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|+| Game Information
Game: Game 23
Game Date: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008
Game Time: 3:01 p.m. CST
Release Date: Friday, Feb. 15, 2008
Television: ESPN Plus (Brad Sham, play by play; Stephen Howard, color)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, play-by-play; Matt Davison, color)
Internet: Huskers.com (live radio, stats)
Satellite Radio: IowaState broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 125
Venue: Hilton Coliseum (14,356)
|+| Cornhuskers Brace for Cyclones in Hilton Coliseum
Following its only two-game home stand in league play, the Nebraska men's basketball team hits the road this weekend to take on border rival IowaState on Saturday, Feb. 16. The Cyclones ? who will be hosting the 100th anniversary celebration of the Cyclone basketball program this weekend ? will tip off against the Cornhuskers at 3:01 p.m. at a soldout Hilton Coliseum.
The game Saturday will be carried around the country as part of the Big 12 package on ESPN Plus with Brad Sham calling the action and Stephen Howard adding color commentary. In the state of Nebraska, the game will be seen in Lincoln on KLKN Channel 8, in Omaha on KXVO Channel 15 and in North Platte on KIIT.
Big 12 package games on ESPN Plus can also be seen regionally, with this weekend's NU contest being carried in nearly 20 markets around the country including: YES Network in New York City; Altitude in Denver; MASN in Baltimore, Md.; WOI in Des Moines, Iowa; KFXA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; KFDF in Ft. Smith, Ark.; KQEG in La Crosse, Wis.; KMIZ in Columbia, Mo.; KXLT in Rochester, Minn.; and Spencer Utilities and Cable One in Sioux City, Iowa.
For fans who can not watch the game, Nebraska men's basketball contests 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 much of the season. On Saturday, Nebraska's broadcast will not be available, however, the IowaState broadcast will be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 125.
Saturday's contest is an important game for both the Husker and Cyclone programs as the winning team will stay within striking distance of an upper-division finish in the Big 12 standings. Nebraska enters the weekend in ninth place in the league standings, one-half game ahead of the Cyclones, who are tied for 10th with OklahomaState. The Huskers trail sixth-place Oklahoma and Texas Tech (both 4-5 in league play) by just one game and are two games behind fifth-place Baylor.
Nebraska will face an uphill battle on the Cyclones' home court just three days after letting a golden opportunity slip away as the Huskers fell in overtime to Missouri, 86-78, in Lincoln. The Tigers used a 20-2 run to take an 11-point halftime lead before the Huskers, who fell to 13-3 at home this season, rallied to force overtime behind all-conference center Aleks Maric. The Sydney, Australia, native dominated the paint, recording a season-high 32 points and tying his season high with 16 rebounds while hitting 10-of-18 shots from the floor and 12-of-14 attempts from the free throw line.
Following a slow start to league play, including only the fifth scoreless game of his career at Kansas, Maric has been on a tear the past five contests. The lone senior on the Husker squad has record double-doubles in all five games, averaging 19.4 points and 14.2 rebounds per contest in that stretch. He has pulled down 71 total rebounds in the past five games, including 33 offensive boards, and has hit 56.7 percent from the floor.
With 16 rebounds Wednesday, Maric now has 891 career boards and needs 14 rebounds to tied Kansas' Drew Gooden for 10th on the Big 12-era rebounds chart. Nebraska's Venson Hamilton, who had 919 in his three years playing in the Big 12, ranks eighth on the chart, nine ahead of ninth place Eduardo Najera of Oklahoma. Hamilton, the 1999 Big 12 Player of the Year, is Nebraska's career rebound leader with 1,080 boards during his four years, including his freshman season in the former Big Eight Conference. When Maric adds 27 points and nine rebounds to his career line, he will become only the sixth player in the Big 12 era with 1,500 career points and 900 rebounds.
While Maric has had a strong run over the past five games, he has not been alone in helping the Huskers to three wins in that period. Sophomore guard Ryan Anderson, who was the team's second-leading scorer last year at 10.1 points per game as a true freshman, has also picked up the pace, averaging 11.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest in the last five games, while guard Steve Harley ? a two-time junior college All-American ? has added 10.6 points per game in that stretch.
Anderson has done his most damage from outside the arc, where he now has 86 career 3-pointers and is on pace to challenge for one of the top three spots on the NU career list by his senior season. He currently sits in fourth place (41.6 percent) on the NU career 3-point percentage chart after hitting 12-of-26 3-point attempts (46.2 percent) during the recent surge.
|+| Huskers Look For Sweep
Nebraska will be trying to keep pace in the Big 12 race when it aims for victory in Ames this weekend, but a win will be tough to come by as the Cyclones have protected their home court this season. ISU is 11-4 at home with all three of its league victories coming at Hilton Coliseum.
NU trails in the all-time series in Ames, 58-47, but has won 15 of 36 all-time matchups in Hilton. Nebraska has won two of the last three matchups in Ames, including a 73-63 victory in 2006 when center Aleks Maric set the Nebraska sophomore single-game record and NU regular-season record for a road game with 37 points against the Cyclones.
While NU has had some success in Ames, the Huskers have not swept the season series against the Cyclones since 1998, the only time in the Big 12 era NU has gone undefeated against ISU in a single season. Before last year when ISU swept the season series, the teams had split the series for five straight years from 2002 to 2006, including the road team winning each game in 2005 and 2006.
The series has been hard-fought. Fifteen times in the Big 12 era the final outcome has been decided by nine or fewer points, including eight contests decided by five or fewer points.
|+| Maric Approaches Rare Numbers
Nearing the end of a solid career in the powerful Big 12 Conference, senior center Aleks Maric can certainly stand up statistically with the best post players in the Big 12 era. Maric is already ninth among the career leaders in double-doubles and is 111 points from moving into the top 20 scorers and 14 boards from joining the top 10 rebounders.
With 10 free throws against Texas Tech last weekend, Maric reached 400 in his career, becoming only the eighth player in the Big 12 era with 400 or more made free throws. He hit 12-of-14 against Missouri on Wednesday to move into fourth in the Big 12 era and now trails only Texas Tech's Martin Zeno (1st), Texas A&M's Joseph Jones (2nd) and former Texas A&M guard Bernard King (3rd).
Maric is already fifth in the Big 12 era in conference-only rebounds with 490. 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.) 1,473 891
** 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.
|+| Anderson Making Impact
Guard Ryan Anderson was the second-leading returning scorer from last season and because of the early success as a true freshman, he has had high expectations put on him in his young career. After struggling to find his rythm early in the season, the sophomore from Seattle, Wash., has begun to make a bigger impact for the Huskers over the past five games.
During his recent surge, Anderson has averaged 11.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while hitting 46.7 percent from the field, including 46.2 percent from 3-point range. Twelve of his 21 made shots during the stretch have come from beyond the arc. He also has 13 assists against seven turnovers and has added a a team-leading 10 steals in the past five contests.
Anderson has added two double-doubles during the past five games and is the only current Husker with a career double-double besides center Aleks Maric, who is ninth in the Big 12 era with 31 career double-doubles. Both of Andreson's double-doubles have come against Missouri, with 11 points and 10 rebounds in Columbia and 15 points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds in Lincoln.
|+| 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 14-8 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 nine in scoring (Maric, 5th; 16.5 ppg), rebounding (3rd; 9.6 rpg) and field-goal percentage (2nd; 56.0) entering this weekend's action.
Along with his powerful offensive game, Maric has improved defensively as well. He is second in the league in blocked shots (1.86 bpg) and has tied his single-season career high with 25 steals.
Maric is the active career leader in the Big 12 for rebounds (891), double-doubles (31) and double-figure rebound games (34). 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. He needs just three points to move past Rich King, a first-round NBA Draft pick who had 1,475 points in his Husker career.
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.) 1,473
|+| 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 six this season, now has 31 in his career, a total that ranks second in Nebraska history. He is currently 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 five straight double-doubles, the second-longest streak of his career. Last year, Maric finished the season with six straight double-doubles. During his recent surge, Maric has averaged 14.2 rebounds per game in the past five contests, including 6.6 offensive boards per game.
Nebraska Career Double-Doubles
Rank Player (Years) Double-Doubles
1. Venson Hamilton (1996-99) 46
2. Aleks Maric (2005-present) 31
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) 31
10. 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 twice (against Alabama A&M and Missouri) ? he now has seven career games with at least 15 rebounds ? and with eight rebounds against Maryland Eastern Shore on Jan. 4, 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) 891
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
|+| Sadler Nears Milestone
While a win over the Cyclones would mean more to the Huskers in the Big 12 team race, second-year Coach Doc Sadler enters the matchup with IowaState with a chance to gain a significant coaching milestone. With 31 wins in his first two years at Nebraska, Sadler currently owns a
79-40 record at the Division I level, but more importantly he will be gunning for his 200th career win as a college head coach on Saturday. Sadler enters the contest against MU with a 199-79 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.
|+| 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 then-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 23 turnovers in 301 minutes (team-high 33.4 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 90 assists (4.1 apg) against just 49 turnovers.
NU Freshman Top 10 ? Assists
No. Name (Year) Assists
1. Tyronn Lue (1996) 144
2. Jake Muhleisen (2002) 105
3. Cookie Miller (2008) 90
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 games other than the CU contest that Miller has not recorded a steal was against Texas Tech and Missouri in the last two contests.
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
|+| 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 25-of-60 field-goal attempts (41.2 percent) away from the DevaneyCenter, including nailing seven shots from beyond the arc. At home, Miller has averaged 4.8 points per game on 37.8 percent shooting (28-of-74) including connecting on just 6-of-29 3-point attempts (20.7 percent) at home. Miller owns 68 assists against 29 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 Friday, Feb. 15, Miller ranked sixth in the Big 12 Conference in assist:turnover ratio (1.84-to-1), fifth in assists per game (4.09) and seventh in steals per game (1.82). 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.
|+| 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-21 from beyond the arc in the past seven 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; 4 vs. Missouri at home) 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 was 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.
|+| 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 during conference play.
During league action, Balham has averaged 10.0 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 1.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in Big 12 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 2.5 points and 1.6 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.
|+| 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 22 games this season, Nebraska has forced 366 turnovers while recording 189 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
2007-08 189 22 8.6 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
|+| 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.
|+| 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.
|+| 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 13.5 miscues per game (296 turnovers in 22 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 nine Big 12 games, NU is averaging just 13.2 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 16.6 turnovers per game (366 through 22 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 891 career boards after picking up at least 13 boards in each of his last five 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 129 after passing former teammate Wes Wilkinson (112).
Maric is already in the Nebraska top five for free throws made (412, third) and attempted (624, 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 ranks second on the career chart with a 42.9 percent (42-of-98) average.
With 98 attempts in his career, Strowbridge now qualifies for the Nebraska career record where he is second behind 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. Brian Conklin (2001-04) 176 407 .432
2. Jay-R Strowbridge (2007-pres.) 42 98 .429
3. Cary Cochran (1999-2002) 268 630 .425
4. Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.) 86 207 .416
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 .370
11. Paul Velander (2006-pres.) 50 137 .365
|+| 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 9.5 points per game this year to rank second on the squad. Anderson, who owns the team lead with 38 3-pointers and 29.0 minutes per contest, has averaged 11.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game over the past five contets.
Anderson posted one of his most complete games 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 6.0 boards per game to rank second on the squad and 13th 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 and came back with 15 points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds against Missouri in Lincoln.
Anderson had his best offensive game in league play against Texas Tech, posting 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. He hit 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 IowaState Cyclones
For the second straight game, the Huskers will face a team that will look different than the first time they squared off two weeks ago. However, the Iowa State Cyclones will have only one key player returning; on Wednesday, it was four players for Missouri who returned after missing the first matchup with NU following a suspension.
Those four players made the difference as MU took the victory in Lincoln to avoid a season sweep by the Huskers. This weekend, it will be ISU's Wesley Johnson, the team's top scorer, who will be seeing his first action of the year against the Cornhuskers while trying to help his team avoid an NU sweep.
Johnson has returned to the lineup where he is averaging a team-best 13.5 points per game. Johnson has hit 41.8 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from 3-point range this season while adding 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and nearly one steal per game. Johnson is the team's top 3-point threat with 36 treys, joining Bryan Petersen (32) as the only Cyclones with more than 25 treys.
Along with Johnson, center Jiri Hubalek and forward Craig Brackins are also scoring in double figures, posting 13.1 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Hubalek, who led the Cyclones against Nebraska in the first meeting this year with 18 points including 13 in the first half, has added a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game while Brackins has posted 5.0 boards to go with 27 blocked shots. Forward Rahshon Clark has the team lead with 29 blocks and is adding 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.
In conference play, Hubalek (14.7 ppg), Johnson (14.6) and Brackins (12.0) have each picked up the pace offensively, although no other Cyclone is averaging even seven points per game against league foes. ISU has connected on 38.8 percent from the field, including just 30.2 percent from 3-point range, against Big 12 teams while being outscored 69.3-62.1.
|+| NU ComebackBidFalls Short
Behind 24 second-half points from Aleks Maric, Nebraska roared back from an 11-point halftime deficit to force overtime, but it was all Missouri in the extra period as the Tigers scored the first nine points of overtime to escape the BobDevaneySportsCenter with an 86-78 victory.
Maric posted his fifth consecutive double-double in a losing effort, finishing with a season-high 32 points, while also pulling down a season-high 16 rebounds. Despite a 10-of-18 shooting performance, Maric attempted just one shot in overtime as he couldn’t connect on a tip try following a missed free throw.
With the loss, Nebraska falls to 14-8 on the season and 3-6 in the Big 12 Conference. Missouri, which was led by 19 points from Keon Lawrence, improves to 14-11 and 4-6.
Midway through the contest, overtime didn't appear as if it would be necessary. With Nebraska leading for much of the first half, Steve Harley capped a 7-0 run with five straight points to give the Huskers a 28-21 lead with exactly six minutes remaining in the half. From there, it was all Missouri as the Tigers closed the period on a 20-2 run.
Missouri started the run by scoring 12 consecutive points in just 1:12, including seven from J.T. Tiller, marking his only points of the period. After a pair of Maric free throws cut the Tigers’ lead to 33-30, Mizzou scored the final eight points of the half, led by a pair of 3-pointers from Matt Lawrence and DeMarre Carroll.
During the decisive half-ending run, Missouri hit 8-of-9 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Overall, the Tigers hit seven first-half 3-pointers while shooting nearly 54 percent from the field. The Huskers, meanwhile, hit just 41 percent from the field and were held without a field goal for the final six minutes of the first half.
In the second half, Nebraska broke a 7:09 drought without a field goal when Harley made a layup and knocked down the free throw to complete a three-point play and cut the deficit to 10. The Tigers continued to hold a double-digit lead until a 10-0 NU run cut the lead to 47-44 six minutes into the second half.
Maric then scored eight straight Husker points to keep Nebraska close as Missouri also scored on four consecutive possessions to maintain its three-point advantage at 55-52. In keeping the the score close, Maric scored 14 consecutive points for Nebraska, while scoring 19 of the Huskers’ first 24 points of the second half.
After cutting the deficit to one on several occasions, Harley drilled his second 3-pointer of the night to once again pull the Huskers within one at 61-60 with 5:15 remaining. Maric then went to the line ? where NU had hit only three of its last six attempts ? and calmly sank a pair to give Nebraska its first lead since the 5:22 mark of the first half.
The Tigers responded with a quick 5-0 run to take a 66-62 advantage with 3:55 remaining. A Tiller 3-pointer then put MU on top 71-67 with a little more than one minute remaining. The Huskers responded by hitting 2-of-4 free throws to cut the lead back to two before Nebraska made a final defensive stop to give itself one last shot.
Trailing 71-69 with 8.9 seconds remaining, the Huskers came out of a timeout with Harley aggressively taking the ball to the basket and drawing a foul. He hit his first attempt and after a Missouri time out, sank the second to tie the game with just 5.1 seconds remaining.
In overtime, Missouri held Nebraska without a field goal for the first four minutes while building a nine-point lead. Ryan Anderson hit a pair of late 3-pointers to pull the Huskers within four, but NU could get no closer.
Anderson finished with six of Nebraska’s seven points in overtime, but hit just 5-of-16 shots from the floor in the game while scoring 15 points and posting a double-double by adding nine rebounds. Harley was the only other Husker in double figures, as he scored 16 points.
Postgame notes vs. Missouri
? The Huskers fell to 14-8 on the season and 3-6 in league play. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for Nebraska over the Tigers.
? Nebraska is now 1-2 this year in overtime games. With the loss, NU is now 12-7 in overtime contests in the Big 12 era. The game marked the second straight year Nebraska and Missouri went to overtime in Lincoln. Nebraska won last year 82-77.
? Senior center Aleks Maric recorded 32 points on 10-of-18 shooting. The 32 points were a season high for Maric, surpassing his 30-point game against IPFW.
? For Maric, it was his seventh 20-plus point game of the year. It was his second straight and third in league play. It was also his sixth 30-plus point game, moving him into sole possession of third place on the NU 30-point game chart.
? Maric also tied his season high with 16 rebounds, while recording his seventh double-double of the year and fifth straight. He has had at least 13 rebounds in each of the past five games. Of Maric’s 16 rebounds, eight were on the offensive end. During his five-game streak of double-doubles, Maric had averaged 6.6 offensive rebounds per game (33 total).
? Sophomore guard Ryan Anderson recorded a career-high-tying 11 rebounds on the night, matching his high from his first career game. With 15 points, Anderson also recorded just his second career double-double, as his last double-double also came at Missouri.
? Junior guard Steve Harley came out strong, posting seven points in the opening period on 3-of-5 shooting before finishing with 16 points on the night. Harley has scored double figures in four of the last six contests. The 16 points tied his career high set at Kansas.
|+| 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 three teams (four occasions) to top the 80-point plateau in the Coach Doc Sadler era. Kansas (84 points) and Missouri (86 points in overtime) have topped the mark this season while Kansas (92) and Hawaii (81) reached the plateau last year. The first three contests were on the road while Missouri became the first team to score 80 points against a Salder-led squad in Lincoln. All four games ended with 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 earlier this season.
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.
Year Non-Conference Wins
1996-97 9
1997-98 9
1998-99 8
1999-2000 7
2000-01 7
2001-02 7
2002-03 8
2003-04 10
2004-05 7
2005-06 10
2006-07 11
2007-08 11
|+| 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 39.5 percent shooting from the field through 22 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.
|+| 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
|+| 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.
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.
|+| Slowing the Scoring
Nebraska has been solid on defense this season and has allowed a Big 12-low 60.2 points per game on 39.5 percent shooting over 22 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.