Huskers Look for Seventh Straight Win

Broadcast Information
Television: None
Internet Video: HuskersNside (subscription required)
Radio: IMG Husker Sports Radio Network stations
      Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka
      Color: Andy Markowski
Internet Radio/Stats: Free on Huskers.com
Satellite Radio: Ch. 90

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Game: 11
2010-11 Record: 8-2, 0-0 Big 12
Head coach: Doc Sadler
    Record at Nebraska: 78-60 (5th year)
    Record at Division I: 126-78 (7th year)
    Career Record: 247-117 (13th year)

Eastern Washington Eagles
Game: 10
2010-11 Record: 3-6, 0-0 Big Sky
Head coach: Kirk Earlywine
    Record at EWU: 54-67 (5th year)
    Career Record: Same

Huskers Look to Ground Eagles
After spending a week in final exams, the Nebraska basketball team looks to regain its winning ways Saturday night, as the Huskers take on Eastern Washington at the Devaney Center.

Tipoff for the matchup between the Eagles and Huskers is set for 6:06 p.m. and tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased for as little as $5 at Huskers.com or at the Devaney Sports Center beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday's game is also a Valentino's Family Value Pack game, where fans can get four tickets, four slices of Valentino's pizza and four Pepsi products for $40 dollars. To take advantage of the offer, contact the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED before Friday evening. In addition, seating in the Red Zone is available for purchase for just $15 ($2 for UNL students with ID) and can be purchased on Huskers.com or by calling 800-8BIGRED.

The game can be watched on the Internet on HuskersNide (subscription required). It will be the third of six games shown on HuskersNside during the 2010-11 season. To sign up and watch Saturday's game, go to Huskers.com and click on the HuskersNside icon on the right side of the page.

Nebraska's game with Eastern Washington will also be carried across the state on the 32-station IMG Husker Sports Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Andy Markowski on the call, including KFAB 1110 AM in Omaha, KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln and KRVN 880 in Lexington. Free audio will also be available on Huskers.com.

The Huskers (8-2) come off their best effort of the season, a 70-56 win over TCU last Saturday. In that game, the Huskers shot 50 percent from the field, including 10-of-17 from 3-point range, and had three players (Lance Jeter, Toney McCray and Jorge Brian Diaz) finish in double figures, including double-doubles from both Diaz and McCray.

Nebraska has shot the ball for most of the season, entering the weekend third in the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 48.1 percent, but the Huskers' strength has been on the defensive end. Nebraska is second in the Big 12 and 14th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 56.6 points per game.  Nebraska, Kansas and Baylor are the only three teams in the top five of the Big 12 in both field goal percentage and field goal defense entering this weekend's action.

Eastern Washington comes into Saturday's game with a 3-6 record after defeating Seattle University, 95-91, Wednesday night. The Eagles are now at full strength, as point guard Glen Dean returned from a stress fracture in his foot and missed the team's first seven games. The Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2009-10, he is averaging 17.0 points and 4.0 assists per game since his return.

Scouting Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington comes into the game with a 3-6 record following a 95-91 win over Seattle on Wednesday night. Under fifth-year coach Kirk Earlywine, the Eagles returned three starters and six letterwinners from a year ago, but got a boost last week with the return of point guard Glen Dean. The sophomore missed EWU's first seven contests with a foot injury but has scored 34 points and dished out eight assists in the Eagles' last two games. He was the Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2009-10.  Sophomore guard Kevin Winford is second on the team in scoring at 14.0 ppg while shooting 45 percent from 3-point range,  while Jeffrey Forbes is averaging 13.8 ppg, including 42 percent from 3-point range and 92 percent from the foul line (33-for-36). EWU has faced a tough schedule, with two losses against San Jose State (67-60, 70-69), and setbacks at both Washington (98-72) and at Gonzaga (86-57) with Dean only back for the second San Jose State game last Sunday. The Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky preseason poll by both the coaches and media.

Nebraska-Eastern Washington Series
Nebraska is a perfect 4-0 against the Eagles all-time, but the programs have met only once in the last 19 years, a 63-60 Husker victory on Dec. 31, 2002.  Jason Dourisseau came off the bench for a game-high 19 points to pace three Huskers in double figures. Nate Johnson had 12 points while Corey Simms added 10. Nebraska trailed 55-52 with 4:35 left before Johnson scored seven straight points to give the Huskers a four-point lead with 1:01 remaining.

Last Time Out: McCray Leads Huskers Past TCU
Toney McCray had a season-high 15 points off the bench, including four 3-pointers, as Nebraska downed TCU, 70-56, Saturday afternoon at the Devaney Center. McCray posted his first career double-double with 15 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, and a career-high 10 rebounds, as Nebraska improved to 8-2 on the season and extended its win streak to six games, its longest winning streak since the start of the 2008-09 season.

The junior forward came off the bench to hit all four of his 3-point attempts, as the Huskers took control with a 13-0 second-half run, turning a one-point lead into a 59-45 lead with 6:38 remaining. McCray had 12 of his 16 points in the second half, as Nebraska shot 57.1 percent from the floor, including 5-of-8 from long range after halftime.

McCray and Lance Jeter tied for team-high honors with 15 points, while sophomore Jorge Brian Diaz had 13 points and a career-high 12 boards, as Nebraska enjoyed a 38-26 advantage on the glass and held TCU to its second-lowest offensive total of the season.

Jeter keyed an early run for the Huskers, as he connected on back-to-back 3-pointers as Nebraska ran off nine straight points, turning a 9-7 deficit into a 16-9 lead after a 3-point play by Jorge Brian Diaz. The Huskers, who shot 44 percent in the first half, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, eventually made it a 26-15 lead after an Eshaunte Jones 3-pointer with 8:53 left in the half and took a 33-24 halftime lead.

The Huskers' advantage would be short lived, as TCU opened the second half with a 12-0 run, taking a 36-33 lead after a 3-pointer by Garlon Green before Diaz ended the run with a short jumper. The teams would battle back and forth until McCray's 3-pointer triggered the Huskers' decisive run. Jeter and McCray combined for 11 straight points before Drake Beranek's layup pushed the lead to 59-44. TCU (7-4) pulled to within 62-51 after a Sammy Yeager 3-pointer with 5:20 left, but would get no closer, as McCray's 3-pointer and a steal and a dunk by Jeter made it a 16-point lead with 3:04 remaining, ending TCU's comeback hopes.

Quick Notes from the TCU  Game
Nebraska is now 44-1 at home against non-conference opponents and has won 20 straight home games against non-conference foes...Nebraska set season bests in 3-pointers made (10) and percentage (58.8) against TCU, topping previous bests of nine 3-pointers (vs. Jackson State and TCU) and .500 (vs. Hofstra, 6-of-12)...Nebraska's six-game win streak is its longest since a six-game streak to open the 2008-09 season and equals the longest win streak in Doc Sadler's five seasons at Nebraska...Nebraska has now won its first four games in December for the first time since the 1996-97 season...Toney McCray set season bests with 15 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. His previous season bests were 10 points (vs. UAPB, 11/15) and seven rebounds (vs. South Dakota, 11/12)...McCray's four 3-pointers were a career high (previous best 3 vs. IPFW, 12/20/08) and equals the most 3-pointers made by a Husker this season (Richardson vs. Creighton, 12/11). McCray is the ninth different Husker to lead NU in scoring in a game this season....McCray's 15-point effort marked the fifth time in 10 games that NU's leading scorer came off the bench...Jorge Brian Diaz picked up his first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. His 12 boards matched his career high of 12 vs. Chicago State (12/20/09)...Nebraska has held six straight opponents to under 60 points...The Huskers have won three straight meetings against TCU and lead the all-time series, 6-2.

Huskers Are Streaking
Nebraska comes into the Eastern Washington game riding a six-game winning streak. That matches the Huskers' longest streak under Doc Sadler. NU also on six games to open the 2008-09 season and had six straight wins in 2007-08. With a win on Saturday, Nebraska would post its first seven game win streak since the 1997-98 season. That year, the Huskers won its final six Big 12 games and the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament. It is the Huskers' longest win streak in the Big 12 era.

Getting Defensive
Nebraska's forte under Doc Sadler has been on the defensive end, as the Huskers rank 13th nationally in points allowed (56.6 ppg) and 16th in opponent field goal percentage (36.8 percent) in the latest national rankings.  NU has limited eight of its 10 opponents to under 60 points, including all six foes in the current win streak.  It only marks the third time since 1982 that NU has held six consecutive foes to fewer than 60 points, as NU also accomplished the feat to open the 2008-09 season.

Getting Good Shots, and Limiting Good Shots
Entering this weekend's game with Eastern Washington, the Huskers are one of only nine teams in the country ranked in the top 35 in both field goal percentage and field goal defense. The other teams on the list include Kansas, Baylor, Central Florida, UNLV, Richmond, Washington State, Indiana and Air Force.

Opening December on the Right foot
With four straight wins to open the month, including wins over Creighton, Jackson State and TCU, the Huskers have won their first four games in December for the first time since the 1996-97 team. The Huskers are now two wins away from their first unbeaten December since 1994 and for only the third time since 1930. Both the 1990-91 and 1994-95 teams went 9-0 in the month.  Sadler-coached team at Nebraska are 23-9 in the month of December.

Huskers Prove to Be Second-Half Team
One trait which has been shown during the first third of the season is the Huskers' ability to improve as the game goes on. When looking at the Huskers' stats, Nebraska has shot significantly better from the floor in the final 20 minutes than in the first halves of contests.

Against USC, Nebraska overcame a 13-point halftime deficit while against Jackson State on Dec. 1, NU broke open a seven-point game in the final 20 minutes. In the win over Creighton, the Huskers trailed 29-21 at halftime, but regrouped in the second half, outscoring Creighton, 38-25. NU also pulled away from TCU in the final 20 minutes, outscoring the Horned Frogs, 37-32, on Saturday.

Huskers Take 5 Against Jackson State
Nebraska had five players in double figures in the Dec. 1 win over Jackson State, marking only the third time in Doc Sadler's five seasons that the Huskers had placed five players in double figures, and the first time since Nov. 21, 2009, against TCU. NU nearly had a sixth player reach double figures, as sophomore Jorge Brian Diaz finished with eight points in just 19 minutes of action.

Comeback Kids
Nebraska has shown resiliency this season, overcoming two double figure deficits this season. It is the first time in the Big 12 era that Nebraska has overcome a pair of double-digit deficits in the same season.

Against USC on Nov. 27, NU overcame a 20-point first half deficit on two occasions (the last being at 37-17 with 2:05 left in the first half) to win 68-58. Last Sunday against Creighton, NU trailed by 11 points in the first half, only to roar back to a 59-54 win.

• -The 20-point deficit against USC equaled the largest deficit the Huskers have overcome in a game in the Big 12 era (1996-97 to present) and is believed to equal the largest deficit NU has overcome in a win. The Huskers also overcame a 20-point deficit in an 87-77 overtime win against Kansas State on Jan. 15, 1997.
• -Nebraska now has 14 double-digit comebacks in the Big 12 era, including five under Coach Doc Sadler. Four of the top five comebacks by NU in the Big 12 era have come under Sadler.

Take Your Picture with Santa at the Grambling State Game
Fans will have an opportunity to take photos with Santa and Herbie Husker prior to Tuesday's game against Grambling State. Santa and Herbie Husker will be available for photos in the Southwest Concourse beginning at 5:30 p.m. and fans are encouged to bring their camera to Tuesday's game to get pictures. Tickets for the NU-Grambling State game can be purchased for as little as $5 by visiting Huskers.com or calling 800-8-BIGRED.

Home for the Holidays
When Nebraska returned to Lincoln from San Juan on Nov. 21, the Huskers began the longest homestand in program history. Nebraska is currently in the middle of a 10-game stretch at the Devaney Center, as the Huskers will not hit the road for 51 days when the Huskers leave for Missouri in the Big 12 road opener. Prior to this season, NU's longest homestand was seven games, done three other times, most recently in 2007-08. 

Holding Court
Nebraska has been strong on its home court over the years, and will try to continue an impressive run at home under Coach Doc Sadler in 2010-11. In the history of the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Nebraska has posted a 417-131 record for a .761 winning percentage. In the past five seasons under Sadler, Nebraska has dominated to the tune of a 61-17 record (.782 winning percentage) against all teams. Facing non-conference opponents, the Huskers have been nearly unbeatable at home under Sadler. During his tenure, the team have a 44-1 record at the Devaney Center, with the lone loss coming in the 2008-09 season. The Huskers have won 20 straight home non-conference games heading into Saturday's game with Eastern Washington.

The Sum is Greater than the Parts
When talking about the 2010-11 Huskers, Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler mentioned that this is the deepest team he has had in his five seasons. The Huskers have relied on the depth during the first month of the season, as 10 players have averaged 10 minutes per game. The Huskers don't have a player in the top 20 in the league in either scoring or rebounding, but have been balanced offensively.

NU has had nine different players lead the team in scoring through the first nine games, as only Jorge Brian Diaz (2) and Lance Jeter (3) has topped the Huskers more than once. Against Jackson State on Dec. 1, the Huskers placed five players in double figures, marking the third time that has happened in Doc Sadler's five seasons. Against TCU, Toney McCray became the ninth player to top the Huskers in scoring with his 15-point effort off the bench.

Huskers Rely on Bench Support
If it seems like Nebraska's bench has been more productive in recent years, it has been the case in 2010-11. The  Huskers are averaging 29.2 points per game from their bench in the first 10 games while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. NU has doubled the opposition in bench scoring in seven of 10 contests this season, including 50 bench points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. NU out-scored TCU, 32-9, in Saturday's win over the Horned Frogs.

Both of NU's individual 20-point efforts have come off the bench (Almeida vs. South Dakota; Standhardinger vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and NU's leading scorer has come off the bench five times of Nebraska's first 10 contests.  The highest points per game average from NU's bench this decade is 27.9 points per game, set during the 2003-04 season. Here is a look at the bench production during Sadler's five years at Nebraska.

Next Talk to Doc Luncheon Date Set
The final Talk to Doc Luncheon date for the 2010-11 season is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 4, at the Lincoln Station in the Haymarket District. The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The luncheon provides an opportunity to enjoy a great lunch, interact with other Husker basketball fans, hear directly from Coach Sadler about the team's progress and ask questions about the games or the Huskers.

Tickets for each of the luncheons cost $15 each, or fans can purchase a reserved table of eight for $120. Reservations for all three of these events must be made no later than three days in advance. New this year, fans can reserve seats online at http://huskers.donornetpac.com (click on Special Events after logging in).  Fans can also download the reservation form on Huskers.com, or call the Athletic Development Office at 800-8-BIG RED or (402) 472-2367 to make reservations.