Huskers Host No. 20 Purdue on #AveryStrong Day

GAME 21: VS. PURDUE Date: Sunday, Jan. 29 Time: 3:31 p.m. Arena: Pinnacle Bank Arena Tickets: Huskers.com/Tickets NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS 2016-17 Record: 9-11, 3-5 Big Ten Head coach: Tim Miles Record at Nebraska: 72-78 (5th year) Career Record: 355-298 (22nd year) NO. 20/20 PURDUE BOILERMAKERS 2016-17 Record: 17-4, 6-2 Big Ten Head coach: Matt Painter Record at Purdue: 255-138 (12th year) Career Record: 280-143 (13th year) BROADCAST INFO Television: BTN Online: BTN.com and BTN2Go Play-by-play: Brandon Gaudin Expert Analysis: Shon Morris Radio: IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln, KXSP (590 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington. Play-by-play: Kent Pavelka Expert Analysis: Matt Davision Also available online at Huskers.com, on the Huskers App and on TuneIn Radio and the TuneIn Radio App.

The Husker basketball team returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena Sunday afternoon, as the Huskers host No. 20 Purdue on #AveryStrong Day. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and a limited number of tickets are available by calling Huskers.com/Tickets or by calling 800-8-BIGRED. Any remaining tickets will be available at the Pinnacle Bank Arena ticket office beginning at 2 p.m.
The game between the Huskers and Boilermakers will be carried nationally on BTN with Brandon Gaudin and Shon Morris on the call. The game will also be available online on BTN.com and on BTN2Go for tablets and mobile devices.

Fans can listen to Sunday's game and all of the action throughout the 2016-17 season on the Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Matt Davison on the call, including on Huskers.com, the Huskers app and on TuneIn Radio. The broadcast starts 60 minutes before tipoff and a complete list of HSN affiliates is on page 5 of the release.

As part of the NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend, the Huskers will be raising awareness for the National Bone Marrow Registry. Avery Harriman, the son of former Husker assistant coach Chris Harriman, has battled leukemia since he was 2-years old and has had two bone marrow transplants. Now 9-years old, Avery and his family, along with other local children fighting cancer, will be recognized on Sunday.

Fans will have a chance to join the National Bone Marrow Registry as volunteers will be on hand to sign fans up. Over the past two years, nearly 400 people have signed up for the registry during the #AveryStrong game, including four matches for people waiting for bone marrow transplants. The first 500 students - as well as any fan who signs up for the National Bone Marrow Registry on Sunday - will receive a special gameday t-shirt.

The Huskers (9-11, 3-5 Big Ten) are looking to bounce back following a 73-61 loss to Northwestern Thursday evening. In that game, the Huskers shot just 37 percent, but was within 57-53 with under 5:00 left before the Wildcats pulled away down the stretch. Tai Webster led NU with 23 points - his ninth 20-point effort of the season - while Glynn Watson added 14 points and five assists for the Huskers. NU was unable to slow down Northwestern’s Dererk Pardon, who finished with 19 points and 22 rebounds to pace three Wildcats in double figures.

Purdue, which is tied with Northwestern for third in the Big Ten standings, are coming off an 84-73 win at Michigan State on Tuesday. In that game, Caleb Swanigan’s 25 points and 17 rebounds led six Boilermakers in double figures.

NUMBERS TO KNOW
21 - Consecutive double figure games for Tai Webster dating back to last season. Webster is the only Big Ten play who has been in double figures every game in 2016-17.

2.0 - Glynn Watson Jr. is averaging 2.0 steals per game, which is the on pace to be the most since Cookie Belcher averaged 2.7 steals per game in 2000-01.

3 - Sunday's matchup features three of the top four scorers in Big Ten action in Nebraska's Tai Webster and Glynn Watson Jr. and Purdue's Caleb Swanigan.

No. Player PPG
1. Tai Webster (Neb.) 20.3
2. Caleb Swanigan (Pur.) 19.5
3. Peter Jok (Iowa) 18.4
4. Glynn Watson Jr. (Neb.) 17.6

19 - Isaiah Roby's blocked shots this season. He needs one more to become the eighth Husker freshmen to record at least 20 blocked shots in a season. Roby is averaging 1.4 blocks per game in conference play to rank 11th in the Big Ten.

20.3 - Tai Webster's scoring average in Big Ten play, which is the most by a Husker in conference play since Tyronn Lue averaged 21.8 points per game in 1997-98.

SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue comes to Lincoln with a 17-4 record and in third place in the Big Ten with a 6-2 mark following an 84-73 win at Michigan State on Tuesday. The Boilermakers, who returned three starters from a team that won 26 games and reached the NCAA Tournament, are No. 20 in both polls this week.
Purdue, which averages 82.8 points per game to rank second in the Big Ten, is led by sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan. The 6-foot-9 forward averages 18.8 points per game while pacing the Big Ten with 12.7 rebounds per game. A frontrunner for Big Ten player of the Year, Swanigan had 25 points and 17 rebounds in Tuesday's win over Michigan State and has 17 double-doubles this season. Swanigan is one of four Purdue players averaging in double figures for 13th-year coach Matt Painter. Isaac Haas has emerged as one of the best sixth men in the Big Ten, as he averages 13.5 ppg on 63 percent shooting while Vincent Edwards is at 11.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Freshman Carsen Edwards is at 10.7 points per game and leads the team in steals. In addition, three other players average at least six points per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Sunday’s game between the Huskers and Purdue will be the 18th all-time meeting between the two programs in a series that dates back to 1947.
Purdue holds a 13-4 lead in the all-time series, including each of the past three matchups. The Boilermakers are 7-2 against Nebraska since the Huskers joined the Big Ten prior to the 2011-12 season (6-1 in regular season; 1-1 in Big Ten Tournament).

LAST MEETING vs. PURDUE
Despite a season-high 32-point effort from Shavon Shields, Nebraska fell to No. 15 Purdue, 81-62, on March 1, 2016. Shields was spectacular in his final regular-season home appearance. The 6-foot-7 senior hit 11 of 19 shots and went 6-for-6 from the line, but was the only Nebraska player to finish in double figures.

Purdue relied on a balanced attack as Vince Edwards’ 20 points led four Boilermakers in double figures. A.J. Hammons had 16 while Dakota Mathias and Caleb Swanigan added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Purdue shot 56 percent from the field, including 7-of-15 from 3-point range.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite a game-high 23 points from Tai Webster, Northwestern pulled away down the stretch for 73-62 victory over the Huskers Thursday evening.
Webster posted his eighth 20-point game of the season with 23 points and six rebounds, while Glynn Watson Jr. added 14, but the Huskers (9-11, 3-5 Big Ten) shot just 37 percent and saw Northwestern pull away with a 16-1 spurt late to open up a close game.

Dererk Pardon led Northwestern with 19 points and 22 rebounds to pace three Wildcats in double figures. Vic Law led Northwestern (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) with 20 points, while Isiah Brown had 10 points off the bench.

Nebraska pulled to within 34-33 after baskets by Watson and Webster, but Northwestern ran off five straight points, including a 3-pointer from McIntosh, to take a 39-33 lead and force a Husker timeout.

Trailing 49-37, the Huskers continued to chip away, as baskets from Michael Jacobson and Tai Webster pulled the Huskers within four. NU continued to fight and was within 57-53 after a pair of Watson free throws with 5:12 remaining, but Law took over, scoring nine of his 20 points in a 16-1 spurt that pushed the lead to 19 before the Huskers made one last charge to cut the deficit to 12.

WORTH NOTING

• Seven of the Huskers' eight Big Ten games have been decided by eight points or less, including five games by four points or less. Even in Thursday's loss, Nebraska was within four with under 5:00 remaining.
• Tai Webster comes into today’s game with 954 career points to rank 32nd on NU’s career scoring list. Webster could pass Nate Branch (958), Tom Scantlebury (965), Beau Reid (970) and Mikki Moore (986) with a strong performance against the Boilermakers.
• Webster has reached double figures in 21 straight games dating back to last year. Over the last two decades, the only Huskers with longer double-figure streaks are Tyronn Lue (36, 1996-97 and 1997-98), Terran Petteway (30, 2013-14 and 2014-15) and Venson Hamilton (24, 1998-99).
• The Huskers are 1-3 against ranked teams this season following an 87-83 win at Indiana in the Big Ten opener on Dec. 28. NU's three losses to ranked teams were to Kansas, UCLA and Creighton.
• Webster has been exceptional against the Huskers best foes, as he is averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in NU's four games against ranked opponents this season.
• The Huskers will likely be without Ed Morrow Jr. for the fifth straight game because of a right foot injury. Morrow is third on the team in scoring (10.1) while leading the Huskers in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and blocked shots (1.5 bpg). In addition, the Huskers are also without reserve guard Anton Gill, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 25.
• Nebraska is the only Big Ten team with two scorers among the top-10 league scorers in senior Tai Webster (18.3 ppg, 3rd) and sophomore Glynn Watson Jr. (14.6 ppg, 8th).

TAI TAKES OVER
Last season, Tai Webster was one of the most improved players in the Big Ten, and the 6-foot-4 guard has emerged as one of the top players in the conference as a senior. Webster comes into the week averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

• Webster ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring and seventh in assists and is the only Big Ten player in the top-10 in both scoring and assists. He is also fourth in steals per game.
• He is one of eight players in Division I currently averaging 17.0 points, 4.75 rebounds and 3.75 assists per game. Among power conferences, he joins Markelle Fultz (Washington) as the only players currently at those plateaus.
• Webster is one of only nine power conference players averaging at least 20 points per game in conference play entering this weekend's games.
• He leads the Huskers with nine 20-point games, highlighted by career bests in both points (28) and rebounds (nine) at Michigan on Jan. 14. Prior to this season, he had just two 20-point games in three seasons.
• Webster is making a strong bid to join an elite club of Big Ten players. Since 1993-94, only eight Big Ten players have finished the season averaging 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, a list which includes D'Angelo Russell, Michael Finley, Evan Turner and Damon Bailey among others.
• He is the only Husker to score double figures in each of NU's 20 contests in 2016-17 and has been in double figures in 21 straight games dating back to last season.
• Webster earned his first-ever Big Ten Player of the Week award on Jan. 2, as he averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 3.0 rebounds per game in helping NU to wins over No. 16 Indiana and Maryland. He keyed NU's comeback at Maryland with 18 points, including the Huskers' final seven points, in a 67-65 win.
• He turned in a strong performance at the Wooden Legacy, averaging 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists in three games. Webster had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists vs. No. 14 UCLA and had 23 points and eight rebounds against Virginia Tech.

WATSON IS POINT OF IT ALL
Glynn Watson Jr. has continued his emergence as one of the best young guards in the Big Ten. The 6-foot sophomore enters the Purdue game averaging 14.6 points, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Watson comes from a basketball family, as his older brother Demetri McCamey was a first-team All-Big Ten performer at Illinois, but Watson has quickly made his own name at Nebraska.

• Watson is second on the team in scoring and assists and ranks among the conference leaders in scoring (eighth) and steals (second).
• In Big Ten action, Watson is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (17.6 ppg) and is also among the Big Ten leaders in steals (2.0 4th), 3-pointers per game (2.6, 4th) and 3-point percentage (.457, 11th). Most of Watson's numbers have improved since the start of conference action.
• Reached double figures 14 times this season, including seven 20-point efforts. His most recent 20-point effort came at Michigan on Jan. 14, when he had 20 of his 22 points in the second half.
• Watson carried the Huskers with a career-high 34-point effort against Iowa on Jan. 5. In that game, Watson went 11-of-18 from the field, including a blistering 7-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. His seven 3-pointers was one off NU's single-game record, while his .875 percentage was the fourth-highest total in school history.
• Keyed NU's win over No. 16 Indiana with 26 points, five steals and four assists, as he had 19 second-half points.
• Paced NU with 20 points, matched his career high with six rebounds and added four steals and four assists at Clemson.
• Scored a then-career high 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting against No. 14 UCLA, scoring 21 of his 27 points in the second half as Nebraska rallied back and cut a 15-point deficit to two.
• Keyed NU's win over Dayton with 20 points, a career-high five steals and three assists while hitting a pair of game-winning free throws with 8.8 seconds left when the Huskers trailed 78-77.
• Opened the season with a then-career-high 23 points along with six assists and five rebounds in NU's win over Sacramento State on Nov. 13.
• Has seven games with at least three steals, including three games where he had a career-high five steals (Dayton, Virginia Tech, Indiana).
  
• If Watson can keep up this pace, he can threaten to become just the sixth Husker to average at least two steals per game, joining Cookie Belcher, Erick Strickland, Eric Johnson, Venson Hamilton and Brian Carr.
  

As a freshman, Watson played in all 34 games and made 16 starts for the Huskers. He averaged 8.6 points per game and was in double figures 15 times.

•  Watson was one of five Husker freshmen to finish his initial campaign on NU's top-10 list for both freshmen points and assists, joining Eric Piatkowski (1991), Tyronn Lue (1996), Cookie Belcher (1997) and Jake Muhleisen (2002).
• His 2.44-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in 2015-16 was the best by a Husker guard in nearly a decade and the fourth-best over the last 30 years.

MORROW ENJOYS BREAKOUT SEASON
Sophomore Ed Morrow Jr. has enjoyed a breakout season. One of the "Five Most Improved Players" in the Big Ten by BTN analyst Shon Morris, Morrow has raised his scoring average from 4.1 points to 10.1 points per game on 55 percent shooting, while ranking among the Big Ten leaders with 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Morrow comes into the weekend ranked fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding and sixth in blocked shots.

• Morrow is out indefinitely after suffering a right foot injury and has missed NU's last four contests after playing just 17 minutes against Northwestern on Jan. 8.
• Morrow's 7.9 rebounds per game was on pace to be the highest average by a Husker sophomore since Venson Hamilton averaged 8.4 caroms per outing in 1996-97. Only seven Husker sophomores since the 1953-54 season have averaged at least eight rebounds per game.
• Reached double figures seven times this year after reaching double figures just four times in 2015-16.
• Earned his third double-double of the season with 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in the win over No. 16 Indiana on Dec. 28. In that game, Morrow had two big offensive putbacks in the final two minutes to preserve NU's lead.
  
• Grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds vs. Gardner-Webb on Dec. 18. It was the highest total by a Husker since the 2006-07 season. He also matched his then-career high with four blocked shots in the game.Turned in a strong effort at No. 3 Kansas, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds.
• Earned his second career double-double at Clemson on Nov. 30, grabbing a then-career-high 12 rebounds and adding 10 points and three blocked shots.
• Collected his first career double-double against Dayton, scoring 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds in the 80-78 win.
• Morrow's mother, Nafeesah Brown, was a standout basketball player for the Huskers in the mid-1990s, as she averaged 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during her Husker career. As a senior, she averaged 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in earning first-team All-Big Eight honors.

TAKING ON A CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
Nebraska has faced a daunting 2016-17 non-conference schedule. The Huskers are 9-11 on the season and have played the third-hardest schedule in the country according the NCAA's RPI as of Jan. 26.

• Nebraska's non-conference schedule ranks fifth nationally as of Jan. 26 and was the hardest in the Big Ten.
• The Huskers' Division I opponents are a combined 223-114, as the .662 winning percentage is fourth nationally. NU's remaining opponents have a .652 winning percentage.
• Last month, Nebraska completed a week where the Huskers played consecutive top-10 teams in non-conference play for the first time in program history (No. 10 Creighton, No. 3 Kansas).

HUSKERS LOOK FOR OFFENSIVE CONSISTENCY
After the Gardner-Webb game in December, the Huskers have reworked their offensive playbook. Despite having one senior and one junior in the primary rotation, NU has averaged 74.4 points per game over the last nine games despite injuries to Ed Morrow Jr. and Anton Gill.

• Nebraska is fifth in scoring offense in conference play at 73.6 points per game while ranking eighth in field goal percentage (.436) and seventh in 3-point percentage (.367).
• Since the loss to Gardner-Webb on Dec. 18, the Huskers have averaged 74.4 points per game, cracking the 80-point mark in four of the past nine contests.
• For the Husker offense, 70 points has been a magic number in recent years, as Nebraska is 43-11 (.796) in Miles' four-plus seasons at NU, including 7-3 this season.
• The Huskers are 20-3 under Miles when scoring at least 80 points following the 91-85 loss to Michigan on Jan. 14. NU is 5-1 this season when scoring 80 points and are 13-2 over the last two years when reaching 80 points.
• In 2015-16, Nebraska averaged 72.2 points per game, the highest total since the 1996-97 team averaged 72.9 points per game. It marked the first time since 2003-04 that Nebraska averaged over 70 points per game.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
With seven freshmen and sophomores in the Huskers' nine-man rotation, it is not surprising that most of the scoring and minutes have come from the underclassmen this season. Through 20 games, 66 percent of NU's minutes and 64 percent of NU's points have come from the freshmen and sophomore classes. In Big Ten play, the Husker freshman have taken on an increased burden, managing 20 percent of NU's minutes and 15 percent of the team's scoring.

LUE TO HAVE JERSEY RETIRED NEXT THURSDAY
Former Nebraska standout Tyronn Lue will become the fourth Husker to have his jersey retired when he is honored at halftime of the game against Michigan State on Thursday, Feb. 2. Lue guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA title in 2016, his first season as head coach of the franchise. Lue, who is one of 14 players in NBA history to win titles as a player and head coach, won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers as a player (2000 and 2001). After a distinguished career at Nebraska, he was a first-round draft pick in 1998 and played 11 seasons in the NBA with seven franchises.

Lue at Nebraska

• First-team All-Big 12 as a junior (21.2 ppg; 4.8 apg; 4.3 rpg) as NU reached the 1998 NCAA Tournament
• Ninth on NU’s career scoring list (1,577 career points) and career scoring average (15.9 ppg)
• Fourth on NU’s career assists list (438) and seventh on NU’s career steals list (154)
• 2013 Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee