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|+| Game Information
Game: Game 22
Game Date: Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. CST
Release Date: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008
Television: No Nebraska TV; Missouri telecast will be on ESPN FullCourt and FSNMW in Missouri
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, play-by-play; Matt Davison, color)
Internet: Huskers.com (live radio, stats); Live free streaming video on Huskers.com
Satellite Radio: Nebraska broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 158
Venue: BobDevaneySportsCenter (13,595)
|+| Huskers, Tigers Set for Rematch at DevaneyCenter
In its only two-game home stand during the conference slate this season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers remain at home for the second straight contest as they play host to Missouri on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Tip off for the rematch between league foes will tip off at 7:05 p.m. at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.
The contest between the Huskers and Tigers can be heard live on the radio on the Husker Sports Network, consisting of 30 stations around Nebraska and Iowa that provide coverage of Nebraska athletic events. Veteran play-by-play man Kent Pavelka will call the action while former Husker Matt Davison adds color commentary. The broadcast will be carried around the world live on the Internet on Huskers.com.
NU men's basketball games can typically also be heard on satellite radio. The Nebraska broadcast on Wednesday will be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 158.
The contest will only be televised in Nebraska to pay subscribers of ESPN FullCourt. The FullCourt telecast will be provided by the Missouri Sports Network, which will play the tape-delay telecast at 8:30 p.m. in the state of Missouri due to conflict with a televised Big 12 Conference package game.
Nebraska, which has an eight-game, third-tier television agreement with FSN Midwest for 2007-08, did not elect to televise this contest. However, the game will be streamed here on Huskers.com for free, the only free webcast of a Nebraska men's basketball game this season. Big 12 television contract rules preclude airing the game live during a predetermined Big 12 television window, so the stream of Wednesday's game will start at 8:31 p.m. on Huskers.com.
The Cornhuskers hope to make the most of their only stretch of consecutive games at the DevaneyCenter, where NU owns a 12-2 record this season. Overall, Nebraska is 13-2 at home, including a victory over then-No. 16 Oregon at the QwestCenter in Omaha in December. NU has won at least 12 games at the DevaneyCenter each year since 2005-06, including holding a 24-6 mark in the building under second-year Coach Doc Sadler.
Nebraska has won three of its last four games, but for any chance to add to that total, Nebraska needs another complete game like it posted against Texas Tech last Saturday. Nebraska hit 49.0 percent from the floor against the Red Raiders, a conference high for the Huskers, who had hit above 40 percent only once in their first seven league games.
Four Huskers finished in double figures Saturday, including senior center Aleks Maric. The big Aussie, who has averaged 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in nine career contests against Missouri, has posted four straight double-doubles and now has six on the season. Maric, who is tied for ninth in Big 12 Conference history with 30 career double-doubles, has had at least 13 rebounds in every game since posting 13 points and 13 rebounds in a road win against Missouri on Jan. 30.
Along with Maric, sophomore Ryan Anderson got out of his offensive funk in a large way as he hit his first seven consecutive shots from the floor and finished 8-of-9 from the field for 19 points, equaling his highest scoring mark in a Big 12 contest during his career. He also had 19 points last year against No. 8 Kansas.
Anderson's strong play, especially from outside the arc where he was 3-for-3, helped open the middle of the floor for guards Steve Harley and Cookie Miller, who finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively. It was the fourth double-figure scoring game in the last six contests for Miller, who scored double-figures twice in his first 14 career contests.
Miller also added six assists and now has 88 to rank third in NU freshman history. He needs 12 assists to become only the third Husker freshman ever with 100 assists, joining Tyronn Lue (144) and Jake Muhleisen (105).
|+| Looking for More
The Husker victory in Columbia two weeks ago was Nebraska's lone road win in six games to date and ignited the Huskers, who have won three of their last four conference games after opening league play with an 0-4 mark. Of the four straight losses to open the Big 12 slate, Nebraska fell by a combined six points in two of the games (by four at Colorado, 55-51; by two against Baylor, 72-70).
The last time Nebraska won four conference games in a five-game stretch was 1999 when the Huskers took 9-of-10 while on their way to a tie for fifth place in the conference standings.
While Nebraska is looking for more to help itself in the league standings, the Huskers also have a chance at a second straight season sweep over the Tigers. Nebraska has won four straight over the Tigers since the 2006 Big 12 Championship, the longest winning stretch since the Huskers took six consecutive wins between 1965-66 and 1967-68.
|+| Sadler Nears Milestone
While a win over the Tigers would mean more to the Huskers in the Big 12 team race, second-year Coach Doc Sadler enters the matchup with Missouri with a chance to gain a significant coaching milestone. With 31 wins in his first two years at Nebraska, Sadler currently owns a
79-39 record at the Division I level, but more importantly he will be gunning for his 200th career win as a college head coach on Wednesday. Sadler enters the contest against MU with a 199-78 career record in his ninth season.
Sadler has averaged more than 22 wins per season in his college coaching career, and a victory would ensure his average at the Division I level to remain at least 20 wins per season. Sadler posted the seventh-highest win total by a first-year head coach in NCAA history when his UTEP squad won 27 games in 2004-05.
|+| Maric Approaches Rare Numbers
Nearing the end of what could be seen as a seemingly quiet career compared to some big men from the powerful Big 12 Conference, senior center Aleks Maric can certainly stand up with the best power post players in the Big 12 era when it comes to comparing statistics. Maric is already ninth among the career leaders in double-doubles and is 143 points from moving into the top 20 scorers and 30 boards from joining the top 10 rebounders.
With 10 free throws on Saturday against Texas Tech, Maric now has 400, becoming only the eighth player in the Big 12 era with 400 or more made free throws. He will move into fourth in the Big 12 era with two more free throw attempts, trailing Martin Zeno (1st), Joseph Jones (2nd) and Bernard King (3rd).
Maric is already fifth in the Big 12 era in conference-only rebounds with 474. Entering the season, Texas's James Thomas held the record with 535 rebounds in league games between 2001 and 2004. Maric and Texas A&M's Joseph Jones will both challenge for the top mark.
One impressive list Maric will join soon is the 1,500-point, 900-rebound club. During the Big 12 era, only five conference players have reached the mark, including two from Kansas and one each from Missouri, Oklahoma and OklahomaState. A&M's Jones will also have a shot at reaching the mark this season.
Big 12-era Players with 1,500-Points, 900-Rebounds
No. Player (school, years) Points Rebounds
1. Nick Collison (KU, 2000-03) 2,097 1,143
2. Arthur Johnson (MU, 2000-04) 1,759 1,083
3. Eduardo Najera (OU, 1997-00) 1,646 910
4. Ivan McFarlin (OSU, 2001-05) 1,526 978
5. Drew Gooden (KU, 2000-02) 1,526 905
? Aleks Maric (2005-pres.) 1,441 875
** Currently only one other Big 12-era player has at least 1,500 points and 800 rebounds (Wayne Simien, KU, 2002-05; 1,593 points; 884 rebounds) although Texas A&M's Joseph Jones (2005-pres.) is closing in on that level with 1,578 points and 780 rebounds.
|+| Leader of the Pack
Preseason all-conference center Aleks Maric is Nebraska's leader and is one of the top centers in the nation. The senior from Sydney, Australia, led NU to 17 wins last season under first-year coach Doc Sadler while earning second-team all-conference honors. This year, Maric has helped NU to a 14-7 record, including a victory over then-No. 16 Oregon.
More honors await in 2008 as he has again been one of the top players in the Big 12 Conference. Maric and freshman Michael Beasley of Kansas State are the only players in the Big 12 Conference ranked among the league's top seven in scoring (Maric, 7th; 15.7 ppg), rebounding (3rd; 9.3 rpg) and field-goal percentage (3rd; 56.0) entering this week's action.
Along with his powerful offensive game, Maric has improved defensively as well. He leads the league in blocked shots (1.90 bpg) and is on pace for a career high in steals. He ranks fourth on the squad with 24 steals and needs two more to set a new personal season high.
Maric is the active career leader in the Big 12 for rebounds (875), double-doubles (30) and double-figure rebound games (33). No other active player in the league has even 20 double-doubles or double-figure rebounding games. He ranks second all-time at Nebraska in career rebounds and is 10th in scoring, as Maric passed Venson Hamilton (1,416 points) with 16 points at KansasState.
Nebraska Career Scoring Chart
No. Name (Years) Career Points
1. Dave Hoppen (1983-86) 2,167
2. Eric Piatkowski (1991-94) 1,934
3. Jerry Fort (1973-76) 1,882
4. Andre Smith (1978-81) 1,717
5. Jaron Boone (1993-96) 1,609
6. Erick Strickland (1993-96) 1,586
7. Tyronn Lue (1996-98) 1,577
8. Cookie Belcher (1997-2001) 1,552
9. Rich King (1988-91) 1,475
10. Aleks Maric (2005-pres.) 1,441
|+| 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 11 double-doubles last season and, after posting five this season, now has 30 in his career, a total that ranks second in Nebraska history. He is currently tied for ninth in double-doubles Big 12 Conference 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. He then went 11 games without a double-double until posting 13 points and 13 rebounds at Missouri.
During his 11-game stretch without a double-double he had nine rebounds and double-figure points five times.
Since the Jan. 30 game against Missouri, Maric has had four straight double-doubles, the second-longest streak of his career. Last year, Maric finished the season with six straight double-doubles.
Nebraska Career Double-Doubles
Rank Player (Years) Double-Doubles
1. Venson Hamilton (1996-99) 46
2. Aleks Maric (2005-present) 30
3. Carl McPipe (1976-79) 25
4. Dave Hoppen (1983-86) 22
5. Rich King (1988-91) 21
6. Derrick Chandler (1992-93) 19
7. Kimani Ffriend (2000-01) 18
8. Steffon Bradford (2000-01) 16
Andre Smith (1978-81) 16
10. Mikki Moore (1994-97) 11
Big 12 Career Double-Doubles
Rank Player, School (Years) Double-Doubles
1. Chris Mihm, Texas (1998-00) 47
2. Venson Hamilton, Nebraska (1997-99) 46
3. Drew Gooden, Kansas (1999-02) 44
4. Raef LaFrentz, Kansas (1996-98) 40
5. Wayne Simien, Kansas (2001-05) 38
6. Stephane Pelle, Colorado (1999-03) 37
Nick Collison, Kansas (1999-03) 37
8. Arthur Johnson, Missouri (2001-04) 36
9. Aleks Maric (2005-present) 30
Eduardo Najera, Oklahoma (1997-00) 30
|+| 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 league foes. The active career leader in the Big 12 Conference, 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) ? he now has six career games with at least 15 rebounds ? and with eight rebounds against Maryland Eastern Shore, he took over sole possession of second place on the Husker career chart.
Nebraska Career Rebound Leaders (since 1952)
No. Player (seasons) Rebounds
1. Venson Hamilton (1996-99) 1,080
2. Aleks Maric (2005-present) 875
3. Leroy Chalk (1969-71) 782
4. Dave Hoppen (1983-86) 773
5. Rich King (1988-91) 761
6. Andre Smith (1978-81) 753
7. Chuck Jura (1970-72) 740
8. Carl McPipe (1976-79) 723
9. John Turek (2002-05) 682
10. Rex Ekwall (1955-57) 679
|+| Henry Picks Up Pace
Sophomore guard Sek Henry has always had a solid offensive game according to Coach Doc Sadler, so it is no surprise that it has been on the defensive end where Henry has made his most improvements. Henry has struggled to find a balance between offense and defense, but started to show signs of finding a comfortable middle ground in a road victory against Missouri.
Henry kept the Huskers afloat in the first half, scoring 12 points in the opening frame on a career-high four 3-pointers. He entered the Missouri contest with just eight 3-pointers in the first 17 games of the season. He has now hit 8-of-20 from beyond the arc in the past six games.
Henry, who finished the contest with MU with 14 points, became the fourth Husker with at least four treys in a game this season. He joined Jay-R Strowbridge (4 vs. Presbyterian), Ryan Anderson (4 vs. ArizonaState) and Cookie Miller (4 vs. Colorado).
The 14 points were one off his season high of 15 against North Carolina Central. It was his sixth career double-figure scoring game, and first career double-figure scoring game in Big 12 Conference play. It was his highest scoring effort in 21 career Big 12 contests. His previous high was nine in his first career league game last year.
After the strong mid-week contest, Henry followed with 11 points and five rebounds against IowaState and 10 points at KansasState.
It is the first time in his career that Henry scored double-figures in three straight games. He had scored double figures in back-to-back games only once before his current stretch, against Hawaii and Houston in the non-conference slate last year.
Despite struggling to a 1-of-9 performance from the field against Texas Tech, Henry still played a key role in the win. His lone field goal came as the shot clock was down to two ticks and the Huskers had seen their lead cut from 18 points to seven in just over four minutes. He also added six rebounds, two assists and a steal in 27 minutes.
|+| Dishing It
Freshman point guard Cookie Miller had a tremendous impact on the outcome of Nebraska's first game back from a three-day break for Christmas, as he posted eight points, 10 assists and five steals in the Huskers' 77-53 win over Alcorn State. Miller just missed his first career double-double while recording a personal high scoring effort in the DevaneyCenter (eight points; season high is 19 on the road).
Miller's double-figure assists marked the 25th time overall and he became the ninth Husker since 1984-85 to record at least 10 assists in a game. He is the first freshman in that time to record double figure assists, making him the first Husker freshman in the Big 12 era to post at least 10 assists in a game.
The list of Huskers with at least 10 assists in a game during the Big 12 era includes:
10 Cookie Miller (AlcornState) 2007-08
15 Charles Richardson Jr. (at Rutgers) 2006-07
10 Jake Muhleisen (Minnesota) 2002-03
10 Cookie Belcher (Pittsburgh) 1999-2000
Miller is only the second Husker in the past five years to record 10 assists in a game joining Charles Richardson Jr. who had 15 in a road game last year at Rutgers. The Huskers' previous 10-assist game was 2002-03 when Jake Muhleisen had 10 against nationally ranked Minnesota at home.
Miller nearly made it two straight games with double-figure assists as he had nine assists against Maryland Eastern Shore in the non-conference finale. His 19 assists in two games were the most since Richardson had 22 (15 vs. Rutgers; 7 vs. Oregon) last year.
Overall, Miller has had 49 assists against 21 turnovers in the past nine games. In conference play, Miller has had just 19 turnovers in 261 minutes (team-high 32.6 mpg) in league play, including only one turnover in 32 minutes against No. 3 Kansas at home and one miscue in 34 minutes in his first Big 12 road game against Colorado.
Miller's steady hand as a ball-distributor has helped the freshman lead the team with 88 assists (4.2 apg) against just 45 turnovers.
NU Freshman Top 10 ? Assists
No. Name (Year) Assists
1. Tyronn Lue (1996) 144
2. Jake Muhleisen (2002) 105
3. Cookie Miller (2008) 88
4. Jaron Boone (1993) 87
5. Brian Carr (1984) 78
6. Marcus Walker (2006) 74
7. Cookie Belcher (1997) 68
Eric Piatkowski (1991) 68
9. Charles Richardson Jr. (2004) 66
Erick Strickland (1993) 66
|+| Stealing the Show
Freshman Cookie Miller has quickly made a name for himself on the defensive end of the floor as he moved onto the Nebraska freshman top-10 steals list with five thefts against AlcornState on Dec. 29. He had at least one steal in each of his first 14 career games until seeing the streak snapped against Colorado on the road. The only game other than the CU contest that Miller has not recorded a steal was Saturday against Texas Tech.
Miller now ranks fourth in NU freshman history with a team-leading 40 steals this season. The Nebraska 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.
NU Freshman Top 10 ? Steals
No. Name (Year) Steals
1. Cookie Belcher (1997) 87
2. Tyronn Lue (1996) 50
3. Erick Strickland (1993) 47
4. Cookie Miller (2008) 40
5. Joe McCray (2005) 32
Clifford Scales (1988) 32
7. Jake Muhleisen (2002) 28
8. Jaron Boone (1993) 26
9. Ryan Anderson (2007) 25
10. Beau Reid (1988) 24
|+| Balham Coming Up Big
Sophomore forward Chris Balham has been a solid backup for the Huskers this season, especially since the start of conference play. The 6-8, 225-pounder has provided quality minutes in place of and beside all-conference center Aleks Maric over the past eight games.
During league play, Balham has averaged 10.3 minutes per game while hitting 5-of-9 shots from the floor and 5-of-8 at the free throw line. His shots have come at key times, although he is averaging a modest 1.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in Big 12 action. Balham is fourth on the team in offensive rebounds in league action.
Balham was 2-for-2 from the floor with an offensive board in NU's road win at Missouri. It was the second straight year Nebraska won in Columbia with Balham's help. Last year, Balham came off the bench for two minutes, scoring three points at the free throw line and recording two huge offensive rebounds to help NU to the road win.
At Kansas, he played a career-high 20 minutes, scoring a career-high-tying six points while pulling down a career-best eight rebounds.
On the season, Balham has made the most of his time in the lineup, averaging 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 7.8 minutes per game. He has hit an impressive 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the floor and 68.2 percent (15-of-22) from the charity stripe.
|+| Road Warrior
Diminutive guard Cookie Miller has shown early in his career that he can play with the big boys, especially in hostile environments.
Miller proved how explosive his offensive game can be when he took over for the Huskers in the second half against Creighton in Omaha. 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.
In his first Big 12 Conference road game against Colorado, Miller again stepped up to pace the offense as he posted a game-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting while hitting four 3-pointers. Miller's third double-figure scoring game also came on the road as he had 14 points to go with eight assists at Kansas State.
In six road games this season, Miller is tied for the team scoring lead at 11.5 points per game. Center Aleks Maric is the only other double-figure scorer as he has also posted 11.5 points with 11.2 rebounds in five six contests.
Miller has hit 22-of-54 field-goal attempts (40.7 percent) away from the DevaneyCenter, including nailing six shots from beyond the arc. At home, Miller has averaged 4.6 points per game on 36.8 percent shooting (25-of-68) including connecting on just 5-of-27 3-point attempts (18.5 percent) at home. Miller owns 66 assists against 25 turnovers at home, while posting just 22 assists against 20 miscues on opponents' courts.
|+| Among the Best Rookies
As a newcomer to the league, freshman point guard Cookie Miller will be tested repeatedly during the Big 12 Conference season. If he can continue his success from the non-league play, Miller will likely be in the mix when the media votes on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
Through Sunday, Feb. 10, Miller ranked sixth in the Big 12 Conference in assist:turnover ratio (1.96-to-1), fifth in assists per game (4.19) and sixth in steals per game (1.90). He is the only freshman ranked in the top 10 in steals and assist:turnover ratio, and the only freshman in the top eight in assists.
|+| 40-pointers
Nebraska's impressive defensive performances against SavannahState and North Carolina Central marked the first time in the 31-year history of the DevaneyCenter that NU held consecutive opponents in the building to less than 40 points. NCCU's 28 points was the second-lowest total in building history and the second-fewest points allowed in a game by Nebraska since 1947. SSU's 37 points were the sixth-lowest in building history.
Overall, the Huskers have held just five teams to less than 40 points in DevaneyCenter history, including two this season.
The last time Nebraska held consecutive teams to less than 40 points at home was the first two games of the 1949-50 campaign. That season marked the last time Nebraska won a league title, as it tied for first place in the Big Seven Conference that year.
|+| 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.
Sadler's penchant for a disruptive defense has been widely embraced by the players and fans alike. Through 20 games this season, Nebraska has forced 351 turnovers while recording 183 steals. Twelve Huskers have posted at least one steal in a game this year, including five players averaging at least one steal per game.
Nebraska posted a season-high-tying 14 steals 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. The 14 steals against NCCU made it three consecutive games with double-figure steals.
Nebraska also had at least 10 steals in four straight games against Baylor, at Kansas, at Missouri and against IowaState. It was the first time since 1999 the Huskers had double-figure steals in four straight games.
Overall this season, Nebraska has posted double-figure steals eight times. The Huskers have had at least nine steals in 12 games this year after posting at least nine steals in just four games in 2006-07.
Nebraska Team Steals (Big 12 era)
Year Steals Games Avg/G Ind. High
2007-08 183 21 8.7 40
2006-07 205 31 6.6 56
2005-06 207 33 6.3 33
2004-05 163 28 5.8 32
2003-04 194 31 6.3 36
2002-03 188 30 6.3 47
2001-02 203 28 7.3 48
2000-01 237 30 7.9 82
1999-00 215 30 7.2 42
1998-99 359 33 10.9 102
1997-98 319 32 9.9 75
1996-97 298 33 9.0 87
|+| Getting Defensive
Nebraska has shown the ability to put on a strong defensive performance at times this season.
The biggest show-stopper came against North Carolina Central on Dec. 22 when Nebraska set the then-Big 12 Conference record by allowing just eight points in a half (first). NCCU posted only two 3-point field goals ? also tying the then-NCAA and Big 12 record low for field goals in a half ? and two free throws before intermission. The Big 12 and NCAA records held for only a couple weeks as Kansas State limited Savannah State to four second-half points and one field goal in the period on Jan. 7 to set the new NCAA records.
North Carolina Central 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 on Dec. 11, 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, as Nebraska allowed just 20 total points in the first period of the two consecutive games at the DevaneyCenter.
Big 12 Record Total
Fewest FG allowed -- game *9 vs. N.C. Central (2007)
*tied record
Nebraska Record at DevaneyCenter Total
Fewest FG allowed -- half 2 vs. N.C. Central (2007)
Fewest FG allowed -- game 9 vs. N.C. Central (2007)
Lowest FG pct. allowed 19.8 vs. N.C. Central (2007)
Points allowed ? half 8 vs. N.C. Central (2007)
|+| 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 13.4 miscues per game (281 turnovers in 21 games) to rank in the top 85 nationally entering the week.
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. The Huskers also posted just seven turnovers in the non-conference finale against Maryland Eastern Shore.
In league action, NU posted just 12 turnovers against the strong defensive pressure of the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks and had nine turnovers on the road against Colorado. Through eight Big 12 games, NU is averaging just 13.0 turnovers per game in conference action.
NU's season high for turnovers came on the road against Western Kentucky when the Huskers had 23 miscues. Nebraska also had 21 turnovers in its road opener at Creighton, including 17 in the first half.
|+| Under Pressure
Nebraska's defensive pressure has forced teams into an average of 16.7 turnovers per game (351 through 21 games) this season. NU has forced at least 20 turnovers in a contest six times this season, including a season-high 26 against North Carolina Central.
Against IowaState on Feb. 2, NU forced 20 Cyclone turnovers. It was the second straight conference home game that NU forced at least 20 turnovers, as Baylor had 21 on Jan. 19, the most by a conference opponent since NU forced 26 against Texas Tech in 1999.
|+| Getting in Gear
Nebraska struggled at times early in the season to get the offense in full gear, but cranked it up a notch over the last five games of the non-conference season. During that span, the Huskers averaged 80.8 points per game on 52.0 percent shooting in five 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 came back to add 88 points in an overtime win over then-No. 16 Oregon and posted 71 points in a 43-point victory against North Carolina Central. Nebraska topped the 70-point mark for the fourth straight game with 77 points against AlcornState and rounded out the non-conference slate with 86 points against Maryland Eastern Shore.
The five-game streak scoring at least 70 points was the second-longest under second-year head coach Doc Sadler. Last year, NU had a seven-game streak, all in non-conference action.
|+| Maric Chart Watch
With eight rebounds against Maryland Eastern Shore, senior center Aleks Maric improved his career total to 789 boards to rank second all-time on the Nebraska career rebounding chart. The Sydney, Australia, native took sole possession of the runner-up spot, passing Leroy Chalk who had 782 in his career. Maric will trail only Nebraska record-holder Venson Hamilton, who posted an amazing 1,080 rebounds in his career.
Maric, who currently has 875 career boards after picking up at least 13 boards in each of his last four games, also moved into the career top 10 for scoring at Nebraska. Entering the game at KansasState, Maric had 1,403 career points to rank 11th all-time in Husker history. Maric scored 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting to move into the Nebraska career top 10, passing 1999 Big 12 Player of the Year Venson Hamilton who had 1,415 career points.
Entering the season, Maric already ranked in the NU career top 10 for blocked shots, and currently he sits in seventh place with 128 after passing former teammate Wes Wilkinson (112).
Maric is already in the Nebraska top five for free throws made (400, third) and attempted (610, second), and will reach the top 10 for field goals and games started this season.
|+| Accurate Trio Climbing Chart
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. While injury has set him back twice this season, including last weekend, Strowbridge has again proven to be one of the Huskers' top 3-point shooters.
After setting a blistering pace as a rookie last season, Strowbridge has hit at a 39.5-percent clip from beyond the arc this season, knocking down 17-of-43 3-point attempts. While it is behind last year's average that ranks third in single-season history and first in the NU freshman record book (47.3 percent, 25-of-54), Strowbridge still owns a career mark of 43.3 percent (42-of-97).
With 97 attempts in his career, Strowbridge now qualifies for the Nebraska career record where he moved into first place all-time just ahead of Brian Conklin, who knocked down 43.2 percent (176-of-407) in his career. Strowbridge's career mark is also ahead of NU's career 3-point leader Cary Cochran, who hit 268-of-630 attempts from long range.
Along with Strowbridge, two other current Huskers are on pace to land on the list at the end of their careers. Sophomore Ryan Anderson is currently fourth all-time in 3-point percentage at Nebraska and is on pace to break onto the NU career 3-pointers made list early next year. Paul Velander, a junior walk-on, is also bouncing between the No. 9 and No. 11 spots on the career chart this season.
Nebraska Career 3-point Pct. (min. 90 attempts)
Rank Player (seasons) 3FG 3PA Pct.
1. Jay-R Strowbridge (2007-pres.) 41 95 .4329
2. Brian Conklin (2001-04) 176 407 .4324
3. Cary Cochran (1999-2002) 268 630 .425
4. Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.) 82 195 .420
5. Clifford Scales (1988-91) 45 110 .409
6. Henry T. Buchanan (1987-88) 67 165 .406
7. Chris Cresswell (1990-92) 103 261 .395
8. Marcus Perry (2006-07) 98 249 .394
9. Ray Richardson (1989-90) 105 278 .378
10. Wes Wilkinson (2003-06) 96 259 .3707
11. Paul Velander (2006-pres.) 50 135 .3703
|+| 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 9.3 points per game this year to tie for second on the squad. Anderson owns the team lead with 34 3-pointers and has been on the floor more than anyone, averaging a team-high 28.3 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, helping the Huskers go 2-0 against the Pac-10 this season.
Anderson has been forced to become one of Nebraska's best rebounders, and has done a terrific job despite standing just 6-4. He has averaged 5.7 boards per game to rank second on the squad and 15th overall in the Big 12 conference. He posted his first career double-double ? and third career double-figure rebounding game ? with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a road win against Missouri this season.
Last weekend, Anderson had his best offensive game in league play, posting 19 points against Texas Tech. He finished 8-of-9 shooting including hitting all three of his attempts from long range and added seven rebounds, two steals and an assist in 37 minutes.
Anderson put up some of his best games against the top competition. In his career, Anderson has faced eight ranked teams and averaged 12.8 points per contest (102 total points). As a true freshman last year as he averaged a team-best 15.8 points over four games in 2006-07 against ranked teams.
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.
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.
|+| Meet the Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tiger squad that Nebraska will face on Wednesday could look significantly different than the one MU put on the floor two weeks ago when the Huskers won their first conference game of the season and first road game in five tries this year.
That game was the first following five MU suspensions, including forwards Leo Lyons, Marshall Brown and Darryl Butterfield and guards Stefhon Hannah and Jason Horton. Hannah was injured in an altercation the previous weekend following a win over Colorado and was lost for the season. Hannah's season came to an end as he was leading the team in scoring at 14.7 points per contest while posting 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
In their place, several Tigers have stepped up, most notably Keon Lawrence, J.T. Tiller and Vaidotas Volkus. Lawrence is now averaging 10.6 points per game while Tiller is grabbing 6.8 points per game. Lyons, who came off the bench to hit 10-of-14 field-goal attempts for 24 points against Texas A&M last Saturday, has made the most impact of the players that returned, as he is now averaging 12.3 points and 4.2 boards per game.
Missouri has just one true road victory this season, a 66-62 win at Colorado. The Tigers have averaged 78.9 points per game but have allowed teams to score 70.6 points per contest. In league play, teams are averaging 77.0 points on 44.9 percent shooting while MU has gained 73.7 points on 45.5 percent shooting. The Tigers have hit just 30.1 percent from 3-point range in league action and have been outrebounded by nearly seven boards per game against conference foes.
|+| Nebraska Rebounds with Win Over Texas Tech
The Nebraska basketball team used a decisive 21-2 first-half run to take a 12-point halftime lead and the Huskers cruised from there for a 73-62 victory over Texas Tech at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.
The victory was Nebraska’s third in its last four conference games and improved the Huskers to 14-7 overall and 3-5 in Big 12 play. Aleks Maric led the way by recording his fourth consecutive double-double, finishing with game-high totals of 22 points and 14 rebounds. Ryan Anderson totaled 19 points, while Steve Harley scored 12 and Cookie Miller added 10 with six assists.
Texas Tech also had four players score in double figures, led by Martin Zeno with 16. Mike Singletary recorded a double-double of his own, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Red Raiders (12-10, 3-5 Big 12).
Despite the 11-point victory, it was all Texas Tech in the early going, as the Red Raiders used runs of 7-0 and 7-2 to build an early 19-11 advantage. After Mike Singletary completed a 3-point play to put Tech up by eight with 12:32 to play in the first half, it was all Nebraska from there.
Behind stellar efforts on both ends of the court, the Huskers erupted on a 21-2 run to take a 32-21 lead with six minutes left in the half. The inside-outside combination of Miller and Maric fueled the run, as Miller scored five straight points at one point and Maric scored eight consecutive points and added an assist on a Harley 3-pointer.
Offensively, NU hit 6-of-11 shots from the floor during the run and was perfect from the free throw line. With the offense clicking, NU’s defense rose to the occasion, holding Texas Tech scoreless for a stretch of 6:12.
The 21-2 run highlighted Nebraska’s best offensive half during Big 12 play, as the Huskers finished the period with 40 points while shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. The Huskers had everything working offensively, as Harley paced the backcourt with 10 points and Maric dominated the front court, scoring 17 points and adding six rebounds.
Nebraska continued to hold a comfortable lead in the second half as the Huskers went in front by as many as 18, following an 8-2 run midway through the period. Texas Tech finally began to chip away at the lead over the next few minutes, using a 13-2 spurt to pull within 62-55 with a little more than seven minutes remaining.
With their lead cut to seven, the Huskers responded with four quick points before a Tech 3-pointer cut the lead back to eight. The Red Raiders would get no closer, however, as NU pushed the lead back to as many as 13 before settling for the final 11-point margin.
Postgame notes vs. Texas Tech
? The Huskers improved to 14-7 on the season and 3-5 in league play. The 73 points were a conference season high, as Nebraska’s previous Big 12 best was 70 points against Baylor on Jan. 19.
? Nebraska’s 40 points in the opening frame were the most in any half during Big 12 Conference play this season. NU hit 56.5 percent from the field in the period, NU’s high in league play this year.
? Nebraska hit 16-of-19 at the foul line for 84.2 percent, the second time this season NU hit at least 80 percent from the charity stripe and the first time in conference play.
? Senior center Aleks Maric totaled his sixth double-double of the season and 30th of his career, totaling 22 points and 14 rebounds. Maric had 17 points and six rebounds at the half, hitting all five of his shots from the floor in the opening period and nailing 7-of-8 at the free throw line.
? Maric’s 22 points and 14 rebounds marked his sixth double-double of the year and fourth straight double-double. Maric now has 30 double-doubles, tying Oklahoma’s Eduardo Najera for ninth in Big 12 Conference history. Maric is second in Nebraska history, trailing the 46 by Venson Hamilton.
? Maric’s 22 points marked his team-leading sixth 20-point game of the season and his highest in a conference game this season.
? Nebraska took control of the first half with a 21-2 run, coming from down 19-11 at the 12:32 mark to being up 32-21 at the 6:13 mark. NU held the Red Raiders without a field goal for 6:08, from 10:55 to 4:47 in the opening period.
? Sophomore guard Ryan Anderson scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including hitting his first seven shots from the floor. His point total was a career conference high, equaling his 19 points against No. 8 Kansas last season.
?Freshman Cookie Miller posted six assists, giving him 88 on the year. His total now ranks third in NU freshman history as he passed Jaron Boone who had 87 assists in 1993.
? Junior guard Steve Harley had his best opening half of the year, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Harley finished with 12 points.
|+| 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. NU also turned the trick against 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-fewest points 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.
|+| Huskers Find Success in Classroom as Well as On Court
After opening a new season with the beginning of Big 12 Conference action, the Nebraska men’s basketball team also started a new ?season’ in the classroom when second semester classes began at UNL on Monday, Jan. 14. The Huskers hope to be as successful as last semester in both areas.
As a team, Nebraska posted an 11-2 record on the court and was nearly as impressive off it. During the first semester in the classroom, the Huskers combined for a 3.016 team grade-point average. Seventeen players earned at least a 2.5 individual GPA, including 11 Huskers with better than a 3.0. Among the newcomers, six earned at least a 3.0 in their first full semester at Nebraska.
“I think this says a lot about the players as individuals and competitors,” said Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler. “To build this program, we’ve talked about how we need players who not only have talent, but who also have character. I think the effort that they’ve given to produce this kind of success in the classroom shows the type of character we have on this team.”
Junior guard Paul Velander, a secondary education/natural science major, has helped pace the Huskers’ strong academic efforts. Last spring, Velander was the 24th Husker named to the all-academic squad since the formation of the Big 12 Conference, a total that ranks second in the league.
Sadler has had a tradition of helping players find success in the classroom. As head coach at UTEP, Sadler saw 10 Miners earn at least a 3.0 grade-point average during the first semester in 2005-06, his final year at the school. As head coach at Arkansas-Fort Smith, Sadler had a 95-percent graduation rate during his five-year tenure.
|+| Velander Named to Big 12
Good Works Team
Guard Paul Velander, a walk-on from Blacksburg, Va., has made his mark both in the classroom and on the court for the Huskers during his career. The fourth-year junior picked up another honor on Feb. 8 when he was one of 12 athletes selected to the Big 12 Winter Sports Good Works Team.
Velander, who was a first-team academic all-conference selection last year, currently ranks 11th in Nebraska history for career 3-point field-goal percentage as he has hit 37.0 percent from beyond the arc as a Husker.
Velander was recognized for his community service efforts. Each student-athlete was selected by the institution based on significant community service, good academic standing and participation in Big 12-sponsored sport.
The complete list of Big 12 Winter Sports Good Works Team members includes:
Name Class School Sport
Mark Shepard Sr. Baylor Men's Basketball
Jermyl Jackson-Wilson Sr. Colorado Men's Basketball
Shellie Mosman So. IowaState Women's Basketball
Meghan Proehl So. Kansas W. Swimming & Diving
James Franklin Sr. Kansas St. Men's Basketball
Joey Garrity Jr. Missouri Wrestling
Paul Velander Jr. Nebraska Men's Basketball
Josh Weitzel Sr. Oklahoma Wrestling
Danielle Green Sr. Oklahoma St. Women's Basketball
Earnesia Williams Jr. Texas Women's Basketball
Kyle Holland Jr. Texas A&M M. Swimming & Diving
Jordan Murphree So. Texas Tech Women's Basketball
|+| Holding at 80
Nebraska has allowed just two teams (three occasions) to top the 80-point plateau in the Coach Doc Sadler era. Only Kansas (84 points) has topped the mark this season while Kansas (92) and Hawaii (81) reached the plateau last year. All three of the contests have been on the road and were Husker losses.
NU had gone 22 games without allowing a team to reach the 80-point plateau until Kansas scored 84 points against the Huskers in Lawrence.
Much of Nebraska's success this season has come as a result of a pesky defense that ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense entering the week and a field-goal percentage defense that was 23rd nationally.
|+| Strong Streaks
Nebraska has seen several impressive streaks come and go this season.
The Huskers' six straight wins to end the non-conference slate is the second-longest win streak by a Nebraska squad during the Big 12 era, matching the mark set by the 1996-97 and 2001-02 Nebraska squads. Only the 1997-98 squad has recorded seven straight wins, putting together six to end the regular season and one in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Following an 86-50 win over Maryland Eastern Shore, Nebraska's 11-2 record heading into conference play was also its best mark to open a season in the Big 12 era. The previous best occurred in 2003-04 when NU began the season with a 10-2 mark through 12 games, but failed to record a win in its 13th contest.
The Huskers also had a 12-game home-court winning streak that came to an end with the first conference game against No. 3 Kansas.
|+| Non-Conference Success
The Huskers posted 11 victories in regular-season non-conference play, equalling the program's best mark in the Big 12 era. Nebraska also recorded 11 non-conference victories before league play last year, the first season under Coach Doc Sadler.
Before last year, Nebraska had recorded double-figure wins in non-conference play just twice since the league was formed in the 1996-97 season. The last time NU had more than 11 wins in the regular season against non-league teams was the final year of the Big Eight Conference in 1995-96, when Nebraska posted 12 victories including seven in early season tournaments.
|+| Scoring Droughts
Nebraska has dominated games this season by holding opponents to lengthy scoring droughts.
Among its best defensive starts to a game, 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 25 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; 5:04 and 5:24 vs. Alcorn State; 5:09 and 6:05 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore; 5:48 vs. Baylor; 5:42 and 7:19 vs. Iowa State; 5:25 at Kansas State; 6:08 vs. Texas Tech).
In what was expected to be its toughest non-conference matchup of season at the Devaney Center, 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.
|+| Going 80
Nebraska topped the 80-point plateau in consecutive games against Oregon and SavannahState, and four times total this season. Nebraska reached at least 80 points in back-to-back contests 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 10-0 when scoring at least 80 points under second-year coach Doc Sadler.
Eight of the 10 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.
|+| Shutting It Down
Nebraska ranks third in the Big 12 Conference as it has held opponents to 39.0 percent shooting from the field through 21 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 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-low 59.0 points per game on 39.0 percent shooting over 21 contests. NU has held six opponents to 50 or fewer points this year, after holding just two opponents to under 50 points ? including a Division II school ? all of last season.
Through the NCAA reporting period on Feb. 4, the Huskers ranked 10th in scoring defense and 23rd nationally in field-goal percentage defense.
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 it accomplished the feat to open the season since 1946-47. The last time NU 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.
Sadler has said the main reason for redshirting the newcomers was to build the overall program, giving Nebraska a chance to compete for a high finish in the league once players have consistently been in the program for four and/or five years. If they were to play this year, Sadler has said its is likely two of the newcomers would be in NU's top seven rotation.
Also redshirting this season is true freshman walk-on Mike Diacos, a native of Ventura, Calif.
|+| Aussie Honors
After a solid junior campaign that saw him average 18.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, center Aleks Maric was 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 was among 50 players named to the initial watch lists for two prestigious player-of-the-year honors, the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy.
|+| Huskers Continue Strong Non-Conference Run
Nebraska improved its all-time mark under second-year Coach Doc Sadler to 9-1 in the month of November when it defeated IPFW. The Huskers then continued the strong surge into December, where they now own an all-time record of 10-4 under Sadler. Nebraska is just 6-0 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 19-0 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 24 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 86-13 in non-league tilts at the DevaneyCenter since the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996-97.
Nebraska is 381-120 in the 32-year history of the DevaneyCenter, including 26 seasons of at least 10 wins.
|+| 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 started the first 16 games this season before coming off the bench at Kansas, while Miller has also been in the lineup for the opening tip in all but one contest. Junior college transfer Steve Harley also started eight contests for the Huskers, including the past five games, 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. Miller and Dagunduro have played in every contest and Harley has missed just one, with all three averaging better than 20 minutes per game. Salomon and Wicklund are walk-ons who made their first career appearances this season.
|+| 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 31 victories as Nebraska's head coach and is 12th 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 a tie for third place all-time.
Coach 2-year win total Years
Paul Schlisser 37 (22, 15) 1920-21
Danny Nee 34 (21, 13) 1987-88
Doc Sadler 31 (17, 14) 2007-08
Moe Iba 31 (15, 16)* 1981-82
E.O. 'Jumbo' Stiehm 31 (14, 17) 1912-13
Barry Collier 27 (14, 13) 2001-02
W.E. Kline 23 (11, 12) 1924-25
Harry Good 21 (10, 11) 1947-48
R.G. Clapp 20 (9, 11) 1904-05
Charles T. Black 19 (12, 7) 1927-28
Dr. E.J. Stewart 19 (12, 7) 1917-18
Joe Cipriano 17 (7, 10) 1964-65
Jerry Bush 16 (9, 7) 1955-56
A.J. Lewandowski 14 (8, t6) 1941-42
Owen A. Frank 14 (8, 6) 1922-23
William H. Browne 10 (3, 7) 1933-34
Frank Lehmer 3 (2, 1) 1897-98
*first two years listed as full-time head coach