Huskers Announce Challenging Non-Conference Schedule

Lincoln - Eight home games, including matchups with Oregon and Wake Forest, and a trip to 2011 NCAA Tournament qualifier USC highlight the 2011-12 Nebraska men's basketball non-conference schedule released Thursday. The 11-game non-conference schedule will help the Huskers prepare for their first season in the Big Ten Conference, as it features six teams that won at least 18 games last year and four squads that advanced to postseason play.

"I think we always want to play a schedule that our fans enjoy, but sometimes it is more difficult than others. This year we are fortunate to have some quality home opponents and a schedule that people will enjoy coming out to watch us play in November and December," Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler said. "When you add the nine home conference games in the Big Ten, it is going to be one of the top schedules in the country."

The abbreviated non-conference schedule is a by-product of an 18-game Big Ten slate that begins between Christmas and New Year's Day. Nebraska's non-conference schedule features a mix of teams from the ACC (Wake Forest) and Pac-12 (USC and Oregon), regional opponents such as Creighton, South Dakota State and South Dakota, and includes four first-time opponents (Wake Forest, Rhode Island, Florida Gulf Coast and Central Michigan).

Executive Associate Athletic Director Marc Boehm said one of the things that fans asked for in the extensive survey of season ticket holders following last year was an increased premium on the Huskers' non-conference schedule, and he credits the hard work of Sadler and Assistant Coach Chris Croft in working to make significant strides in that area.

"During the offseason, one of our goals was to put together a non-conference schedule that was going to help us build our NCAA Tournament resume if we are in that position," Boehm said. "It's obvious that the NCAA Selection Committee puts a great deal of stock on the non-conference schedule. We believe this schedule will be challenging, but an opportunity for our program to get prepared for Big Ten play. The other focus was to have a schedule that our fans would enjoy.

"When we asked our season ticket holders, two of the biggest requests were for more home-and-home series against upper-level teams, as well as matchups with teams from around the region," Boehm said. "I think our coaching staff worked hard to create a schedule that fits both needs."

Sadler said the increased difficulty of the schedule puts a premium on being ready for the start of the practice in October, when the Huskers move into the Hendricks Training Complex.

"It means October will be a very important month for us," Sadler said. "The summer our guys have put in has been very good in working with (strength coach) Tim Wilson, and they have done a very good job. Sometimes, you don't have to be ready until December, but this schedule will push us to be ready for the start of the season."

After opening the 2011-12 campaign with South Dakota on Friday, Nov. 11, the Huskers will begin a stretch of three straight games against teams that reached postseason play. That slate starts with a visit to Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 14, to take on the Trojans in a series that has gone down to the final minute in each of the last two matchups. Nebraska then welcomes a Rhode Island squad that went 20-14 last year and averaged more than 22 wins per season the last four years. On Wednesday, Nov. 23, the Huskers host Pac-12 foe Oregon to the Devaney Center, as the Ducks return three starters from a team that won 21 games en route to the CBI title last season.

The Oregon game begins a formidable three-game stretch to close November, as the Huskers play host to South Dakota State on Saturday, Nov. 26. The Jackrabbits return three starters from a team that won 19 games, including a win at Iowa last season. The final game of November features Nebraska and Wake Forest at the Devaney Center on Wednesday, Nov. 30, as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

The Huskers open December with two road games among their first three contests, traveling to Creighton (Dec. 4) and TCU (Dec. 10) sandwiched around a home game against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 7.  Following final exams, the Huskers close out non-conference action by hosting Alcorn State (Dec. 17) and Central Michigan (Dec. 20).

Fans will have their first chance to see the Huskers when they have an exhibition against Doane College on Monday, Nov. 7.