Huskers End 2007 at Home Against Braves

|+| Game Information

Game: Game 12                                   
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. CST                   

Game Date: Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007

Release Date: Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007

Television: None

Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, play-by-play; Andy Markowski, color)

Internet: Huskers.com (live radio, stats, subscription video)

Satellite Radio: Sirius Satellite Radio channel 140

Venue: BobDevaneySportsCenter (13,595)

 

|+| Huskers Look to End 2007 On Strong Note

A week after one of the most dominant defensive performances in Devaney Center history, the Nebraska men's basketball team returns to the court for the last time in 2007 as it plays host to Alcorn State this weekend. The Huskers and Braves will tip off at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, in the next-to-last non-conference tilt of the regular season for the Huskers.

Saturday's contest against Alcorn State can be heard on the radio as the Husker Sports Network, which consists of 30 stations around Nebraska and Iowa that provide coverage of Nebraska athletic events, will broadcast every Husker game this season. Veteran play-by-play man Kent Pavelka will call the action while former Husker Andy Markowski adds color commentary. The broadcast will be carried around the world live on the Internet on Huskers.com.

NU's games can typically also be heard on satellite radio. The Nebraska broadcast of Saturday's contest against ASU will be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 140.

Despite entering the season with one of the most inexperienced teams in the country ? eight scholarship players are in their first season in Husker uniforms ? the Huskers have made continual gains throughout the non-conference season. During the past two weeks, Nebraska has seen impressive performances on both ends of the court.

Offensively, the Huskers have topped 70 points in each of the past three games, including twice reaching the 80-point plateau, and are currently fourth in the Big 12 Conference in field-goal percentage by hitting a solid 48.8 percent from the field. Nebraska has had three different players lead it in scoring and rebounding each of the past three games and has hit at least 50.0 percent from the floor twice in that span. Overall, Nebraska has hit better than 50.0 percent of its shots in five contests this season.

On the other end of the court, Nebraska has been among the top defensive teams in the nation. The Huskers lead the Big 12 Conference by allowing just 53.8 points per game, an average that would have ranked fifth nationally in the last NCAA statistics update (Dec. 16). Nebraska has been smothering on the defensive end as it has allowed its last two opponents at the DevaneyCenter a total of 65 points, including only 20 points combined in the first half.

North Carolina Central's eight points in the first half against Nebraska last Saturday was a Big 12 Conference opponent record low for one period. The Huskers forced a season-high 26 turnovers in the game while allowing just seven assists. On the season, NU opponents have committed 201 turnovers while posting 95 assists.

Nebraska has also shown better concentration at the free throw line the past two games as NU hit 73.1 percent (19-of-26) in a thrilling upset of then-No. 16 Oregon on Dec. 15 and knocked down 11-of-13 free throw attempts (84.6 percent) last week against NCCU. The Huskers have made 161 free throws this season (235 attempts, 68.5 percent) while allowing opponents to get to the line just 147 times (103 made, 70.1 percent).

The Huskers are led by Aleks Maric (16.0 ppg), who is playing in his 100th career game Saturday against Alcorn State, along with Ade Dagunduro (11.1) and Ryan Anderson (10.1). The three have combined for 37.2 points per game, more than 52 percent of Nebraska's scoring. However, NU is still looking for another player to step up as a strong scoring option with Steve Harley, Sek Henry and Jay-R Strowbridge leading the way. They have combined for five double-figure scoring games, including Henry's season-high 15 points off the bench last Saturday to lead all scorers vs. NCCU.

 

|+| Holiday Hoops Ticket Offer

Fans can still purchase tickets for this weekend's Nebraska men’s basketball home contest at a special rate of $5 apiece. The Holiday Hoops special ticket offer began Monday, Dec. 17 and will run through Dec. 29 when the Huskers take on AlcornState.  The Holiday Hoops special is for tickets in the upper bench area at the DevaneyCenter.

Fans can also enjoy reserved seating in the Red Zone student section during the winter break games.  Tickets are $15 each and include limited availability on the floor.

General public single-game tickets for Big 12 Conference play will go on sale on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 8 a.m. Tickets can be purchased for single games between the Huskers and nationally ranked Kansas as well as Baylor, Texas Tech, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Colorado. 

For more information on the Holiday Hoops special or single-game tickets for upcoming contests, log onto Huskers.com
or contact the Nebraska Athletic Ticket office at 402-472-3111.

 

|+| Getting Defensive

Nebraska has shown the ability to put on a strong defensive performance at times this season.

The most recent show-stopper came against North Carolina Central when Nebraska set a Big 12 Conference record by allowing just eight points in a half (first). NCCU posted only two 3-point field goals ? also tying a Big 12 record low for field goals in a half ? and two free throws before intermission. The Eagles finished with 28 points, just two off the Big 12 and building record of 26 points by Bethune-Cookman in 2003. NCCU's nine field goals in the game also tied the Big 12 Conference opponent low.

It was the second straight game at the DevaneyCenter that Nebraska completely dominated the defensive end. Against SavannahState, the Huskers allowed just 37 points while holding SSU to just 26.4 percent shooting from the field. The Tigers had just 12 points at the half, tying the previous Big 12 record low for a period.

Nebraska has allowed just 20 total points in the first period of its last two games at the DevaneyCenter. NCCU and SSU combined to hit 8-of-46 field-goal attempts (17.4 percent) before the intermission.

The defensive performances marked the first time in the 31-year history of the DevaneyCenter that Nebraska held consecutive opponents to less than 40 points. In fact, the last time Nebraska held consecutive teams to less than 40 points was the first two games of the 1949-50 campaign, also the last season NU won a league title, as it tied for first place in the Big Seven Conference. 

 

|+| Henry Finding His Role

Sophomore guard Sek Henry has made significant strides on the defensive end of the court this season and signs are starting to show that he may be able to provide an even bigger role on the offensive end as the year goes on.

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Henry has always had an explosive burst to the basket and he has showcased that ability recently while honing his all-around game. Henry led the Huskers with a season-high 15 points last week on 6-of-10 shooting. He hit his first three 3-point field-goal attempts after entering the game just 2-of-12 from beyond the arc. Henry added a career-high six rebounds against NCCU and had two steals and an assist in 21 minutes off the bench.

In his last four games, Henry has averaged 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He has hit 10-of-24 attempts from the floor, including knocking down 10-of-19 over his last three games at the DevaneyCenter.

 

|+| Stepping Up

Junior guard Ade Dagunduro has made quite a splash in his first season at the Division I level. The Inglewood, Calif., native has stepped up to provide another offensive option behind all-conference center Aleks Maric, and is currently second on the team with 11.1 points per game and has added 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Possibly the team's best athlete, Dagunduro has hit 52.4 percent from the floor and an impressive 47.6 percent from 3-point range.

The younger brother of former Husker football defensive lineman Ola Dagunduro, Ade has been one of Nebraska's most consistent offensive players with six double-figure scoring games, including five of the last seven contests. On the defensive end, Dagunduro has shown the potential to become the team's defensive stopper night in and night out, according to Coach Doc Sadler, and is second on the team with 17 steals and third in rebounding.

 

|+| Taking Care of Business

Coach Doc Sadler stresses the importance of ball security and being smart with every pass. The Huskers have done a solid job of listening to Sadler's direction while taking care of the ball this season as they have averaged just 14.0 miscues per game (154 turnovers in 11 games). Nebraska had a season-low seven turnovers against then-No. 16 Oregon, including going the final 9:27 of regulation and all of overtime without a turnover.

On the flipside, Nebraska's defensive pressure has forced teams into an average of 18.3 turnovers per game (201 through 11 games) while allowing just 95 assists. That's more than two turnovers forced for every assist allowed. Nebraska has 172 assists this season for a 1.1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio

 

|+| Piling Up the Points

Nebraska has struggled at times this season to get the offense in full gear. That is, until the past three games as the Huskers have averaged 80.3 points per game in three straight victories.

The Huskers had one of their most productive offensive games against SavannahState despite playing 14 players (everyone on the roster except five redshirts). All but two players scored in the contest with three earning career highs and one gaining a season high. Eleven Huskers scored at least five points apiece with junior forward Shang Ping leading the way with a game-high 11 points.

Nebraska started the game on a 26-2 run and hit 60.0 percent from the floor in the opening half before finishing the game hitting half of its attempts (27-of-54). The 82 points were just one off the then-season high and tied for the third-highest scoring game in the coach Doc Sadler era.

Nebraska followed with 88 points in an overtime win over then-No. 16 Oregon. The Huskers were already above their season average with 74 points at the end of the regulation, and also finished by hitting 47.7 percent from the field against UO.

In the Huskers' most recent game, sophomore guard Sek Henry posted a season-high 15 points to lead Nebraska. The Huskers hit 57.8 percent from the floor while topping the 70-point mark for the third straight game and the fifth time this season.

 

|+| Going 80

Nebraska has topped the 80-point plateau in consecutive games against Oregon and SavannahState, and three times total this season. Nebraska had back-to-back contests reaching at least 80 points only one time last year, when NU posted three straight games over 80 points to end the non-conference season.

Overall, NU had six 80-point games last year. The Huskers are now 9-0 when scoring at least 80 points under second-year coach Doc Sadler.

Seven of the nine highest scoring games under Sadler have come at the DevaneyCenter. The only times Nebraska has topped the 80-point plateau away from Lincoln was in an 82-67 victory over Miami on a neutral court last year and the 88-79 overtime win over then-No. 16 Oregon in Lincoln this year, which is Nebraska's highest-scoring game under Sadler.

 

|+| Single Digits Rarity?

In what is typically an uncommon sight, the Huskers held SavannahState without a double-figure scorer on Dec. 11. Only two players scored more than five points on the night with Anthony Jones leading the way with eight points.

While it may not be common, it was the second time this year ? and the second time in three home games ? the Huskers held every player on the opposing team to nine or fewer points. Nebraska also turned the trick against Pac-10 foe ArizonaState on Dec. 2, when three players each scored eight points to lead the team in a 62-47 loss to Nebraska.

Against North Carolina Central, the Huskers nearly made it three games without allowing a double-figure scorer as NCCU posted just 28 points in the contest, the second-lowest opponent score NU has allowed since 1947. But Bryan Ayala's last basket gave him 11 points on the night to lead the Eagles. Only three other players scored for NCCU, one with seven points, one with six and one with four.

 

|+| Maric Chart Watch

With four rebounds against North Carolina Central last weekend, senior center Aleks Maric has 772 boards to rank fourth all-time on the Nebraska career rebounding chart. The Sydney, Australia, native will likely finish his career ranked second in school history, as he needs just 11 rebounds to own sole possession of the runner-up spot. When his career is complete, Maric likely will trail only record-holder Venson Hamilton, who posted an amazing 1,080 rebounds in his career.

Maric is also on pace to soon move into the career top 10 for scoring at Nebraska. Entering this weekend's game against AlcornState, Maric has 1,287 career points to rank 13th all-time in Husker history. He needs 13 points to become only the 12th 1,300-point scorer in school history.

Entering the season, Maric already ranked in the NU career top 10 for blocked shots, and currently he sits in eighth place with 110. He needs three to pass Wes Wilkinson for seventh place all-time at Nebraska.

Maric is already in the top 10 for free throws made (356, sixth) and attempted (551, fourth), and will reach the top 10 for field goals, field-goal attempts and games started.

 

|+| Hot Shooting Huskers

After a strong start to the season, it's obvious why Coach Doc Sadler was optimistic about his team's shooting ability. The Huskers have hit 48.8 percent overall from the floor during the opening weeks of the season to rank fourth in the Big 12 Conference.

Nebraska began the year by blistering the nets for an impressive 61.0 percent (25-of-41) from the floor in the season opener against Presbyterian. It was the fifth time in the Sadler era NU topped 60 percent shooting. Since then NU has hit at least 50.0 percent in four other contests, including the last two games at the DevaneyCenter.

Three starters have hit at least 50.0 percent from the floor this season to help the Huskers' efforts, including Aleks Maric (58.9; 66-of-112), Ade Dagunduro (52.4; 44-of-84) and Ryan Anderson (50.0; 38-of-76). Shang Ping (56.7, 17-of-30) and Chris Balham (83.3, 10-of-12) lead the way off the bench. Over the past five games, Maric has hit 48-of-77 attempts (62.3 percent).

Maric has been at the front of the offensive charge during his years at Nebraska. Last season he led the Big 12 in field-goal percentage at 56.5 percent. In his career, Maric has hit 52.6 percent (464-of-882) from the field.

 

|+| Little Guy, Big Plays

Diminutive freshman guard Cookie Miller has already shown early in his career that he can play with the big boys.

Miller showed how explosive his offensive game can be when he took over for the Huskers in the second half against Creighton. Miller, who had recorded 11 points in his first three games combined, posted a game-high 19 points against the Blue Jays. After scoring eight in the first half, Miller came out on fire in the second period when he scored another 11 points to help NU outscore Creighton 42-27 after the intermission in a come-from-behind attempt that fell short. Miller hit 7-of-13 attempts from the floor against the Blue Jays.

While his offense has come in surges, Miller has been steady as a ball-distributor and defender. The true freshman leads the team with 39 assists (3.5 apg) against 25 turnovers and has posted a team-high 20 steals, including two games with at least four steals. Miller needs just two steals to move onto the Nebraska freshman top-10 list. The NU freshman and career records are also owned by a Husker named Cookie, as Cookie Belcher had 87 steals as a freshman in 1997 and finished with 353 steals in his career.

 

|+| Meet the AlcornState Braves

Alcorn State comes into Saturday's contest with a
1-10 record while looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Braves, who dropped seven straight contests to open the season before an overtime victory against Southern University-New Orleans, have allowed 87.4 points per game this year as opponents have knocked down better than 52 percent of their shots from the floor.

Despite missing the past two games, Alex Owumi has led the Braves, who are averaging 66.7 points per game. Owumi has posted 15.3 points per contest while shooting just 40.7 percent from the field. Along with Owumi, Richard Griffin has posted double figures with 11.2 points per game and tops the squad with 24 3-pointers and 14 steals.  Anthony Ford has averaged 10.2 points per game and is third on the squad with 3.2 boards per game, trailing only Owumi (5.4 rpg) and Anthony Searcy (4.4 rpg).

|+| Scoring Droughts

Nebraska has dominated games this season by holding opponents to lengthy scoring droughts.

In its last contest, Nebraska held North Carolina Central without a point for the first 5:00 of the game and allowed only one field goal in the opening 15:07 of the contest. NCCU went 10:07 between its first and second basket of the game as Nebraska ran to a 25-4 lead to open the game.

That strong start is becoming a similar trend as the Huskers also ran out to a 26-2 lead to start the contest with SavannahState. NU allowed just six points in the first 18:22 of the game as SSU went 6:07 without scoring a point to open the contest and then after its first field goal, did not score another point for another 7:46.

Holding opponents to long stretches between field goals is nothing new to Husker fans. Nebraska has held an opponent without a field goal for at least five minutes 16 times this year (5:38 vs. Presbyterian; 5:05 and 5:28 vs. Alabama A&M; 5:28 vs. Alabama A&M; 7:59 vs. Norfolk State; 12:48 and 6:51 vs. Arizona State; 5:02 and 5:33 vs. Rutgers; 6:07, 7:46 and 5:05 vs. Savannah State; 5:00, 10:07, 10:05 and 6:58 vs. North Carolina Central).

In what was expected to be its toughest home matchup of the non-conference season, Nebraska put on a defensive clinic against ArizonaState. Nebraska allowed just one basket ? and only four points total ? over the final 11:26 of the opening period. After a 3-pointer at the 8:36 mark, ASU had just four more shots in the half and missed all of them while committing eight turnovers in the stretch. The Sun Devils then recorded one basket in the first 11:03 of the second period. That made it 12:48 between baskets (8:36 in first half to 15:48 in second half) and a stretch of 19:39 with only one made field goal and 14 total points (one 3-pointer and 11 free throws).

The performance against ASU (12:48 between field goals) was the second-longest opponent scoring drought in the coach Doc Sadler era. Last year, the Huskers recorded 20 stretches of at least 5:00 off the clock without allowing a field goal, including a season-high 14:28 for Houston between baskets in the second half.

 

|+| Shutting It Down

Nebraska has held opponents to 35.4 percent shooting from the field through 11 games, including limiting four opponents to less than 28 percent. The Huskers set a season-low by allowing North Carolina Central to hit just 19.6 percent from the field, a DevaneyCenter opponent record.

Over consecutive games, the Huskers held Alabama A&M to just 27.6 percent shooting from the floor while allowing NorfolkState to connect on only 26.8 percent of its shots. The last time Nebraska held back-to-back opponents to less than 28 percent shooting was in 2003 when Tennessee hit 27.9 percent followed by Bethune-Cookman hitting 21.2 percent, the previous building low until NCCU broke the record. Bethune-Cookman scored just 26 points in that contest, also a building and Big 12 Conference record opponent low.

NU also held SavannahState to just 26.4 percent shooting this season. Nebraska has now held opponents to less than 30 percent shooting 19 times during the Big 12 era.

 

|+| Slowing the Scoring

Nebraska has been solid on defense this season and has allowed a Big 12-leading 53.8 points per game over the first 11 contests, including holding five opponents under 50 points. Last year, the Huskers held just two opponents to under 50 points including a Division II school.

Through the last NCAA reporting period (Dec. 16), the Huskers' average would have ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense while its 35.4 field-goal percentage defense would have ranked fourth nationally.

The most high profile team Nebraska has held under 50 points this season was ArizonaState. The Pac-10 opponent recorded just 21 points in the first period and 26 in the second. In fact, NU turned up the defensive pressure enough that the Sun Devils had just 31 points with 6:40 to play in the contest.

Nebraska opened the year on a strong note as it held its first three opponents to 52 or fewer points, the first time NU had accomplished the feat to open the season since 1946-47. The last time Nebraska held three straight opponents to 52 or fewer points at any point in a season was 1981-82.

 

|+| Redshirt Decisions Made

Coach Doc Sadler announced on Saturday, Nov. 17, that two newcomers had made the decision to redshirt this season to better acclimate to Division I play. Sadler said that sophomore transfer Alex Chapman and freshman Brandon Richardson will redshirt this season.

After taking a while longer to decide, Sadler said on Dec. 2 that freshmen Alonzo Edwards and Toney McCray, who have dressed for every game this season, also decided to redshirt, giving NU a solid core for the future.

Also redshirting this season is true freshman walk-on Mike Diacos, a native of Ventura, Calif.

 

|+| Huskers Pick Up Hardware

A pair of Huskers were honored by the Big 12 Conference on Monday, Dec. 17, as senior center Aleks Maric was named the league’s player of the week and junior guard Ade Dagunduro was selected as the rookie of the week. The honors marked the first time in school history Nebraska players were selected for the accolades in the same week.

Maric picked up his second career nod as player of the week and his third overall honor. He was also selected player of the week on Nov. 20, 2006 and was the league’s rookie of the week on Feb. 28, 2005. He is one of only three Huskers to earn the Big 12 Player-of-the-Week accolade, and he became the third Husker to earn the honor twice. Venson Hamilton also picked up the award twice in his senior season in 1999 (in back-to-back weeks) while Tyronn Lue added two awards as a junior, his last season at Nebraska before making an early entry into the NBA Draft.

Maric is the first Husker ever to be named the conference’s player and rookie of the week in his career, and tied Kimani Ffriend for the most individual weekly honors by a Husker with three. Ffriend was the rookie of the three times as a junior in 1999. Dagunduro is the seventh Husker to earn the newcomer-of-the-week honor and first since Marcus Walker was selected in December, 2005. Only two Husker newcomers have earned multiple awards, with Joe McCray being selected twice in 2004-05 and Ffriend.

Maric and Dagunduro earned the honors after helping the Huskers to pound SavannahState in a 45-point victory for the largest win under second-year coach Doc Sadler. Maric and Dagunduro’s defense helped NU to open a 26-2 lead to begin the game, including holding SSU to one field goal for the first 13 minutes of the game.

The duo then helped Nebraska knock off its second ranked non-conference team in two seasons, including NU’s first-ever win over a ranked team outside Lincoln with an 88-79 overtime victory over No. 16 Oregon. It was the highest-ranked non-league opponent Nebraska has defeated since topping No. 15 Michigan State in 1994.

Maric averaged a team-high 16.5 points to go along with 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game for the week. His top effort came against the Ducks, as he posted his third 20-point game of the season with a team-best 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Maric recorded 17 points after halftime. He shot 63.2 percent (12-of-19) on the week, plus 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the free throw line.

Dagunduro registered 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in the two victories. The junior had 15 points and seven rebounds versus Oregon, helping NU hold the Ducks to 12 points below their season scoring average. He added nine points, four rebounds and four steals earlier in the week. 

In addition to Maric and Dagunduro’s individual awards, the Nebraska men’s basketball team was selected as the ?Team of the Week’ by ESPN.com national basketball writer Andy Katz, on Monday, Dec. 17. The honor came after Nebraska’s thrilling 88-79 overtime victory over No. 16 Oregon last Saturday at the Qwest Center Omaha. Katz noted the Huskers’ ability to take care of the ball (only seven turnovers) and solid defensive effort (18 Oregon turnovers) as reasons for earning the weekly honor. ESPN's Jay Bilas also honored Maric on his weekly honor roll first team and Ryan Anderson (21 points and four steals) on his second team.

Voters in the Associated Press poll also took notice, as Nebraska received two votes in the Dec. 17, 2007, poll, one of five Big 12 Conference teams either ranked or earning votes that week. It was the second time NU received votes under Coach Doc Sadler and first time since earning one vote in week two (Nov. 20) of the 2006-07 season after Nebraska defeated then-No. 20 Creighton. NU lost its two votes the following week each time.

Prior to Sadler's first season with Nebraska in 2006-07, the last time NU received votes in the AP poll was Jan. 16, 2006, when Nebraska was 32nd with 18 points after defeating then-No. 12 Oklahoma a week before.

 

|+| Huskers Continue Strong Non-Conference Run

Nebraska improved its mark to 9-1 in the month of November under second-year Coach Doc Sadler when it defeated IPFW. The Huskers then continued the strong surge into December, where they now own an 9-4 record under Sadler. Nebraska is just 5-0 at home in the month of December under Sadler as last season the Huskers played 6-of-7 December contests away from Lincoln. 

Overall, Nebraska is 17-0 in home non-conference games under Sadler since he took over the program last season. The Huskers are 4-5 against non-league teams away from Lincoln, including 0-4 in true road games.

The Huskers have won 22 straight non-conference,  regular-season games as the home team dating to a 73-72 loss to UAB in the 2005-06 campaign (including the Oregon game in Omaha). Nebraska is 84-13 in non-league tilts at the DevaneyCenter since the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996-97. Nebraska is 376-118 all-time in the 32-year history of the DevaneyCenter, including 25 seasons with at least 10 victories.

 

|+| Under Pressure

Since his introductory press conference, Coach Doc Sadler has said that he wants to get to the point where his team can pressure the opponent for 94 feet. With an upgrade in athleticism, speed and talent, that philosophy has already come into play more often this year.

If the early season has been any indication, Sadler's penchant for a disruptive defense will be widely embraced by the players and fans alike. Through 11 games, Nebraska has forced 201 turnovers and recorded 105 steals while allowing opponents to record just 95 assists. Eleven Huskers have posted a steal in a game this year, including six players averaging at least one steal per game.

Nebraska posted a season-high-tying 14 steals in their last contest against North Carolina Central, equaling the mark set against Alabama A&M. The 14 steals are the second-most by a Husker squad under Sadler, trailing only the 15 against North Texas last year.

With 14 steals against NCCU, Nebraska has now posted double-figure steals five times this year, including each of the past three consecutive games. The last time NU had at least 10 steals in three straight games was the last game of 2003-04 (at Hawaii in the NIT) and the first two games of 2004-05. The last time NU posted three consecutive gatmes in the same season with double-figure steals was the first three games of 2000-01.

The Huskers have had at least nine steals in eight games this year after posting at least nine steals in just four games in 2006-07.

 

|+| New Faces Gain Court Time

Despite returning eight letterwinners from a year ago, the Huskers knew there would be a completely different look to the squad this season. Among the 19 players on the roster, eight are scholarship newcomers. There are also two walk-ons who redshirted last year in the program  and one new invited walk-on.

Two newcomers ? junior Ade Dagunduro and freshman Cookie Miller ? have been fixtures in the Huskers' starting lineup this season. Dagunduro has started every game this season while Miller has been in the lineup for the opening tip in all but one contest. Junior college transfer Steve Harley also started three contests for the Huskers, making him the third newcomer to join the starting five.

Overall, Sadler has played a total of six players this season who had never worn a Nebraska uniform before. Along with the trio that has earned starts, newcomer Shang Ping, a junior college product, and redshirts Cole Salomon and Andrew Wicklund have all come off the bench for the Huskers. Four of them ? Dagunduro, Miller, Harley and Ping ? have played in every game and are all averaging at least 12 minutes per contest. Salomon and Wicklund are walk-ons who made their first career appearances this season.

 

|+| All-American Aussie?

After a solid junior campaign that saw him average 18.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, center Aleks Maric is the top returning scorer and rebounder in the Big 12 Conference and will contend for All-America honors this winter.

A second-team all-league selection following last season, Maric was named an Athlon Sports magazine third-team  preseason All-American this fall and was a member of the  preseason All-Big 12 team selected by the coaches. If he picks up All-America honors, Maric would become just the ninth Husker ever to earn postseason All-America honors and the first since Carl McPipe in 1978.

In addition to the preseason honors, Maric is among 50 players named to the initial watch lists for two prestigious player-of-the-year honors, the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy.

With continued improvement from last season, Maric will have a chance to earn several postseason honors as he was one of the top returning players in the country. Between players from BCS conferences, Maric was third among returning scorers from last year, trailing only Chris Lofton of Tennessee (20.8 ppg) and Sean Singletary of Virginia (19.0 ppg). Maric was also sixth among returning BCS conference players in field-goal percentage and seventh in rebounding average.

 

|+| Anderson Builds Solid Resume

Entering last season with only a handful of players with Division I experience meant that some newcomers would have to step up. The first to answer Coach Doc Sadler's call was Ryan Anderson, who despite standing just 6-4, played the majority of the season at the 4 spot and created offensive mismatches against opponents on a nightly basis.

As one of five returning scholarship players, the Seattle native is continuing to build a strong resume as one of the Huskers' top all-around players. A starter in every game this year, Anderson has averaged 10.2 points per game this year to rank third on the squad and has pulled down 5.9 rebounds per contest, second only to Aleks Maric's 8.4 boards per game. Anderson owns the team lead with 19 3-pointers and has been on the floor more than anyone, averaging a team-high 27.9 minutes per contest.

Anderson posted his most complete game against then-No. 16 Oregon, when he poured in 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added nine rebounds and four steals as the Huskers knocked off the nationally ranked Ducks. Two weeks earlier, Anderson knocked down four 3-pointers on his way to 14 points with seven rebounds and two steals against ArizonaState, while helping the Huskers go 2-0 against the Pac-10 this season.

Last year, Anderson was second on the team with 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while ranking among the top 10 freshmen all-time at Nebraska in points scored, field goals, rebounds, 3-pointers and steals. Though he battled an injury early in the conference season that slowed his production for a couple of weeks, Anderson put up some of his best games against the top competition as he averaged a team-best 15.8 points over four games against ranked teams while hitting 55.0 percent from the floor.

Anderson was second on the squad with 48 3-pointers in 2006-07, the second-highest total by a freshman in Nebraska history. He tied the NU single-game 3-point percentage record with a 5-for-5 effort from beyond the arc at Rutgers and equalled NU freshman record with seven treys against Hawaii.

 

|+| Strowbridge on the Mark

Sophomore guard Jay-R Strowbridge received great praise from Coach Doc Sadler during the preseason as one of the most improved players on the team.

Despite suffering an injury that slowed him in the preseason, Strowbridge earned a starting nod in each of the season's first four games. He responded by posting a strong opening performance against Presbyterian, as Strowbridge gained 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range while playing 27 minutes. Strowbridge's 12 points were two off his career high while the four treys tied his career-best total.

Since then, Strowbridge has really started to find his niche as he has come off the bench the past seven contests. He started to find his stroke against Rutgers as he buried a pair of 3-pointers to help the Huskers overcome a seven-point deficit and continued his strong play against then-No. 16 Oregon as he came off the bench to score 10 points while handing out five assists without a turnover.

Currently Strowbridge is second on the team with 26 assists and owns the second-best assist:turnover ratio on the team at 2:1 (26 assists, 13 turnovers). He is also averaging 5.5 points per game while ranking second on the squad with 12 3-pointers.

The strong sophomore season comes as no surprise to Sadler and the Huskers as Strowbridge averaged 3.9 points and 1.5 assists per game as a true freshman last year. He was an extremely valuable asset from beyond the arc where he ranked fifth on the squad with 25 3-pointers, leading the team in 3-point percentage by hitting 46.3 percent from downtown. His mark ranked third in single-season history and was the highest mark in the freshman record book. Strowbridge is one of three current Huskers who hit at least 25 treys last year (along with Ryan Anderson and Paul Velander).

 

|+| One for the Record Book

Already among the best centers all-time at Nebraska, Aleks Maric became only the second player in NU history to record at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds before the end of his junior season. Entering Saturday's contest with AlcornState, Maric now has 1,287 career points and 772 rebounds.

 By matching his production from last year (556 points, 260 rebounds), Maric would finish his career ranked fifth all-time on the Nebraska scoring chart and second in rebounds. He needs just 11 rebounds to take over second place on the career chart and has a chance to rank on top 10 career lists in at least eight other categories.

 

|+| Newcomers Earn Praise

While they still have a lot to prove on the floor, the newest group of Huskers were welcomed to Lincoln with impressive fanfare by the recruiting analysts. As a group, this year's recruiting class was ranked among the top 25 in the country by several top analysts, including No. 11 by Van Coleman (CSTV.com) and No. 21 by Bob Gibbons (ESPN.com). Clark Francis of HoopScoop had the Huskers as high as No. 5 among early signing classes.

Individually, several new Huskers joined the program after all-star caliber careers in junior college and high school. Guard Steve Harley, a transfer from South Plains (Texas) College, was a two-time All-American, including earning first-team honors last year, and was ranked No. 4 in the country among guards by nbadraft.net. Shang Ping was ranked No. 8 at small forward by the same service. Alonzo Edwards was No. 18 among small forwards and in the top 125 overall  by ESPN.com.

|+| Making History

Coach Doc Sadler is quickly making a name for himself at Nebraska. Last season, he was the third-winningest first-year coach in program history by helping the Huskers to 17 victories.

This year, Sadler became one of only two coaches in program history to win at least three straight games to open the season in each of his first two years on the Husker bench. He joined E.O. 'Jumbo' Stiehm who opened 1911-12 and 1912-13 with five victories each year.

This is the third consecutive season Nebraska opened with three wins in the first three games. The last time Nebraska won at least three contests to open a campaign in three straight seasons was 1977-78 to 1979-80.

Sadler already owns 26 victories as Nebraska's head coach and is 13th overall in victories at Nebraska (among 26 all-time NU head coaches). A quick look at Nebraska's head coaches and their win totals through their first two years in Lincoln puts Sadler in sixth place all-time heading into this weekend's contest.

 

|+| Chairman of the Boards

Senior center Aleks Maric is the top returning rebounder in the Big 12 Conference after posting 8.7 rebounds per contest last season, including 9.4 boards per game against Big 12 foes. Maric set his career high with 19 rebounds against Missouri at home last year, bettering his previous mark of 17 at KSU as a sophomore.

With 252 rebounds last season, Maric moved into ninth place on the Husker rebounds chart. This season, Maric has already had a game with 16 rebounds (against Alabama A&M) ? his fifth career game with at least 15 rebounds ? and needs just 11 rebounds this season to take over sole possession of second place on the Husker career chart.

 

|+| Doubling Down Low

Center Aleks Maric established himself as a dual threat in the post from his first career game when he recorded 12 points and 14 rebounds in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2004. Maric went on to record three double-doubles as a freshman and had 10 as a sophomore. Each of the marks in his first two years tied the NU class record.

Maric added 10 double-doubles last season and now has 25 in his career, a total that is tied for second in Nebraska history. Maric added his first double-double of the 2007-08 campaign with a workmanlike 21 points and 16 rebounds against Alabama A&M and posted 17 points and 13 rebounds at Western Kentucky.

|+| Last-Second Shots

? The Huskers’ 45-point victory against SavannahState was the largest under Coach Doc Sadler at Nebraska, and also marked NU’s most lopsided victory since defeating North Carolina A&T by 50 points in 2005-06.

? Nebraska held its first three opponents to 52, 45 and 48 points, respectively, the first time since the 1946-47 that all of NU’s first three opponents failed to score more than 52 points. In the exhibition season, the Huskers’ opponents scored 50 and 51 points respectively. Overall, seven of Nebraska's 11 opponents to date have failed to reach 53 points. Only one team (IPFW) has topped 52 points against the Huskers at the DevaneyCenter.

? The Huskers’ 88 points against Oregon in overtime were a season high, and the most scored by the Huskers in two years under Coach Doc Sadler. With 82 points against Savannah State, Nebraska topped the 80-point plateau in consecutive games for just the second time under Sadler. Overall, the Huskers have topped 80 points three times this season and NU is a perfect 9-0 all-time under Sadler when scoring at least 80 points in a game.

? Maric has 23 blocked shots through 11 contests and now has 111 in his career. He ranks eighth all-time at Nebraska, two behind Wes Wilkinson (7th, 113).

? Maric only has 21 fouls through 11 games (1.9 fouls per game) after averaging 2.7 fouls per game last year.

? The loss at Creighton was Nebraska's 12th straight loss in a true road opener, including six losses at CU in that span. Nebraska's only losses this season have come away from the DevaneyCenter, at CU and at Western Kentucky in overtime.

? The Huskers are 2-3 against ranked teams under second-year coach Doc Sadler. Nebraska's wins came against No. 16 Oregon this year and No. 20 Creighton last season in Sadler’s first regular-season game against a Division I opponent. The Huskers are 9-34 all-time against ranked non-conference teams, including 2-0 under Sadler.

? Nebraska's win over then-No. 16 Oregon was the first ever by the Huskers outside of Lincoln against a non-conference ranked team.

? Nebraska has led at the half in every home game this season. The Huskers have led at home by double figures in every game this season, including leading by 13 points in NU's 'home' game at the Qwest Center in Omaha against then-No. 16 Oregon.

? The last time Nebraska had two overtime games in the same season was 2002-03 against Denver and Colorado at home. The Huskers won both of those games and now own a 12-6 record in overtime during the Big 12 era.

? Ryan Anderson scored 21 points, a season high, on 5-of-9 shooting, including hitting 3-of-5 from 3-point range against No. 16 Oregon. Anderson has a knack for scoring big against nationally-ranked teams, as he averaged a team-best 15.8 points per game in four games against ranked teams last season. His career average in five games against ranked teams is now 16.8 points per game.

? NU posted a season-low seven turnovers against No. 16 Oregon. Only four players had turnovers overall, and only one had more than one miscue (point guard Cookie Miller with four). Nebraska did not have a turnover after the 9:27 mark of the second half.

? Six players are averaging at least 1.5 steal per game this season, including Aleks Maric who has 16 steals (1.2 spg) through 11 games. He had just 15 steals in 30 games last year. His single-season career best is 25 steals as a sophomore.