Huskers Gear Up for Start of 2009-10

Returning Core is Small but Solid for 2009-10 Huskers
With expectations rising each year since coach Doc Sadler's arrival, the Huskers enter 2009-10 with hefty goals as they search for their third straight postseason appearance.

Sadler has transformed the Huskers into a defensive power, as Nebraska has led the Big 12 Conference in scoring defense each of the past two seasons while ranking among the top 25 scoring defenses nationally each season. Last year, the Huskers were 22nd in the country by allowing just 60.4 points per game, the second-fewest points allowed by a Nebraska squad in 50 years.

Only five letterwinners return from last season, and of those, only two ? seniors Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson ? have seen significant action in their career. Two others ? sophomores Toney McCray and Brandon Richardson ? are expected to step up as their roles increase in their third year in the program, while reserve senior forward Ben Nelson also returns to provide depth and push the Huskers in practice and the weight room.

As a senior, Henry will be looked to provide significant leadership as he is the only player to see action in every contest over the last three years since Sadler took over at Nebraska. Henry has played in 95 contests, helping Nebraska to 55 wins over the past three years including a pair of postseason appearances. Henry, who has a chance to move onto the Nebraska career top-10 chart for games played this season, has started 66 contests in his career, both at the point and shooting guard. His continued development at the point will be a benefit for the Huskers, who will be breaking in a new starting point guard this season.

Anderson also returns to Sadler's lineup in 2009-10 with plenty of playing experience. One of the top 3-point shooters in Nebraska history, Anderson hopes to find the shooting touch from his freshman season when he averaged more than 10 points per game while hitting 48 3-pointers. Last year, he struggled early in the season but flashed that impressive long-range form over the final month of the season. In the last eight games of the year, Anderson hit 51 percent (26-of-51) from the field including 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from behind the 3-point line.

Entering his final season, Anderson already ranks eighth all-time at Nebraska in 3-pointers (131), ninth in 3-point percentage (.381) and 15th in steals (113). This season he will have a chance to become only the second player in Nebraska history to collect 150 3-pointers, assists and steals in a career. The only Husker to ever total 150 in each of the marks was Erick Strickland, who went on to an 11-year career in the NBA. Anderson also needs 226 points to join the 1,000-point club at Nebraska, while his 420 career rebounds puts him in position to finish his career among the top 20 rebounders of all time at Nebraska.

McCray will likely be looked on to play a vital role for Nebraska in 2009-10, a year after showing glimpses of the talent Sadler has always believed he possessed. McCray showed promise by hitting 45 percent from the floor and led the team in blocked shots while ranking seventh on the NU freshman chart. He also just missed the NU frosh top 10 for steals as his 24 steals placed him 11th, one spot behind current teammates Anderson and Richardson.

McCray was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice last year, including following a career-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting with four rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a road win against Baylor in the regular-season finale. McCray's strong play, which propelled NU to the 66-62 road win, helped Nebraska record a .500 record in league play for the first time in a decade. The Huskers finished eighth in the league standings at 8-8, but were just one game out of a tie for fourth place.

Richardson also returns after posting a strong first season despite a shoulder injury that sidelined him for four games early in the league slate. He still overcame the setback to rank in the NU freshman top 10 for steals (10th with 25) and was one of the team's top free throw shooters, hitting 81 percent in limited chances. Richardson is considered one of the team's top 3-point shooters and will look to expand his role on the perimeter this winter.

Nelson joined the Huskers three years ago as a walk-on and has been a solid reserve. His presence in practice working hard in the paint and his efforts in the weight room have not gone unnoticed, as he has pushed his teammates to continue to improve every day.

Youth Will Be Served
While Nebraska returns a small veteran core that will play an important role in the outcome of the Huskers' 2009-10 campaign, especially in the leadership department, the five returnees will have 14 newcomers (including walk-ons) joining the mix as Nebraska aims for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998.

The big list is somewhat deceiving as six of those 14 'newcomers' practiced with the Cornhuskers for at least the spring semester last year, giving them an early look into what they will face in the Big 12 Conference in 2010. 'Newcomers' who could be significant countributors this year include center Brian Diaz, who redshirted after arriving for the second semester, and wing Eshaunte Jones, who showed signs of brilliant play in four games last year before an injury sidelined him for the season.

New to the program this season will be a pair of junior college teammates (Quincy Hankins-Cole and Lance Jeter) who already have a solid chemistry playing together. Sophomore junior college recruit Myles Holley and freshmen Adrien Coleman, Ray Gallegos, Christian Standhardinger and Brandon Ubel will add to the mix of scholarship newcomers.

No fewer than 10 Cornhuskers (scholarship players and walk-ons) on the roster will be wearing a Nebraska jersey for the first time in their career in 2009-10.

Sadler Pushes Huskers to Heights Rarely Seen
No Nebraska coach had pushed his team to at least 17 victories in each of his first three years on the sideline until Doc Sadler arrived in Lincoln for the 2006-07 season. Since then, it's been one record after another eclipsed as the energetic and engaging head coach does his best 'everyman' impression to lift the Huskers out of the Big 12's second tier and into the national spotlight.

In his three years in Lincoln, Sadler has prodded his teams to 55 victories, the most wins by an NU coach in his first three years. Twice in that span ? each of the last two years to be exact ? he has gotten enough out of his team to reach the postseason. But it's been in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) each year, and while he'll say it's an honor to be in that prestigious elder tourney, it's in the NCAA Tournament, year-in and year-out, that he wants his squad.

Husker fans are getting used to Sadler getting more out of his team than even the players think they can handle. It's led to an increase in attendance (more than 10,000 average attendance in conference play the past two years) and has helped in recruiting, as the Husker roster is finally filling in with players capable of competing in the rugged Big 12 Conference.

Coaching Wins at Nebraska (first three seasons only)
No.       Coach, First Three Years            Wins     Record
1.         Doc Sadler, 2007-present            55         55-40
2.         Moe Iba, 1981-83                        53         53-34
3.         Danny Nee, 1987-89                    51         51-46
4.         “Jumbo” Stiehm, 1912-14             46         46-6
5.         Barry Collier, 2001-03                  38         38-50

Huskers Look for Three-Peat of Top Big 12 Defense
In 2009-10, Nebraska will look to continue its dominance on the defensive end under coach Doc Sadler. Each of the past two seasons, the Huskers have led the Big 12 Conference in scoring defense and ranked among the national leaders.

Last year, Nebraska allowed just 60.4 points per game to rank 22nd nationally. A year earlier, it was 60.7 ppg and a No. 18 national rank.

Nebraska also led the league in conference-only defense in 2009, finishing as one of only two teams (also Kansas, 65.4 ppg) that allowed less than 69.0 points per game in Big 12 play. Some other highlights from last year that Nebraska would like to re-enact this season include:

? Dating to 2008, Nebraska has held seven of its last 10 Big 12 Conference opponents in the Devaney Center to 57 or fewer points, including three times under 50 points.

? NU held five teams to 55 or fewer points in Big 12 play last year, including Missouri (51), Kansas State (51), at Colorado (53), Texas (55) and vs. Colorado (41).

? NU has held teams to 55 or fewer points 30 times under coach Doc Sadler in the past three years, including 11 times against league opponents.

Stealing the Spotlight
Speaking of defense, the Huskers have learned well from coach Doc Sadler about when to take a chance on defense. The strong defensive emphasis he has provided has helped Nebraska post large steals totals each of the past two seasons in addition to being one of the top scoring defenses in the nation.

Last season, the Huskers had 265 steals after posting 277 the year before. Both of those team totals rank in the all-time top 10 in Nebraska history (10th and 7th respectively). As a team, the Huskers ranked 27th nationally last season with 8.5 steals per game.

Individually, the Huskers have seen several strong performances. Overall the Huskers had three players ranked in the top 12 in the Big 12 Conference listing for steals. Along with returning guard Ryan Anderson who ranked 14th in the Big 12 steals standings, former Huskers Cookie Miller and Steve Harley ranked eighth and 11th, respectively, in the league at 1.5 and 1.4 steals per game.

Heading into 2009-10, Anderson leads the returning players with 113 career steals. His total ranks 15th on the NU career chart and he has a legitimate shot at finishing his career in the top seven.

Along with Anderson, classmate Sek Henry will look to move into the top 15 this year, and it's not out of the question for him to reach the top 10. Sophomores Brandon Richardson and Toney McCray had strong first seasons on the defensive end last year, finishing with 25 and 24 steals, respectively, to land at No. 10 and 11 on the NU freshman chart. A repeat this year will position them well for a run at the career top 10 before their playing days are over.

Nebraska Career Steals (since 1978)
No.       Player, Years    Steals
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
11.        Jamar Johnson, 1992-94            126
12.        Carl Hayes, 1990-92                  125
13.        Eric Piatkowski, 1991-94           122
14.        Greg Downing, 1980-83             118
15.        Ryan Anderson, 2007-present    113
16.        Cary Cochran, 1999-02              110
17.        Cookie Miller, 2008-09               103
--          Sek Henry, 2007-present            81

Anderson Looks to Regain Form
Senior guard Ryan Anderson is looking to end his career on a high note, much the same way he started his trek in Lincoln. The 6-4 guard has played primarily in the post, typically defending Big 12 Conference players up to six inches and 60 pounds heavier than him. But even after battling the big guys, Anderson's always been seen as a threat as one of the Huskers' best long-distance shooters on offense.

Anderson showed why early in his career, averaging 10.1 points per game as a freshman. He was only the sixth Husker ever to average double figures as a frosh.

Following what appeared to be a sophomore slump, Anderson looked to progress last year but struggled early. He was off the mark through much of the non-conference slate, but over the last month of the Big 12 season, he shined as one of the top 3-point shooters in the league.

Anderson ended last season hitting 18-of-42 (42.9 percent) over the last 12 games of the year from 3-point range, including 48 percent over his last eight games. He connected on 14-of-29 attempts in that stretch.

Anderson is the only Husker ever to post at least 48 treys in each of his first two years at Nebraska and ranks second on the NU freshman list with 48 3-pointers in 2006-07. He then posted 50 treys to rank third on the Huskers' sophomore chart before his career low of 33 3-pointers last year.

Despite struggling last season, Anderson has quietly climbed among the elite 3-point shooters in Nebraska history. Entering his final season in 2009-10, Anderson already ranks eighth in school history with 131 long balls, and is ninth in accuracy after hitting 38.1 percent. With a solid senior season, he could finish his career among the top five shooters all-time at Nebraska.

 

Nebraska Career 3-Point Field Goals Made
No.       Player, Years                           3-pointers
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.         Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.)       131
9.         Paul Velander (2006-09)             128
10.        Joe McCray (2005-06)                117

NU Career 3-Point FG Pct. (min. 90 att.) 
No.       Player, Years                            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.         Chris Cresswell (1990-92)           103       261       .395
7.         Marcus Perry (2006-07)              98         249       .394
8.         Paul Velander (2006-09)             128       329       .389
9.         Ryan Anderson (2007-pres.)       131       344       .381
10.        Ray Richardson (1989-90)          105       278       .378

Big 12 Expected to be Best League in Nation
Listening to the coaches on the Big 12 summer teleconference in June (replay available at Big12sports.com), it sounded unanimous that the Big 12 would be as good as it's ever been in 2009-10. Which quite possibly could make it the best in the nation this year.

The 2009 NBA Draft was impressive from a league standpoint. A total of 61 players from the Big 12 have been selected since the first season in 1996-97, including 18 players in the last three years. In addition, there has been at least one Big 12 player among the top 10 overall selections in nine of the last 13 seasons.

But that will not diminish what the league has returning.

According to the Big 12 Web site, the Big 12 will boast seven of 10 members from the All-Big 12 first- and second-teams back in 2009-10.  Nine of the league’s top 13 scorers return, with nine of 12 squads overall having at least 50 percent of their scoring back from a year ago. Several top newcomers and transfers will also join the conference, including 21 of the top 90 players from the ESPNU/Scouts Inc. recruiting rankings.

That has led to at least two league teams (Kansas and Texas) being among the early favorites to be among the top 5 in the preseason polls, while five to seven other teams are likely to gain votes.

Coach Doc Sadler is not one to mince words about it. "The Big 12 Conference will be the best it's ever been this season. And it's been pretty darn good recently with a national champion from the league in the past two years and a number of teams in the Final Four over the past five or six seasons."