Honors
**First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2004, 2005)
**Second-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2003)
**Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
**Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Outlook
Tony Wilbrand returns for his final season as one of the Huskers' top backups in the post and is working for increased playing time. Wilbrand has played in more than 60 games in his career and provides solid defense in the frontcourt. A walk-on, Wilbrand has been smart in his shot selection, as he has hit better than 54 percent from the floor over his career.
Off the court, Wilbrand has a chance to become just the sixth player in school history to earn first-team academic all-league honors for three straight seasons.
2004-05 (Junior)
Wilbrand saw action in 17 games, averaging 3.8 minutes per game as a backup center for the Huskers. He averaged 0.7 points and 0.8 rebounds per game while tying his career season highs with five assists and two steals. Despite his limited playing time, Wilbrand had another solid year from the field as he hit 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from the floor.
Wilbrand's top contest came against Utah Valley State when he played a season-high 13 minutes, his only game of the year with more than 10 minutes of action. Wilbrand hit 4-of-5 field-goal attempts, both career highs, to set a career best with eight points. He also added a season-high three boards while collecting an assist.
Wilbrand also saw significant action in Nebraska's road victory over Iowa State as Nebraska's starters were strapped with foul trouble throughout the game. He stepped up when called upon as he played nine minutes, adding one rebound and his only blocked shot of the season. The nine minutes were only two off his career conference high.
Off the court, Wilbrand continued his strong run in the classroom as he was named to the academic All-Big 12 first team for the second straight season. It was his third straight season on the all-academic team after earning second-team honors as a redshirt freshman. Wilbrand will have a chance in 2005-06 to become only the sixth Husker ever to earn first-team academic all-league honors for three straight seasons.
2003-04 (Sophomore)
Wilbrand averaged 1.0 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.4 minutes per game, including at least five minutes of action in 11 contests.
Wilbrand's field-goal percentage (90.0) was outstanding as he hit 9-of-10 field-goal attempts, including his first eight tries from the floor. He also connected on 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from the free throw line, but was one of only two Huskers not to attempt a 3-pointer all season.
Wilbrand had his best game of the season against St. Francis (Pa.) in the final non-conference game of the year. He played 16 minutes and hit both of his field-goal attempts and 1-of-2 free throws for five points with three rebounds and a blocked shot.
His performance against the Red Storm came on the heels of one of NU's best road efforts of the year. Behind Wilbrand's career-high 21 minutes of action, Nebraska stormed past Minnesota, 77-60, for the second straight season and just the sixth time on the road in series history. Wilbrand was 2-for-2 from the field and pulled down two rebounds while providing NU with solid interior play after its top two big men were in foul trouble.
During conference play, Wilbrand saw a conference-high 11 minutes of action at Missouri. He added nine minutes in the previous game against Baylor when he hit both tries from the field ? his third straight 2-for-2 shooting effort ? with one rebound and his only steal of the season.
Wilbrand played valuable minutes in NU's upsets of No. 12 Kansas and No. 25 Texas Tech. Against the Jayhawks, Wilbrand had a blocked shot in four minutes of action while adding two rebounds and an assist in two minutes of play against the Red Raiders.
Off the court, Wilbrand continued working harder than his competition as he was one of a conference-record six Huskers named to the academic All-Big 12 first team. It was the second time Wilbrand was honored, as he was a member of the second team in 2003. Wilbrand also was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the Fall and Spring, marking six consecutive semesters earning the honor.
2002-03 (Redshirt Freshman)
Wilbrand came in unheralded but quickly made a noticeable impression on the coaching staff while earning playing time in 21 contests ? the only Husker to play at least 20 games without a start. He averaged just 0.5 points and 0.6 rebounds, but did many little things on defense to help Nebraska succeed in the paint. His extra hustle led to extended playing time down the stretch, including a season-high 10 minutes against nationally ranked Texas.
On the boards, Wilbrand had 13 rebounds with eight of those on the offensive end. In conference play, five of his six boards were on the offensive end. He had a season-high four boards against Lipscomb, and added two against Texas in his only other multiple-rebound game.
Wilbrand scored the first points of his career against Ball State, going 1-of-2 from the field. He recorded season highs in made (2) and attempted (3) field goals against Lipscomb, when he also recorded his only block of the year.
In the classroom, Wilbrand earned second-team academic All-Big 12 honors, the only redshirt freshman to make the first or second team. He was also named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall and Spring Honor Roll.
2001-02 (Freshman)
Wilbrand walked on for the Huskers and practiced with the team but redshirted during the season. In the classroom, he was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall and Spring Honor Roll.
High School
Wilbrand lettered three years at Alliance High School under Coach Rocky Almond. During his career, he led Alliance to a Class B state title in 2001 and a state semifinal berth in 2000. As a senior in 2001, Wilbrand averaged 17 points and 13 rebounds per game with four blocked shots per contest. He also shot 74 percent from the floor.
Wilbrand was selected to the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska team and named the Western Conference’s Player of the Year following his senior season. He also earned first-team All-Western Conference honors as a senior.
Wilbrand recorded a career-high 27 points against Ogallala as a sophomore and had triple-doubles in the state tournament against South Sioux City and Lincoln Pius X.
Wilbrand lettered four times in track and field and twice in tennis. He was an honor roll student all four years.
Personal
The son of Cathy Wilbrand and the late Herman Wilbrand, Tony was born on May 27, 1983, and has three sisters, Joanne, Elizabeth and Theresa, and two brothers, Bill and Charlie. Tony was married to the former Britni Schutt in July 2005. He is majoring in computer science at Nebraska and is on track to graduate in May 2006. Tony was recruited to play basketball by Drake, Colorado State and Creighton before choosing to join the Huskers as a walk-on.