Huskers Host Oklahoma State Saturday Night

Game 24: vs. Oklahoma State
Game Date: Feb. 12, 2011
Tipoff Time:  6:07 p.m.
Venue: Bob Devaney Sports Center
Capacity: 13,585

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Game: 24
2010-11 Record: 15-8, 3-6 Big 12
Head coach: Doc Sadler
 Record at Nebraska: 85-66 (5th year)
 Record at Division I: 133-84 (7th year)
 Career Record: 253-123 (13th year)

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Game: 24
2010-11 Record: 16-7, 4-5 Big 12
Head coach: Travis Ford
 Record at Oklahoma State: 61-30 (3rd year)
 Career Record: 251-146 (14th)

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television: Fox Sports Midwest (DirecTV Ch. 680, Dish Ch. 451, Ch. 37 on Time Warner Cable; Ch. 47 on Cox Cable) - also available nationally on ESPN Full Court and ESPN3.com
 Play-by-Play: Greg Sharpe
 Color: Eric Piatkowski
Radio: IMG Husker Sports Radio Network
 Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka
 Color: Matt Davison
Internet Radio/Stats: Free on Huskers.com
Satellite Radio: Ch. 121 (Sirius), Ch. 141 (XM)

HUSKERS HOST OKLAHOMA STATE SATURDAY
The Nebraska basketball team returns home this Saturday night, as the Huskers host Oklahoma State in an important Big 12 showdown at the Devaney Center.  Tip off for the contest between the Huskers and Cowboys is slated for 6:07 p.m. Central and tickets for the game are available at Huskers.com or by calling 800-8-BIGRED.

Saturday's contest will be carried across Nebraska on Fox Sports Midwest as well as nationally on ESPN Full Court and ESPN3.com. The telecast will feature Greg Sharpe (play by play) and Eric Piatkowski (analyst) and will be seen locally on channel 37 in Lincoln; channel 47 in Omaha; DirecTV channel 680; and Dish Network channel 451.
Saturday's game will also be available on the  32-station IMG Husker Sports Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Matt Davison on the call, including KFAB 1110 AM in Omaha, KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln and KRVN 880 in Lexington and on Huskers.com.

The Huskers (15-8, 3-6 Big 12) will look to snap a three-game losing streak following a 74-70 loss at Baylor Wednesday night. The Huskers had opportunities late in the game and trailed 69-67 in the final minute, but could not get the tying basket. Baylor made just 20 field goals on the night, but made its living at the foul line, converting 31 of 44 free throws. Prior to the BU game, NU opponents were averaging less than 17 free throw attempts per contest and 20 per game during the first half of Big 12 play.

Despite the loss, the Huskers enjoyed a strong performance off the bench by junior Toney McCray,  who totaled a career-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. McCray had a trio of 3-pointers and also grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals. McCray has come off the bench the last two contests and is averaging 17.0 ppg for the Huskers in that span.

The Huskers are also showing signs of breaking out of an extended slump from 3-point range. Against Baylor, NU went 8-of-19 from beyond the arc and have hit 15 3-pointers in the last two games, the team's highest total in consecutive games since the first week of December. NU is also hitting at a 39 percent clip from long range in that span, up nearly 10 percent from the team's total through 21 games.

The Huskers will be tested by a physical Oklahoma State (16-7, 4-5 Big 12) team that is looking for its third straight Big 12 win. The Cowboys have been off since an 81-75 win over Oklahoma last Saturday, a game where the Cowboys overcame a 15-point first-half deficit. OSU features one of the Big 12's best power players in Marshall Moses, who averages team-highs in points (14.7), rebounds (7.9) and field goal percentage (.556).

QUICK LOOK AT OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State comes into Saturday's contest with a 16-7 mark, including a 4-5 record in Big 12 play. The Cowboys started the year by winning 11 of their first 12 games with the only loss coming to Virginia Tech in Anaheim. In Big 12 action, the Cowboys were 2-5 before wins over No. 15 Missouri and Oklahoma sent the Cowboys on a two-game win streak heading to Lincoln. OSU is 11-1 at home, but just 1-5 in true road games, including winless in four Big 12 road tilts.

The Cowboys, have been off since an 81-75 win over Oklahoma last Saturday. In that game, Jean-Paul Olukemi's 19 points led four Cowboys in double figures, as Oklahoma State  overcame a 15-point first-half deficit by converting 36-of-44 from the foul line, including 17-of-19 in the final 20 minutes.

Marshall Moses leads the Huskers with 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, as he ranks second in the Big 12 in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage (.556). Keiton Page is second on the team in scoring at 14.1 ppg while hitting 33 percent from 3-point range and a conference-best 91 percent (101-of 111) from the foul line. Olukemi is the third Cowboy who averages double figures at 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest. The junior college transfer has been better in league action, averaging a team-high 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in Big 12 games. OSU was dealt a blow early this week, as Darrell Williams was suspended. He had 18 points and 12 rebounds against Oklahoma last week to earn Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and was averaging 7.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest on the season.  OSU is one of the Big 12's best free throw shooting teams, ranking third in the conference at 72.7 percent. Olukemi is a 77 percent foul shooter and has gotten to the line a team-high 145 times.

NEBRASKA-OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES
Nebraska and Oklahoma State will meet for the 116th time on Saturday night. Nebraska leads the all-time series, 62-53, including a commanding 19-9 advantage at the Devaney Center. The Huskers will look to buck the recent trend, as Oklahoma State has won the last four matchups between the two teams.  Last season, OSU posted a 74-55 win in Stillwater as Big 12 Player of the Year James Anderson totaled 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Brandon Richardson led Nebraska with 16 points, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Nebraska's last win in the series came in an 85-73 win during the 2006-07 campaign.

LAST TIME OUT
Toney McCray had a career-high 23 points but it was not enough, as Baylor edged the Huskers with 74-70 victory Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center. McCray hit 8-of-14 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc to pace three Huskers in double figures, as the Huskers lost their third consecutive game.
LaceDarius Dunn led Baylor with a game-high 24 points, including 12-of-13 from the foul line. The Bears spent the majority of the evening at the foul line, hitting 31-of-44 shots from the charity stripe, as NU had just 19 attempts.

Despite the differential from the foul line, the Huskers were in position to steal a road win in the final 90 seconds, trailing 69-67 after a Lance Jeter jumper and had the ball after a McCray steal, but NU was unable to convert and turned the ball over on the possession with 1:02 left. Dunn made the Huskers pay for the miscue, hitting a scooping layup with 38 seconds to make it a four-point lead.

On NU's next possession, Anthony Jones blocked McCray's 3-point attempt, and the Bears hit 3-of-4 shots in the final 30 seconds to preserve their third straight win over Nebraska.  Quincy Acy had 15 points and seven rebounds while the Huskers held Perry Jones III to just 11 points on six attempts from the floor.

NOTING THE BAYLOR GAME

• Toney McCray set a career high with 23 points against the Bears, topping his previous high of 18 set on two other occasions. His point total also is the highest total by any Husker this season.
• McCray has set career bests in each of his last two appearances in Waco, as he had 18 points as a redshirt freshman in 2009.
• Nebraska went 16-of-19 (84.2 percent) from the foul line, its best percentage since hitting 90.5 percent against South Dakota in the season opener. NU has shot 70 percent from the line or better in eight straight games.
• Nebraska's eight 3-pointers was its highest total in Big 12 play this season and the most since hitting a season-high 10 vs. TCU on Dec. 11. The Huskers have hit 15 3-pointers in the last two games after hitting 16 in the previous four contests.
• Baylor became the fourth Husker opponent to score more than 70 points against the Huskers this season.
• Drake Beranek tied his season high with 10 points (also Jackson State and Colorado), as he hit 4-of-7 shots from the floor.
• Baylor went 31-of-44 from the foul line, the most attempts by a Husker opponent in Doc Sadler's five seasons. BU's 31 made free throws was the second-highest total by a Husker opponent in that time, trailing only the 32 that Kansas State shot last season.

A WIN AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE WOULD...

• Improve the Huskers' record to 5-6 against teams currently in the top 100 in the NCAA's latest RPI.
• Move Doc Sadler into a tie for fifth place on Nebraska's career wins list with 86, matching the total by Harry C. Good (1947-54).
• Improve Nebraska to 15-1 at home, giving NU at least 15 home wins for the first time since the 2007-08 season and for only the sixth time since the Bob Devaney Sports Center was built in 1976-77.
• Snap a four-game losing streak to Oklahoma State that dates back to the 2006-07 season.
• Allow the Huskers to eclipse last year's entire season victory total with seven regular-season games remaining.

HUSKERS ENJOYING STRONG SEASON
Nebraska comes into the Oklahoma State contest with a 15-8 record and looking to end a three-game losing streak following Wednesday's loss at Baylor. Of the Huskers' eight losses this season, five are teams in the top 35 in the NCAA's latest RPI rankings (2 vs. Kansas, 1 each vs. Vanderbilt, K-State and Missouri). Of those five losses, only the Kansas one was at home.

• The record equals the Huskers' best 23-game record in the Big 12 era, accomplished four other times (2008-09, 2007-08, 2005-06, 1998-99)
• The last time Nebraska had a better mark after 23 games was in 1994-95 when Nebraska was 16-7 and on its way to a berth in the NIT.
• Nebraska's quick start was recognized on Jan. 10, when the Huskers received four points in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll. It was first time since Jan. 16, 2006, that Nebraska had received any points in the coaches poll. NU received votes in both the AP and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll on Jan. 30, the first time that has happened in Doc Sadler's five seasons.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
One of the keys to Nebraska's success this season has been the ability to get into close contests.

• Nebraska has been within five points with 2:30 left nine times this season, including five times in conference play. NU has a 4-5 mark in those games this season.
• In five of NU's eight losses (Vanderbilt, Davidson, Kansas and Texas Tech and Baylor), Nebraska was within five points with 2:30 left. In the loss at Missouri, Nebraska used a late run and cut a nine-point deficit to four points with 31 seconds left.
• The 2010-11 season marks the first time in six years that Nebraska has been involved in multiple one-point games (63-62 win over Iowa State on Jan. 8; 72-71 loss at Texas Tech on Jan. 22).

A DEFENSE THAT WOULD MAKE THE BLACKSHIRTS PROUD
As is typical with Doc Sadler-coached teams, the Huskers' forte is on the defensive end. Nebraska is in the top 15 nationally in both opponent field goal percentage (.379) and points per game (59.1) entering this week's action. The Huskers lead the Big 12 in scoring defense and are second to Texas in field goal percentage defense.
The Huskers have held 13 opponents under 60 points and only four opponents have scored more than 70 points through the first 23 games.  That is made more impressive when you consider that Nebraska has played four games currently among the nation's top 13 in scoring offense.

The Huskers have struggled on the defensive end during their three-game losing streak, allowing opponents to shoot 49 percent and giving up 76.3 points per game. In Nebraska's first six Big 12 contests, the Huskers allowed just 64.8 points per game.

• Nebraska has allowed only two teams (Kansas and Baylor) to eclipse its season scoring average in the first 23 contests.
• Nebraska has held seven teams (Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Vanderbilt, Hofstra, Eastern Washington, Grambling State, Kansas and Texas A&M) to its season low point total.
• Nebraska held 10 straight opponents to under 60 points earlier this season, the longest stretch by a Nebraska team since a 21-game stretch covering the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons.
• Nebraska's defense has been stingy at home, allowing just 55.2 points per game in 15 home contests.
• The Huskers held four straight foes to under 50 points - the first time since February of 1949 that has happened at Nebraska.
• The biggest beneficiary to the Huskers defense has been the fans at the Devaney Center. In 11 of 15 home games, fans have earned products from Runza Restaurants, whether its a Runza or burger (50 or less), chili or soup (51-55) or an order of fries or onion rings (56-60).
• Nebraska opponents have been held to 25 percent shooting three times this season, including 21.1 percent by Eastern Washington on Dec. 18.
• Nebraska's defensive excellence has been established under Sadler, as the Huskers led the conference in defense twice in his first four years at NU (2007-08, 2008-09).
• Nebraska's defense was put to the test during a two-week stretch to open Big 12 play. The Huskers' first four opponents were among the top five scoring offenses in the Big 12. The list features three teams (Missouri, Kansas and Colorado) all ranked in the top 11 nationally in scoring offense entering this week's action. In those games, NU allowed an average of 67.2 points per game.

MORE THAN JUST DEFENSE

• Nebraska's .471 field goal percentage is on pace to be the Huskers' best shooting since the 2000-01 squad that shot .487 and ranked 11th nationally in field goal percentage. That is Nebraska's best field goal percentage in the Big 12 era. The Huskers are fourth in the Big 12 and 35th in the country in field goal percentage.
• The Huskers' current scoring average of 68.0 points per game is on pace to be the highest in Doc Sadler's five seasons (current high is 67.1 in 2007-08) and the most since averaging 70.7 points per game in 2003-04.
• The Huskers have also been solid at the free throw line this season, as their .719 percentage from the charity stripe is on pace to be the best free throw percentage since the 2002-03 season (.725).

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 that depth, as 10 players have averaged at least 12 minutes per game and no player is averaging at least 30 minutes per game. While the Huskers do not have a player in the top 20 in the league in either scoring or rebounding, they rely on a balanced attack with nine players averaging between 4.2 and 10.9 points per game.

• NU has had 10 different players lead the team in scoring at least once, as the only regular who has not accomplished the feat is senior Drake Beranek.
• A total of 11 players have scored in double figures at least once, while Nebraska has had just two current players score 23 or more points this season (Andre Almeida vs. South Dakota; Brandon Richardson at Texas Tech and Toney McCray at Baylor).

JETER KEYS HUSKER OFFENSE
While the Huskers' strength is their balance,  the leader of Nebraska's attack is senior point guard Lance Jeter, who has started every game over the last two years since arriving from Polk (Fla.) Community College.

Jeter, who began his collegiate career as a wide receiver at the University of Cincinnati, has made his mark in two years at Nebraska and now ranks 16th on Nebraska's career assist list with 241 career assists.  He is one of only three players on the top-20 career assist list who will play two seasons or fewer at Nebraska, and he trails Eric Johnson (247, 1988-89) by just six assists entering Saturday's game against Oklahoma.

Last season, the 6-foot-3, 222-pounder was named to the Big 12's All-Newcomer team by the media after averaging 7.5 points and 4.1 assists per game.

In 2010-11, Jeter has been instrumental in the Huskers' success. He leads the team in scoring (10.9 ppg), assists (4.7) and steals (1.9). He is shooting at a 48 percent clip after hitting just 41 percent from the floor as a junior. He tops the Big 12 with a 2.6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and is third in steals and fourth in assists. 
Jeter has been even better in Big 12 action, averaging 12.2 points, 5.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game, ranking second in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7-to-1) and fourth in steals. 

More importantly than his numbers, his leadership has been influential in helping the Huskers when they needed him the most.

• In Nebraska's four games against ranked opponents this season, he is averaging 10.5 points and 6.3 assists per game while posting a 3.57-to-1 assist to turnover ratio.
• Against No. 2 Kansas, Jeter turned in one of his finest efforts, totaling a season-high 10 assists and 10 points for his first double-double of the season. His 10 assists were the most by any player against Kansas in five seasons.
• In the win over No. 13 Texas A&M, he scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, including six points and three rebounds in a 10-1 second half run that gave Nebraska the lead for good. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. He also helped Nebraska commit only one second-half turnover (offensive foul on a ball screen) and shoot 50 percent after halftime against the Aggies.
• He nearly led Nebraska on a comeback against Texas Tech, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the second half, as Nebraska erased an eight-point deficit before falling by one in the final seconds to the Red Raiders.
• Jeter keyed the win over Colorado on Jan. 18, dishing out a season high nine assists while adding 10 points and six rebounds in helping NU snap the Buffaloes seven-game win streak. His nine assists against CU was the most-ever against the Buffaloes in Big 12 action.
• He nearly helped the Huskers to an upset at No. 3 Kansas in Lawrence with 13 points and six assists.
• Against Iowa State, he totaled 10 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. His steal and drive in the final six seconds put him on the free throw line, where he sank the go-ahead free throw with 0.4 seconds left in NU's one-point win.
• Against USC, he may have enjoyed his best game as a Husker in leading Nebraska from a 20-point first-half deficit. He totaled 13 points, a career-high eight rebounds and had five assists without a turnover.
• Against Creighton, he scored 10 of his 12 points and had five assists after intermission, as the Huskers overcame a nine-point halftime deficit in a 59-54 win. He finished with 12 points, six assists and six rebounds.
• In NU's win over Alcorn State, he nearly broke the school record for steals, recording a career-high seven steals and added 16 points and six assists in the win. His seven thefts were one shy of Nebraska's single-game mark.
• He totaled 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting and added five assists and four steals in a 70-67 loss to Davidson.

DOUBLE DIGIT ASSISTS
With his 10 assists against Kansas, Lance Jeter became the first Husker player in the Big 12 era to have a pair of contests with at least 10 assists. Jeter had a career-high 12 assists at Kansas State in 2009-10.

THE QUEST FOR THEFTS
Lance Jeter enters Saturday's game with Oklahoma State averaging 1.9 steals per game to rank fourth in the Big 12. He has 44 steals on the year after totaling just 29 in his first season at Nebraska and has multiple steals in eight of the Huskers' last 12 contests.  Earlier this season, Jeter had a personal best seven against Alcorn State, which was one shy of the school record. He is threatening to become the first Husker since Cookie Belcher (2.7, 2000-01) to average 2.0 steals per game, something only two Huskers have done in the Big 12 era.

RICHARDSON FINDING HIS TOUCH
Junior guard Brandon Richardson has become one of the Huskers' most reliable scorers in recent weeks. The Los Angeles, Calif., native is averaging 10.2 points per game over the last six contests, hitting 53 percent from the floor in that span. Prior to that stretch, Richardson was averaging just 5.3 points per game and was in double figures just twice this year.

He has been aggressive in getting to the free throw line, getting to the free throw line 23 times in the last six games, after attempting 20 free throws in Nebraska's first 17 contests. Richardson has made the most of his opportunities at the line, going a perfect 23-of-23 from the charity stripe and now leads the league in free throw percentage in conference action at 96.4 percent. He still has a ways to go to match the school mark for consecutive free throws, which is 39 by Jack Moore in the 1981-82 season.

Richardson, who missed the Huskers' Big 12 opener because of a knee strain, enjoyed his breakout perfomance at Texas Tech on Jan. 22. In that game, he hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor and all eight free throws, including three foul shots with 11 seconds left to put NU up by a point. He has reached double figures three times in NU's last five games, including a 16-point effort against No. 2 Kansas on Feb. 5.

DIAZ LOOKS TO BECOME CONSISTENT INSIDE FORCE
Sophomore Jorge Brian Diaz has quietly put together a solid sophomore campaign for the Huskers. The 6-foot-11 center is second on the team in scoring (10.2 ppg) and  rebounding (4.3 rpg) while hitting 55 percent from the floor. He is 10th in the Big 12 in blocked shots with 1.0 blocks per game. 

Diaz started Big 12 play slowly from the floor making nine of his first 32 shots, but has been more aggressive on the offensive end over the last five games, averaging 10.2 points on 56 percent shooting. He turned the corner in NU's win over Colorado, hitting  7-of-8 shots from the floor to snap the Buffaloes' seven-game win streak.

• Diaz enjoyed his best game of the season in NU's win over No. 13 Texas A&M, scoring a season-high 16 points, grabbing five rebounds and blocking a pair of shots in NU's 58-47 win. The performance was more notable, as he played after the death of his aunt on Friday and flew back to Puerto Rico immediately following Saturday's game.
• He has shot over 50 percent from the floor in 17 of the Huskers' 23 games this season, including a streak of 11 consecutive games earlier in the year.
• Diaz had led NU in scoring average until late January, and still has a chance to become only the third Husker sophomore to top Nebraska in scoring in the last 20 years, joining former NBA standouts Tyronn Lue (1996-97) and Eric Piatkowski (1991-92).
• He was instrumental during the Huskers' 11 game win streak earlier this season, averaging 11.5 points per game while shooting 61 percent in that stretch.
• He helped NU nearly end then-No. 3 Kansas' homecourt win streak with eight rebounds and eight points in a 63-60 loss.
• Diaz is quickly closing in on Nebraska's blocked shot career list. He has 64 blocks in his career and eight blocks shy of 10th place on the list.
• His best effort of the season came against TCU, when he recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and career highs in both rebounds (12) and blocks (three).

Diaz's season turned around at the Honda Puerto Rico Tip Off, where he played in front of family and friends. He was an honorable-mention all-tournament selection, as he  tied for the team lead in scoring (10.7 ppg) while adding 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and hitting 57 percent from the floor. He totaled 13 points against Davidson, scoring eight straight second-half points to pull the Huskers within a point in the final two minutes, and a game-high 11 points in the win over Hofstra.

As a redshirt freshman, Diaz put together one of the best rookie seasons in program history in 2009-10. The 6-foot-11 center from Caguas, Puerto Rico, appeared in all 33 contests, averaging 8.8 points on a team-high 52.2 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He not only set a school freshman mark with 41 blocked shots, but also finished on NU's freshman top-10 list in field goals made (133, fourth), rebounds (133, seventh), points (291, eighth) and points per game (8.82, 10th).

MCCRAY ADDS DEPTH INSIDE
After losing nearly his entire sophomore season following Tommy John surgery on his left (non-shooting) elbow, Toney McCray is starting to make up for lost time. Since battling plantar fasciitis early in the season, McCray has been a solid contributor, averaging 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game to rank third on the team in both scoring and rebounding.

The Missouri City, Texas, product has moved into the forward role, where his length and athleticism has helped provide matchup problems, midway through the non-conference slate. He moved into the starting lineup in the final week heading into conference play and is averaging 10.5 points per game on 47 percent shooting over his last 11 contests. Prior to that, he averaged just 5.4 points in Nebraska's first 12 games.

McCray's emergence began against TCU on Dec. 11, when he came off the bench to record his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. McCray had 12 of his 15 points in the second half against the Horned Frogs, including six points in a 13-0 run to break open a one-point game. He set a career high in rebounds, grabbing 11 caroms in a rout of Eastern Washington on Dec. 18.

In Big 12 action, he is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while hitting 49 percent from the field. He has also connected on a team-best 45 percent of his 3-point attempts during conference play. McCray comes off the best offensive performance of his career, scoring a career-high 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds in Wednesday's loss at Baylor. He hit 8-of-14 shots, including a trio of 3-pointers, as his performance nearly allowed the Huskers to earn the win.

McCray had 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, at No. 15 Missouri on Jan. 12, and enjoyed a then-career high 18 points and eight rebounds in a win over Colorado on Jan. 18. McCray's block of Alec Burks in the second half of the CU game was the No. 5 play on SportsCenter that evening. He came off the bench against No. 2 Kansas on Saturday, totaling 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers and is averaging 17.0 ppg since moving to the bench in the last two contests.

WALKER QUIETLY ENJOYS JUNIOR SEASON
One of the unsung players on the Husker roster is junior college transfer Caleb Walker, who has been a starter on the wing for most of the season. The Hutchinson, Kan., native is averaging 6.3 points and a team-high 4.6 rebounds while usually facing the opponent's top perimeter threat. Walker has been consistent in Big 12 play,  averaging 7.0 points and 4.3 rebounds, as he joins Lance Jeter as the only Husker to start all nine Big 12 games. 
Walker was a two-sport athlete at Butler CC as a freshman in 2008-09, helping the school to an NJCAA national title on the gridiron before focusing solely on basketball as a sophomore.

• He has reached double figures in points seven times, highlighted by a 13-point, eight rebound effort against Iowa State. In that game, he hit 5-of-9 from the field and added a pair of 3-pointers and two blocked shots.
• Last Saturday, he finished with 10 points and five rebounds in a loss at No. 2 Kansas.
• Walker had 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in Nebraska's loss to No. 15 Missouri on Jan. 12.
• Against Jackson State, he hit 6-of-7 shots and added five rebounds and five assists, while he had 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, in NU's win against USC.
• He grabbed 10 rebounds against Creighton before pulling a season high 12 rebounds against Alcorn State, becoming the first Husker in three seasons to grab 10 or more rebounds in consecutive games.
• Walker reached double figures in rebounding for the third time this year when he pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss to No. 3 Kansas.
• He turned in a solid performance against Texas A&M, totaling nine points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists, while limiting Khris Middleton to just 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting.

ANDRE MAKES A GIANT IMPACT
Andre Almeida, a two-time All-American in junior college, has given the Huskers quality minutes off the bench, averaging 5.7 points on 60 percent shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game, as he ranks sixth in the Big 12 in blocked shots. He has lost nearly 30 pounds since arriving on campus in August and provides the Huskers additional size in the post.  Almeida suffered a right ankle injury in the second half of the Texas A&M game and has attempted just five shots over the Huskers' last two games.

• He has eight games with multiple blocks and his 29 blocks this season already ranks ninth on the Huskers' junior class list. He is 16 blocks away from the top five among Husker juniors.
• Almeida shined in the loss to No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 12, coming off the bench for 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. His seven rebounds matched a season high for the 6-foot-11 junior.
• Against South Dakota on Nov. 12, he came off the bench and led Nebraska with 20 points and seven rebounds. He hit on 9-of-12 shots, including nine consecutive shots at one point to help Nebraska build a 16-point second-half lead. Almeida became the second Husker newcomer in the last 40 years to score at least 20 points in a season opener, joining freshman Joe McCray, who had 23 points in his Husker debut in 2004.
• He reached double figures for the third time this season against North Dakota on Jan. 3 with 10 points, four rebounds and a season-high four blocks in the win over North Dakota on Jan. 3.
• Topped his season best in blocks for the third straight game against Savannah State on Jan. 5 with five blocks while hitting all four shots from the field. His five blocked shots were the most since Aleks Maric had five against Hofstra on March 16, 2006.

BERANEK PROVIDES SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Senior Drake Beranek, who originally walked on to NU after playing for three years at Division II Nebraska-Kearney, has made the most of his one season at the Division I level, giving the Huskers a solid option off the bench. He has played in all 23 contests, averaging 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor, 38 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the foul line.

• He started Nebraska's first two Big 12 games in place of Brandon Richardson, who strained his right knee against Savannah State, and had nine points and a career-high seven rebounds in a one-point win over Iowa State. He helped limit Scott Christopherson, who was leading the Big 12 in 3-point percentage at the time, to just six points on 2-of-7 shooting.
• Beranek matched his season high with 10 points and dished out a season-high three assists in Wednesday's loss at Baylor. It was his third double-figure effort of the year and second in Big 12 action.
• He played a major role in NU's win over Colorado on Jan. 18, when he scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out a pair of assists in 22 minutes of work.
• Beranek reached double figures for the first time this year against Jackson State on Dec. 1, when he had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.

PLENTY OF RESERVE
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 27.6 points and 17.0 rebounds per game from their bench entering the Oklahoma State game.

• The Huskers' bench is out-scoring opponents 27.6-12.8 per game and has more than doubled its opponents' point total 12 times this season. Nebraska's bench has only been out-scored twice in the first 22 contests (USC and Creighton) and not since Dec. 5.
• Nebraska's leading scorer has come off the bench eight times, including a 23-point effort from Toney McCray against Baylor and a 20-point game by Andre Almeida in the season opener against South Dakota on Nov. 12. In fact, three of the four-highest games by Husker this season have come off the bench.
• NU's reserves have scored 40 or more points five times, including a season-best 50 points in the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 15.

The highest points per game average from NU's bench since the 2000-01 season 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.