Huskers Face Fifth Straight Ranked Foe at No. 7 Kansas State

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Nebraska Cornhuskers
Game 26 Notes
2009-10 Record: 13-12, 1-9 Big 12
Head coach: Doc Sadler
Record at Nebraska: 68-52 (4th year)
Record at Division I: 116-70 (6th year)
Career Record: 236-109 (11th year)

Kansas State Wildcats
Game 25 Notes
2009-10 Record: 20-4, 7-3 Big 12
Head coach: Frank Martin
Record at KSU: 63-28 (3rd year)
Career Record: 63-28 (3rd year)

NU's Possible Starting Lineup                             2009-10 stats         
No.          Name                      Yr.           Ht.           Wt.          Pts.          Rbs.       
2              Myles Holley          So.          6-4           190          4.1           2.1          
5              Sek Henry              Sr.           6-4           200          7.1           3.5          
21            Jorge Brian Diaz    RFr.         6-11         235          8.9           4.1          
34            Lance Jeter            Jr.            6-3           225          6.8           4.0*         
44            Ryan Anderson     Sr.           6-4           195          10.2         4.8          
*assists per game

KSU's Possible Starting Lineup                           2009-10 stats         
No.          Name                      Yr.           Ht.           Wt.          Pts.          Rbs.       
00            Jacob Pullen          Jr.            6-0           200          18.7         3.7*         
15            Luis Colon             Sr.           6-10         265          2.7           3.8          
21            Denis Clemente     Sr.           6-1           175          15.4         4.0*         
23            Dominique Sutton Jr.            6-5           210          7.2           5.3          
24            Curtis Kelly             Jr.            6-8           250          11.4         6.4          
*assists per game

NU Ends Five-game Streak vs. Ranked Foes at KSU
The Nebraska basketball team will likely play its last ranked team of the regular season this week when it travels to Manhattan, Kan., to take on No. 7/7 Kansas State on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

The Cornhuskers, who will be facing a ranked opponent for the fifth straight game since last facing then-No. 10 Kansas State on Feb. 2, will tip off with the Wildcats at 6:05 p.m. in a contest that will be seen on FS Midwest in Nebraska and Kansas. The Husker telecast will feature Greg Sharpe (play by play) and Eric Piatkowski (analyst) and will be seen on channel 37 in Lincoln; channel 47 in Omaha; DirecTV channel 657; and Dish Network channel 451. It will also be seen around the country on ESPN FullCourt 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 on the Internet at Huskers.com.

The Huskers will be looking to split the season series for the sixth straight year after the then-No. 10/11 Wildcats cruised to a 76-57 win in Lincoln two weeks ago. That contest marked the first of the Huskers' school-record five straight games against nationally ranked teams.

Wednesday's matchup will be the second straight road game for Nebraska against a top-15 squad. The contest will mark the first time the Huskers have faced top-15 teams in consecutive true road games since 1958 when Nebraska lost at No. 11 Bradley and at No. 11 Michigan State (they were tied in the AP poll that week) in a Midwest road swing just two days apart. The only other time since then that the Cornhuskers have faced consecutive games against top-15 teams away from Lincoln was in 1989 with a road contest at No. 4 Oklahoma followed by a matchup with No. 10 Missouri at the Big Eight Tournament.

Nebraska aims to rebound after its worst loss of the season against the Longhorns, who easily played their most complete game of the year. To get back on the winning track, the Huskers will likely try to get the ball into the paint more often against the Wildcats as center Jorge Brian Diaz had a solid effort by leading the Huskers in the first meeting with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting.

Diaz has posted five double-figure scoring efforts in Big 12 play as a rookie. His output against KSU in the first meeting also included four trips to the free throw line, a personal high against conference opponents.

Series history vs. Kansas State
Nebraska and Kansas State are facing off for the second time this season after the Wildcats ran away with a 76-57 victory over the Huskers at the Devaney Center on Feb. 2. Overall, Kansas State leads the series by a 124-93 mark, including holding a 16-12 advantage in the Big 12 Conference era.

}} Kansas State has won each of the past two contests, including picking up its first win in Lincoln since 2006 earlier this season.

}} KSU is searching for its first season sweep over the Cornhuskers since the 2004 campaign and only the third time in the Big 12 era (also 1998). The teams have split the season series each of the past five seasons.

}} Kansas State has not won three straight contests over Nebraska in more than a decade, since winning the final matchup in 1997 and then sweeping the 1998 meetings.

}} The Wildcats have won 11 of 13 matchups at home in Bramlage Coliseum since the start of the Big 12 era. The Huskers' only wins in the arena came in 2001 (63-61) and 2006 (57-42).

}} The Huskers will be facing a ranked Kansas State squad twice in a season for the second time in three years. NU also faced a KSU squad ranked No. 20 and No. 24 in the 2008 campaign. The Huskers and Wildcats split that season with each team winning at home.

Scouting the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State enters the mid-week matchup with a three-game win streak to improve to 20-4 on the year and 7-3 in league action. The No. 7 Wildcats are 12-2 at home this season with the losses coming in a four-point setback against Oklahoma State, 73-69, and in overtime against rival Kansas, 81-79. In league action, KSU's only other loss came in the league opener at Missouri, 74-68.

The Wildcats enter the week with the 13th-ranked scoring offense in the country, averaging 80.4 points per agme this season while hitting 45.9 percent from the field. While allowing just 68.4 points per game on the season, KSU is 19th nationally in scoring margin at +12.0. In conference action, the Wildcats have averaged 76.1 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting while holding opponents to 69.3 points per game on 41.6 percent, including allowing just 30.7 percent from 3-point range.

KSU is led by the powerful backcourt tandem of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, who have averaged 18.7 and 15.4 points per game, respectively, this season to lead four players in double figures. Jamar Samuels (11.9) and Curtis Kelly (11.4) have also posted more than 10 points per game for the exlposive Wildcats. In Big 12 play, Clemente has taken the front seat, pouring in 17.2 points per game while Pullen is close behind at 16.7 points per contest. They have shot just 38.1 and 34.4 percent, respectively, in conference action while combining for 278 of the team's 583 field-goal attempts vs. Big 12 squads.

On the glass, KSU is 25th nationally in rebound margin at +5.9 overall, including +5.0 in league play. The Wildcats have posted 40.0 rebounds per game in Big 12 action, including 15.7 rebound per contest on the offensive end, and have had 5.5 blocks and 6.9 steals per game in league action.

In their last contest, the Wildcats ran by Colorado, 68-51, at home as they outscored the Buffaloes by 15 in the second period. Pullen had 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting and Clemente was 4-of-14 for 10 points although the rest of the team hit 16-of-27 to help the Wildcats shoot 49 percent as a team. Pullen made it a double-double with 10 assists against two turnovers, although KSU posted 17 miscues as a team. However, they forced 22 Colorado turnovers, compared to eight assists.

The Wildcats are coached by Frank Martin (Florida International, 1993). He owns a 63-28 record in three years as a head coach, and is the only coach in KSU history to record at least 20 wins in each of his first three years at the helm of the Wildcat program.

Recent Meetings - Nebraska and Kansas State
Kansas State and Nebraska have split the contests in each of the first three seasons with coach Doc Sadler on the Husker bench. During that span, only two games - one in Lincoln and one in Manhattan - have been decided by single digits.

}} Earlier this season in Lincoln, Nebraska surged out of the locker room to cut a 14-point halftime deficit to seven in less than two minutes, but the tandem of Denis Clemente and Curtis Kelly combined for 22 second-half points to lead No. 10/11 Kansas State past the Huskers, 76-57, at the Devaney Center.

Redshirt freshman center Jorge Brian Diaz led the Huskers with 13 points, while senior guard Ryan Anderson added 10. The Wildcats, however, had four players with at least 12 points, led by a game-high 23 points from Clemente and 15 from Jamar Samuels, who dominated the paint in the first half.

The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field in the first period to build a 14-point lead, 42-28, but the Huskers came out firing in the second frame as Nebraska cut the deficit to seven in just 1 minute, 45 seconds. After buckets inside from Brandon Ubel and Diaz, the Huskers used solid ball movement to free Lance Jeter in the corner for a trey that made the score 42-35 with 18:10 remaining.

However, the Huskers scored just two points over the next four minutes while Clemente hit three 3-pointers to put K-State on top 53-37 with 14:39 to go. Clemente added his fifth and final trey with 10:26 remaining to give the Wildcats a 19-point lead at 64-45 and put the game out of reach. K-State gained its largest lead of 23 points a minute later on a Curtis Kelly dunk.

}} Last years in Manhattan, Nebraska tried to battle back from an eight-point deficit midway through the second half but could not get over the hump as Kansas State held on for a 77-72 victory.

Neither team gained much traction as the score bounced back and forth all night with nine lead changes and 10 ties until KSU forged ahead for good in the final 10 minutes. Nebraska led 50-49 with Paul Velander's driving layup with 10:58 to play before the Wildcats made their move with a 9-0 run to give the Wildcats the lead for good.

Ade Dagunduro, who had been in foul trouble nearly all night, stopped the run with a traditional three-point play. Velander added another traditional three-point play and Dagunduro and Ryan Anderson added free throws to pull the Huskers within two, 60-58, with 5:43 remaining. The Wildcats responded to push ahead by seven points on Jacob Pullen's 3-pointer with 3:38 left but Nebraska got it back within two, 69-67, with 1:55 to play. That was as close as NU could get as KSU hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal the win.

Anderson led the Huskers with 19 points, connecting on 7-of-9 shots from the floor with five boards. Dagunduro finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Rankings Game
Nebraska has had plenty of chances over the past three weeks to extend a streak of knocking off ranked teams to 10 straight seasons, and gets one more chance on Wednesday at No. 7 Kansas State.

}} 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 (lost), and at No. 7 Kansas State - will be Nebraska's longest stretch of consecutive games (5) against ranked teams in school history.

}} The last time the Huskers faced top-15 squads in consecutive games was the 2004-05 campaign. The last time Nebraska played consecutive true road games vs. top-15 teams was 1958-59.

}} 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 13-44 against ranked teams, including 3-30 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 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 5-16 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 55-209 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 19-64 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.

}} 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).

}} The Cornhuskers' last win over a top-10 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.

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 five contests. He is averaging 11.4 points per game over the last five contests while hitting 26-of-52 shots from the field and pulling down 4.4 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 9.4 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          25         23.5      100-191-.524     22-40-.550         43-59-102-4.1    26         30         33         14            222       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 245 points (10.2 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): 1,284 points, 509 rebounds, 193 3-pointers
            • Ryan Anderson (Nebraska, 2007-present): 1,019 points, 535 rebounds, 163 3-pointers
            • Obi Muonelo (Oklahoma State, 2007-present): 1,243 points, 554 rebounds, 217 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, 157 steals and 209 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 535 rebounds are currently No. 19 on the list.

}} Anderson crossed the 200-assist plateau with three assists at Colorado this season. He now has 209 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 44 steals and counting this year, Anderson has climbed among the top 10 in Husker history for career steals. His 157 career steals rank sixth currently and he needs just two more to set a personal season high and reach No. 5 on the list.

Richardson Providing a Spark
Despite fighting injuries and illness throughout the season, guard Brandon Richardson has started 10 games this season and has shown a solid improvement in his sophomore season. Whether coming off the bench or working in the starting lineup, he has given the Huskers a spark on both ends of the court this year.

}} While coming off the bench nine times in the past 16 games, Richardson has averaged 9.7 points per game on 49.0 percent (25-of-51) shooting, including 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from 3-point range. He has nailed 27-of-31 (87.1 percent) from the line while coming off the bench in that stretch. 

}} The talented Richardson - who was a 2,000-point scorer in high school - has posted double figures eight times in the last 16 games, including a career-best four-game stretch heading into league play.

}} Richardson is third on the team in scoring this season with 8.3 points per game. While his shooting percentage has dipped recently to 43.3 percent from the floor and 32.8 percent from long range, he still ranks third on the team in 3-pointers (21) and fifth in field goals (58) while playing 22.3 minutes per contest.

}} 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.

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 4.8 and 4.1 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 535 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.

}} 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. 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 mainly while coming 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 against Baylor, after playing just 35 minutes in his first six appearances in league action. His previous high was 14 minutes on four occasions in non-conference play. In four of his first 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 eight games played in Big 12 action despite the limited minutes.

}} Holley's play against Baylor and strong work in practice helped him earn his first career start on Saturday at No. 14 Texas. He had just two points on 1-of-5 shooting with a blocked shot and steal in 13 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 five league contests, and has had five other games with between seven and nine points. He is the leading Husker freshman with 222 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 49.4 percent (44-of-89) 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 10 league games to rank 10th (1.0 bpg) in league-only games while ranking seventh (1.3 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 shown flashes that he can competed on the boards. 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 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in league play. Of his 29 rebounds, 15 have come on the offensive end.

}} Averaging 14.3 minutes per game, Standhardinger has hit just 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the floor, but has gotten to the free throw line in Big 12 play 27 times, hitting 22 charity shots (81.5 percent). He is tied for the team lead in free throw attempts in Big 12 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 99 assists and his 4.0 assists per game are 10th in the Big 12 Conference. He has had at least four assists in 11 of the past 16 games.

}} In conference play, the 6-3, 225-pound native of Beaver Falls, Pa., is sixth entering the week 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 fourth in the league this season with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio (99 to 46). Entering the week, Jeter ranked 59th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio and his assist average placed him 143rd in the nation.

}} Jeter has had at least five assists in nine 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 eight games. While he has had just 24 assists in the last eight contests (3.0 apg), he has posted 36 rebounds (4.5 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 Still Hitting at Near-Record Pace
Although Nebraska has struggled shooting from 3-point range off and on in league play, the Cornhuskers are still hitting at a near-record pace from beyond the arc.

}} Despite shooting just 6-of-39 (15.4 percent) from 3-point range the past two games, Nebraska has drained 156-of-409 attempts from 3-point range this season, good for 38.1 percent. That average would rank third in school history if the season ended today as the current mark stands at 38.9 percent by the 2003-04 squad. The second-place percentage is 38.3 percent by the 2000-01 Huskers.

}} The Huskers have hit just 11.1 (season low) and 19.0 percent against Texas and Baylor, respectively, over their last two games. That came after two straight games hitting better than 55 percent from long range, with 58.8 percent at No. 1 Kansas and 55.6 percent vs. No. 10/11 Kansas State.

}} 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.

}} Redshirt freshman Eshaunte Jones leads the Huskers by hitting 43.8 percent (35-of-80) from 3-point range this season. His 35 treys are a team high and tie for sixth in the NU freshman record book. He ranked among the Big 12 leaders in 3-point percentage until falling out of the rankings last weekend without enough attempts.

}} Along with Jones, Ryan Anderson (32), Brandon Richardson (21), Sek Henry (21), Lance Jeter (16) and Ray Gallegos (13) have each recorded double figures for 3-pointers this season. The Huskers have 156 treys this year and need 20 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 40th 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 six contests.

}} Nebraska has averaging 11.8 turnovers per game in Big 12 play. The mark leads the league as the Huskers are the only team averaging less than 12.0 turnovers per game in Big 12 Conference play.

}} 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.

Scoring Defense Still Among League's Best
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 week, the Husker defense still leads the league in overall scoring defense by allowing 62.5 points per game overall, despite giving up 91 points at No. 14 Texas on Saturday. Nebraska entered the week ranked 40th nationally in scoring defense.

}} In conference-only games, the Huskers are allowing 68.9 points per contest to rank second in the Big 12. Kansas (67.2) entered the week leading the league in scoring defense in Big 12 games, while Kansas State (69.3) and Texas A&M (69.4 ppg) are the only other teams 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 13 times in 45 games (including the conference championship) since the start of the 2008 Big 12 slate. Six of those contests have been at home and seven 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 1.0 bpg in Big 12 play rank seventh. He is the top-ranked freshman in both categories

}} 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.

}} Despite his strong start to the season, Diaz has had just three blocked shots in the last six games, including zero in the past two contests.

}} 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 74 blocked shots this season in 25 games, averaging 3.0 blocks per game. Last year, Nebraska had just 52 blocks in 31 games (1.7 bpg).

}} Diaz's 33 blocks in 25 games are 15 more than NU's individual high last year (18 by Toney McCray) in 31 games.

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 673 points (of 1,629 on the season) from its bench. That's 41.3 percent of the production that has come from outside the starting lineup.

}} The 26.9 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 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.

}} Early in the season, Diaz made his presence felt with his first 20-point contest as he helped the Huskers raced past TCU on Nov. 21 in a 90-77 victory. It was one game after Diaz 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.

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 has connected on 43.8 percent (35-of-80) 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 overall. 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 62.5 points per game, an average that led the Big 12 Conference and was 40th 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

Game Date: Feb. 17, 2010
Tipoff Time: 6:05 p.m. CT
Venue: Bramlage Coliseum
Capacity: 12,528