart and three behind Cookie Belcher, who sits in eighth place with 83 blocks between 1997 and 2001.
? Charles Richardson Jr. has helped NU to a 47-17 home record since joining the Huskers for the 2003-04 campaign, including a 5-5 record against ranked teams.
? Richardson is the Huskers' active leader with 116 career steals and is the first Husker to record 100 career steals since Cary Cochran reached the mark as a senior in 2002.