Huskers Set for Road Test with No. 19 Arizona State

Husker Game day

Nebraska Game Notes (PDF): Click Here
Game Day: Sunday, Dec. 7

Tipoff Time: 1:02 p.m. CT (12:02 p.m. MT)

Venue: Wells Fargo Arena (14,141)

TV: FSN (national) (Play-by-play: Paul Sunderland. Color: Sean Farnham.)

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 Clash with No. 19 Sun Devils in Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series

Following an impressive offensive performance on Wednesday to end a four-game home stand, the Nebraska basketball team hits the road for the first of two straight West Coast contests as it takes on No. 19 Arizona State on Sunday, Dec. 7, as part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood series. The Huskers and Sun Devils will tip off at 1:02 p.m. CT (12:02 p.m. MT) at the Wells Fargo Arena.

 

Sunday’s game between Nebraska and Arizona State will be televised to more than 82 million homes around the country as the game can be seen on FSN. Paul Sunderland will handle play-by-play duties while Sean Farnham adds color commentary.

 

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 makes its second road trip of the non-conference season following its most well-rounded victory of the year. The Huskers hit 51.7 percent from the floor while scoring a season-high 80 points in a 29-point victory over Alabama State on Wednesday.

 Sunday’s matchup with Arizona State marks Nebraska’s third straight game against a team that played in the 2008 postseason. NU defeated Creighton, 54-52, last weekend and then toppled Alabama State, 80-51, on Wednesday. Both the Bluejays and Hornets joined Arizona State in the 2008 NIT (ASU defeated Alabama State in the first round and Creighton lost to Florida in the second round).

 

 With the victory over Alabama State, Nebraska improved its record to 6-0 for only the second time in the Big 12 era (also 2001-02). The last time the Huskers opened the season with seven straight wins was the 1992-93 season, during a stretch of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances by the Huskers.

 

 Nebraska’s impressive start to the season has come behind a stifling defense that ranks sixth nationally in scoring (51.5 ppg) and leads the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers have not allowed a team to reach 60 points this season as teams are hitting just 37.3 percent from the floor.

 

 The Huskers’ current stretch marks the first time since World War II (1943-44 season) that NU has held its first six opponents of the season under 60 points each.

 

Scouting The Sun Devils

Arizona State comes into the weekend matchup with a 6-1 record this season with its only loss to the Big 12 Conference’s Baylor Bears, 87-78. The Sun Devils have won their last two games by an average of 25.5 points per contest since the loss, defeating UTEP, 88-58, and Jackson State, 81-60.

In their last contest, the Sun Devils hit 56.0 percent from the field against JSU and led by 16 points at the intermission before running away with their fifth double-digit victory this season. ASU knocked down 10 3-pointers and had 23 assists on 28 baskets while holding a slim 32-29 margin on the boards.

Sophomore James Harden, an All-America candidate, led the way with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Harden hit 4-of-5 from 3-point range and added eight rebounds with four assists and two steals in 25 minutes. Senior forward Jeff Pendergraph added 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four blocked shots while Rihards Kuksiks hit 5-of-9 from 3-point range to finish with 16 points.

Harden leads the squad with 26.3 points per game, nearly 35 percent of the team’s scoring. He ranked third in the nation in scoring average entering the week as he has hit 58.2 percent from the field, including 50.0 percent from long range. Through seven games, Harden has already gotten to the free throw line 66 times (54 made, 81.8 percent). Nebraska as a team has 101 free throw attempts in six games. He also leads the squad with 7.0 rebounds per game and has a team-high 13 steals while ranking second with 28 assists.

The Sun Devils have a luxury with a pair of other double-figure scorers as Pendergraph has chipped in 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while Ty Abbott has produced 10.4 points and 5.6 boards.

Together, Harden, Pendergraph and Abbott have averaged 49.8 points per game this season. The Huskers as a team are allowing only 51.5 points per contest.

Rihards Kuksiks is a fourth capable scorer, averaging 8.9 points per game almost exclusively from long range. Kuksiks has hit a team-best 17 3-pointers while connecting at a 47.2-percent clip from beyond the arc.

Overall, Arizona State has averaged 75.9 points per game on a solid 51.6 percent shooting. The Sun Devils have held opponents to just 59.6 points on 37.3 percent shooting. ASU has averaged 17.1 assists per game.

ASU is led by coach Herb Sendek (Carnegie-Mellon, 1985), who is in his third year on the sideline for the Sun Devils. Sendek owns a 289-194 career record in his 16th year as a head coach. He is now 35-36 in his third season on the bench for the Sun Devils, after 10 years at NC State and three years at Miami (Ohio). He has guided teams to eight 20-win seasons, six NCAA Tournament appearances and seven NIT bids.

 

Possible Arizona State Starting Lineup

Name                   Pos. Ht.   Wt.   Pt.   Rb.

Jeff Pendergraph    F     6-9  240   13.1 6.1

Rihards Kuksiks     F     6-6  205   8.9   2.4

Ty Abbott              G    6-3  215   10.4 5.6

Derek Glasser        G    6-1  190   4.6   2.7

James Harden        G    6-5  218   26.3 7.0

The Series

Nebraska and Arizona State are meeting for just the seventh time in series history. The teams enter this weekend’s game tied with three wins apiece.

The teams first met in the 1968 campaign with ASU winning three of the first four matchups before the Huskers grabbed the last two victories. The Huskers will be looking for their third straight win over the Sun Devils after picking up victories in 2003 and 2007.

NU owns a 36-45 (.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 seven games against teams from the Pac-10.

 Sunday’s matchup will be the first with one of the teams in the national rankings. ASU is No. 19 in both the coaches and AP poll this week.

 The Huskers own an 0-3 record away from Lincoln against the Sun Devils. ASU earned victories in 1968 (83-76), 1974 (83-62) and 2002 (75-63).

 The Huskers will also match up with Oregon State next week, marking 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 No. 16 Oregon in Omaha.

 Nebraska has topped 70 points just once in the series against Arizona State.

 

Nebraska-Arizona State Team Comparison

NU                      Stat                    ASU

66.2______ Points Per Game______ 75.9

51.5___ Points Allowed Per Game___ 59.6

45.5____ Field Goal Percentage____ 51.6

37.3_ Field Goal Percentage Defense_ 37.3

40.2___ 3pt Field Goal Percentage___ 38.2

24.8 3pt Field Goal Percentage Defense 29.3

71.3____ Free Throw Percentage____ 77.1

30.3_____ Rebounds Per Game_____ 32.1

-2.3_______ Rebound Margin______ +2.7

13.7______ Assists Per Game______ 17.1

12.5_____ Turnovers Per Game_____ 13.3

9.8_______ Steals Per Game_______ 6.6

3.2_______ Blocks Per Game_______ 2.1

18.8_______ Fouls Per Game______ 21.6

Quick hits

Here is a quick look at the Huskers through games of Dec. 3:

 Nebraska has the Big 12 Conference’s top scoring defense, allowing just 51.5 points per game through six games.

 The Huskers are hitting 71.3 percent from the free throw stripe this season, an average that ranked third 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 12.8 ppg.

 The Huskers have had a different leading scorer in four of six games with only Steve Harley pacing the Huskers more than once. Along with Harley (14 vs UAPB, 18 vs. Creighton, 16 vs. Alabama State), Toney McCray (17 vs. SJSU), Paul Velander (11 vs. TCU) and Sek Henry (19 vs. SLU) have also led the team in scoring. Harley is the only player to record double figures four times this season.

 Sek Henry has been proficient with the basketball, hitting a team-best 67.7 percent from the field, including connecting on all four of his shots from the field (with three
3-pointers) against Alabama State.

 NU has forced 112 turnovers (18.8 per game) through six contests while allowing 48 assists on 103 made baskets. Nebraska has 82 assists on 140 baskets but has committed 75 turnovers (12.5 per game)

 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 1.2 steals 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 4.8 rebounds per game. For his career, he’s averaging 5.1 boards per game.

 Brandon Richardson has been excellent with his decision-making, posting just two turnovers in his first 106 career minutes. The only other player on the team with at least 100 minutes played and fewer than six turnovers is Paul Velander (1 turnover, 151 minutes).

 Cookie Miller leads the team with 25 assists against nine 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.

Bombs Away

Nebraska hit a solid 35.6 percent (31-of-87) from 3-point range in its first five games, but 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. He is now 0-of-2 from inside the arc this season and 16-of-31 outside it.

Defense Among NCaa’s Best

The NCAA rankings came out for the first time on Monday, Dec. 1. Like most years under Coach Doc Sadler, Nebraska is among the Big 12 and national leaders in several defensive categories.

 Nebraska leads the Big 12 Conference in scoring defense at 51.5 points per game. Through Thursday, Dec. 4, Texas was second in the league, allowing opponents 56.7 points per game. Iowa State (59.8 ppg) is the only other team in the league holding opponents to under 60 points per game so far this season.

 Entering the week, Nebraska ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense. Only Ohio State (40.3 ppg), Washington State (43.8), Stephen F. Austin (48.8), Butler (49.6) and South Florida (51.5) ranked ahead of the Huskers.

 Nebraska entered the week ranked 44th nationally and first in the conference in field-goal percentage defense (37.6). The highest field-goal percentage allowed by NU this season was 46.5 percent by Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Four of NU’s first six opponents were held under 40.0 percent from the field.

 The Huskers have allowed teams to hit just 24.7 percent from 3-point range, an average that ranked seventh nationally this week. NU has held three teams under 20.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc this season.

Familiar faces

Several of the players on the Husker and Sun Devil squads will likely be familiar with each other, and not just from having played head-to-head last year in Lincoln.

Nebraska junior Ryan Anderson and Arizona State sophomore Jamelle McMillan are both from Seattle, Wash., and played at two of the state’s top high school programs, Rainier Beach HS and O’Dea HS, respectively. While competitors during the high school season, they played together on the same team for Friends of Hoop during the summer in AAU basketball tournaments.

Others may recognize familiar faces from their prep and AAU playing days as Arizona State has six players from the state of California while the Huskers have three from the state.

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 six games, the Huskers are allowing just 51.5 points per game and have not allowed an opponent to top 57 points yet this season.

In the Big 12 standings, Nebraska ranks first in scoring defense, ahead of second-place Texas, which enters the weekend allowing 56.7 points per game.

 Nebraska has 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. There 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 12.8 points per game. He has hit 49.2 percent from the floor, and has been one of the most aggressive Huskers getting to the basket, as he leads the team with 16 trips to the free throw line (14 made free throws). Harley is also averaging 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

 Over his last four games, Harley has averaged 16.0 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 and a game-high 16 points vs. Alabama 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 25-of-46 (54.3 percent) in the past four 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 has entered his junior season on a tear while helping the Huskers to a 6-0 record for just the second time in the Big 12 era.

Through six games, Henry is second on the team in scoring with 9.5 points per game. Only one player (Steve Harley, 12.8 ppg) stands ahead of Henry by averaging double figures so far this season. Henry is also one of just four Huskers with more than one double-figure scoring game this season (Henry has reached double figures in three games).

 Henry has averaged 11.0 points over his last four games. His 19 points against Saint Louis were one off his career high and were 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.

 Henry has hit 21-of-31 shots (67.7 percent) from the field, including 8-of-13 (61.5 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 second on the team with 15 free throw attempts.

 Henry is familiar with the Arizona State program, as he originally signed with the Sun Devils out of high school before attending prep school.

 Dagunduro Getting on Track

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

One of the most athletic players in the Big 12 Conference, Dagunduro has brought his scoring average up to 7.5 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.

 Over the past two games, Dagunduro is averaging 10.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. He has hit 12-of-25 shots (45.0 percent) from the field in those contests after starting the season shooting 4-for-15 (26.7 percent) from the floor.

 Dagunduro scored double figures in consecutive games for the first time this season with 14 points vs. Saint Louis and 11 vs. Creighton. 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 over in-state foe Creighton in Lincoln 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 as 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 six games, Nebraska is allowing just 51.5 points per contest as opponents have hit 37.3 percent (103-of-276) from the field, including 24.8 percent (26-of-105) from 3-point range. Nebraska has also forced 112 turnovers and collected 59 steals in six contests.

 The Huskers have allowed 309 points in the first six games of the year, the second time in three years under Doc Sadler that Nebraska has allowed fewer than 340 points in its first six games. The last time NU held its first six opponents to fewer than 309 combined points to open a season was the 1949-50 campaign.

 

NU’s Fewest Points Allowed in First Six Games

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

       Year                             Points (Ppg)

1949-50................................ 286 (47.7)

2008-09................................. 309 (51.5)

1947-48................................ 316 (52.7)

1951-52................................ 317 (52.8)

2004-05................................ 319 (53.1)

1950-51................................ 319 (53.1)

1981-82................................ 324 (54.0)

2007-08................................ 328 (54.7)

2003-04................................ 335 (55.8)

1948-49................................ 335 (55.8)

 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 106 career minutes played, Richardson has just two turnovers.

 Richardson has posted at least three steals in a game twice this year, and is tied for second on the team with nine 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 16 3-pointers in six games, including five games with three treys apiece. He is third on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game.

 He also leads the team with seven charges taken, including three against San Jose State and three vs. 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 112 turnovers through six games, while allowing teams to record just 48 assists on 103 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 six games and at least eight steals in every game this season.

 Eight Huskers have recorded a steal this year, including six 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 100-52 advantage in points off turnovers this season.

 On the opposite end, Nebraska has been solid with the ball, averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game (opponents: 18.7 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 104 treys in his career. Anderson connected on 3-of-4 3-pointers against Alabama State. With strong effort in that game, Anderson moved into 10th place on the Nebraska career list.

 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 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.

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

 Anderson was held without a 3-pointer against UAPB and Saint Louis, just the fifth time in his career Anderson went consecutive games without a trey.

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

10.   Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.)......... 104

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 enters his final year ranked ninth in NU history for 3-point field-goal percentage at 40.0 percent (84-of-210) while coming off the bench in 65-of-66 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 16
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.)  84   210  .400

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

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

9.  Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.) 104  265 .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 25 assists and is second with nine steals with just nine turnovers.

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.

 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 has 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.

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.)........... 80

--     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.

New Lines Drawn

With the 3-point line moving back one foot ? from 19-9 to 20-9 ?  for the first time in men’s college basketball this season, the Huskers’ smaller lineup could benefit from the floor opening up from longer caroms after missed 3-pointers.

 

In the season opener against San Jose State, the teams hit 11-of-37 from beyond the arc, leaving many opportunities for long rebounds. NU took advantage as it held a 42-38 rebounding lead. Five Huskers collected at least four rebounds with 6-6 guard Toney McCray leading the way with nine.

 Nebraska’s 3-point defense has been solid in three years under Coach Doc Sadler and this season is no different. With the line moved back and Nebraska’s tenacious defense extending itself, opponents have missed 79-of-105 shots from beyond the arc. That has left numerous rebounds to be collected and helped Nebraska remain close on the boards.

 Through six games, Ryan Anderson leads the team with 4.8 boards 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.

 The Huskers outrebounded both 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 seven boards, the Huskers’ largest rebounding margin of the season.

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.

Huskers Sign Four for 2009-10

Third-year coach Doc Sadler announced Friday, Nov. 14, that a strong lineup of four talented athletes, including three standing 6-8 or taller, have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Nebraska basketball squad for the 2009-10 season. Among the signees are: 6-10, 220-pound center Vander Joaquim from Luanda, Angola; 6-8, 210-pound forward Christian Standhardinger from Munich, Germany; 6-9, 220-pound forward Brandon Ubel from Overland Park, Kan.; and 6-2, 175-pound point/shooting guard Rayes Gallegos from Jordan, Utah.

 

“I’m excited about this class and what they can bring to Nebraska,” Sadler said. “When we go on the road, something we look for in addition to talent is character, and that has been a continued priority this year. I feel good about the way they will represent Nebraska. On the court, I feel they will help us continue to improve and compete for a Big 12 championship.”

 

 Joaquim averaged 21.1 points and 16.8 rebounds per contest last year with 89 blocks. He was ranked the No. 12 high school center in the country by Scout.com (71st nationally overall) and No. 15 center by Rivals.com (115th nationally overall). Joaquim was tabbed the
No. 2 power forward on the West Coast by Scout.com before moving to West Virginia to attend Mountain State Academy in 2008-09.

 

 Standhardinger was named the MVP of the NBBL in 2008 and in the final of the 2008 U19 German Championship, he scored 37 points and posted 12 rebounds. He also earned top scorer honors at the Europe’s Best Junior Tournament in 2007 and was the MVP of the German Top 4 in 2007. Standhardinger also was a member of the German Junior National Team in 2007 and 2008. This season, Standhardinger has averaged 19.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 assists per game for his club team.

 

 Ubel is a skilled forward with a nice touch from outside who also possesses the ability to score off a number of post moves and mid-range jumpers. Last year as a junior, he helped Blue Valley West to the state tournament and his team won the Class 6A state title during his sophomore season. During the summer AAU circuit, Ubel averaged close to 20 points and eight rebounds per game for the Wedman Pumas.  He owns a 4.1 grade-point average in high school and his sister, Kayla Ubel, is a sophomore on the NU track team.

 Gallegos came on during the summer AAU circuit when he averaged about 25 points per game. Gallegos was rated the No. 53 shooting guard in the country by Scouts.com and was tabbed the No. 7 shooting guard on the West Coast. Gallegos was the team’s third-leading scorer at 10.5 points per game as a junior, helping the team to the state tournament.