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Live game stats
Live radio broadcast (free)
Check out the team and coaches on NU Hoops Blog
Live video stream on ESPN360.com
Game Date: Feb. 13, 2010
Tipoff Time: 3:01 p.m. CT
Venue: Frank Erwin Center
Capacity: 16,755
Huskers on TV/Radio/Internet
Television: Big 12 Network, ESPN FullCourt (Play-by-play: Dave Armstrong Color: Reid Gettys)
KLKN in Lincoln, KXVO in Omaha and KIIT in North Platte
Radio: IMG Husker Sports Radio Network (Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka; Color: Matt Davison)
Internet Radio/Stats: Free on Huskers.com
Internet Video: ESPN360.com
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Game 25 Notes
2009-10 Record: 13-11, 1-8 Big 12
Head coach: Doc Sadler
Record at Nebraska: 68-51 (4th year)
Record at Division I: 116-69 (6th year)
Career Record: 236-108 (11th year)
Texas Longhorns
Game 25 Notes
2009-10 Record: 19-5, 5-3 Big 12
Head coach: Rick Barnes
Record at UT: 289-110 (12th year)
Career Record: 491-244 (23rd year)
NU's Possible Starting Lineup 2009-10 stats
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Rbs.
5 Sek Henry Sr. 6-4 200 7.5 3.6
13 Brandon Ubel Fr. 6-10 220 5.0 1.8
21 Jorge Brian Diaz RFr. 6-11 235 9.0 4.3
34 Lance Jeter Jr. 6-3 225 6.8 4.0*
44 Ryan Anderson Sr. 6-4 195 10.7 4.8
*assists per game
UT's Possible Starting Lineup 2009-10 stats
No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Rbs.
00 Avery Bradley Fr. 6-2 180 12.1 2.2*
1 Gary Johnson Jr. 6-6 238 8.3 5.1
4 Dogus Balbay Jr. 6-1 175 4.1 4.2*
5 Damion James Sr. 6-7 225 18.0 10.9
34 Dexter Pittman Sr. 6-10 290 11.1 6.1
*assists per game
Huskers Start Difficult Two-Game Road Swing
Nebraska extends its run against nationally ranked teams to four straight this weekend when it heads South to take on No. 14/14 Texas on Saturday, Feb. 13. The Huskers and Longhorns will tip off at 3:01 p.m. in a game seen in select markets around the country on the Big 12 Network, and nationally on ESPN FullCourt. Dave Armstrong (play by play) and Reid Gettys (analyst) will call the action.
The game, which will be the first of two straight road contests at top-15 opponents (also at No. 9 KSU next Wednesday), will be streamed live on the Internet at ESPN360.com and can be heard live around the state of Nebraska on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network (Kent Pavelka, play by play; Matt Davison, color). The audio and live stats will be available for free the Internet at Huskers.com.
The Huskers are looking to break back into the win column when they face the talented Longhorns after dropping each of their last three contests, all against ranked squads. Nebraska has played well in each of its last two contests, leading No. 1 Kansas on the road with less than 16 minutes to play and holding a three-point lead in the final two minutes Wednesday before seeing Baylor score the final five points of the game.
A close contest could be on tap in Austin again as the Huskers and Longhorns have played tightly contested battles since coach Doc Sadler has taken over the NU program. Each of the past three matchups have been decided by four or fewer points, with NU owning a 1-2 record including a 58-55 win over No. 16 Texas last year.
Nebraska will need its Big 12-leading scoring defense to be at its best for a second straight game after holding Baylor, one of the nation's top scoring teams, to a season-low 55 points on Wednesday. The Huskers have allowed just 61.3 points per game this year and lead league-only games with 66.4 points per contest, including allowing the fewest field goals and field-goal attempts in conference play.
While it will need its starters to pick up the pace compared to Wednesday's results, Nebraska has seen solid production from the bench, which ranks third in the league in scoring at 27.2 ppg. Sophomore Myles Holley, who had just 15 points in Big 12 play entering Wednesday's contest, led the Huskers with 11 points against the Bears. He provided a boost of energy on both ends and gave a pair of highlight reel plays that showcased his athleticism and explosive leaping ability.
Series history vs. Texas
Nebraska and Texas are meeting for only the 21st time in history, the second-shortest series for the Huskers against a current conference opponent. The only series that has seen fewer games has been Nebraska vs. Texas A&M, which stands at 18 games after the teams faced off in the Big 12 Conference opener in the beginning of January.
}} Texas leads the series by an overall mark of 15-5, including an 11-3 mark since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.
}} Texas has won seven of the past eight matchups, including seven straight before last year's 58-55 victory by Nebraska in Lincoln.
}} Nebraska's victory over No. 16 Texas was the Huskers' lone win over a ranked squad last season, extending their streak to nine straight seasons with a win over a ranked team. Overall, it was the third win for NU over a ranked Longhorn squad, as the Huskers also won in 1996 (UT ranked No. 23) and 2001 (UT ranked No. 23).
}} The teams have also met once in the postseason as Texas earned a 67-48 victory at home in the 1978 postseason National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Longhorns went on to win the NIT title that season.
}} Texas leads the series 10-0 when playing at home, including a perfect 7-0 record in the Frank Erwin Center. Despite not winning a game there, the Huskers have played well against UT in Austin, as two of the last three contests in the Erwin Center have been decided by four or fewer points.
}} NU had the last shot and a chance to win but hit the rim on a last-second 3-point heave before losing by two, 63-61, against No. 18 Texas in 2004. Two years ago, Nebraska pushed No. 9 Texas to the final seconds before UT held on for a 70-66 win.
Scouting the Texas Longhorns
Texas comes into the weekend matchup with a No. 14 national ranking but having lost five of its last seven contests in league action after opening the season with 17 straight wins to ascend to the No. 1 spot in the rankings for the first time in school history. UT has lost two straight after falling at Oklahoma last weekend, 80-71, and then dropping a Big Monday contest against current No. 1 Kansas at home, 80-68.
The Longhorns started the game against KU on a strong note and held a 14-8 lead before the Jayhawks rolled off a 22-0 run to break the game open. UT fought back in the second half but could not overcome the deficit as it dropped just its second home contest this season. The other loss was an 80-77 setback against the Huskers' opponent earlier this week, Baylor.
Against the Jayhawks, J'Covan Brown came off the bench to score a game-high 28 points on 9-of-19 shooting while Big 12 Player-of-the-Year candidate Damion James posted 24 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. UT shot just 37.3 percent from the field and was outrebounded 45-34 while also committing 17 turnovers.
James leads the Longhorns this season with 18.0 points per game including an impressive 19.6 points per contest in Big 12 play. He has hit 50.2 percent from the floor this season and has gotten to the free throw line a team-high 161 times (made 105, 65.2 percent). In comparison, Nebraska does not have a player with more than 66 free throw attempts this season. James also leads the team with 10.9 rebounds per game (11.6 rpg in league play) and 39 steals, one of three Longhorns with at least 30 steals.
Avery Bradley (12.1 ppg), Dexter Pittman (11.1 ppg) and Brown (10.2 ppg) have averaged double figures this season, although only Bradley (14.0 ppg) has averaged double figures with James in league action. As a team, UT has averaged 78.9 points per game in Big 12 play while allowing 76.7 points per contest. The Longhorns have gotten to the free throw line 234 times against Big 12 teams but have hit only 59.4 percent while league opponents have connected on 70.7 percent.
The Longhorns are coached by Rick Barnes (Lenoir-Rhyne, 1977). He owns a 289-110 record in 12 years at Texas and is 491-244 in his 23rd year as a head coach.
Recent Meetings - Nebraska and Texas
Texas has dominated the series, winning seven of the past eight matchups, and holds a 15-5 series lead overall. Despite the large series advantage, the teams have played tight contests on several occasions, including each of the three seasons with coach Doc Sadler on the sideline. NU is 1-2 in those contests, and the three games have been decided by a total of eight points.
}} Last year in Lincoln, Nebraska made a furious rally from a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat the No. 16/17 Texas Longhorns 58-55. Ade Dagunduro scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against one of the tallest lineups in the Big 12 to spark the Huskers to their third straight conference win and lone win over a ranked opponent on the season.
Trailing 34-22 with 17:21 to play and Texas firing on all cylinders, Nebraska slowly began chipping away at the Longhorn lead. The Huskers reeled off eight straight points in a span of 3:35 to pull within 34-30. Texas pushed its lead back to double digits at 42-32 with an A.J. Abrams 3-pointer with 10:57 to play.
While Texas looked to have taken control of the game at that point, NU refused to give up. Five straight Husker free throws cut the Longhorn lead in half, and after a Damion James 3-pointer, Nebraska connected on four more free throws to make the Longhorn lead just 45-41 with 8:29 left.
Back-to-back baskets gave NU its first lead since the 2:35 mark of the first half. Dagunduro then hit a jumper to put NU up 48-45 and cap an 11-0 Husker run. Texas reclaimed the lead at 50-48 with 2:57 to play on a put-back dunk by Gary Johnson. Sek Henry then hit his only field goal of the game, a long-range 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to put NU up by a point.
The teams traded jumpers and it looked to go down to the wire but Dagunduro gave NU a little breathing room with a huge shot. He hit his only 3-point attempt of the game with 51 seconds left to give NU a four-point advantage. It was only his second 3-pointer in league play.
A.J. Abrams answered with a 3-pointer of his own with 38 seconds to play to pull UT back within one. Dagunduro hit one-of-two free throws to make it 57-55 with 30 seconds left and NU then came up with a key stop before Henry was fouled on the rebound. Henry hit one free throw to make it 58-55, and Justin Mason missed a 3-point attempt as time expired, giving NU its third straight victory.
}} Two years ago in Austin, Nebraska erased a 17-point, second-half deficit and had the game tied with less than 60 seconds to play, but Texas' A.J. Abrams hit a huge 3-pointer and added four free throws in the final 23 seconds as the No. 9 Longhorns held on for a 70-66 victory over the visiting Huskers.
The Frank Erwin Center crowd saw a double-figure UT lead at the intermission quickly disappear as the Huskers came out in the second half as the aggressors and pushed the Longhorns to the brink of just their second home loss of the season. But behind Abrams' clutch shots and D.J. Augustin's strong play, Texas shot 53.8 percent from the floor in the opening frame and set the tone.
Augustin and Damion James each poured in 14 points before the break. Nebraska trailed 38-25 at halftime and fell behind by 16 just seconds into the second period. After a Nebraska free throw, James scored his only basket of the second period as UT took a 17-point lead, 43-26. But Nebraska would not go away, hounding the Longhorns on the defensive end while shots started to fall on offense. Nebraska hit 50.0 percent from the floor in the second half with the primary point of attack coming from beyond the arc where NU hit 6-of-10 3-point attempts in the second frame to climb back into the game.
After trailing by 17 points, Ade Dagunduro and Steve Harley made layups on consecutive possessions sandwiched around a UT turnover before the long ball started to really fall. Ryan Anderson's 3-pointer at the 17:58 mark started the barrage, with Paul Velander and Harley each adding treys over the next three minutes to pull Nebraska within six.
After Abrams hit a jumper to push the Texas lead back to eight, Aleks Maric added a dunk and Velander dropped in his third 3-pointer of the game to get NU back within three. Sek Henry's layup with 9:39 to play finally pulled Nebraska even at 50-50. With the score tied, UT drilled a pair of 3-pointers and eventually pushed the lead back to seven, 61-54, with 4:45 to play. The Huskers then made three straight defensive stops and scored on the other end with Anderson drilling a 3-pointer and Maric adding a pair of baskets to knot the score at 61-61 with 1:39 to play.
Abrams' 3-pointer from the right wing put Texas ahead 64-61 with 41 seconds remaining. Velander missed on his 3-point attempt to tie and the Huskers were forced to foul. After two free throws, Henry again made things interesting with a long 3-pointer from the top of the key, pulling NU back within two with 18 seconds to play. But Texas knocked down its last four attempts at the charity stripe to seal the victory.
Rankings Game
Nebraska has had plenty of chances over the past two weeks but has come up short as it tries to extend a streak of knocking off ranked teams to 10 straight seasons. The Huskers have played three straight games against opponents that were ranked among the national top 25 in the Associated Press poll, and will extend that streak to five straight games with matchups against No. 14 Texas and No. 9 Kansas State.
}} The Huskers have beaten at least one ranked team in each of the past nine seasons since the 2000-01 campaign. Since the start of the streak, Nebraska is 13-43 against ranked teams, including 3-29 against top-15 squads. Nebraska is 8-9 against teams ranked between Nos. 20 and 25 during the streak, and 2-5 against teams from Nos. 16-19.
}} The current stretch of five straight games against ranked teams - vs. No. 10 Kansas State (lost), at No. 1 Kansas (lost), vs. No. 24 Baylor (lost), at No. 14 Texas on Saturday, and next week at (currently) No. 9 Kansas State - will be Nebraska's longest stretch of consecutive games (5) against ranked teams in school history.
}} The Huskers have previously faced four consecutive ranked squads on four separate occasions, but have never faced five straight. Nebraska's best mark in a four-game stretch vs. AP ranked teams was 2-2 in 1991-92. NU also went 1-3 in 1994-95 and 1996-97, and was 0-4 in 1999-2000.
}} Overall, Nebraska is 5-15 against ranked squads under coach Doc Sadler with one victory last season, a 58-55 home win over No. 16 Texas.
}} The Huskers own a 55-208 all-time record against ranked teams, including a 19-110 mark against teams ranked in the top 10 and an 11-63 mark against top-five squads. The Huskers are 19-63 against ranked teams in the Big 12 era, including 2-30 against top-10 teams and 1-19 against top-five squads.
}} Nebraska has won at least two games against ranked teams in two of the past five seasons, and the three wins in 2007-08 against ranked teams were the most for the Huskers since going 4-1 in 1998-99.
}} The Cornhuskers' last win over a top-five team came in 2005, when the Huskers defeated No. 4 Oklahoma State, 74-67, at the Devaney Center. That was NU's first win against a top-five team since the 1994 Big Eight Tournament, when the Huskers knocked off No. 3 Missouri, and the first home win over a top-five team since 1993, when the Huskers beat No. 3 Kansas.
}} Nebraska has played a top-three ranked team 11 times (0-11 record) in the Big 12 era, with all of the matchups coming against Kansas. In the Big 12 era, Nebraska is 0-5 against KU when the Jayhawks are ranked No. 1, 0-3 when ranked No. 2 and 0-3 when ranked No. 3. Two of those 10 games were decided by one field goal (once at home, 2002; once in Lawrence, 2005).
Diaz Ranking Among Top NU Freshman Post Players
Redshirt freshman center Jorge Brian Diaz has become more comfortable with his role in the Nebraska offensive attack over the past month and the results have been positive for the Huskers.
}} Diaz has posted five double-figure scoring games in league action, including three of the past four contests. He is averaging 12.3 points per game over the last four contests while hitting 22-of-46 shots from the field and pulling down 5.0 rebounds per game in that span.
}} With his recent surge, Diaz has improved his season scoring average to 8.9 points per game to rank second on the team. In league action, Diaz has scored a team-high 9.6 points per game.
}} Here is a breakdown of Diaz's season stats compared with those of a few other notable Husker freshman post players. Diaz ranks favorably in several categories against the other top freshman post players in NU history, including the school's all-time scoring leader (Dave Hoppen) and three others who went on to rank among the top 15 scorers all-time at Nebraska (Andre Smith, Aleks Maric and Venson Hamilton):
Name, freshman year GP Min. FG-FGA-Pct. FT-FTA-Pct. Off-Def-Tot-Avg. A TO Blk Stl Pts. Avg.
Dave Hoppen, 1982-83 32 25.9 163-311-.524 119-159-.748 *-*-161-5.0 41 64 19 16 445 13.9
Andre Smith, 1977-78 30 * 105-190-.553 68-111-.613 *-*-144-4.8 27 * 11 10 278 9.3
Jorge Brian Diaz, 2009-10 24 23.8 96-185-.519 22-38-.579 42-58-100-4.2 25 30 33 14 214 8.9
Aleks Maric, 2004-05 27 20.8 79-165-.479 58-71-.781 70-99-168-6.3 13 37 16 13 216 8.0
Venson Hamilton, 1995-96 31 14.6 71-130-.546 54-100-.540 *-*-161-5.0 19 48 39 20 196 6.1
John Turek, 2001-02 26 22.7 61-156-.391 19-50-.380 70-92-162-6.2 17 19 39 14 141 5.4
*complete statistics not available.
Anderson Reaches 1,000-Point Club
Senior guard Ryan Anderson joined Nebraska's 1,000-point club when he posted his first basket of the day against No. 1 Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 6. Anderson joined one of the Huskers' elite fraternities as he became only the 25th Husker ever to cross the 1,000-point barrier
}} Anderson is first Husker to join the 1,000-point club at Nebraska since Aleks Maric did it his junior year in 2006-07. Overall, Anderson is only the sixth Husker to reach the mark while playing in the Big 12 era, including just the fourth to play his whole career after the formation of the conference. The other Huskers to cross the plateau while playing against current Big 12 Conference teams include:
Aleks Maric (No. 5 all-time, 1,630 points, 2005-08)
Tyronn Lue (No. 8, 1,577 points, 1996-98)
Cookie Belcher (No. 9, 1,552 points, 1997-2001)
Venson Hamilton (No. 11, 1,416, 1996-99)
Cary Cochran (No. 23, 1,082, 1999-2002)
}} During his career, Anderson has posted 283 points (10.1 ppg) as a freshman, 278 points (8.4 ppg) as a sophomore, 213 points (7.1 ppg) as a junior and has 236 points (10.3 ppg) so far as a senior.
Versatile Anderson in Elite Company
Even before Ryan Anderson joined the 1,000-point club at No. 1 Kansas on Feb. 6, he was already among an elite list with some of his on-court accomplishments over the past three-plus seasons.
}} With his 12 points at No. 1 Kansas on Feb. 6, Anderson became one the ninth player in the Big 12 era - and second of three this season - to surpass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 3-pointers in a career. He is the first Cornhusker in the Big 12 era to do it and will be just the third Husker ever, joining Eric Piatkowski and Erick Strickland. The other players to play solely in the Big 12 era and reach those three marks are (as of Feb. 12):
• Tony Crocker (Oklahoma, 2007-present): 1,268 points, 505 rebounds, 190 3-pointers
• Ryan Anderson (Nebraska, 2007-present): 1,010 points, 528 rebounds, 163 3-pointers
• Obi Muonelo (Oklahoma State, 2007-present): 1,226 points, 547 rebounds, 213 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
}} Last year Anderson 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 163 3-pointers, 156 steals and 208 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 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 528 rebounds are currently No. 19 on the list.
}} Anderson crossed the 200-assist plateau with three assists at Colorado this season. He now has 208 assists in his career to rank No. 22 on the Husker all-time list.
}} With at least 40 steals in each of his final three seasons, including 43 steals and counting this year, Anderson has climbed among the top 10 in Husker history for career steals. His 156 career steals rank sixth currently and he needs just five more to set a personal season high and reach No. 5 on the list.
Richardson Making a Charge
Last year, guard Brandon Richardson missed the first four games of league play because 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 and has provided the Huskers a spark, especially when coming off the bench.
}} The talented Richardson has been Nebraska's second-leading scoring leader over the last 15 games, including posting a career-best four-game stretch scoring in double figures heading into league play. Overall he has scored double figures eight times in the last 15 games.
}} A 2,000-point scorer in high school, Richardson has led the team with 9.9 points per game in the last 15 contests while hitting 48.2 percent (41-of-85) from the floor.
}} During that 15-game stretch, Richardson has knocked down 17-of-40 3-point attempts (42.5 percent) and 39-of-46 tries (84.8 percent) at the charity stripe. He also has 22 assists while adding 13 steals, all while playing just 23.4 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 on Jan. 13. 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, and was 5-of-5 at the free throw line in 21 minutes off the bench.
}} Richardson added another strong contest as he helped the Huskers to their first Big 12 Conference win of the season when he had 16 points off the bench in a 63-46 victory over Oklahoma. He hit 6-of-11 shots from the field including 2-of-5 from 3-point range and added three rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes of action.
}} While coming off the bench eight times in the past 15 games, Richardson has averaged 10.1 points per game on 50.0 percent (22-of-44) shooting, including 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from 3-point range. He has nailed 27-of-31 (87.1 percent) from the line while coming off the bench in that stretch.
Board Support
Despite struggling on the glass in league play, Nebraska has won the rebounding advantage 11 times this season, including nine times at home. The Huskers are 10-1 in those contests. Senior Ryan Anderson and redshirt freshman Jorge Brian Diaz have led the way for the Huskers this season, averaging 4.7 and 4.2 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 has moved into the top 20 all-time as he now has 528 rebounds.
}} 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.
}} Diaz narrowly missed his first career double-double when he posted 20 points and nine rebounds against No. 1 Kansas in Lawrence on Feb. 6. It was his highest rebounding total since mid-December.
}} 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 eight games, including two of the past four contests. The total is already two more than last year's season total.
}} Nebraska posted a rebounding advantage in two straight games against Colorado and Oklahoma after opening Big 12 play with four straight contests trailing on the glass. NU held a 36-27 advantage on the glass against Oklahoma, when guard Lance Jeter and center Jorge Brian Diaz each led the Huskers with seven rebounds apiece.
Myles Worth of Effort
Sophomore Myles Holley has seen limited minutes off the bench this season but has taken full advantage of every opportunity he has received. The highlight of that effort came on Feb. 10 against No. 24 Baylor when he came off the bench to lead the Huskers with 11 points in the narrow, 55-53, loss.
}} Holley, a 6-4, 190-pounder who basically plays the 4 spot for the Huskers, came in to effectively help break the strong Baylor zone defense, posting two powerful dunks and hitting three short-range jumpers as he finished 5-of-11 from the field for a career-high 11 points. Holley had scored just 15 points in the first six games he played against Big 12 competition this season.
}} Holley also set a career best with 21 minutes played on Wednesday, after playing just 35 minutes in his other six appearances in league action. His previous high was 14 minutes on four occasions in non-conference play. In four of his other six league appearances, he played six or fewer minutes.
}} The Norfolk, Va., native showed his typical aggressive play, finishing with one offensive rebound, a blocked shot and a steal, as well as at least one other deflection and took the team's only charge. He's had at least one offensive rebound in four of his seven games played in Big 12 action despite the limited minutes.
}} During non-conference play, Holley showed his athleticism as he posted a career-best 11 rebounds (the team's third-best individual total this season) and added seven points on 3-of-4 shooting against Southern Utah.
Diaz Stacking Up Nicely
Center Jorge Brian Diaz has been fairly strong in the scoring department for a freshman although he is still looking to become more consistent night in and night out in league play. The 6-11, 235-pounder has averaged 8.9 points per game on the season to rank second on the squad and has been one of the top shot blockers in the league this season.
}} On the year, Diaz has posted 10 double-figure scoring games, including three of the last four league contests, and has had four other games with between seven and nine points. He is the leading Husker freshman with 214 points this season, and is currently on pace to challenge for a spot on the Nebraska freshman scoring list. Tenth place is Jamel White with 8.7 points per game in 2006.
}} In conference play, Diaz has hit 48.2 percent (40-of-83) from the field. He knocked down 12 of his first 17 shots from the field (70.4 percent) over two games before going 6-of-20 from the floor over the next three contests.
}} After struggling for three games, Diaz hit 5-of-9 attempts against Oklahoma including a pair of dunks as the Huskers won their first league game of the year. He then came back to add 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting against No. 10/11 Kansas State and 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting at No. 1 Kansas.
}} Diaz matched his season high with three blocks vs. Iowa State and now has 10 blocks in nine league games to rank 10th (1.1 bpg) in league-only games while ranking eighth (1.4 bpg) in the overall season stats. He is the highest-ranking freshman on each listing.
}} While his scoring numbers continue to climb, Diaz has also been more aggressive on the boards in recent games. His best rebounding effort during league play came with nine boards against No. 1 Kansas in his first-ever trip to Allen Fieldhouse. He also had seven rebounds including two offensive boards while helping the Huskers to their first league win with a 63-46 victory over Oklahoma a week earlier.
Standhardinger Showing Flashes
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 as he had a team-high 13 points and seven rebounds vs. the Aggies.
}} Coming off the bench to provide a lift in energy and effort, Standhardinger has averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in league play. Of his 27 rebounds, 14 have come on the offensive end.
}} Averaging 14.6 minutes per game, Standhardinger has hit just 36.2 percent (17-of-47) from the floor, but he is fourth on the team in scoring as he has gotten to the free throw line in Big 12 play 25 times, hitting 21 charity shots (84.0 percent). He is second on the squad in free throw attempts in league play despite the limited minutes.
}} 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 on Jan. 13. In the rematch, he had eight points with three assists and two steals in 18 minutes in Allen Fieldhouse.
}} Standhardinger posted his most efficient game yet at Colorado, when he had 14 points in 12 minutes off the bench although much of that came in the second half when NU was down by double figures late in the game. Showcasing his slashing European style of play, Standhardinger made nine trips to the free throw line in his limited minutes, converting eight attempts, and hit 3-of-5 shots from the floor. He also added four rebounds, including three offensive boards.
}} 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.
Jeter Does A little of Everything
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 West Virginia. More than half way through Big 12 Conference action, there is no question who that commander is as point guard Lance Jeter has made his presence felt both on and off the court.
}} Jeter leads the team with 94 assists and his 3.9 assists per game are 10th in the Big 12 Conference. He has had at least four assists in 10 of the past 15 games.
}} In conference play, the 6-3, 225-pound native of Beaver Falls, Pa., is sixth entering the weekend with 3.9 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 at home.
}} He also has shown good decision-making as he is fifth in the league this season with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio (94 to 43). Entering the week, Jeter ranked 56th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio and his assist average placed him 145th 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 had 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 seven games. While he has had just 19 assists in the last seven contests (2.5 apg), he has posted 35 rebounds (5.0 rpg), setting a career best three times. He posted a then-best six boards against Iowa State and had a team- and career-high seven boards twice, at Missouri and at home against Oklahoma. He also added six boards against Baylor.
Huskers Hitting at Record Pace
Although Nebraska struggled early in the league slate, the Cornhuskers are still hitting at a record pace from 3-point range.
}} Nebraska has drained 154-of-391 attempts from 3-point range this season, good for 39.4 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 seven games this season, including three times in Big 12 play. In two home games, the Huskers drained 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) against No. 3 Kansas and 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) against No. 10 Kansas State. NU also did it on the road at Allen Fieldhouse, connecting on 10-of-17 3-point attempts (58.8 percent) against the No. 1 Jayhawks on Feb. 6.
}} The strong season mark has come despite hitting less than 30 percent from 3-point range in four of the past seven contests. Nebraska hit a conference-low 19.0 percent (4-of-21) in a two-point loss against No. 24 Baylor. The only game the Huskers shot a lower percentage came in game No. 2 of the season when NU hit just 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from long range at Saint Louis.
}} Redshirt freshman Eshaunte Jones is second in the Big 12 Conference on the season by hitting 44.3 percent (35-of-79) from 3-point range this season. His 35 treys are a team high and tie for sixth in the NU freshman record book. He is also 11th in 3-point percentage in league-only games (36.4 percent, 12-of-33).
}} Along with Jones, Ryan Anderson (32), Brandon Richardson (21), Sek Henry (20), Lance Jeter (16) and Ray Gallegos (12) have each recorded double figures for 3-pointers this season. The Huskers have 154 treys this year and are currently on pace to finish with at least 202 3-pointers, a total which would rank in the top six in school single-season history. They need 22 more 3-pointers to move into the NU single-season top 10.
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 48th nationally in turnovers per game, and is currently averaging just 11.8 turnovers per contest despite giving up at least 16 miscues in three of its last five contests.
}} Nebraska has averaging 11.8 turnovers per game in Big 12 play. The mark is second in league play as the Huskers are one of only three teams averaging less than 12.0 turnovers per game against conference foes.
}} After posting 19 miscues at Kansas on Feb. 6 - its most in league play this year and one off its season high - Nebraska came back in its next game to tie the school record with only three turnovers against Baylor. The Huskers tied the school record after posting one miscue in the first half and two in the second.
}} The Huskers have turned the ball over seven or fewer times in five games, and less than 10 times on eight occasions. Nebraska set this year's season low and tied the school record with just three miscues against No. 24 Baylor. NU had one turnover in the first half and two in the second, marking the third time in school history a Husker squad posted three turnovers in a game, and the second time under coach Doc Sadler.
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 having just three returning scholarship players available from last year's NIT squad.
}} Entering the weekend, the Husker defense leads the league in overall scoring defense by allowing 61.3 points per game. Nebraska entered the week ranked 37th nationally in scoring defense after giving up 76 and 75 points, respectively against top-10 opponents Kansas State and Kansas last week.
}} In conference-only games, the Huskers are allowing 66.4 points per contest to lead the Big 12. Kansas (68.1 ppg) is second in scoring defense in Big 12 games, while Texas A&M (69.9 ppg) is the only other team allowing less than 70 points per game in Big 12 play.
}} 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 46-6 record under Sadler when holding teams to 60 or fewer points, including an impressive 40-3 mark at home, although two of those losses have come in conference play this season.
}} The Huskers have allowed more than 70 points to a conference team just 12 times in 44 games (including the conference championship) since the start of the 2008 Big 12 slate. Six of those contests have been at home and six have been on the road.
}} The Huskers held Oklahoma to 46 points in NU's first league win of the season. The total marked the fifth time in coach Doc Sadler's tenure that NU has held a Big 12 opponent to 50 or fewer points, including twice against Oklahoma.
}} 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.
Block Party
Redshirt freshman Jorge Brian Diaz has made a name for himself on the offensive end with a pair of 20-point contests this season, including a 20-point, nine-rebound effort at Allen Fieldhouse against No. 1 Kansas on Feb. 6. He owns two of the Huskers' four 20-point games this season as he also added 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting against TCU in his third career game. But it is on the defensive end that he is looking like one of the top freshmen in school history.
Diaz, who is the top-ranked freshman in blocks in the league, currently leads NU with 33 blocked shots. His 1.3 blocks per game are 10th in the Big 12 Conference on the season, and his 1.1 bpg in Big 12 play rank eighth.
}} Diaz's 33 blocks in 24 games are 15 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 33 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, his high in league play.
}} As a team, the Huskers own 72 blocked shots this season in 24 games, averaging 3.0 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 six 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 18 times overall this season.
}} Nebraska posted its top bench production when it got 37 points from the non-starters against No. 24 Baylor. The Husker bench players outscored Baylor's bench 37-7, and NU's bench accounted for 69.8 percent of its scoring. The Huskers also had a tremendous effort from the bench at Colorado, when the bench scored 35 points for 58.3 percent of its 60 points scored against the Buffs.
}} The Huskers' production of 37 points against Baylor was one of 15 games when the Huskers had at least 25 points off the bench.
}} On the season, Nebraska has gotten 652 points (of 1,578 on the season) from its bench. That's 41.3 percent of the production that has come from outside the starting lineup.
}} The 27.2 points per game the Huskers have been getting from the bench are the third-most in the Big 12 Conference this season.
}} 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 and 16 points against Oklahoma, while Christian Standhardinger had 14 points in 12 minutes off the bench at Colorado.
}} Nebraska had three players score in double figures off the bench against No. 24 Baylor. Myles Holley led all Nebraska scorers with 11 points while Eshaunte Jones and Brandon Richardson each had 10 points.
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 seven of Nebraska's 11 active scholarship players are 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.
}} Diaz became just the seventh Husker freshman with multiple 20-point contests as he posted 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting in his first-ever trip to Allen Fieldhouse as the Huskers played at No. 1 Kansas on Feb. 6. He added nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks, helping NU to a four-point lead with less than 16 minutes remaining before the Huskers fell by 11.
}} 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.
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 is second in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage on the season as he has connected on 44.3 percent (35-of-79) from beyond the arc this year. His 35 3-pointers are sixth 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. In the four seasons since Sadler's arrival in Lincoln, the Huskers have held opponents to 50 or fewer points 23 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 held seven teams below 50 points. That defensive effort has helped the Huskers allow just 61.3 points per game, an average leads the Big 12 Conference entering the weekend and was 37th nationally entering the week.
}} Dating to the 2007-08 season, Nebraska has held 10 of its last 15 Big 12 Conference opponents in the Devaney Center to 57 or fewer points, including four times under 50 points. Two of those four games holding a Big 12 opponent to less than 50 points came against Oklahoma.
}} Overall, 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). The Huskers have added three to the list this year as Iowa State posted only 56 points, Oklahoma had just 46 points and Baylor was limited to 55 points, more than 20 points under its season average.
}} 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.
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.
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 transferring 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.