Huskers Face Road Test at Colorado

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Game Date: Jan. 27, 2010
Tipoff Time: 9:07 p.m. CT
Venue: Coors Events Center
Capacity: 11,064

Huskers on TV/Radio/Internet
Television: FS Rocky Mountain, Live in Colorado; tape delay in Nebraska
Radio: IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka, Color: Matt Davison
Internet Radio/Stats: Free on Huskers.com
Internet Video: None

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Game 20 Notes
2009-10 Record: 12-7, 0-4 Big 12
Head coach: Doc Sadler
Record at Nebraska: 67-47 (4th year)
Record at Division I: 115-65 (6th year)
Career Record: 235-104 (11th year)

Colorado Buffaloes
Game 20 Notes
2009-10 Record: 10-9, 1-4 Big 12
Head coach: Jeff Bzdelik
Record at CU: 31-51 (3rd year)
Career Record: 106-98 (7th year)

NU's Possible Starting Lineup                                                       2009-10 stats        
No.          Name                                  Yr.           Ht.           Wt.          Pts.          Rbs.       
3              Brandon Richardson            So.          6-0           190          8.7           2.0          
5              Sek Henry                          Sr.           6-4           200          8.2           3.8          
21            Jorge Brian Diaz                  RFr.         6-11         235          8.5           4.0          
34            Lance Jeter                         Jr.            6-3           225          6.9           4.1*         
44            Ryan Anderson                    Sr.           6-4           195          10.8         5.1          
*assists per game

CU's Possible Starting Lineup                                                          2009-10 stats        
No.          Name                                   Yr.           Ht.           Wt.          Pts.          Rbs.       
1              Nate Tomlinson                     So.          6-3           185          107          4.3*         
5              Marcus Relphorde                 Jr.            6-7           220          10.5         3.5          
10            Alec Burks                            Fr.           6-6           185          16.9         5.1          
11            Cory Higgins                         Jr.            6-5           190          18.6         3.5          
33            Austin Dufault                       So.          6-9           230          6.9           3.4          
*assists per game

Huskers Set to Take on Buffaloes in Road Test
The Nebraska basketball team hits the road for the second straight game and third time in league action as it heads to Boulder, Colo., to take on the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The Huskers and Buffs will tip off at 9:07 p.m. CT (8:07 p.m. MT) at the Coors Events Center.

The game can be heard on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network with Kent Pavelka (play by play) and Matt Davison (color) calling the action. The contest can also be heard around the world for free on the Internet at Huskers.com, and Wednesday's game will also be televised in Colorado by FS Rocky Mountain with Tom Helmer calling the action, Ceal Barry adding color and Alanna Rizzo serving as sideline reporter. The Buffs' telecast will be played on a one-hour tape delay basis within the state of Nebraska and can be seen on FS Midwest (10 p.m. CT start).

Despite scoring more than 53 points only once in the first four league games, the Cornhuskers have been within four points of the lead in the final nine minutes of every Big 12 contest. The inexperienced Huskers - Nebraska had only three players enter the season having played against a Big 12 team - will be aiming to put together their first complete game on Wednesday as they shoot for their fourth straight victory over Colorado and second consecutive win in Boulder. The Huskers snapped a three-game losing streak on the road against CU last season with a hard-fought 55-53 victory at the Coors Events Center.

The Huskers will likely need to see their offensive production pick up to earn their first league win in 2010 as Colorado comes into the contest averaging 77.2 points per game in conference play. The Buffs have hit nearly 49 percent from the floor, including better than 38 percent from long range. While the Buffaloes are fourth in scoring offense in league-only games, they are last in scoring defense by allowing 83.6 points per game as Big 12 teams have connected on better than 49 percent from the field.

That is nearly the opposite of the Huskers, who are again among the conference's defensive leaders (3rd in league-only scoring defense, 68.5 ppg) but rank last in scoring offense in league-only games at 57.8 points per contest. Nebraska has given up just 60.4 points per game on the season to rank 25th nationally in scoring defense. The Huskers are vying for their third straight top-25 national defensive ranking, and second straight defensive scoring title in league action.

Scouting the Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado enters the mid-week matchup a half game in front of the Huskers as it holds a 1-4 mark in Big 12 Conference play. The Buffs have dropped three straight games, including the last two on the road, to fall to 10-9 on the season overall.

Last weekend, Colorado lost a 67-63 contest at Texas A&M. It was CU's third straight league loss and fifth loss in its last seven games, sandwiching home wins against Miami (Ohio), 67-65, and nationally ranked Baylor, 78-71. Against the Aggies, Cory Higgins and Alec Burks again shouldered the load, posting 19 points apiece  while combining to hit 14-of-27 shots from the field and 10-of-11 at the charity stripe. The rest of the squad went a combined 10-of-29 from the floor.

Higgins and Burks have led the way all season for the Buffaloes' rejuvenated offensive attack. Higgins has been among the league leaders all season by averaging 18.6 points per game while hitting 50.9 percent from the field and 83.2 percent at the free throw line. He is also adding 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals while playing 32.9 minutes per game.

A freshman from Grandview, Mo., Burks has been one of the top rookies in the conference, averaging 16.9 points per game while connecting on an impressive 53.2 percent from the floor. He has hit only 9-of-34 (26.5 percent) outside the arc but has drained 99-of-169 (58.6 percent) from two-point range. Trailing only Higgins in free throw attempts (125 to 123), Burks has hit 78.9 percent, helping the Buffs rank among the conference leaders at the charity stripe by hitting at a 76.8-percent clip as a team. CU is also third in the league this season in field-goal percentage, hitting 48.6 percent as a squad.

Along with Higgins and Burks, newcomer Marcus Relphorde has been the team's third double-figure scorer by providing 10.5 points per game. His average has improved to 12.6 ppg in league play, joining Higgins (19.0 ppg), Burks (18.8 ppg) and Dwight Thorne II (11.0 ppg) in double figures vs. the Big 12. Colorado has the fourth-highest scoring offense in the league during Big 12 play (77.2 ppg), but has gotten off to a difficult start on the defensive end where the Buffs rank last by allowing 83.6 ppg in league action as opponents have hit 49 percent from the floor.

Much like the Huskers, the Buffaloes have struggled on the glass this season, allowing teams to hold a 34.6-28.7 rebounding advantage on the year. That margin has increased to -14.2 (39.4 to 25.2) in Big 12 action as teams have had 76 offensive rebounds compared to 36 offensive boards by the Buffaloes.

The Buffs are coached by Jeff Bzdelik (Illinois-Chicago, 1967), who is in his third year on the Colorado bench. He owns a 31-51 record in Boulder, and is 106-98 overall in seven years as a head coach.

Series history vs. Colorado
Nebraska and Colorado will be meeting for the 145th time this season when they square off in Boulder on Wednesday. The Huskers hold a slim 76-68 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1902-03 campaign. While the teams' first meeting was more than 100 years ago, it wasn't until 1947-48 during Big Seven Conference play that the teams started facing each other every season.

}} Nebraska has won 33 of the last 49 meetings overall.

}} The series between the Huskers and Buffaloes is NU's second shortest among former Big Eight teams at 144 games. The only team in the old Big Eight Conference that NU has faced fewer times is Oklahoma State at 114 matchups (NU leads 62-52).

}} Nebraska has swept Colorado 10 times since the 1985 season, including four times in Big 12 play. The last sweep came last season when the Huskers won 55-53 in Boulder and 46-41 in Lincoln. Colorado's season sweep of Nebraska in 2003-04 was its first against the Huskers since 1972-73.

}} While the Huskers own the overall series advantage, Colorado leads in the matchups that have taken place in Boulder. CU owns a 40-25 overall advantage on its home court, although Nebraska has played well in the Coors Events Center where the teams have played to a 15-15 tie.

}} Nebraska's 46-41 victory over Colorado last season marked the fewest combined points ever recorded in a Big 12 contest. It surpassed the previous record of 89 points set on two occasions, both in 2006.

}} The 41 points allowed by NU were the fewest by a league opponent since 1984. It was the fifth time in the past six meetings that the Huskers had held the Buffaloes to 55 or fewer points. Colorado's 41 points marked the fewest Nebraska has allowed against a conference opponent since giving up just 41 in a two-point loss at home during the 1984 Big Eight Tournament.

}} The Huskers' 46 points were the fewest by Nebraska in a victory since 1966, when NU defeated Oklahoma State 45-41 in overtime in Stillwater, Okla.

Last Year's Meetings - Nebraska and Colorado
If recent results are any indication, this year's Nebraska vs. Colorado matchups will likely be defensive struggles as neither team has been able to get a solid offensive foothold against the other in the past few seasons. Last year, the teams set the Big 12 record for fewest combined points in a game with NU's win in Lincoln. The first one was nearly identical as the teams slugged their way to a two-point contest.

}} After leading by as many as seven points in the final minute, the Nebraska Cornhuskers had to hold on down the stretch to pick up their second straight road win with a 55-53 victory at Colorado. In a sloppy game at the Coors Events Center that featured 31 combined turnovers, the Huskers held off the Buffs just long enough to improve 4-4 in Big 12 Conference play and 14-7 on the season.  It marked just the fourth time in the Big 12 era Nebraska has finished the first half of the league slate with a .500 or better record, and the first time since 2006.

The win also marked the second time under coach Doc Sadler that Nebraska has won two straight road games in league play, but only the fifth time for NU in the Big 12 era. The Huskers won at Colorado for the first time since 2005.

Nebraska, which had a season-high 18 turnovers including 10 in the first half, led by seven points with 1:21 remaining in the game but Colorado hit some big shots down the stretch. After Steve Harley connected the second of two free throws to push NU to a 52-45 advantage, CU's Nate Tomlinson hit a big 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four points. The Huskers then started to struggle at the line, hitting just 3-of-8 at the charity stripe from that point forward as CU outscored Nebraska 9-4 in the last minute. Overall, the Huskers hit just 4-of-11 free throws in the final 1:02 and were just 13-of-24 (54.2 percent) at the line in the game.

After hitting 52.6 percent from field in the first half, Nebraska drained just 42.1 percent from the floor in the second period. The Huskers made up for it by holding a 30-22 rebounding advantage, the first time in league play Nebraska led on the glass.

}} In the most recent meeting, Ade Dagunduro scored 18 points and made several key plays down the stretch to lead Nebraska past Colorado, 46-41, in a defensive slugfest at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. In fact, the game was the lowest-scoring contest for two teams (87 combined points) in Big 12 history.

Nebraska shot just 34.8 percent from the field, but the Huskers' defensive effort improved their overall record to 16-8, including a 6-5 record in Big 12 play. Colorado hit only 31.0 percent of its shots while slipping to 9-16 overall and 1-10 in the Big 12. The Huskers may not have shot well, but they did an outstanding job taking care of the ball, finishing with just six turnovers. Nebraska did not commit a turnover in the first half and had just two over the final 13 minutes of the contest. The Huskers forced Colorado into 16 turnovers, which led to 17 NU points. Nebraska also tied a season high with six blocks in the contest.

Dagunduro led the offense by hitting 7-of-12 shots to score in double figures for the fifth time in his last six games. Dagunduro also paced NU with six rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes of action. Ryan Anderson earned the start and scored six points while dishing out a game-high five assists.

Welcome to the League
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler inserted 10 players into the rotation in the Huskers' Big 12 Conference opener at Texas A&M on Jan. 9. In that contest, seven Huskers made their career Big 12 debuts as only three current Huskers - Ryan Anderson, Sek Henry and Brandon Richardson - had ever faced a league squad.

}} The Huskers had five freshmen (three true, two redshirts) play in the Texas A&M contest, half of their total players to get into the game. At one point midway through the game, Nebraska had a lineup on the floor that included four freshmen - Jorge Brian Diaz, Christian Standhardinger, Eshaunte Jones and Ray Gallegos - and a junior college transfer - Lance Jeter - who had combined for zero minutes in Big 12 action before that day.

}} Nebraska has started three freshmen in league play through three games. Redshirt freshman Jorge Brian Diaz has started all three contests while redshirt freshman Eshaunte Jones and freshman Brandon Ubel have each started once.

}} Coach Doc Sadler has seen solid production out of his youngsters early in the league slate. Through four games, Nebraska's freshman class consisting of Jorge Brian Diaz (8.3 ppg), Christian Standhardinger (7.7 ppg), Eshaunte Jones (7.0 ppg), Ray Gallegos (2.7 ppg) and Brandon Ubel (2.0 ppg) have combined for 27.7 points per game.

}} As a team, Nebraska is averaging 57.8 ppg in Big 12 play, meaning the freshmen have produced 36.8 percent of the total points (85 of 231). The freshmen also have 35 of the team's 115 rebounds (30.4 percent) against league squads.

}} In addition to the freshmen, Jeter along with junior Quincy Hankins-Cole and sophomore Myles Holley have also made their career debuts in Big 12 play this season.

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 as well as having the flu and suffering a thigh bruise all during the first week of league play. Despite the roadblocks, he's quietly slid into a comfort zone over the last 10 games that has provided the Huskers a spark at the start of Big 12 Conference action.

}} The talented Richardson has tied as Nebraska's scoring leader over the last 10 games, including posting a career-best four-game stretch scoring in double figures heading into league play. Overall he has scored double figures six times in the last 10 games.

}} A 2,000-point scorer in high school, Richardson has averaged 11.1 points per game in the last 10 games while hitting an impressive 58.8 percent (30-of-51) from the floor.

}} During that 10-game stretch, Richardson has knocked down 14-of-26 3-point attempts (53.8 percent) and 26-of-30 tries (86.7 percent) at the charity stripe. He also has 15 assists against just five turnovers in those contests while adding eight steals. All of this has come in only 22.4 minutes of action per game.

}} Richardson set a career high with 18 points to lead Nebraska in a 12-point loss against No. 3 Kansas. Despite missing the previous two days with the flu which caused him to lose about eight pounds, Richardson hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, in 21 minutes off the bench. He also drained all five free throw attempts.

Diaz Enjoying Solid Start to Big 12 Play
Center Jorge Brian Diaz has been fairly consistent this season in the scoring department for a freshman. The 6-11, 235-pounder has averaged 8.5 points per game on the season, third on the team. Despite going up against veteran big men like Bryan Davis of Texas A&M and preseason All-American Cole Aldrich of Kansas early in the Big 12 slate, Diaz has been able to hold his own.

}} Diaz is tied for third on the team by averaging 8.3 points per game through the first four Big 12 contests, including posting 15 points against No. 3 Kansas with a variety of post moves as well as a number of mid-range jumpers. It was his highest scoring output since posting a career-best 22 points against TCU at the end of November.

}} In conference play, Diaz has hit 48.5 percent (16-of-33) from the field. He knocked down 12 of his first 17 shots from the field (70.4 percent) over two games before going 4-of-16 from the floor the past two contests. He is still among the top 10 in the Big 12-games only standings for field-goal percentage.

}} Despite struggling from the field against Iowa State and Missouri, Diaz had five combined blocked shots, including matching his career high for the fifth time this season with three blocks vs. Iowa State. He now has seven blocks in four league games to tie for ninth (1.7 bpg) in league-only games while ranking seventh (1.6 bpg) in the overall season stats. He is the highest-ranking freshman on each listing.

}} The Caguas, Puerto Rico, native has come on strong the past couple weeks since Christmas, leaving coach Doc Sadler to note that Diaz is "starting to get it not just physically, but mentally too. It's starting to click with him and it shows." That is notable as Diaz has scored double figures in three of the past six games after posting double figures four times in the first 13 games of his career.

}} Since facing potential first-round NBA pick Jerome Jordan of Tulsa in the Las Vegas Classic just before Christmas, Diaz has hit 36-of-66 (54.5 percent) from the floor.

Board Support
Despite struggling on the glass in league play, Nebraska has won the rebounding advantage nine times this season, including eight times at home. The Huskers are 9-0 in those contests. Senior Ryan Anderson and redshirt freshman Jorge Brian Diaz have led the way for the Huskers this season, averaging 5.1 and 4.0 rebounds per game, respectively.

}} Anderson has been a mainstay on the backboards for the Huskers the past four years. While he will not break into the career top 10, the 6-4 Seattle native moved past the 500-rebound plateau on Jan. 16 against Iowa State when he had a team-high eight boards. Anderson became the 24th Husker in history to record at least 500 rebounds, and he will likely finish in the top 20 all-time as he now has 511.

}} Anderson posted a career-best and team season-high 14 rebounds to go with 16 points in a win over Oregon State in December. It was his sixth career double-figure rebounding game and his third career double-double. 

}} In the regular-season opener, 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.

}} Along with Diaz and Anderson, sophomore Myles Holley is the only other Husker with a double-figure rebounding game this year. He had 11 boards and seven points against Southern Utah.

}} As a team, 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, after reaching the mark in only six games all of last year.

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 154 3-pointers, 153 steals and 199 assists. With his five steals against Iowa State on Jan. 16, Anderson joined Strickland as the only two Huskers ever with at least 150 in each of those three categories.

}} Anderson is also reaching other heights as he is nearing the 1,000-point plateau. He currently has 968 career points, leaving him 32 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.

}} Anderson reached the 500-rebound mark when he posted a team-high eight boards against Iowa State on Jan. 16. The 6-4 Anderson will not reach the NU career top 10 (10th place is 679 boards by Rex Ekwall in 1955-57), but to his credit, Anderson has battled and persevered at the 4 spot each year despite giving up 6-8 inches and 50-80 pounds to most Big 12 opponents and still has moved his way into all-time top 25 rebounders at Nebraska. His 511 rebounds are currently No. 21 on the list, and he needs just nine to move into the top 20.

}} If Anderson reaches 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 3-pointers, he would become one of only a handful of players 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 eight players to play solely in the Big 12 era and reach those three marks are (as of Jan. 25):

            • Obi Muonelo (Oklahoma State, 2007-present): 1,175 points, 527 rebounds, 204 3-pointers
            • 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 the mid-week contests, Oklahoma's Tony Crocker needed 12 boards to join the group.

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 home state of W. Va. As the non-conference slate has now turned to league play, there is no question who that commander is 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 few weeks as Jeter has posted 47 assists against just 15 turnovers in the Huskers' past 10 games.

}} Jeter leads the team with 78 assists and his 4.1 assists per game are 10th in the Big 12 Conference. He has had at least four assists in eight of the past 10 games and has had more than one turnover in a game just four times in that span.

}} In conference play, Jeter is fifth entering the week with 4.5 assists per game. He posted a career high in each of his first two career Big 12 games with seven assists at Texas A&M and then eight against No. 3 Kansas.

}} He also has shown good decision-making as he owns a 2.29 assist-to-turnover ratio (78 to 34). Entering the week, Jeter ranks 48th nationally and fifth in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. His 4.1 apg placed him 128th in the nation.

}} Jeter has had at least five assists in eight games this season, including six straight between Dec. 23 and Jan. 13. The six straight games with at least five assists is the longest streak by a Husker in the Big 12 era, surpassing the five straight games Charles Richardson Jr. had at least five assists in 2006-07.

}} While Jeter is not looked at as a primary scoring option, he has shown the ability to get to the basket and provide an offensive spark on occasion. He has posted five double-figure scoring games, including 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting against Iowa State on Jan. 13. Prior to that game, Jeter has scored just 13 points in the previous six games combined while going 4-of-27 from the field.

}} Jeter can also be a force on the glass as he has shown the past two games. While he has had just three assists in the last two contests, he has posted 13 rebounds, setting a career best in each game. He posted a then-best six boards against Iowa State and had a team- and career-high seven boards at Missouri.

Huskers Hitting at Record Pace
Although Nebraska has struggled in the past two games by hitting just 9-of-35 (25.7 percent) beyond the arc, the Cornhuskers are still hitting at a record pace from 3-point range.

}} Nebraska has drained 125-of-316 attempts from 3-point range this season, good for 39.6 percent. That average would be a school record if the season ended today as the current mark stands at 38.9 percent by the 2003-04 squad. That team hit 210-of-540 attempts beyond the arc. 

}} NU has hit at least 50 percent from 3-point range in five games this season, including once in Big 12 play when the Huskers drained 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) against No. 3 Kansas.

}} Redshirt freshman Eshaunte Jones leads the Big 12 Conference by hitting 45.5 percent (30-of-66) from 3-point range this season. His 30 treys are a team high and rank eighth in the NU freshman record book.

}} Along with Jones, Ryan Anderson (23), Brandon Richardson (18), Sek Henry (17), Lance Jeter (11) and Ray Gallegos (11) have each recorded double figures for 3-pointers this season. The Huskers have 125 treys this year and are currently on pace to finish with 211 3-pointers, a total which would rank fourth in school single-season history.

Standhardinger Makes Debut
After sitting out the non-conference slate, freshman forward Christian Standhardinger jumped right into the action as conference play got started on Jan. 9 at Texas A&M. The 6-8, 210-pounder quickly made his presence felt for the Huskers as he had a team-high 13 points and seven rebounds vs. the Aggies.

}} Standhardinger made his career debut just over seven minutes into the A&M game and had five points and three rebounds in the opening period. His 3-pointer in the second half gave Nebraska a 42-40 lead and his free throw less than a minute later gave NU its final lead of the game, 43-42.

}} In his second career game, Standhardinger posted eight points on 2-of-7 shooting with two rebounds (both offensive) in 19 minutes off the bench against No. 3 Kansas, but had a more difficult time against Iowa State, scoring two points on 1-of-7 shooting while adding two rebounds, a steal and an assist.

}} Standhardinger led Nebraska in scoring in each of the two exhibition games, finishing the preseason with 17.5 points per contest while shooting 11-of-18 (61.1 percent) from the floor to raise fan expectations around the state. 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.

}} An NCAA amateurism ruling mandated that the freshman forward had to sit out the first 15 games of the season because the club team he played on in his native Germany included a professional. 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. Standhardinger was not allowed to travel with the team, but practiced with the Huskers during the non-conference season.

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 2009 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 25th nationally in turnovers per game, averaging just 11.6 turnovers per contest.

}} Nebraska has been even better in its first four conference games as the Huskers are averaging just 10.8 turnovers per game in Big 12 play. NU ranks second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.21, 52 assists, 43 turnovers) in Big 12-only games.

}} The Huskers have turned the ball over seven or fewer times in four games, and less than 10 times on six occasions including two of the past three games. 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 the non-conference finale.

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. This year has been much of the same despite the fact that the Huskers have just three returning scholarship players available from last year's NIT squad.

}} Entering the week, the Husker defense is ranked second in the league by allowing 60.4 points per game, as only one team in the Big 12 (Kansas) has allowed less than 60 points per game on the season. Nebraska entered the week ranked 25th 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 games 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 45-5 record under Sadler when holding teams to 60 or fewer points, including an impressive 39-2 mark at home.

}} The Huskers have allowed more than 70 points to a conference team just 10 times in 39 games (including the conference championship) since the start of the 2008 Big 12 slate. Five of those contests have been at home and five have been on the road.

}} Nebraska allowed a season-low 39 points to Chicago State, 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.

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 19 games this season, they've proven their mentor right. The Huskers are hitting a solid 45.6 percent from the field midway through the season, including hitting at least 50.0 percent from the field six times.

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.

}} Despite struggling recently in league play, Nebraska's current percentage of 45.6 would be the fifth-highest by a Husker squad during the Big 12 era.

}} Part of the Huskers' offensive effectiveness has come behind solid shooting from beyond the arc, where Nebraska has nailed 125-of-316 from 3-point range (39.6 percent), including draining a season-high 12 treys (on 19 attempts) against Southeastern Louisiana in the non-conference finale.

}} Nebraska ranked 21st nationally in 3-point percentage entering the week after hitting at least 40 percent from beyond the arc in five of the past nine games. 

}} Nebraska's strong shooting from outside was 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 30 blocked shots, and his 1.6 blocks per game are seventh in the Big 12 Conference on the season, where he is the top-ranked freshman. Diaz's 30 blocks in 19 games are 12 more than NU's individual high last year (18 by Toney McCray) in 31 games.

}} Diaz already ranks third in the Nebraska freshman record book with his 30 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.

}} Diaz has had a career high with three blocked shots in five contests this season including the Huskers' contest against Iowa State at home.

}} As a team, the Huskers own 63 blocked shots this season in 19 games, averaging 3.3 blocks per game. Last year, Nebraska had just 52 blocks in 31 games (1.7 bpg).

Bench Production
The Cornhuskers have spread the scoring around this season with only one player averaging double figures while eight 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 14 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 517 points from its bench. That's 40.4 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. Brandon Richardson also had 18 points off the bench against No. 3 Kansas.

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 (9-of-12 at home overall). Last year, it took nine games at the Devaney Center before the Huskers recorded their fifth 70-point effort.

}} To date, Nebraska has 10 70-point efforts this season after posting 24 70-point games over the past two years (12 each season). Overall, the Huskers have reached the 70-point plateau in five of the last nine contests, including posting 72 points against No. 3 Kansas, which entered the game with the second-rated scoring defense in the Big 12 Conference by allowing just over 60 points per game at the time.

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 in the early portion of the season.

Two of those players - redshirt freshmen Jorge Brian Diaz and Eshaunte Jones - have shown promise as they had performances that stack up among the best in NU 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 Caguas, Puerto Rico, native set a team season high with 22 points vs. TCU as Nebraska reached the 90-point plateau for the first time since 2006.

}} 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 as he produced 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting in a loss to BYU in 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 the USC game 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 leads the Big 12 Conference in 3-point percentage as he has connected on 45.5 percent (30-of-66) from beyond the arc this year. His 30 3-pointers tie for eighth on the NU freshman top 10 list.

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 60.4 points per game, an average that ranks second in the Big 12 Conference this year 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.

}} Dating to the 2007-08 season, Nebraska has held eight of its last 12 Big 12 Conference opponents in the Devaney Center to 57 or fewer points, including three times under 50 points. NU held six teams to 57 or fewer points in Big 12 play last year, including Missouri (51), Kansas State (51), at Colorado (53), Texas (55), Colorado (41) and Texas A&M (57), and have added one to the list this year as Iowa State posted only 56 points on Jan. 13.

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 an NCAA amateurism ruling, became eligible for the league opener at Texas A&M. He is 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.