Huskers Open Big 12 Play at Texas A&M

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Live radio broadcast (free)
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Game Date: Jan. 9, 2010
Tipoff Time: 3:01 p.m.
Venue: Reed Arena
Capacity: 12,292

Huskers on TV/Radio/Internet
Television: Big 12 Network and ESPN FullCourt, Play-by-play: Dave Armstrong, Color: Reid Gettys
Radio: IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka, Color: Andy Markowski
Internet Radio/Stats: Free on Huskers.com
Internet Video: ESPN360.com

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Game 16 Notes
2009-10 Record: 12-3
Head coach: Doc Sadler
Record at Nebraska: 67-43 (4th year)
Record at Division I: 115-61 (6th year)
Career Record: 235-100 (11th year)

Texas A&M Aggies
Game 15
2009-10 Record: 11-3
Head coach: Mark Turgeon
Record at TAMU: 60-24 (3rd year)
Career Record: 213-143 (12th year)

Huskers Start Conference play at Texas A&M
Following a 15-game non-conference slate that included five contests away from Lincoln, the Nebraska basketball team hits the road again to start Big 12 Conference action as it takes on Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 9. The Cornhuskers will look to continue their strong play when they tip off against the Aggies at 3:01 p.m. in a game seen around the country on the Big 12 Network and ESPN FullCourt. Dave Armstrong will call the action and Reid Gettys adds color commentary.

Husker fans in the Lincoln area can see the game on KLKN, while the contest will be carried on KXVO in the Omaha area and KIIT around North Platte. A full listing of the national syndication can be found on the NU Hoops Blog page on
Huskers.com. The game will also be heard live on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network and for free around the world on the Internet at Huskers.com with veteran play-by-play man Kent Pavelka calling the action as former Husker Andy Markowski adds color commentary.

Husker fans tuning into the game will see coach Doc Sadler's squad start its trek for a third straight postseason appearance. Each of Sadler's first three seasons has seen an improvement in the Big 12 win column, going from 6-10 in 2006-07, to 7-9 the following year and finally 8-8 last season. That was Nebraska's first .500 finish in conference play in a decade, something this year's squad hopes to improve upon.

That task will already be difficult in the loaded Big 12 Conference this season, as three teams are currently ranked in the top 10 and three others are garnering votes, including Texas A&M (86 votes, 27th place in AP; 12 votes, 39th in coaches). The Huskers will also have to overcome inexperience as they have five redshirt and true freshmen and two sophomores among their 11 active scholarship players entering league play.

NU will have to rely heavily on its only three returnees with Big 12 experience in seniors Ryan Anderson and Sek Henry and sophomore Brandon Richardson. Anderson leads the squad with 11.5 ppg, but Richardson may be the hottest Husker as he has scored in double figures four straight games. In fact, over his last six contests, he's averaging 11.4 ppg on 57.1 percent (16-of-28) shooting, including hitting nine of his last 13 attempts from 3-point range. During that stretch, he has also hit 16-of-19 at the free throw line and has 11 assists against two turnovers.

Scouting the Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M comes into the start of conference play on a two-game win streak after falling at nationally ranked Washington, 73-64, in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series just before Christmas. In that game, the Aggies lost their second-leading scorer and one of the league's top perimeter defenders as Derrick Roland suffered a broken leg to end his season.

The Aggies seemed to adjust quickly to losing Roland and his 10.5 points per game, an average that still ranks second on the squad. A&M blew past Northwestern State, 89-63, and North Dakota, 82-41, since the start of the new year. With the wins, Texas A&M improved to a perfect 8-0 at home in Reed Arena this season. The squad's only losses have come on the road against nationally ranked West Virginia, 73-66; New Mexico, 84-81, which entered the rankings shortly after defeating the Aggies; and at UW.

A&M is averaging 75.5 points per game to rank 10th in the Big 12 Conference entering league play, while allowing 62.9 points per contest, a total that ranks seventh in scoring defense among league schools. The Huskers are 12th in scoring at 70.0 ppg and are first in scoring defense in the league by giving up just 58.2 ppg. A&M  is hitting 45.0 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from 3-point range while knocking down 64.9 pecent at the charity stripe. It holds a slim 37.3 to 36.1 advantage on the glass.

Donald Sloan powers the Aggie offense as he ranks among the top 10 scorers in the league by averaging 17.4 points per game. He has hit 49.7 percent (80-of-161) percent from the field while taking more than 65 more shots than anyone else on the team. Sloan has also hit 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from 3-point range and 75.0 percent (63-of-84) from the free throw line while averaging 3.9 rebounds per game. He is also second on the team with 37 assists (30 turnovers) and third with 11 steals.

While Sloan has done his damage from the starting lineup, B.J. Holmes has been one of the league's top scoring reserves, posting 10.3 points per game off the bench. The team's second-leading active scorer, Holmes has hit just 40.7 percent from the field, but has been lethal beyond the arc where he leads the team with 27 3-pointers on 43.1 percent accuracy. Fellow sophomore Dash Harris has been effective guiding the offense, producing a team-high 46 assists against just 18 turnovers while also playing a key role on defense where he has a team-leading 24 steals.

On the glass, Bryan Davis leads the Aggie effort with 7.4 rebounds per game to go along with his 8.9 points per contest. He was one of three double-figure scorers on Tuesday against North Dakota in the final non-conference game of the season, recording 14 points to go with eight boards. Sloan led the way with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting while Holmes came off the bench to record 15 points on five 3-pointers.

The Aggies are coached by Mark Turgeon (Kansas, 1987), who is in his third year guiding the A&M program. He owns a 60-24 record with Texas A&M and has produced a 213-143 career record in 12 seasons as a head coach. Turgeon is 1-1 against Nebraska while with the Aggies.

Series History vs. Texas A&M
Nebraska and Texas A&M are meeting for just the 18th time in series history, marking the shortest series for the Huskers against current league foes. Of the four Texas teams that joined to make the Big 12 Conference in 1996-97, Nebraska has faced Baylor and Texas 20 times each and has played Texas Tech 24 times heading into this season.

}} For the Huskers, the A&M series is one of six conference series that NU leads in the win column. Nebraska also holds a winning advantage in the all-time series with Iowa State (130-100), Colorado (76-68), Oklahoma State (62-52), Texas Tech (15-9) and Baylor (12-8).

}} A&M has won three of the last four matchups between the squads to pull within 11-6 in the series standings after Nebraska started by winning 10 of the first 13 contests.

}} The road team has won each of the last three contests in the series. Neither team has scored more than 66 points in any of the last four meetings.

The Last Meeting - Nebraska and Texas A&M
The Aggies handed Nebraska one of its most difficult defeats in recent history as A&M came back from an 18-point deficit midway through the second period to win at the buzzer on a Josh Carter 3-pointer. The road win helped propel A&M into the NCAA Tournament while effectively dashing Nebraska's chances of its first trip to the Big Dance since 1998.

}} Nebraska came into last season's matchup with a 6-6 record on Feb. 24 and looking to set it self up for a run at an NCAA bid. NU started strong, hitting 48.5 percent from the field in the first half and running to a 37-24 lead at the intermission before struggling after the break. The Huskers hit just 25 percent from the floor after halftime and watched A&M march back from 18 points down to set up the winning shot by Carter, who had only 11 points but was a perfect 3-of-3 from long range in the 57-55 victory.

}} Ade Dagunduro had 16 points for the Huskers last year and Brandon Richardson and Ryan Anderson came off the bench for nine points each. But only two other Huskers scored more than three points as NU went nearly through a 10-plus minute scoreless stretch in the second half, when it was outscored 33-18.

Fast Starts
In each of coach Doc Sadler's four seasons in Lincoln, Nebraska has jumped out to fast starts during non-conference play. The Huskers have opened with at least 11 wins before picking up their fourth loss of the year each season, with those marks among the best non-conference records in program history.

}} This year's squad set Nebraska's Big 12-era record with 12 non-conference wins, bettering the previous best of 11. It's the third-highest regular-season total in school history.

}} The 12-3 start ties the program's best mark through 15 games since the formation of the Big 12 Conference for the 1996-97 season. The only other time the Huskers have started a year 12-3 since the formation of the Big 12 was in 2005-06, when the Huskers began conference play with a 2-0 record after going 10-3 in non-conference action.

}} In fact, the 12-3 start ties for the eighth best season-opening record overall in 114 years of Nebraska basketball. Since World War II, the 12-3 opening is tied for the fourth-best record at NU.

}} The Huskers' 12th win came on Jan. 5, making it the fastest Nebraska has reached 12 wins (in terms of date) since 1990-91 when the Huskers posted their 12th win on Dec. 30. NU went on to post a school-record 26 wins (eight losses) that season while reaching the first of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

}} Nebraska is now 44-11 against non-conference opponents during the regular season under Sadler.

Opening Up
After winning its Big 12 Conference opener last season, Nebraska hopes to make it two in a row when it takes on Texas A&M in Reed Arena. Overall, the Huskers have seen limited success in league openers as NU is just 3-10 in those contests since the formation of the league.

The Huskers won last year at home, pulling out a hard-fought 56-51 victory over eventual Elite Eight participant Missouri at the Devaney Center. Nebraska also won its first game of the league season in 2004-05 (vs. Kansas State, 2ot) and 2005-06 (vs. No. 12 Oklahoma).

}} With last year's Big 12-opening win, the Huskers have won three of their last five conference openers. Nebraska started the Big 12 era with losses in the league opener in eight straight seasons.

}} Nebraska is opening the conference season on the road for the 10th time in 14 seasons of the Big 12 era, including opening the first eight consecutive seasons of the Big 12 Conference away from home. The Huskers have never started a Big 12 season with a road victory, going 0-9 heading into this weekend. NU is 3-1 in Big 12 openers at home, with the lone loss coming against No. 3 Kansas in 2008.

}} The Huskers' most frequent opponents in Big 12 Conference openers have been Missouri and Kansas, with NU facing Missouri four times and squaring off against Kansas three times. NU is 1-3 vs. the Tigers and 0-3 vs. the Jayhawks. Nebraska has also faced Kansas State (1-1) and Iowa State (0-2) twice each, and Oklahoma (1-0) and Colorado (0-1) one time each.

Nebraska in Big 12 Road Openers
Nebraska is looking to snap a three-game losing streak in Big 12 road openers when it takes on Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, on Saturday. Overall the Huskers are 2-11 in league road openers since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.

}} NU opened league play on the road each of the first eight seasons following the formation of the Big 12 before playing the league opener at home for the first time in 2004-05.

}} NU's last victory in a Big 12 road opener came in 2005-06 when the Huskers earned a 57-42 victory over Kansas State in a defensive slugfest in Manhattan, Kan. That win was the second straight for NU in league road openers as Nebraska also won at Colorado in 2004-05.

}} Nebraska has played at Colorado (1-2), Iowa State (0-3) and Missouri (0-3) three times each in a Big 12 road opener, while also facing Kansas State (1-1) and Kansas (0-2) twice each.

}} This year's opener will mark the first time in the Big 12 era that Nebraska has faced a team from the south in its first road game of the year.

Ready to Stand(Hardinger)
An NCAA ruling mandated that freshman forward Christian Standhardinger sit out the first 15 games of this season because of the club team he played on in his native Germany. It was the same team that produced fellow Husker Christopher Niemann, who had to sit out all of last season because of the NCAA's ruling at the time.

While Niemann is out this season with a second torn ACL in seven months, Standhardinger has completed his mandatory time off and will be eligible to compete for Nebraska for the first time this weekend when NU travels to Texas A&M.

Standhardinger was not allowed to travel with the team, but has been practicing with the Huskers during the non-conference slate. While it is fair to note that Standhardinger is a true freshman who has yet to play a game against a Division I opponent, he proved during exhibition play that fans should be excited about the addition of the 6-8, 210-pounder as he can be a capable piece for the Huskers, especially on offense. Coach Doc Sadler has also always praised Standhardinger's effort in practices, noting that he has a tremendous 'motor' and an intense desire to compete and win no matter the opponent.

}} Standhardinger led Nebraska in the two exhibition games with 17.5 points per contest while shooting 11-of-18 (61.1 percent) from the floor. He nailed 13-of-15 free throw attempts, including 9-of-11 in his first appearance, while adding 7.0 rebounds per game.

}} In Nebraska's final exhibition game, Standhardinger got a spot in the starting lineup where he hit 7-of-11 shots from the field for 18 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

Cool Hand Lance
Coming into the season, there was some question about who would become Nebraska's floor general as, after last season, two-year starting point guard Cookie Miller decided to transfer and go to school back in his native West Virginia. As the non-conference slate has now turned to league play, there is no question who that commander is on the floor as point guard Lance Jeter has made his presence felt throughout the program.

The 6-3, 225-pound native of Beaver Falls, Pa., has been a steady force for the Huskers, taking turns knocking down big shots and learning when to pass the ball to his new teammates. That second talent has been on display at the highest level in the past three weeks as Jeter has posted 29 assists against just seven turnovers in the Huskers' past six games (5-1 record).

}} Jeter leads the team with 60 assists and his 4.0 assists per game is tied for ninth in the Big 12 Conference.  He has had at least four assists in each of the past six games and has had more than one turnover in a game just once in that span.

}} He also has shown good decision-making as he owns a 2.31 assist-to-turnover ratio (60 to 26) after posting a career-high tying six assists against one turnover on Tuesday in the non-conference finale against Southeastern Louisiana. Entering the week, Jeter owned a 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranked 69th nationally and among the top 10 in the Big 12.

Richardson Making a Charge
Last year, guard Brandon Richardson missed the first four games of league play becuase of a shoulder injury suffered in the non-conference finale. After he came back, it took him a little while to settle in and start to gain some confidence back on both ends of the court.

This season, Richardson has still had health problems with a bad back that forced him to miss a game, but he's quietly slid into a comfort zone over the final six games of non-conference play that could provide him - and the Huskers - a spark heading into the meat grinder that will be Big 12 Conference action in 2010.

}} The talented Richardson has posted Nebraska's second-highest scoring average over the last six games, including a career-best four straight games scoring in double figures heading into league play. A 2,000-point scorer in high school, Richardson has averaged 11.4 points per game in that span while hitting an impressive 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the floor.

}} During that six-game stretch, Richardson has knocked down 9-of-13 3-point attempts (69.2 percent) and 16-of-19 tries (84.2 percent) at the charity stripe. He also has 11 assists against just two turnovers in those contests while adding four steals. All of this has come in only 21.6 minutes of action per game.

}} On the season, Richardson has posted a team-leading 2.63 assist-to-turnover ratio. He has 29 assists against 11 turnovers and has had one or no turnovers in 10 games.

Versatile Anderson in Elite Company
Ryan Anderson joined an elite club last year as he became just the seventh Husker to record at least 100 3-pointers, 100 assists and 100 steals in a career. Among that short list are Eric Piatkowski, Tyronn Lue, Erick Strickland, Cookie Belcher, Cary Cochran and Jaron Boone, along with Anderson.

For his career, Anderson now has 147 3-pointers, 142 steals and 187 assists. He needs three treys and eight steals to join Strickland as the only two Huskers ever with at least 150 in each of the three categories.

}} Anderson is also reaching other heights as he is nearing the 1,000-point plateau. He currently has 935 career points, leaving him 65 points from becoming only the 25th Husker ever to cross the 1,000-point barrier, and the first since Aleks Maric did it his junior year in 2006-07.

}} Much closer is the 500-rebound mark, which Anderson will reach with 11 more boards. The 6-4 Anderson will not reach the NU career top 10 (10th place is 679 boards by Rex Ekwall in 1955-57), but he has etched his name into Husker fans' collective memories as he has battled and persevered at the 4 spot each year despite giving up 6-8 inches and 50-80 pounds to his opponents in the post nearly every night of Big 12 play.

}} If Anderson reaches 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 3-pointers, he could become only the eighth player in the Big 12 era to surpass each of those marks in a career. He will be the first Cornhusker in the era to do it and will be just the third Husker ever, joining Piatkowski and Strickland. The other seven players to play solely in the Big 12 era and reach those three marks are:

           

• Terrel Harris (Oklahoma State, 2005-09): 1,319 points, 512 rebounds, 153 3-pointers

           

• Josh Carter (Texas A&M, 2005-09): 1,566 points, 509 rebounds, 299 3-pointers

           

• Brandon Rush (Kansas, 2006-08): 1,477 points, 602 rebounds, 205 3-pointers

           

• Richard Roby (Colorado, 2004-08): 2,001 points, 659 rebounds, 214 3-pointers

           

• Cartier Martin (Kansas State, 2003-07): 1,546 points, 540 rebounds, 178 3-pointers

           

• Rickey Paulding (Missouri, 2000-04): 1,673 points, 526 rebounds, 191 3-pointers

            • Kirk Hinrich (Kansas, 2000-03): 1,753 points, 532 rebounds, 236 3-pointers

 

Entering Big 12 Conference play, Oklahoma State's Obi Muonelo needed nine rebounds to join the group while Oklahoma's Tony Crocker needed 36 boards.

Taking Care of the Ball
Coach Doc Sadler's teams at Nebraska have always been noted for their blue-collar work ethic and their attitude toward having a stalwart defense, but over the past couple years another area has become a trademark of a Sadler-led program: ball security.

Last season, the Cornhuskers ranked 18th nationally and first in the Big 12 Conference in turnovers per game, giving up the ball just 11.5 times per contest. NU was one of only two teams (also Texas) to give up less than 12 turnovers per game in Big 12 Conference play as the Huskers led the league with just 185 turnovers in league action (11.6 tpg).

}} This season, Nebraska is holding on to the ball nearly as well. NU entered the week ranked in the top 50 nationally in turnovers per game, and comes into the Texas A&M matchup with just 11.9 turnovers per contest.

}} The Huskers have turned the ball over seven or fewer times in four games, including two of their last three contests. Nebraska set this year's season low with four turnovers against Southern Utah, one off the Nebraska all-time single-game record of three (set twice, including once by a Sadler-led club in 2009). NU  also had just six turnovers in Tuesday's non-conference finale.

}} Nebraska entered the week 20th nationally and second among Big 12 teams in turnover margin. The Huskers have a +4.7 turnover margin this year.

50 is the New 60
Nebraska has made it a habit of holding teams to 50 points or less since coach Doc Sadler took over in 2006-07. Since his arrival, the Huskers have held opponents to 50 or fewer points 22 times. In the first 10 years of the Big 12 era before Sadler arrived, Nebraska managed the feat on 26 occasions.

The most times NU has held teams to 50 or fewer points in a season under Sadler is nine times in 2007-08.  This season, the Huskers have already held six teams below 50 points. That defensive effort has helped the Huskers allow just 58.2 points per game, an average that ranks first in the Big 12 Conference and is among the national leaders.

}} During Nebraska's three home games between Dec. 10 and Dec. 19, the Huskers held all three teams to 44 or fewer points, including 39 points by Chicago State, 44 by Oregon State and 41 by Jackson State. The 39 points by Chicago State tied for the 10th lowest point total allowed by the Huskers since 1947.

}} The last time a Nebraska squad matched a streak of three straight games holding teams to below 45 points was the 1943 season. In fact, the last time the Cornhuskers even held three straight teams to below 50 points was 1958 as NU won three straight games over Colorado (41 points), No. 4 Kansas (41 points) and No. 1 Kansas State (48) as part of a four-game win streak.

Defense Taking Shape
Coach Doc Sadler's squads have led the Big 12 Conference in scoring defense each of the past two seasons and ranked among the top 25 defenses in the country at the end of those years. After giving up 69 points at Saint Louis and 77 at home against TCU in the second and third games of this season, Sadler put the Cornhuskers back to work on the defensive end as they tried to continue their reputation for defensive dominance.

Sadler's efforts were rewarded as Nebraska held six of its next seven opponents to less than 55 points. The best mark came against Chicago State as the Huskers allowed only 39 points, the 10th fewest points given up by a Nebraska squad since 1947. It was the third time a Sadler-led Nebraska team held an opponent to less than 40 points.

}} Entering conference play, the Husker defense is ranked first in the league by allowing 58.2 points per game. Nebraska entered the week ranked 16th nationally in scoring defense.

}} Earlier in the season, the Huskers had the nation's top-ranked defense as Nebraska entered the Las Vegas Classic on Dec. 22 allowing just 54.1 ppg. The Huskers held the distinction for just one week as they gave up 70 and 88 points, respectively, while splitting with Tulsa and BYU on a neutral court.

}} The magic mark under Sadler seems to be the 60-point plateau. Nebraska now has a sterling 45-4 record under Sadler when holding teams to 60 or fewer points, including an impressive 38-1 mark at home.

Huskers Finding the Mark
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler has said from Day One that he thought this team "could shoot the ball well," and through the first 15 games this season, they've proven their mentor right. The Huskers are hitting a solid 47.3 percent from the field early in the season, including hitting at least 50.0 percent from the field six times so far this year.

Nebraska hit a season-high 55.6 percent against Chicago State and had its best half of the year against Southern Utah when it hit 67.9 percent (19-of-28) after the intermission. At Creighton on Dec. 6, the Huskers hit 50.0 percent (24-of-48) from the floor for its best effort on the road since last season at Texas Tech.

}} Part of the Huskers' offensive effectiveness has come behind solid shooting from beyond the arc, where Nebraska has nailed 98-of-238 from 3-point range (41.2 percent) after draining 12-of-19 from long range against Southeastern Louisiana earlier this week. Nebraska ranked 38th nationally in 3-point percentage entering the week.

}} Nebraska has now hit at least 40 percent from beyond the arc in four of its last five games. The Huskers' 12 3-pointers in the non-conference finale were a season high.

}} Nebraska's strong shooting from outside was also on display as it tied a Devaney Center record and set a team building record by hitting 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from 3-point range against Texas-Pan American on Dec. 2. The Huskers hit seven straight at one point and bettered Nebraska's previous building record of 66.7 percent set three times. 

Block Party
Redshirt freshman Jorge Brian Diaz quickly made a name for himself as he posted one of just three Husker 20-point games this season when he had 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting against TCU in his third career game. But it is on the defensive end that he is quickly - and quietly - looking like one of the top freshmen in school history.

Diaz currently leads NU with 23 blocked shots, and his 1.5 blocks per game are seventh in the Big 12 Conference, where he is the top-ranked freshman. Diaz's 23 blocks in 15 games are five more than NU's individual high last year (18 by Toney McCray in 30 games).

}} Diaz already ranks third in the Nebraska freshman record book with his 23 blocks. The only two rookies to ever record more are Venson Hamilton (1996) and John Turek (2002), who hold the Nebraska freshman record with 39 blocks each in their initial season.

}} As a team, the Huskers own 53 blocked shots this season in 15 games, averaging 3.5 per game. Last year, Nebraska had just 52 blocks in 31 games.

Bench Production
The Cornhuskers have spread the scoring around this season with only one player averaging double figures while seven other active Huskers are averaging at least 5.0 points per game. Much of that production has come from the bench, as Nebraska has a deeper roster than many recent seasons.

}} The Husker bench outscored opponents in each of the first eight games and 13 times overall this season. The top production came as Nebraska held a +28 advantage in bench scoring against Chicago State and NU has had three other games (TCU, +19; UTPA, +20; SUU, +21) with at least 19 more points off the bench than the opponent.

}} On the season, Nebraska has gotten 444 points from its bench. That's 42.3 percent of the production that has come from outside the starting lineup.

}} The most points by a Husker off the bench this year is 22 by Jorge Brian Diaz, who went 9-of-10 against TCU, while Eshaunte Jones added 21 points, including five 3-pointers, in a loss to BYU.

Senior Moments
Coach Doc Sadler has said that he's been trying to find ways to get his team to be more aggressive since the start of practice in September, letting them know that he wants them going after other teams and not sitting back and waiting for opponents to come at them. Senior guards Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson have each had a turn taking the coach's words to heart this season while leading their team to victory.

}} Henry's strong play was highlighted against TCU as he distributed the ball efficiently, posting a career-best 11 assists, becoming the first Husker since Charles Richardson Jr. (15 at Rutgers in 2006) to post more than 10 assists in a game. Overall, Henry's assist total ranks second on the Nebraska single-game chart for the Big 12 era, and ties for the ninth-best total by a Husker in any game since the 1983-84 season.

}} Along with his 11 assists, Henry posted 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots in 30 minutes of action. He missed the school's first regular-season triple-double by three rebounds. The only known triple-double by a Husker came when Brennon Clemmons had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in an exhibition game in 2002 vs. Northwest Sports Tours. In the 15 years before that, the closest a Husker came to a triple-double in a game that counted was Beau Reid's 14-point, 12-rebound, 8-assist performance against Toledo in 1990.

}} Henry came back the next contest against UMKC to produce a game-high 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including drilling both of his 3-point attempts. The treys came less than 30 seconds apart and started a game-changing 21-5 run to end the first half. Henry added five rebounds, four assists and two blocks against the Kanagroos.

}} Anderson had his first moment against Texas-Pan American on Dec. 2, as he helped bust the game open in the middle of the second half. After UTPA pulled within five, 45-40, Anderson guided Nebraska on a 22-2 run to put the game out of reach, scoring 11 points while adding three steals, two rebounds and an assist in less than four minutes. He finished the game with 21 points, the second-highest scoring effort of his career, on 8-of-9 shooting as Nebraska pulled away for an 81-53 win.

}} The Seattle, Wash., native added another veteran contest as he produced 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the Huskers' 50-44 victory over Oregon State. Anderson had seven rebounds in the first eight minutes of the game and collected his final one of the night with less than five seconds remaining. He was fouled after grabbing the board and hit two free throws for the final margin, helping Nebraska defeat its second Pac-10 team of the season.

Anderson leads the squad with 11.5 points per game this season. He averaged 15.5 points per game the past two contests, including 17 points against Maryland Eastern Shore. His five points and two assists in a crucial 13-3 run helped break the game wide open early in the second period.

Anderson has gotten to the free throw line more frequently than any Husker, where he has hit 33-of-43 (76.7 percent). He is also tops on the squad with 29 steals to rank second in the Big 12 Conference at 2.1 steals per game. Henry is fourth on the squad in scoring (7.9 ppg) and is second in assists (40) and third rebounding (3.7 rpg).

Off to the Races
Nebraska has shown the potential to be an efficient force on the offensive end with its revamped roster. One of the prime examples came as the Huskers posted 90 points against TCU. It was the first time NU topped the 90-point plateau since 2006 when the Huskers earned a 93-77 victory over Colorado.

The Husker offense was running in high gear against the Horned Frogs as Nebraska hit 54.0 percent (27-of-50) from the field. The trend has continued as Nebraska has hit at least 50.0 percent from the field in five games at the Devaney Center, and six games overall.

}} The Huskers scored 81 points against Texas-Pan American on Dec. 2 while hitting 53.7 percent from the field, including tying the Devaney Center record by hitting 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from 3-point range. In Nebraska's 74-39 win over Chicago State on Dec. 10, the Huskers hit a season-high 55.6 percent.

}} Against Southern Utah, Nebraska moved NU to 31-3 - including 29-0 at home - under Sadler when connecting on 50.0 percent of its shots from the floor as it nailed 54.1 percent from the field, including 67.9 percent (19-of-28) in the second half.  The Huskers won the contest 94-61, making it the Huskers' highest-scoring game in the Doc Sadler era at Nebraska while also helping NU improve to 17-0 under Sadler when reaching at least 80 points.

}} Nebraska scored at least 70 points in each of its first five home games this season (8-of-10 at home overall). Last year it took nine games at the Devaney Center before the Huskers recorded their fifth 70-point effort. NU also posted a 70-point game away from Lincoln in a 74-70 victory over Tulsa in Las Vegas.

Board Support
Nebraska has won the rebounding advantage nine times this season, including eight times at home. The Huskers are 9-0 in those contests. In five games away from Lincoln, Nebraska was outrebounded by USC, Creighton and BYU and tied with Saint Louis. NU picked up its only rebounding win away from Lincoln when it held a 33-27 advantage over Tulsa in the Las Vegas Classic. 

NU started the season on a strong note as it held a 39-27 rebounding advantage in the season opener against South Carolina Upstate. The total against USCU was the best for the Huskers since last season's opener when NU had 42 rebounds vs. San Jose State and the +12 advantage was also better than all but one game last year (+14 vs. Florida A&M).

Nebraska came back to post 35 boards against both Saint Louis and TCU, giving the Huskers three straight games of at least 35 rebounds for the first time since the final three games of non-conference play in the 2007-08 campaign. Last year, the Huskers did not have consecutive games with at least 35 rebounds.

}} Nebraska posted a season-high 41 rebounds against each Chicago State and Jackson State. Overall, the Huskers have recorded at least 35 rebounds in five games so far, after reaching the mark in only six games all of last year.

}} In the regular-season opener, Jorge Brian Diaz had 11 rebounds to go with nine points in his first career game. He added a second double-figure rebounding game with 12 boards against Chicago State. At the time, Diaz's season high was the most by a Husker since 2007-08 as NU did not have a player with a double-double last season. Ryan Anderson had the team's high for single-game rebounds last year with 10 boards against Missouri on Jan. 10, when he had just eight points.

}} Along with Diaz, Ryan Anderson and Myles Holley have each had a double-figure rebounding game this season. Anderson had a career-best and team-season high 14 rebounds to go with 16 points in a win over Oregon State while Holley had his first double-figure rebounding game with 11 boards and seven points against Southern Utah.

Freshman Highlights
Nebraska has had season-ending injuries to two players - Toney McCray and Christopher Niemann - who could have each earned starting roles this year. Add on to that the fact that eight of Nebraska's 13 scholarships are held by freshmen and sophomores, and it's easy to see why one of the least experienced teams in the Big 12 has had to rely on a number of youngsters stepping into the lineup throughout the early portion of the season.

Two of those players - redshirt freshmen Jorge Brian Diaz and Eshaunte Jones - have shown promise as they put up individual performances that stack up among the best in Husker freshman history.

}} Diaz made his presence felt early and often as the Huskers raced past TCU on Nov. 21 in a 90-77 victory, just one game after he took an elbow to the face and had a pair of front teeth knocked loose and suffered a cut inside his mouth in the opening minute at Saint Louis. The newcomer from Caguas, Puerto Rico, set a team season high with 22 points vs. TCU as Nebraska reached the 90-point plateau for the first time since 2006. He was the first Husker to hit the 20-point mark this season.

}} Against TCU, Diaz connected on 9-of-10 shots from the floor, with only a first-half miss keeping him from the NU record book. The Husker single-game record for most field-goals attempted without a miss is nine set on five occasions, including last year by Ade Dagunduro. Diaz's .900 shooting percentage is the third highest single-game mark by a Big 12 player this season.

}} Diaz became the first freshman since Sek Henry in 2006 to post a 20-point contest for the Huskers. Henry's outburst that season came one day after Ryan Anderson put his name on the list with 29 points, the second-highest total by a Husker freshman ever.

}} Jones followed with the team's third 20-point game of this year as he produced 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting in a loss to BYU in the title game of the HoopTV Las Vegas Classic. He hit 5-of-7 3-point attempts while adding three rebounds and two assists without a turnover.

}} Overall, Diaz and Jones are the 21st and 22nd freshmen to record a 20-point game for the Huskers since freshmen were reinstated by the NCAA for the 1972-73 season. Joe McCray set the record with the most 20-point games by a Husker freshman when he had 10 contests with at least 20 points in 2004-05. Only six Husker freshmen in history have had multiple 20-point contests.

Taking the Shot
With so many new faces on the squad, it was only a matter of time before one of the youngsters was asked to step up and make a game-changing play. At USC on Nov. 29, it was more than just a game-changing play... it was a game-deciding shot.

}} Redshirt freshman Eshaunte Jones, playing in his ninth career game, had made just two field goals in the first half and had only been off the bench for a total of five minutes in the second period before being called upon with less than a minute to play in a tie game. Jones didn't hesitate as the buried the game-winning shot from the corner, a 3-pointer with 11.7 seconds remaining. The shot was reviewed at length by the officials who determined it was indeed a 3-pointer. From there, the Huskers defended the perimeter well and USC only managed to get off an off-balance desperation shot at the buzzer.

Jones finished with seven points, and his 3-pointer gave the Huskers their first road win of the season, and just the second true road win over a non-conference opponent under fourth-year coach Doc Sadler. It was NU's first road victory over a non-conference BCS team since defeating Tennessee, 62-61, in Knoxville in 2004.

}} Jones also led the Huskers in scoring in both games at the HoopTV Las Vegas Classic just before Christmas. He posted 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, all from 3-point range, to lead the Huskers to a victory over Tulsa, and came back a night later to record a career-best 21 points. He hit 6-of-11 shots from the field with five made baskets from 3-point range (seven attempts).

}} Jones enters Big 12 play leading the league in 3-point percentage as he has connected on 50.0 percent (23-of-46) from beyond the arc this year. He needs three 3-pointers to reach the NU freshman top 10 list.

Niemann, McCray Out for Season
After making what looked to be a successful return from a torn ACL suffered in the final week of the regular season last year, 6-10, 265-pound sophomore center Christopher Niemann had a major setback as he tore the same ACL for a second time in the first week of September. After surgery to repair the damage that occurred during a non-basketball conditioning workout, Niemann will be out for all of the 2009-10 campaign.

Niemann is currently making good progress through rehab again, and is on pace to join the team for offseason workouts in late spring. He will have three years remaining on his original eligibility clock to play three seasons with the Huskers.

}} Nebraska coach Doc Sadler announced following Nebraska's game against UMKC on Nov. 24 that sophomore guard Toney McCray would have surgery on his elbow and be out for the remainder of the season. McCray injured the elbow in a pickup game in early September, sustaining a torn ligament. McCray tried to play through the pain as doctors assured him that it would get no worse if he waited until after the season to have surgery. But Sadler said that McCray indicated he had little confidence in his elbow and wasn't able to help the team the way he wanted to and thought it would be better to have surgery now and be ready for the offseason in the spring of 2010.

McCray had successful surgery on Dec. 7 to repair the UCL in his elbow. He started rehab that week and is doing well, as he is on pace to try to join the team in the spring during offseason workouts.

}} Both Niemann and McCray were looked at as possible starters heading into the start of the season. McCray averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds over three games this year, hitting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field. He played 18.3 minutes per game. Niemann has yet to play a game in a Husker uniform.

Nebraska Receives Rare Waiver
Nebraska petitioned the NCAA with a waiver that was granted in early September, allowing the Huskers to have 14 players on scholarship for the 2009-10 season. The rare allowance given to NU is only for this season and Nebraska will be required to return to 13 scholarships for the 2010-11 season.

While the Huskers were able to receive the waiver, there was one stipulation as it said that one player had to redshirt this season to get the active roster down to 13 scholarship players. Unfortunately with Christopher Niemann's preseason injury, he is out for the year and it was determined that he would count as the one who would count toward that provision. 

}} While NU received the extra scholarship, it enters Big 12 play already down to the 13-scholarship limit, including only 11 active scholarship players. Toney McCray and Christopher Niemann are out for the season with injury, while freshman Adrien Coleman transfered out of the program at the end of the first semester.

}} Nebraska has two seniors leaving it with 11 scholarship players eligible to return next season. In the fall, the Huskers signed 6-11, 315-pound Brazilian center Andre Almeida, who is in his second and final season playing for Arizona Western College this season.

New Faces Line Husker Roster
While the Huskers will rely on three returning scholarship players for leadership - seniors Ryan Anderson and Sek Henry, and sophomore Brandon Richardson - most of the eyes will be focused on the faces of several newcomers who dot the inexperienced Nebraska roster.

}} Among the scholarship newcomers who have seen action for the first time in their Husker careers this season are juniors Lance Jeter and Quincy Hankins-Cole, sophomore Myles Holley, redshirt freshman Jorge Brian Diaz and freshmen Ray Gallegos and Brandon Ubel. Freshman Adrien Coleman also played in the first semester before transfering at the holiday break. 

}} Freshman Christian Standhardinger, who was forced to sit out the first 15 games of the season because of NCAA ruling, is eligible this weekend at Texas A&M. He will become the eighth scholarship Husker to play his first game for Nebraska this season.

}} Including walk-ons Matt Karn and Mike Fox, more than 60 percent (9 of 14 active players; 64.2 percent) of the Huskers who have recorded time during the regular season are playing for the first time in a Nebraska uniform this year. Another Husker - Eshaunte Jones - played only four games last year before an injury forced him to redshirt.

2009-10 Scholarship Breakdown
Seniors: 2 (returnees Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson)
Juniors: 2 (transfers Lance Jeter and Quincy Hankins-Cole)
Sophomores: 4 (returnees Toney McCray, Brandon Richardson and Christopher Niemann*; newcomer Myles Holley)
Redshirt Freshmen: 2 (Eshaunte Jones and Jorge Brian Diaz)
True Freshmen: 3 (Brandon Ubel, Ray Gallegos, Christian Standhardinger)
*sat out last season per NCAA ruling on amateur status; has not played at Nebraska

Youth Movement
While Nebraska entered the season knowing it will have a number of young players in the lineup on any given night, it did not realize it would have two of the youngest players in their respective classes.

}} Freshman Brandon Ubel is the third-youngest player overall in the Big 12 Conference this season. Born on Aug. 29, 1991, only Jaye Crockett of Texas Tech (Oct. 16, 1991) and Tyler Stone of Missouri (Sept. 8, 1991) are younger than Ubel.

}} While Ubel is one of the youngest in the league, another Husker is the youngest for his class. Junior college transfer Quincy Hankins-Cole, who graduated high school when he was 16 and played the past two years at Polk (Fla.) CC, will not turn 20 years old until Feb. 18, 2010. The next youngest junior in the Big 12 is Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, who turned 20 on Nov. 10. In fact, Hankins-Cole is three months younger than redshirt-freshman Jorge Brian Diaz, who turned 20 on Nov. 13.

Huskers Look to Build on 8-8 League Mark
Heading into this weekend's Big 12 Conference opener at Texas A&M, the Huskers have one thing in mind despite facing 16 games in arguably the nation's toughest conference: continuing their upward momentum against Big 12 foes.

}} Last year, the Huskers finished with an 8-8 record in Big 12 Conference play, their best mark in a decade and just the third time since the formation of the league that NU has finished at .500 or better. The mark came as the Huskers won each of their last two regular-season games, giving Nebraska its third straight season with an improved league mark. NU had six league wins in 2007 and seven in 2008.

}} Only three teams in the Big 12 have improved their win total in league play each of the past three years. That small group includes Nebraska, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

}} This year, Nebraska will try to do something done only once before in program history as the only other time the Huskers improved their conference win total for four straight years was from 1952 to 1955.