Huskers on Road to Face Second Straight Pac-10 Foe

Husker Game day

Nebraska Game Notes: Click Here

Game Date: Dec. 13, 2008

Tipoff Time: 5:07 p.m. Pacific (7:07 p.m. Central)

Venue: Gill Coliseum (10,400)

TV: Fox Sports Midwest, Northwest, Pacific, Play-by-play: Todd Mansfield. Color: Eric Piatkowski.

Satellite TV: DirecTV, Dish Network

Radio: Husker Sports Radio Network stations, Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka. Color: Matt Davison.

Internet Radio/Stats: Free on Huskers.com

 

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Huskers Set to Battle Beavers in Final Non-Conference Road Tilt of 2008

The Nebraska Cornhuskers hit the court for the first time in nearly a week when they face Oregon State on the road on Saturday, Dec. 13. The Huskers and Beavers will tip off at 5:07 p.m. Pacific (7:07 p.m. Central) at Gill Coliseum.

 

The game between NU and OSU will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest in the state of Nebraska and on Fox Sports Northwest in the state of Oregon (on cable systems and DirecTV channel 672 and Dish Network channel 473) with Todd Mansfield handling play-by-play duties and Husker legend Eric Piatkowski adding color commentary. Fox College Sports Pacific is also expected to carry the game live. The game will not be seen on ESPN FullCourt like normal, as ESPN does not have permission to carry games that include Pac-10 teams on any of its platforms.

 

All of Nebraska’s games can also be heard on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, consisting of 31 stations around the state, and for free around the world on the Internet at Huskers.com, the official Web site of Nebraska Athletics. Veteran play-by-play man Kent Pavelka will call the action alongside color analyst and former Husker Matt Davison.

 

Nebraska ends road action in non-conference play this weekend with its third trip away from the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers are looking for better results than last weekend when NU dropped its first game of the year with a 64-44 setback at No. 19 Arizona State.

 

 Nebraska’s impressive 6-1 start to the season has come behind a stifling defense that ranks eighth nationally and first in the Big 12 Conference by allowing opponents to score just 53.3 ppg. 

 

 The Huskers have not allowed a team to reach 65 points this season as opponents are hitting just 37.9 percent from the floor. It is only the second time since 1982-83 that Nebraska has held its first seven opponents to under 65 points each (also 2003-04).

 

 Nebraska is 21st nationally in 3-point percentage defense, allowing teams to hit just 27.1 percent (35-of-129) from beyond the arc.

 

 Nebraska will be shooting for a 7-1 record to open a season for the first time since 2003-04 and just the third time in the Big 12 era (also 1997-98).

 

 The Huskers are trying to post two true road victories in regular-season non-conference play for the first time since 1998-99 and just the second time in the Big 12 era. Nebraska won at TCU earlier this year.

Scouting The Beavers

Oregon State enters the weekend matchup with the Huskers looking for its second win of the season. The Beavers have struggled early on while getting out to just a 1-5 start.

OSU is still looking for its first home win of the season. The Beavers opened the year with road trips in four of their first six games and came away with a 1-3 record away from home. Oregon State’s lone victory this year came at Fresno State as the Beavers came from behind to win 62-54.

Despite losing five of their first six, the Beavers have been competitive as they have dropped three games by a basket or less. OSU fell in the season opener at Howard, 47-45, and then lost its two home games by 53-52 and 82-79 (overtime) scores to Yale and Montana State, respectively.

On the season, OSU has averaged just 59.8 points per game. The Beavers have shot the ball effectively, hitting a solid 47.2 percent from the floor, but have connected on just 30.6 percent from 3-point range and only 60.6 percent at the free throw stripe. Opponents have taken advantage by hitting 15 more
3-pointers and two more free throws in 10 less attempts to average 63.0 points per game.

In their last contest, the Beavers dropped a 63-50 contest at Iowa State in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. OSU shot 40.0 percent from the field (20-of-50), but connected on only 2-of-19 (10.5 percent) from beyond the arc.

ISU had 10 3-pointers and recorded 19 assists on 21 baskets in the victory. The Cyclones did not record a steal but still managed to hold a 20-6 advantage in points off turnovers as OSU turned the ball over 11 times.

Daniel Deane was the only Beaver in double figures, scoring 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting against ISU. He also had six boards, as OSU was outrebounded 33-27. Seth Tarver had five points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Beavers.

Deane leads the team with 10.0 points per game while shooting just 43.8 percent from the field. He is also the team leader in rebounds, with 6.5 per game and 3-pointers with nine.

Five other Beavers add at least 8.0 points per contest. Josh Tarver is second at 9.8 ppg and Rickey Claitt adds 9.7 ppg while hitting 59.4 percent (19-of-32) from the floor. Seth Tarver is sixth on the team in scoring at 8.0 ppg while hitting a team-best 67.7 percent (21-of-31) from the floor.

OSU is led by coach Craig Robinson (Princeton, 1983), who is in his first year on the sideline for the Beavers. Robinson owns a 31-33 career record in his third year as a head coach.

 

Possible Oregon State Starting Lineup

Name                   Pos. Ht.   Wt.   Pt.   Rb.

Rickey Claitt          G    6-2  175   9.7   2.2

Josh Tarver           G    6-3  185   9.8   2.3

Seth Tarver            G    6-5  205   8.0   5.0

Omari Johnson      F     6-7  205   8.2   5.8

Daniel Deane         F     6-8  245   10.0 6.5

The Series

Nebraska and Oregon State are meeting for the ninth time in series history and the first time since 1996. Overall, the Beavers hold a 5-3 advantage over the Huskers.

The squads met for the first time in series history in the 1940-41 campaign with the Beavers winning a 61-38 tilt on their home court.  Oregon State is 4-0 at home against the Huskers, while Nebraska’s three wins all came in Lincoln. OSU won the only matchup on a neutral court.

 Nebraska won the most recent meeting, 75-67, in November of 1996. Prior to that, the Huskers and Beavers had not met since 1969, the last time the teams played in Corvallis.

 NU owns a 36-46 (.444) all-time record against current teams in the Pac-10 Conference. Since the formation of the Big 12 Conference, Nebraska has won four of its last eight games against teams from the Pac-10. NU is

 The Huskers are playing their second straight game against a Pac-10 team this week against OSU. Last week, Nebraska was defeated for the first time this season at No. 19 Arizona State.

 This is the second straight season NU has played a pair of Pac-10 teams in the regular-season. Last year, NU defeated Arizona State at home and toppled No. 16 Oregon in Omaha.

 

Nebraska-Oregon State Team Comparison

NU                      Stat                   OSU

63.0______ Points Per Game______ 59.8

53.3___ Points Allowed Per Game___ 63.0

43.3____ Field Goal Percentage____ 47.2

37.9_ Field Goal Percentage Defense_ 42.5

39.6___ 3pt Field Goal Percentage___ 30.6

27.1 3pt Field Goal Percentage Defense 33.3

71.9____ Free Throw Percentage____ 60.6

29.6_____ Rebounds Per Game_____ 30.7

-3.7_______ Rebound Margin______ +0.4

13.3______ Assists Per Game______ 12.5

12.7_____ Turnovers Per Game_____ 15.5

9.6_______ Steals Per Game_______ 6.5

2.9_______ Blocks Per Game_______ 1.5

18.9_______ Fouls Per Game______ 16.7

Quick hits

Here is a quick look at the Huskers through games of Dec. 7:

 Nebraska has the Big 12 Conference’s top scoring defense, allowing just 53.3 points per game through seven games.

 The Huskers are hitting 71.9 percent from the free throw stripe this season, an average that ranks second in the Big 12 Conference entering the weekend.

 Nebraska’s scoring is evenly distributed as six players are scoring at least six points per game with only one averaging double figures. Steve Harley has picked up the offensive pace and is leading the Huskers with 12.6 ppg.

 Harley is the only Husker to lead the team in scoring more than once, as he has been the top scorer four times for Nebraska.

 Sek Henry has been proficient with the basketball, hitting a team-best 58.3 percent from the field, including 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from 3-point range.

 NU has forced 124 turnovers (17.7 per game) through seven contests while allowing 61 assists on 122 made baskets. Nebraska has 93 assists on 143 baskets but has committed 89 turnovers (12.7 per game)

 Nebraska has hit just 32.3 percent (32-of-99) from the field away from Lincoln, more than 13 percentage points lower than in the Devaney Center. Opponents have hit just 34.9 percent (29-of-83) from the field on their home courts.

 The Huskers had just six turnovers in the game against Saint Louis. It tied the lowest total by Nebraska under Coach Doc Sadler.

 Six Huskers are averaging at least 1.0 steal per game. Sek Henry leads the way with 11 steals, including a career-high four against San Jose State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

 Ryan Anderson, who ranked 18th last year in the Big 12 in rebounding, leads the team with 4.6 rebounds per game. For his career, he’s averaging 5.0 boards per game.

 Paul Velander has been excellent handling the ball this season as the senior has just two turnovers through seven games. Velander has played the second-most minutes of any Husker so far as he has seen 175 minutes on the court.

 Cookie Miller leads the team with 27 assists against 12 turnovers this season. He is looking to become the first Husker to lead NU in assists as a freshman and sophomore since Tyronn Lue did it in 1995-96 and 1996-97.

 Miller helped the team post a season-best 23 assists on 30 baskets against Alabama State. Miller had six assists with two turnovers while Ryan Anderson led the team with a career-best seven assists without a turnover. Four Huskers had at least three assists apiece against the Hornets.

 Nebraska outrebounded Alabama State 35-28, the third time this season NU gained an advantage on the glass. The +7 rebounding margin was a season high.

 With the victory over Alabama State on Dec. 3, Nebraska improved to 6-0 to open a season for only the second time in the Big 12 era (also 2001-02).

Bombs Away

Nebraska had been hitting at a solid percentage from 3-point range in its first five games, but the Huskers took it to a whole new level against Alabama State.

 Nebraska hit an impressive 14-of-25 (56.0 percent) from beyond the arc against the Hornets. NU “only” connected on 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the floor overall.

 The 14 3-pointers were the most by the Huskers since hitting 15 against Miami on the road in the 2006-07 season. The school record is 18 3-pointers against No. 1 Kansas in 2002.

 Six Huskers hit from outside the arc, including four players with three 3-pointers apiece. Sek Henry led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 night beyond the arc while Ryan Anderson (3-of-4), Steve Harley (3-of-5) and Paul Velander (3-of-6) each had three treys apiece.

 Amazingly on a night when all the 3s were falling, Velander made his first two attempts from inside the arc, missing both. Velander’s first 26 attempts from the field this season were 3-point attempts until a missed jumper in the first half against Alabama State. Entering the weekend, he is now 0-of-2 from inside the arc this season and 18-of-37 outside it.

Defense Among NCaa’s Best

Like most years under Coach Doc Sadler, Nebraska is among the Big 12 and national leaders in several defensive categories in 2008-09.

 Nebraska leads the Big 12 Conference in scoring defense at 53.3 points per game. Through Thursday, Dec. 11, Texas was second in the league, allowing opponents 56.9 points per game. Iowa State (59.4 ppg) is the only other team in the league holding opponents to under 60 points per game so far this season.

 As of Monday, Dec. 8, Nebraska ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense. Only Washington State (45.3), Stephen F. Austin (49.3), Northwestern (49.4), Ohio State (50.2 ppg), Louisville (52.4), Butler (52.4) and San Diego State (53.0) ranked ahead of the Huskers.

 Nebraska entered the week ranked 38th nationally and first in the conference in field-goal percentage defense (37.9). The highest field-goal percentage allowed by NU this season was 46.5 percent by Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Four of NU’s first seven opponents were held under 40.0 percent from the field.

 The Huskers have allowed teams to hit just 27.1 percent from 3-point range, an average that ranked 21st nationally this week. NU has held three teams under 20.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc this season.

Few and Far Between

Under Coach Doc Sadler, the Huskers have gained a reputation as one of the toughest defensive teams in the rugged Big 12 Conference, which in turns makes NU one of the best defensive teams in the nation.

This season, Sadler’s Huskers are opening the year at a level rarely seen. Through seven games, the Huskers are allowing just 53.3 points per game and have allowed just one opponent (No. 19 Arizona State) to top 57 points.

In the Big 12 standings, Nebraska ranks first in scoring defense, ahead of second-place Texas, which enters the weekend allowing 56.9 points per game.

 Nebraska held each of its first six opponents to fewer than 58 points. The last time NU held opponents to less than 60 points over the first six games of the year was the start of the 1943-44 season.

 The last time the Huskers held consecutive opponents to fewer than 60 points in any stretch of at least six games was the seven contests between games 12 through 18 of the 1981-82 season. That was a streak of 820 games before it was matched starting this season.

Harley Starting to Rev up

Guard Steve Harley came on strong at the end of last season when he was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team by the league's sportswriters for his play in league action.

 

Over the final 12 league games and the postseason, Harley assumed a lead role in the Husker offense in 2007-08, ranking second on the team with 11.0 points per game as he hit 45 percent from the floor including nearly 43 percent from 3-point range. He shot better than 78 percent from the charity stripe in that stretch.

 

This year he is picking up where he left off as he tries to guide the Huskers to their second straight postseason berth.

 Harley is currently leading the team with 12.6 points per game. He has hit 45.7 percent from the floor, and has been one of the most aggressive Huskers getting to the basket, as he leads the team with 20 trips to the free throw line (17 made free throws). Harley is also averaging 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

 Over his last five games, Harley has averaged 15.0 points per contest. He led Nebraska past Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a game-high 18 points, had 12 against Saint Louis, 18 points in a 13-point second-half comeback victory over Creighton, a game-high 16 points vs. Alabama State and 11 at No. 19 Arizona State. His career high is 20 points last year against No. 24 Kansas State.

 After opening the season hitting just 4-of-13 shots over the first two games, Harley has since knocked down 28-of-57 (49.1 percent) in the past five games. Harley set a career high against Creighton with 16 field-goal attempts, making eight (one off career high).

 Harley has tied his career high for rebounds twice this season, posting six against San Jose State in the season opener and again in the come-from-behind win over Creighton.

 Harley had just one assist against Creighton, but it was the biggest one of the game. With the contest tied at 52-52, Nebraska had the ball with the shot clock off. Coach Doc Sadler drew up a play for Harley as the first scoring option. As he drove the lane to the basket, CU hedged to the middle and Harley made a nice wrap-around pass to Ade Dagunduro, who had an uncontested layup for the game-winning basket with 2.7 seconds remaining.

Hot Henry

After a strong offseason, Sek Henry entered his junior season on a tear while helping the Huskers to six straight wins to open a season for just the second time in the Big 12 era.

Through seven games, Henry is third on the team in scoring with 8.1 points per game. He is one of just four Huskers with more than one double-figure scoring game this season.

 Henry posted 19 points against Saint Louis, one off his career high and the most points he has scored at home in the Devaney Center.

 Henry scored 46 points (11.5 ppg) to open the first four games of the season, the second-best, four-game scoring stretch of his career. As a freshman, he posted 56 points (14 ppg) over four games to end the non-conference schedule.

 Despite missing all five shots at Arizona State, Henry has hit 21-of-36 shots (58.3 percent) from the field, including 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from 3-point range. His career averages entering this season were 36.7 percent shooting and 26.4 percent from beyond the arc.

 Also the team leader in steals with 11, Henry has twice this season tied his career high with four steals in a game.

 Being aggressive is in Henry’s nature on the court and it is showing this year. Although he has hit just 46.7 percent from the free throw line, he has done a nice job getting to the stripe as he is tied for third on the team with 15 free throw attempts.

Dagunduro Getting on Track

After a sluggish start to the season in the first three games, senior guard Ade Dagunduro has begun to turn up the intensity on both ends of the court.

One of the most athletic players in the Big 12 Conference, Dagunduro has brought his scoring average up to a modest 7.0 points per game after scoring just six points in the first two contests of the year.

The biggest points of the season for Dagunduro came in the final seconds of a comeback victory over Creighton. The Inglewood, Calif., native got free on the right block when his defender hedged to the middle of the lane as Steve Harley drove with the ball. Harley made a nice wrap-around pass right to Dagunduro, whose uncontested layup with 2.7 seconds remaining was the game-winning bucket.

 Dagunduro posted 14 points against Saint Louis and 11 points vs. Creighton in consecutive games. He hit 9-of-16 shots (56.2 percent) from the field in those contests after starting the season shooting 4-for-15 (26.7 percent) from the floor in the first three games. Last year, he recorded double figures in three straight games on only two occasions.

 The slow start this season is the exact opposite of last year, which could be a good thing for the Huskers in the long run. Dagunduro started 2007-08 on fire, averaging 11.8 points per game in non-conference play while hitting 54.8 percent from the field. In league action, he had 5.8 points per game while knocking down just 40.4 percent from the field.

Comeback Kids

Nebraska not only picked up its second straight win in Lincoln over in-state foe Creighton on Nov. 29, but it also made for one of the more memorable comebacks by the Huskers since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.

Nebraska’s come-from-behind victory was keyed by a strong second-half performance from Steve Harley and Cookie Miller. Harley finished with a game-high 18 points with three steals and had the key assist on Ade Dagunduro’s game-winning basket with 2.7 seconds remaining. Miller posted six assists and two steals and got the Huskers’ offense into high gear after trailing by 13 points at halftime.

 The 13-point deficit the Huskers overcame matched the largest comeback under Coach Doc Sadler. It also tied for the second-largest comeback by Nebraska during the Big 12 era, matching the 13-point deficit NU overcame at Texas Tech during Sadler’s first season on the sideline.

 The largest deficit Nebraska has rebounded from to win since the formation of the Big 12 Conference was 20 points against Kansas State in the first year of the league (1996-97). KSU also had the biggest halftime lead that NU has overcome in the Big 12 era as the Wildcats led by 18 points at the break.

 

Largest Nebraska Deficits Overcome to Win

(Big 12 era only, since 1996-97)

                                                Deficit

Year        Opponent                  Overcome

1996-97   Kansas State              20 points

2008-09    Creighton                    13 points

2006-07   at Texas Tech             13 points

2002-03   vs. UC Santa Barbara    12 points

1998-99   Texas A&M                12 points

2005-06   Baylor                      11 points

2004-05   Oklahoma State          11 points

2001-02   Colorado                  11 points

2000-01   Missouri                    11 points

1999-2000                        Eastern Illinois    10 points

1997-98   Baylor                      10 points

2003-04   Creighton (NIT game)    9 points

Getting Defensive

Nebraska coach Doc Sadler has never had a problem getting his teams ready to play defense and the 2008-09 version of the Huskers seems to be no different.

Through seven games, Nebraska is allowing just 53.3 points per contest as opponents have hit 37.9 percent (122-of-322) from the field, including 27.1 percent (35-of-129) from 3-point range. Nebraska has also forced 124 turnovers and collected 67 steals in seven contests.

 The Huskers have allowed 373 points in the first seven games of the year, the second time in three years under Doc Sadler that NU has allowed fewer than 410 points in its first seven games. Nebraska has held its first seven opponents to fewer than 373 combined points to open a season just three times since 1947-48.

 

NU’s Fewest Points Allowed in First Seven Games

(Since 1947-48, beginning of Big Seven Conference)

       Year                             Points (Ppg)

1949-50................................ 331 (47.3)

1947-48................................ 363 (51.9)

2004-05................................ 368 (52.6)

2008-09................................. 373 (53.3)

1950-51................................ 374 (53.4) 

1981-82................................ 384 (54.9)

1982-83................................ 386 (55.1)

2007-08................................ 397 (56.7)

2003-04................................ 397 (56.7)

1951-52................................ 398 (56.8)

 Nebraska held TCU to just 10 field goals in NU’s first road game of the season. The 10 field goals allowed were the second-lowest by a Husker squad under Sadler, trailing only the nine baskets allowed at home by North Carolina Central last season.

 The 10 field goals by the Horned Frogs were the fewest by an opponent away from the Devaney Center since Centenary had 10 baskets to open the 2002-03 season at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

 The 50 points scored by TCU marked the fewest Nebraska has allowed on the road since NU held Kansas State to 42 points in the first league road game of the 2005-06 campaign. In non-conference play, it was the fewest points a Husker squad has given up away from the Devaney Center since holding Centenary to 45 points in the first game of 2002-03.

 TCU's 50 points were also the fewest Nebraska has allowed in a true road opener since giving up just 49 points at Minnesota in the 1977-78 season.

Energy Guys

Following the season-opening contest against San Jose State, Coach Doc Sadler praised several players for their energy and hustle, especially the ones off the bench.

Leading the way that day was redshirt freshman Brandon Richardson, who posted six points, three rebounds, an assist and four steals in 16 minutes in his career debut. Richardson’s numbers did not tell the whole story as he made several dives to the floor and other hustle plays to ignite NU in the second half after SJSU cut the lead from 18 points to five. His steal off an inbounds and three-point play turned the game around, helping NU score 10 points in less than a minute to pull away for good.

 Richardson has continued to improve and gain confidence each time he hits the court. Against UAPB, he scored a season-high nine points and had two assists without a turnover in 23 minutes of action. In his first 118 career minutes played, Richardson has just three turnovers and is averaging 4.0 points per game.

 Richardson has posted at least three steals in a game twice this year, and is second on the team with 10 steals this season.

Along with Richardson, senior Paul Velander has also been praised by Sadler for his energy coming off the bench, including following the Saint Louis game. In his postgame press conference that night, Sadler said:

“We’ve got to get the rest of the team to make effort plays like Paul Velander. There’s not a player in the country who makes more effort plays than that guy.”

 Velander has hit 18 3-pointers in seven games, including five games with three treys apiece. He is second on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game.

 He also leads the team with eight charges taken, including three against each San Jose State and Saint Louis.

Turning it over

Nebraska will try to turn up the defensive pressure at times this season, especially while playing with a heavily guard-oriented lineup, including at times five guards on the floor at once. 

That strong defensive push was evident in NU’s opener as they forced 25 San Jose State turnovers. Spartans’ point guard Justin Graham was frustrated into 10 turnovers while going 0-of-5 from the floor in 33 minutes of action.

 The 25 turnovers Nebraska forced in the season opener against San Jose State were the second-highest total under Coach Doc Sadler. The most turnovers a Husker squad has forced in Sadler’s tenure is 26 last season against North Carolina Central.

 NU has now forced 124 turnovers through seven games, while allowing teams to record just 61 assists on 122 baskets.

 The Huskers have forced at least 20 turnovers in three games this year. Nebraska forced Creighton into 24 turnovers in the two-point victory, including 12 turnovers in each half. Last year, the Huskers forced 20 turnovers in a game six times all season.

 Nebraska posted 16 steals in the defensive effort against San Jose State, the most by the Huskers under Sadler. The previous best under Sadler was 15 steals vs. North Texas in 2006.

 The Huskers have had double-figure steals in three of their first seven games and at least eight steals in every game this season.

 Eight Huskers have recorded a steal this year, including seven averaging at least 1.0 steal per game. Junior guard Sek Henry and redshirt freshman Brandon Richardson each had four steals apiece against San Jose State in the opener and Henry added four more against UAPB. Henry leads the team with 11 steals.

 The defensive pressure has helped Nebraska to a 122-81 advantage in points off turnovers this season.

 On the opposite end, Nebraska has been solid with the ball, averaging just 12.7 turnovers per game (opponents: 17.7 tpg).

 Nebraska posted just six turnovers against Saint Louis, tying the mark for fewest miscues in Sadler’s first three years. NU also had just six turnovers against Colorado in 2007.

 The last time Nebraska had fewer than six turnovers was when NU set the school record with three turnovers at Iowa State in 2003.

 Nebraska had just three turnovers in the first half against Alabama State. NU’s season low for a half was two turnovers in the second half against Saint Louis.

Anderson Reaches top 10

At 6-4, guard Ryan Anderson may be a little undersized to play in the front court, but he is one of the biggest players on the court when he steps outside the 3-point line.

Anderson has made a living with the long ball in Lincoln, hitting 105 treys in his career to tie for ninth in Nebraska history. He is currently third on the squad this season with seven
3-pointers.

 Anderson’s three 3-pointers against Alabama State marked the 14th time in his career he has had at least three treys in a single game.

 Anderson is the only Husker ever to post at least 48 treys in each of his first two years at Nebraska.

 Anderson ranks second on the NU freshman list with 48 3-pointers in 2006-07 and last year posted 50 treys to rank third on the Huskers' sophomore chart.

 Only Nebraska's all-time 3-point leader, Cary Cochran, made more shots from outside the arc by the end of his sophomore season, as Cochran had 101 through two years.

Nebraska Career 3-Point Field Goals Made

1.     Cary Cochran (1999-2002).......... 268

2.     Eric Piatkowski (1991-94)........... 202

3.     Jaron Boone (1993-96).............. 181

4.     Erick Strickland (1993-96)........... 179

5.     Brian Conklin (2001-04) ............ 176

6.     Cookie Belcher (1997-2001)........ 146

7.     Tyronn Lue (1996-98)................ 145

8.     Joe McCray (2005-06)................ 117

9.     Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.)......... 105

       Ray Richardson (1989-90).......... 105

Anderson, Velander AMong Huskers’ most Accurate Duos

Ryan Anderson is not the only 3-point ace for the Huskers as senior guard Paul Velander has also proven to be one of the most accurate long-range shooters in Nebraska history.

The only fifth-year player for the Huskers this season, Velander is ranked sixth in NU history for 3-point field-goal percentage at 39.8 percent (86-of-210) while coming off the bench in 66-of-67 contests. With another year similar to the last two (36 and 32
3-pointers, respectively), Velander will also have a shot to reach the Nebraska career top 10 in
3-pointers made. He leads the team with 18
3-pointers this season, including three 3s in each of five games this season.

 

3-Point FG Pct. (min. 90 att.)    

                                     3FG  3PA  Pct.

1.  Brian Conklin (2001-04)   176   407  .432

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

3.  Jay-R Strowbridge (2007-08) 50 122  .410

4.  Clifford Scales (1988-91)   45   110  .409

5.  Henry T. Buchanan (1987-88)    67  165    .406

6.  Paul Velander (2006-pres.)  86   216  .398

7.  Chris Cresswell (1990-92) 103   261  .395

8.  Marcus Perry (2006-07)     98   249  .394

9.  Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.) 105  268 .392 10. Ray Richardson (1989-90)  105        278        .378

Miller ready to roll

Cookie Miller was the only true freshman to play for the Huskers last year when he posted near-record numbers for assists (109) and steals (58). This year, he is trying to take it a step higher as one of the top returning point guards in the Big 12 Conference.

Miller ranked sixth in the league for assists per game (3.6) last year and was the only freshman to rank in the top 10 for assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7). He was fourth in the Big 12 for steals per game (1.93), and owned the top spot with 2.0 steals per game in Big 12-only contests.

This season, Miller leads NU with 27 assists and is second with 10 steals with just 12 turnovers.

 Miller had his most complete game of the season against Alabama State, scoring a season-high nine points while tying his season  highs with six assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes. It was the first game he started this season and the 25th start of his career.

 Miller came off the bench to efficiently guide the Husker offense in the second half of a comeback victory over Creighton. Miller had five assists and a steal in 15 minutes in the second half as Nebraska came back from 13 points down to earn the win. He finished with season highs in assists (6) and rebounds (4) while adding two steals in the win.

 Miller recorded four rebounds against Saint Louis, Creighton and Alabama State in consecutive games, tying his season high. Miller led the team in rebounding against Saint Louis, only the second time in his career he led the squad in boards. Last year, he tied three others for the team lead with four rebounds against Kansas at home.

 Former Husker great Cookie Belcher owns the Nebraska freshman record for steals with 87 and holds the NU and Big 12 Conference record with 253 steals in his career. Miller will try to join Belcher and Erick Strickland as the only Huskers with at least 100 steals at the end of their sophomore seasons. Belcher had 162 in his first two years while Strickland had 107.

Nebraska Career Steals (since 1978)

1.     Cookie Belcher (1997-2001)........ 353

2.     Erick Strickland (1993-96)........... 257

3.     Venson Hamilton (1996-99)......... 186

4.     Clifford Scales (1988-91)............ 177

5.     Brian Carr (1984-87).................. 159

6.     Tyronn Lue (1996-98)................ 154

7.     Larry Florence (1997-2000)......... 137

8.     Jaron Boone (1993-96).............. 131

9.     Eric Johnson (1988-89)............. 128

       Jack Moore (1979-82)................ 128

--     Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.)........... 81

--     Cookie Miller (2008-pres.).............. 67

--     Sek Henry (2007-pres.)................. 63

McCray Making Name For himself

Redshirt freshman Toney McCray has already started to make a name for himself among Husker fans.

In his first career game, the lanky 6-6, 205-pound scored game highs with 17 points and nine rebounds against San Jose State. McCray hit 6-of-15 shots from the floor in his career debut against the Spartans. He just missed becoming the first Husker freshman to record a double-double in his first career game since Aleks Maric accomplished the feat in 2004-05.

McCray came back with nine points and five boards in the first road game of his career at TCU. After playing just eight minutes against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, all in the first half because of an illness, McCray posted seven points with two rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes against Saint Louis.

In his first game in front of a big crowd, McCray settled in nicely, posting six points, five rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench against Creighton.

McCray Named Rookie of the Week

Nebraska redshirt freshman guard Toney McCray was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week in a vote by league sportswriters on Monday, Nov. 17. McCray was honored alongside Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, who won the league’s player-of-the-week award.

The 6-6, 205-pounder from Missouri City, Texas, was the Huskers’ leading scorer and rebounder in both its exhibition win and the season-opening win over San Jose State. McCray, one of four Huskers who redshirted last year, quickly made his presence felt on the court as he posted a game-high 17 points against the Spartans. He also added a team-high nine rebounds, just missing out on becoming the first Husker since Aleks Maric to produce a double-double in his first career game. McCray added a steal and an assist in 23 minutes off the bench, helping the Huskers to a 43-16 advantage in bench scoring.

McCray is the second player in Coach Doc Sadler’s three years to earn the league’s rookie-of-the-week award. Last year, guard Ade Dagunduro won the award on Dec. 17 for his effort in helping the Huskers defeat nationally ranked Oregon. Overall, McCray is the eighth Husker to win the league award. Only two players, Joe McCray and Kimani Ffriend, have won the rookie-of-the-week award more than once for the Huskers as each earned it two times in their first season in Lincoln.

Huskers Earn AP Vote

The Huskers earned some early season recognition as they picked up a vote in the Associated Press poll on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. The nod came following Nebraska’s solid week that included a 71-57 victory over Saint Louis and a 54-52 win over in-state foe Creighton. NU lost its lone vote a week later after falling for the first time this season at No. 19 Arizona State.

Last year, voters in the Associated Press poll also took notice following Nebraska’s upset of No. 16 Oregon. The Huskers received two votes in the Dec. 17, 2007, poll, one of five Big 12 Conference teams either ranked or earning votes that week.

NU has received votes once each year under Coach Doc Sadler with the first time coming in week two (Nov. 20) of the 2006-07 season after Nebraska defeated then-No. 20 Creighton. Just like this season, NU lost its votes the following week each time.

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

New Lines Drawn

While the 3-point line moved back one foot ? from 19-9 to 20-9 ?  for the first time in men’s college basketball this season, Nebraska has not been effected as much as some teams around the country from beyond the arc.

 Nebraska is hitting 39.6 percent from beyond the arc to rank third in the Big 12 Conference. Last year, the Huskers hit 35.4 percent from 3-point range in their first seven games of the season.

 Senior Paul Velander has been more effective than ever despite stepping back further to shoot. He is hitting 48.6 percent (18-of-37) from beyond the arc to rank fourth in the league, despite ranking second on the squad behind Sek Henry (53.3 pct., 8-of-15; not enough attempts to qualify for Big 12 ranking).

 Nebraska’s 3-point defense this year has been solid  as opponents have hit just 27.1 percent (35-of-129) from beyond the arc. Last season, opponents hit 40.9 percent (61-of-149) in NU’s first seven games.

 Nebraska’s 3-point percentage defense ranks third in the Big 12 Conference and has helped make numerous rebounds available although NU has been outrebounded by 3.7 boards (33.3-29.6) this season.

 Four of Nebraska’s seven opponents have been held to five or fewer 3-pointers in a game, including three with three or fewer.

on the glass

The Huskers will put a small lineup on the floor just about every night this season, giving Coach Doc Sadler reason to be interested in Nebraska’s rebounding, especially on the defensive end. All of NU’s guards will need to be capable rebounders this season to keep the opposing team from getting easy baskets on second chances.

 

NU has been solid at times this season on the glass, starting in the season opener. Despite facing a front line that featured players standing 6-7 and 6-9, the Huskers held a 42-38 rebounding lead against San Jose State. Five Huskers collected at least four rebounds with 6-6 guard Toney McCray leading the way with nine.

 Through seven games, Nebraska trails on the glass by nearly four rebounds per game (-3.7 rpg).

 The Huskers outrebounded each of their first two opponents but then fell on the boards in three straight games by a combined 26 rebounds.

 NU got back on track by outrebounding a much taller Alabama State squad by +7 boards, the Huskers’ largest rebounding margin of the season, before suffering their biggest deficit on the glass, trailing Arizona State by a -12 margin.

 Ryan Anderson leads the team with 4.6 rebounds per game. Anderson, who despite standing just 6-4 has played the 4 spot for the Huskers all three of his seasons with the team, is one of the Big 12’s top returning rebounders from last season. The Seattle, Wash., native ranked 18th in the league in rebounding last season with 5.6 boards per game. Anderson had a game-high eight rebounds on the road against TCU and came back with a game-high six boards against UAPB.

Jones To have Surgery

Coach Doc Sadler announced during his postgame press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that Eshaunte ?Bear’ Jones is done playing this year because of a foot injury.

“He’s finished as far as playing for this year,” Sadler said. “We wanted to try to get through the year because he’s such a good offensive player and he has some size, but he’s not going to be able to play anymore.”

On the year, Jones played in four contests, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. He played 16 minutes in the season opener and then 12 minutes, 13 and 5 over the next three games before sitting out against Creighton and Alabama State. An MRI on Tuesday, Dec. 2, solidified his plans for surgery.

Adding Talent

Coach Doc Sadler said from early on in his tenure that he would continue to add talented and athletic players to the roster, and his first two scholarship classes have done just that. Nebraska signed eight players for 2007-08 and added two more for this season.

Among the eight newcomers last year, four redshirted, including Alex Chapman, Alonzo Edwards, Toney McCray and Brandon Richardson. Of the four who did not redshirt, three ? Steve Harley, Ade Dagunduro and Cookie Miller ? played significant roles as they combined to make 76 starts last year. Harley (9.1 ppg, 20 starts) and Dagunduro (8.9 ppg, 32 starts) ranked second and third on the team in scoring, while Miller led the squad in assists (109, 3.6 apg) and steals (58, 1.9 spg).

This year's newcomers include freshmen Eshaunte Jones and Christopher Niemann, who are expected to help continue building the program. Jones is athletic and  possesses a tremendous basketball IQ, but a foot injury limited his action in the first few games and has forced him to seek surgery. Niemann will not play in 2008-09 as he must sit out under an NCAA ruling.

 Jones, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., was a first-team all-state player as a senior in Indiana. He played last season at Hargrave Military Academy where he averaged 15 points over the first 12 games before a season-ending foot injury. He is still hampered by the injury and has averaged just 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game this year.

 Niemann came to Nebraska from Germany and will be the fourth foreign-born player to compete at NU under Sadler. According to Sadler, Niemann is expected to provide an offensive force in the paint in future seasons.