Huskers Try to Extend Win Streak Against Oklahoma

|+| Game Information

Game: Game 26                                   
Game Date: Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008

Game Time: 7:05 p.m. CST                   
Release Date: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008

Television: No television coverage

Radio: Husker Sports Network (Kent Pavelka, play-by-play; Matt Davison, color)

Internet: Huskers.com (live radio, stats)

Satellite Radio: Nebraska broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 143

Venue: BobDevaneySportsCenter (13,595)

 

|+| Cornhuskers Look to Extend Streak Against Sooners

The Nebraska men's basketball team returns home this week looking to continue its winning ways when the Cornhuskers face Oklahoma on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the BobDevaneySportsCenter. Tipoff between the Huskers and Sooners will be at 7:05 p.m.

There will be no television coverage for the contest, the Huskers' only conference game this season that will not be televised. Great seats are still available for the game between two of the teams still in the hunt for a top-four finish in the league standings and a bye in first round of the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City (March 13-16). Tickets can be purchased on-line at Huskers.com or by contacting the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-8BIG-RED.

For fans who can not attend 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 returns to add color commentary. The broadcast will be carried around the world live on the Internet on Huskers.com.

NU men's basketball home games can typically also be heard on satellite radio during the regular season. The Nebraska broadcast of Wednesday's game will be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 143.

After dropping a pair of disappointing contests against Missouri and IowaState, the Huskers rebounded in impressive fashion last week with victories over a pair of top-25 teams. NU defeated then-No. 24/25 KansasState at home, 71-64, while holding national player-of-the-year candidate Michael Beasley to 17 points and 10 rebounds before knocking off then-No. 22 Texas A&M, 65-59, in College Station. It was the first time in nine years that Nebraska had defeated ranked opponents in consecutive games and also the first time in that span that the Huskers won a road contest against a top-25 squad.

The effort that helped Nebraska win two games last week is the main reason why NU is 5-3 in its last eight conference games. Since starting league play with an 0-4 record including two losses to a top-10 Kansas squad, the Huskers have regrouped and currently sit just one game out of a tie for fourth place in the league standings. Since Jan. 27, Nebraska owns the second-best record in the league at 5-3, trailing only Big 12-leading Texas, which is 8-1 in that stretch. Kansas (4-3), OklahomaState (4-3), Texas A&M (4-3) and Texas Tech (4-3) are the only other Big 12 schools to have records above .500 in that span.

Nebraska's recent success has come with improved play on both ends of the court. The Huskers allowed 70 points in three of the first four league games this season, but have allowed more than 70 points just twice in the past eight games, including holding four teams to 62 or fewer points. Offensively, the Huskers have hit 44.9 percent from the field in the past eight games after connecting on just 35.4 percent from the floor to open league play.

All-conference center Aleks Maric has been the focal point and despite constantly dealing with double and triple teams, he has led the young Husker squad with 16.5 points and 13.3 rebounds per game over the past eight contests. He has had seven double-doubles in that stretch, as his career-high streak came to an end Saturday against Texas A&M when he had 10 points and five rebound against a front line that included six players 6-8 or taller.

Along with Maric, guards Steve Harley and Ryan Anderson have stepped up to give Nebraska three double-figure scorers. Harley has recorded at least 10 points in seven of his last 10 games, including averaging 15.5 points per game last week in the wins over KSU and A&M. During the past eight games, Harley is second on the squad with 10.8 points per contest. Anderson is third with 10.1 points per game in that span while leading the squad with 16
3-pointers. The 6-4 Anderson ranks second on the team in the last eight games with 21 assists and 16 steals while playing the '4' spot.

 

|+| Miller Suffers Shoulder Sprain

Nebraska point guard Cookie Miller went down with a shoulder injury with six minutes to play in the contest at Texas A&M on Saturday, Feb. 23, and his availability for this week's game against Oklahoma is doubtful, according to Coach Doc Sadler.

An MRI on Monday revealed that Miller suffered a severe shoulder sprain. The original, game-time diagnosis of a possible dislocated shoulder was down-graded following Monday's examinations. A timeline for Miller's return has not been set as he is day-to-day.

Miller, who ranks in the top five in assists, steals and assist:turnover ratio in Big 12-only games, has averaged 6.1 points, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals per contest in 25 games this season.

 

|+| 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 75 points from moving into the top 20 scorers. With his first rebound against KansasState at home, Maric moved among the Big 12's top 10 rebounders and currently stands in eighth place entering the mid-week contest with Oklahoma.

With 10 free throws against Texas Tech, 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 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 second in the Big 12 era in conference-only rebounds with 525. Entering the season, Texas's James Thomas held the record with 535 rebounds in league games between 2001 and 2004. Maric will likley challenge for the top spot in the next game or two.

One impressive list Maric joined last Saturday against Texas A&M is the 1,500-point, 900-rebound club. During the Big 12 era, Maric is only the sixth conference player to reach the mark, joining players from Kansas (2), Missouri (1), Oklahoma (1) and OklahomaState (1).

 

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

6.         Aleks Maric (2005-pres.)             1,509    926

 

** 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 1,598 points and 786 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.

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 eight in scoring (Maric, 7th; 15.9 ppg), rebounding (3rd; 9.8 rpg) and field-goal percentage (1st; 56.0) entering this week's action.

Along with his powerful offensive game, Maric has improved defensively as well. He is second in the league in blocked shots (1.80 bpg) and has set a single-season career high with 29 steals.

In Big 12-only games, Maric is second in the league in rebounding at 11.4 boards per game while ranking eighth in scoring at 15.6 points per contest.

Maric is the active career leader in the Big 12 for rebounds (926), double-doubles (33) and double-figure rebound games (36). No other active player in the league has 25 double-doubles or double-figure rebounding games. He ranks second all-time at Nebraska in career rebounds and is ninth in scoring, as Maric passed former NBA first-round pick Rich King (1,475 points) on the scoring chart with 11 points at IowaState.

 

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.         Aleks Maric (2005-pres.) 1,509

10.        Rich King (1988-91)                    1,475   

 

|+| 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 three home games with at least 16 rebounds (17 vs. KansasState; 16 vs. Alabama A&M and Missouri). He now has eight career games with at least 15 rebounds. 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)                     926

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

 

Maric moved into the career top 10 in the Big 12 era with 17 rebounds against No. 24/25 KansasState at home. At his current pace, Maric will have a chance to challenge for a top-5 position in the conference list before his career is complete.

 

Big 12 Conference Career Rebound Leaders

No.       Player, School (seasons)                                    Rebounds

1.         Nick Collison, Kansas (1999-2003)                      1,143

2.         Arthur Johnson, Missouri (2001-04)                      1,083

3.         James Thomas, Texas (2001-04)             1,077

4.         Stephane Pelle, Colorado (1999-2003)                 1,053

5.         Ivan McFarlin, Oklahoma State (2001-05) 967

6.         Chris Mihm, Texas (1998-2000)               945

7.         Eric Chenowith, Kansas (1997-2001)                   933

8.         Aleks Maric, Nebraska (2005-08)             926

9.         Venson Hamilton, Nebraska (1997-99)                 919

10.        Eduardo Najera, Oklahoma (1997-2000)   910

 

|+| 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 nine this season, now has 33 in his career, a total that ranks second in Nebraska history. He is currently ninth in double-doubles Big 12 Conference history. Maric has 22 double-doubles in Big 12 play to tie for second in league-only games, trailing only NU's Venson Hamilton who had 24 double-doubles in Big 12 action.

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.

Between Jan. 30 against Missouri and Feb. 20 against KansasState, Maric recorded seven straight double-doubles, the longest streak of his career. Last year, Maric finished the season with six straight double-doubles. During the seven-game surge, Maric averaged 14.4 rebounds per game, including 5.9 offensive boards per game. The streak came to an end against the huge frontcourt of Texas A&M, as Maric had just five rebounds while helping NU upset the No. 22 Aggies.

 

Big 12 Career Double-Doubles (conference-games only)

Rank     Player, School (Years)                                       Double-Doubles

1.         Venson Hamilton, Nebraska (1997-99)                 24

2.         Aleks Maric, Nebraska (2005-present)                 22

            Chris Mihm, Texas (1998-00)                              22

4.         Stephane Pelle, Colorado (1999-03)                     20

            Drew Gooden, Kansas (1999-02)             20

6.         Raef LaFrentz, Kansas (1996-98)                        19

7.         Wayne Simien, Kansas (2001-05)                       16

            Kimani Ffriend, Nebraska (2000-01)                     16

9.         Eduardo Najera, Oklahoma (1997-00)                   14

10.        Eric Chenowith, Kansas (1997-2001)                   12

 

 

|+| 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.

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 his first 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.

Henry again came up big for the Huskers on the road against No. 22 Texas A&M. After point guard Cookie Miller was knocked out of the game with an injury, Henry stepped up to hit a pair of 3-pointers while also guiding the offense from the point guard spot. He finished with a team-high-tying 11 points.

 

|+| Road Warrior

Diminutive guard Cookie Miller showed 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 eight road games this season, Miller leads the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game. Center Aleks Maric is the only other double-figure scorer as he has posted 11.3 points with 10.6 rebounds away from home.

Miller has hit 30-of-71 field-goal attempts (42.3 percent) away from the DevaneyCenter, including nailing nine shots from beyond the arc. At home, Miller has averaged 4.6 points per game on 34.9 percent shooting (29-of-83) including connecting on just 6-of-32 3-point attempts (18.8 percent) at home.

 

|+| 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 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.

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.

In conference play, Miller has had 30 turnovers in 396 minutes (team-high 33.0 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 101 assists (4.0 apg) against 56 turnovers, including 43 assists in 12 league games.

 

NU Freshman Top 10 ? Assists

No.       Name (Year)                              Assists

1.         Tyronn Lue (1996)                      144

2.         Jake Muhleisen (2002)                105

3.         Cookie Miller (2008)                   101

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 Miller has not recorded a steal were against CU, Texas Tech and Missouri.

After posting four games this season with at least five steals, Miller now ranks second in NU freshman history with a team-leading 51 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.         Cookie Miller (2008)                   51

3.         Tyronn Lue (1996)                      50

4.         Erick Strickland (1993)               47

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

 

|+| 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. 24, Miller ranked fifth in the Big 12 Conference in assist:turnover ratio (1.80-to-1), fourth in assists per game (4.04) and third in steals per game (2.04). He is the only freshman ranked in the top 10 in steals and assist:turnover ratio, and the only freshman in the top seven in assists.

In league-only games, Miller is third steals per game at 2.00 and is fourth in assists (3.58) and seventh in assist:turnover ratio (1.43:1).

 

|+| Sadler Reaches Milestone

While the win over KansasState meant more to the Huskers in the Big 12 team race, second-year Coach Doc Sadler reached a noteworthy coaching milestone as he recorded his 200th career victory as a college head coach.

With 33 wins in his first two years at Nebraska, Sadler currently owns an 81-41 record at the Division I level. He was 48-24 at UTEP in two seasons and 120-39 in five years at Arkansas-Fort Smith, giving him a 201-80 career record in his ninth season as a college head coach.

Sadler, who also had 38 wins in one season as a high school head coach, has averaged more than 22 wins per season in his college coaching career. His average at the Division I level will 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.

 

|+| Defined by Defense

Nebraska has been defined by its defense this season as the Huskers rank among the top 25 in both scoring defense (20th) and field-goal percentage defense (27th). While the Huskers earned much of the lofty ranking in non-conference play, Nebraska has also been solid in league action with a high water mark coming in the opening half of the game at IowaState.

The Cornhuskers set a Big 12 record for conference-only games by allowing ISU to score just 11 points in the opening period. The mark surpassed the effort of Oklahoma which held Texas Tech to 12 points in the first half of a contest in 2006.

The Cyclones were limited to just 19.0 percent in the frame on 4-of-21 shooting. ISU went more than 10 minutes (10:26 to be exact) between field goals, scoring just two free throws while being forced to miss eight straight shots and committing nine turnovers in the span. 

In what could be seen as a microcosm of the Huskers' season, the defensive effort went for naught as ISU scored an opponent second-half high 49 points.

 |+| 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 rhythm early in the season, the sophomore from Seattle, Wash., has begun to make a bigger impact for the Huskers over the past eight games.

During his recent surge, Anderson has averaged 10.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while hitting 44.4 percent from the field, including 42.1 percent from 3-point range. Sixteen of his 27 made shots during the stretch have come from beyond the arc. He also has 21 assists against 12 turnovers and has added 16 steals in the past eight contests.

Anderson has added two double-doubles during the past eight 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 33 career double-doubles. Both of Anderson'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.

 

|+| 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 25 games this season, Nebraska has forced 408 turnovers while recording 214 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 10 times. The Huskers have had at least nine steals in 15 games this year after posting at least nine steals in just four games in 2006-07.

Nebraska leads the Big 12 with 7.92 steals per game in 12 league-only contests.

 

Nebraska Team Steals (Big 12 era)

Year                 Steals   Games  Avg/G   Ind. High

2007-08             214       25         8.6        51

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.

 

|+| Forcing the Issue

Nebraska's defensive pressure has forced teams into an average of 16.5 turnovers per game (408 through 25 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.

 

 |+| 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 (335 turnovers in 25 games).

Nebraska had a season-low seven turnovers against then-No. 16 Oregon, including going the final 9:27 of regulation and all of overtime without a turnover. The Huskers also posted just seven turnovers in the non-conference finale against Maryland Eastern Shore.

NU opened conference play by posting only 12 turnovers against the strong defensive pressure of the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks and had nine turnovers on the road against Colorado and 10 turnovers at Texas A&M. Through 12 Big 12 games, NU is averaging just 13.3 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.

 

|+| 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.

 

|+| 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. Despite battling injuries that have set him back twice this season, 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 41.2-percent clip from beyond the arc this season, knocking down 21-of-51 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 first on the career chart with a 43.8 percent (46-of-105) average.

With 105 attempts in his career, Strowbridge now qualifies for the Nebraska career record where he is in first place 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.)                46         105       .4381

2.         Brian Conklin (2001-04)                          176       407       .4324

3.         Cary Cochran (1999-2002)                      268       630       .425

4.         Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.)                    90         219       .417

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 9.3 points per game this year to rank second on the squad. Anderson, who owns the team lead with 42 3-pointers and 29.7 minutes per contest, has averaged 10.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game over the past eight contests.

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 5.7 boards per game to rank second on the squad and 14th overall in the Big 12 conference. In league play, Anderson is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game to rank 13th. 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 10 ranked teams and averaged 12.2 points per contest (122 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 Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma enters the mid-week matchup with the Huskers looking to rebound from Saturday's 62-45 loss at Texas that dropped OU to 18-9 on the season and 6-6 in the league standings. The Sooners had won three straight, including a one-point overtime win against Baylor and a two point road victory at Texas Tech. Overall, the Sooners are 6-6 away from Norman, including 2-4 in league action.

The Sooners have averaged 65.3 points per game in league action while hitting just 41.2 percent from the field, down from their overall season averages of 70.5 points and 44.9 percent. OU also has allowed 69.9 points per game to Big 12 teams, as league foes have hit 38.6 percent from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent from the charity stripe.

Oklahoma has been led all year by freshman forward Blake Griffin, a possible first-round NBA Draft pick this summer. Griffin has averaged 15.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as a rookie, and has improved his stats to 16.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in Big 12 action. He has hit 55.6 percent from the floor this season while adding 51 assists, 28 steals and 24 blocks.

Along with Griffin, senior forward Longar Longar gives OU a formidable front court. Longar, who suffered a broken bone in his leg mid-way through league play, has averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season while hitting 50.6 percent from the field.

Longar, who leads the team with 27 blocked shots, joins guard Tony Crocker (11.4 ppg) as the Sooners' only other double-figure scorers. Crocker is the Sooners' top 3-point threat as he has 51 treys this year while hitting 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Along with Crocker, Austin Johnson (41) and David Goldbold (33) each have more than 30 3-pointers to their credit this winter. Johnson (68), Crocker (62) and Goldbold (52) join Griffin with at least 50 assists each.

 

|+| Huskers Knock Off Second Straight Ranked Squad

Nebraska knocked off its second ranked opponent in four days by using an impressive team effort on both ends of the court to collect a 65-59 road victory over No. 22/22 Texas A&M last Saturday at Reed Arena. 

The win improved the Huskers to 16-9 overall and 5-7 in league play while the Aggies dropped to 20-7 on the year and 6-6 in Big 12 action. The loss was A&M's third straight in league play and only its third loss in 18 home games this season.

Nebraska won consecutive games over a ranked team for the first time since 1999. It was also Nebraska's first road victory over a top-25 squad since beating Kansas in Lawrence also nine years ago.

Four Huskers scored double figures, including two off the bench as NU held a 22-19 advantage in bench scoring.  Sek Henry and Steve Harley each scored 11 points to lead the Huskers, including scoring seven of the Huskers' last eight points.

Henry put in the biggest baskets of the game as he burried a pair of 3-pointers in the final six minutes. Henry's first trey stiffled a 7-0 A&M run and came just after NU freshman point guard Cookie Miller left the game with a shoulder injury. Henry then added a 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining, giving NU the lead for good, 60-57.

Harley added four free throws in the final minute and Nebraska recorded two offensive rebounds in the final 35 seconds to hold on. NU finished with just three offensive boards on the day while A&M held a 28-23 lead on the glass.

Nebraska got the win behind an efficient offensive effort. The Huskers hit 59 percent on the day (23-of-39), their best effort in conference play this year and second straight game shooting better than 50 percent. A&M hit just 41.7 percent, including just 7-of-20 from 3-point range, against the Husker defense with only two players -- Derrick Roland (13) and Donald Sloan (10) -- reaching double figures.

Henry had 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting while Harley connected on 3-of-6 for 11 points. Chris Balham came off the bench for the best game of his career, scoring a personal-high 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and adding three rebounds in 11 minutes of action. Senior center Aleks Maric added 10 points but saw his streak of double-doubles come to an end at seven games as he hauled in only five rebounds.

Nebraska got off to a strong start, posting 32 first-half points while holding a seven-point margin at the intermission. The Huskers, who had four players score at least five points in the period, hit 60 percent from the floor in the opening frame, knocking down 12-of-20 attempts.

Ryan Anderson and Balham led the charge in the first half, scoring six points apiece. Anderson drilled a pair of 3-pointers, giving him 40 on the season, his second straight year with at least 40 treys, while Balham tied his career single-game high with six points on a trio of baskets, helping NU to a 10-6 lead in the paint before intermission.

While Nebraska's offense was strong, it was the defensive play that put the Huskers ahead for the 17th time at halftime this season and third time away from Lincoln. The Huskers chased the Aggies continuously, holding A&M to 37.5 percent shooting while also outrebounding the much taller Aggies 14-11.

 

Postgame notes vs. Texas A&M

? The Huskers improved to 16-9 on the season and 5-7 in Big 12 Conference play. The win guaranteed Nebraska a .500 record this season.

? The Huskers won their second straight game over a ranked squad, the first time since 1999 that NU won consecutive games over top-25 teams. It was also the first time since 1999 the Huskers defeated a ranked squad on the road.

? Nebraska won its second road game of the league season. NU has won more than two conference road games just four times since the formation of the Big 12 Conference for the 1996-97 season.

? Senior center Aleks Maric had his career-best streak of double-doubles end at seven straight as he had just 10 points and five rebounds against the tall Aggies' front court. Maric hit 4-of-5 shots from the floor in the win.

? Sophomore guard Sek Henry came up big in another road win, as he produced a team-high-tying 11 points including hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the final five minutes to boost the Huskers.

? Sophomore guard Ryan Anderson tied his career highs with five assists and four steals while adding nine points on a trio of 3-pointers.

? Nebraska shot 59.0 percent from the floor, the second-highest total of the season and easily its best shooting day in conference play. NU had hit at least 50 percent only once in league action, with that coming the game before in an upset of KansasState.

? The Huskers won despite being outrebounded 28-23 on the afternoon. The 23 rebounds were a season low for the Huskers.

 

|+| 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.

 

|+| 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 926 career boards after picking up at least 13 boards in seven of his last eight 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. He 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 133 after passing former teammate Wes Wilkinson (112).

Maric is already in the Nebraska top five for free throws made (417, 3rd) and attempted (634, 2nd), field goals  (542, 9th) and games started (91, 10th).

 

|+| 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 20th nationally in scoring defense entering the week and a field-goal percentage defense that was 27th 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.

Nebraska has held an opponent without a field goal for at least five minutes 26 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; 10:26 vs. Iowa State).

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 fourth in the Big 12 Conference as it has held opponents to 39.8 percent shooting from the field through 25 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.

 

|+| 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.

 

|+| 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 33 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 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                    33 (17, 16)                     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

 

|+| 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.

 

|+| Slowing the Scoring

Nebraska has been solid on defense this season and has allowed a Big 12-low 60.3 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting over 25 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. 25, the Huskers ranked 20th in scoring defense and 27th 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 notte 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.