Blog Entry
Pre-Game: Nebraska vs. #1 Kansas
February 5, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Big 12 Tournament Pre-game, News.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-9 (1-6) vs.
#1 Kansas Jayhawks 21-1 (7-0)
February 6 – 5 p.m. tipoff
TV: ESPNU
Nebraska heads to Lawrence, KS to play #1 Kansas at possibly the toughest place to play in the Big 12. Huskers are again licking their wounds after a disappointing effort in their loss to #11 Kansas State this past Tuesday. Kansas comes into the game on a roll with a 7-game win streak.
The Jayhawks have had 2 recent overtime scares on the road at Kansas State and Colorado. Despite those close calls, Coach Bill Self has his squad focused and at this point look to me like they’re a step above a very strong Big 12 Conference. If they can keep their focus they have a chance to run the table in conference play which has only been done once (Kansas 16-0, 2001-02).
NU leading scorers
Ryan Anderson 10.7 ppg
Brandon Richardson 8.8 ppg
Jorge Brian Diaz 8.5 ppg
KU leading scorers
Sherron Collins 15.5 ppg
Xavier Henry 13.2 ppg
Marcus Morris 12.7 ppg
Honestly I don’t see Nebraska having much of a chance in this game. In fact, it could be ugly. Since Doc Sadler has taken over the NU program they have lost each year in Lawrence (92-39 in ‘07, 84-49 in ‘08, 70-53 in ‘09). An average margin of defeat of 35 points! The only hope I see the Huskers having is if the Jayhawks happen to be looking past this game in preparation for their matchup at Texas on Monday night. But even that is slim.
So as a Husker fan what can we hope for in this game? I’d like to see this team rebound from their last performance against KSU and give a great effort. If they can play strong defense and keep Kansas’s margin of victory under 15 points, that will be progress. In the first matchup between NU and KU this season, the Big Red had probably their best game offensively. If they can come close to that and look capable on the offensive end, I’ll take that as a I sign that this team is maturing.
I know it’s not much to look forward to, but with a Nebraska team with so many freshman and first-year players playing important roles we have take every little positive as a building block for the future.
My pick: Kansas
