Nebraska scores upset win in Big 12 Tournament 75-60 over Missouri
March 10, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Big 12 Tournament Game Recap, News.
This is why they play the games. Nebraska joined Colorado today as the only teams to win a game as a #12 seed in Big 12 Tournament history. The Huskers surprised the Tigers early with hot shooting on their way to winning 75-60. NU improves to 15-17 while MU drops to 22-10 and will have to wait patiently to learn their seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Huskers were led by Brandon Richardson’s career-high 19 points. Joining Richardson in double figures were Ryan Anderson with 16 points, Jorge Brian Diaz with 10 points, and Lance Jeter’s 10 points. The Tigers were led by Laurence Bowers, who was the sole Mizzou player in double figures, with 11 points.
Turning point in the game:
- As Missouri had cut the Nebraska lead to 61-51 with 3 1/2 minutes left, Brandon Richardson answered by knocking down a 3 pointer and drawing a foul. Converting the free throw and pushing the lead to 65-51 seemed to take the wind out of the Tigers sails and the Huskers were able to close out the game.
Encouraging points:
- NU shot the ball really well today. They hit 55.8% from the floor, 57.1% on 3-pointers, and 86.4% from the foul line. Apparently they like the rims at the Sprint Center. Too bad we couldn’t have played more conference games there!
- Nebraska limited Missouri second chances by outrebounding the Tigers 33-21.
Missouri certainly added to their problems by having a terrible day shooting the ball hitting a woeful 33.9% from the floor. With that said though, the Huskers defense looked about as good as it has for most of the season. They contested shots and forced the Tigers to work the ball.
Interestingly, Christian Standhardinger did not play in the game. Unless he was suspended, I have a feeling that Doc Sadler is going to go with the guys that play the best defense. And since the offense was hitting shots, there was little need to insert Standhardinger for an offensive spark.
This was a big win for Doc Sadler and the team. Sadler improved his record in the Big 12 tourney to 2-3 and his record against Mike Anderson to 6-4 during his tenure at Nebraska. It’s been a tough season but this game can go a long way to build confidence and momentum for the players as they prepare for their 2nd round matchup with Texas A&M.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Brandon Richardson
Up next: Texas A&M in the second round of the Big 12 tournament.
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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings – 03-09-10
March 9, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Big 12 Power Rankings, News.
These are my final standings now that the regular season has concluded. What a year for the Big 12! Some great teams and great talent helped make it the best conference in college basketball, in my humble opinion. Likely 7 teams will make the NCAA tourney. I can’t wait to see how the conference fares in post season play.
Week of March 8
1. Kansas (Last Week: 1, 29-2, 15-1) KU rolled through the conference this season en route to their 6th straight conference title.
2. Baylor (3, 24-6, 11-5) The Bears were another team that turned heads with their play. Coach Scott Drew was able to meld an experienced backcourt with abundant athleticism for a 2nd place finish.
3. Kansas State (2, 24-6, 11-5) The Wildcats surprised many by having a breakout season. Great coaching job turned in by Frank Martin.
4. Texas A&M (4, 22-8, 11-5) Despite losing team leader Derrick Roland early in the season, the Aggies came together for a strong season.
5. Missouri (5, 22-9, 10-6) Mizzou put together a very good season despite dealing with some inexperience.
6. Texas (6, 23-8, 9-7) The Longhorns limped to the finish but will be ready to wipe the slate clean for a post-season run.
7. Oklahoma State (7, 21-9, 9-7) The Cowboys came into the season with the youngest team in the conference but with conference Player of the Year James Anderson, this team always has a chance.
8. Colorado (8, 15-15, 6-10) The turnaround is in full swing in Boulder. Picked to finish last by many, Coach Bzdelik should be praised for what his team was able to do this year.
9. Iowa State (11, 15-16, 4-12) Another disappointing season for ISU but they finished strong and could be dangerous in the Big 12 tournament.
10. Texas Tech (9, 16-14, 4-12) The Red Raiders have struggled down the stretch losing 7 straight games.
11. Oklahoma (10, 13-17, 4-12) OU might be the biggest disappointment in the conference this year. Riding an 8-game losing streak, this team looks like they packed it up a few weeks ago.
12. Nebraska (12, 14-15, 2-12) The Huskers were physically over-matched all conference season, but had opportunities to pick up wins. Unfortunately they finish with their worst conference record since the Big 12 began.
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Pre-Game: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State
March 6, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Pre-game, News.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 14-16 (2-13) vs.
Oklahoma State Cowboys 20-9 (8-7)
March 6 – 12:30 p.m. tipoff
TV: Big 12 Network
The regular season comes to an end today as Nebraska travels to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are a solid at-large bid for the NCAA tournament but will look to strengthen their resume today and into the Big 12 tournament. For the Huskers, they have nothing left to play for although they will find out today who their opponent will be in the Big 12 tourney.
Travis Ford has led OSU to a second consecutive 20 win season. This is the youngest team in the Big 12 but they have a great equalizer in Senior James Anderson. Anderson is the conference’s leading scorer and is the team’s unquestioned leader. He is fully capable of taking his team on his back and carrying them.
NU leading scorers
Ryan Anderson 11.0 ppg
Jorge Brian Diaz 8.8 ppg
Brandon Richardson 8.5 ppg
OSU leading scorers
James Anderson 22.8 ppg
Obi Muonelo 13.4 ppg
Keiton Page 10.5 ppg
Doc Sadler put his team through some tough early morning practices since their humiliating loss at home to Colorado. Will it have any effect on today’s game? Don’t hold your breath.
Nebraska has physically looked outmatched in nearly every conference game this season. And their play has done nothing to cover up their deficiencies. NU will finish in last place in the conference regardless of today’s outcome. The only unknown is who they will face in Big 12 tournament next week. Their possible opponents are Baylor, Texas A&M, Missouri or Texas. None of which sound like a favorable matchup for the Huskers.
The best to hope for today is that the Big Red can play well and gain some measure of respect as their season winds down.
My pick: Oklahoma State
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Colorado crushes Nebraska in 81-68 win
March 4, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
Colorado came out firing on Nebraska’s Senior Night en route to to an 81-68 win that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The Buffaloes never trailed and held a 20-point lead on two occasions in the 2nd half. This was also their first conference win in 36 games. NU cements their position in last place in the Big 12 falling to 14-16 (2-13). CU improves to 14-15 (5-10).
Nebraska was led by Jorge Brian Diaz who notched 15 points in the losing effort. Also in double figures for the Big Red were Lance Jeter with 14 points, and Ryan Anderson and Christian Standhardinger each with 10 points. Colorado was led in scoring by reserve Casey Crawford’s 20 points. Right behind him were Cory Higgins and Alec Burks with 19 points each, and Marcus Relphorde with 12 points.
Turning point in the game:
- Unfortunately the first 5 minutes of the game decided this one. Colorado came out with the hot hand and grabbed a 9 point lead. Nebraska tried to fight back and reduced the lead to 1 point but CU came right back and distanced themselves from NU.
Encouraging points:
- There was really nothing encouraging about this home loss on Senior Night. Maybe the fact that the season is almost over is encouraging.
It’s sad to see seniors Ryan Anderson, Sek Henry, and Ben Nelson go out on such a sour note in their last home game. I was very surprised that the Huskers didn’t bring a better effort on Tuesday night.
From my view in front of the tv, Nebraska’s defense failed them. Yes the offense is still pathetic and tough to watch but the defense gave up way too many easy 3-point shots to Colorado. And once the Buffs got on a roll, they seemed to make every shot they threw up. It was their night and sadly it looks like the future for CU is brighter than it is for NU.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Jorge Brian Diaz
Up next: Oklahoma State.
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Pre-Game: Colorado vs. Nebraska
March 2, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Pre-game, News.
Colorado Buffaloes 13-15 (4-10) vs.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 14-15 (2-12)
March 2 – 7 p.m. tipoff
TV: Fox Sports Midwest
Nebraska will host Colorado for Senior Night in Lincoln on Tuesday. The Huskers will look to build on their recent win over Texas Tech and send seniors Ryan Anderson, Sek Henry, and Ben Nelson out on a winning note. The Buffaloes will be looking to finish strong to get to .500 on the season and their best conference record since ‘05-’06.
Coach Jeff Bzdelik’s CU squad has improved steadily this season. They’ve beaten the Big 12 bottom feeders and even scored an early upset of Baylor. Definitely some positive signs for a program that has struggled since Bzdelik took over. One thing that has given them trouble are road games. They are 1-10 on the road this season with the lone road win coming at Division II Chaminade.
CU leading scorers
Cory Higgins 18.6 ppg
Alec Burks 16.5 ppg
Marcus Relphorde 10.8 ppg
NU leading scorers
Ryan Anderson 11.0 ppg
Jorge Brian Diaz 8.6 ppg
Brandon Richardson 8.5 ppg
Doc Sadler’s troops should come into this game energized as they’ll want to play well for the seniors. Hopefully they’ll also be able to build on some of things that made them successful in their win over Texas Tech this past weekend.
The Huskers will need to get some scoring from Anderson and Henry. Hopefully those 2 can step up when NU usually goes on their dry spells and get some clutch baskets. Aside from that Nebraska will need to defend Higgins and Burks well. If they can limit that duo’s scoring opportunities, they should have an excellent chance to get the win.
My pick: Nebraska
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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings – 03-01-10
March 1, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Uncategorized.
Kansas finally loses a conference game at the hands of Oklahoma State. But despite that upset there is very little movement in this week’s rankings.
Week of March 1
1. Kansas (Last Week: 1, 27-2, 13-1) The Jayhawks may have dropped their first conference game, but they are still the class of the Big 12. Next up: Kansas State and @ Missouri.
2. Kansas State (2, 24-4, 11-3) KSU keeps rolling along thanks to a 7-game winning streak. They’re nipping at the heels of Kansas Next up: @ Kansas and Iowa State.
3. Baylor (4, 22-6, 9-5) A strong week which featured a win over Texas A&M moves the Bears up spot. Next up: @ Texas Tech and Texas.
4. Texas A&M (3, 20-8, 9-5) The Aggies split with Baylor and Texas last week. Next up: Oklahoma State and @ Oklahoma.
5. Missouri (5, 21-8, 9-5) The Tigers drop a game to Kansas State as they head into the final week of the regular season. Next up: @ Iowa State and Kansas.
6. Texas (6, 22-7, 8-6) The ‘Horns are glad February is over as they struggled to a 4-4 record for the month. Next up: Oklahoma and @ Baylor.
7. Oklahoma State (7, 20-8, 8-6) The Pokes lose on the road to Texas but bounce back to upset Kansas in Stillwater. They’ve likely secured themselves an at large bid to the NCAA tourney Next up: @ Texas A&M and Nebraska.
8. Colorado (9, 13-15, 4-10) The Buffs are hoping to finish strong with 2 winnable games remaining. Next up: @ Nebraska and Texas Tech.
9. Texas Tech (8, 16-12, 4-10) Tech is struggling with a 5-game losing streak. They’ll need a strong finish to hold to their hopes for an NIT bid. Next up: Baylor and @ Colorado.
10. Oklahoma (10, 13-15, 4-10) The Sooners look like they’ve written this season off as their losing streak stands at 6 games. Next up: @ Texas and Texas A&M.
11. Iowa State (11, 14-15, 3-11) ISU goes 1-1 last week as they desperately try to finish with a winning record for the first time since Greg McDermott took over the program. Unfortunately it doesn’t look likely. Next up: Missouri and @ Kansas State.
12. Nebraska (12, 14-15, 2-12) The Big Red finally ends their losing streak but it may be too late to climb out of last place in the Big 12. Next up: Colorado and @ Kansas State.
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Nebraska ends losing streak with 83-79 overtime win over Texas Tech
March 1, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
It took 2 overtime periods, but the Huskers finally picked up their 2nd conference win beating the Red Raiders 83-79 on Saturday night in Lincoln. Despite poor shooting and their typical dry spells, NU pulled out the victory thanks to their free throw shooting and rebounding. The Big Red improved to 14-15 (2-12) and Tech dropped 16-12 (4-10) in losing their 5th straight game.
Sek Henry stepped up late to lead Nebraska to the win and in scoring with a career-high 21 points and 6 assists. Joining Henry in double figures were Brandon Richardson with 15 points, Brandon Ubel with 14 points and Ryan Anderson with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Texas Tech got strong scoring from Nick Okorie who had a season-high 28 points, Brad Reese added 19 points and John Roberson chipped in with 15 points.
Turning point in the game:
- Henry scored 7 straight points for the Huskers in the second overtime which gave them a lead they wouldn’t surrender. Henry has struggled offensively the entire conference season, but finally answered the bell when his team needed him the most. His effort late was the difference.
Encouraging points:
- It’s obviously good to see NU put an end to their 7-game losing streak. It’s their 2nd win in the Big 12 and unfortunately at this point I don’t think many people across the state care too much. Hopefully this helps build some confidence for the team and maybe lead to another couple wins.
- Nebraska finally found a way to get to the free throw line on Saturday. And it was a good thing too as they shot the ball poorly – 34.8% overall from the field. The Huskers hit 26 of 36 free throw attempts (72.2%) but more importantly outscored the Red Raiders by 15 points with free throws.
Doc Sadler and his team has 2 more regular season games left. So there is a possibility they could finish at .500 or above. Considering how the conference season has gone that would be an accomplishment. For Husker basketball fans the rest of this season’s schedule is all about building momentum for next season. If they could finish strong it could give the returning players some added confidence as they head into the off-season.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Sek Henry
Up next: Colorado.
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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings – 02-22-10
February 22, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Uncategorized.
Only slight movement in the rankings this week. The Big 12 looks like a lock for 7 teams making the NCAA tournament. These last 2 weeks of conference play will sort out the seeding for the Big 12 tournament.
Week of Feb. 22
1. Kansas (Last Week: 1, 26-1, 12-0) KU continues to cruise right along. They’ll have a test in Stillwater, but they should stay undefeated in conference play this week. Next up: Oklahoma and @ Oklahoma State.
2. Kansas State (2, 22-4, 9-3) The Wildcats push their winning streak to 5 games. Next up: @ Texas Tech and Missouri.
3. Texas A&M (3, 19-7, 8-4) A&M will find out what it’s made of this week. Next up: @ Baylor and Texas.
4. Baylor (4, 20-6, 7-5) The Bears look like a solid NCAA tourney team, but can position for a better seed with every win down the stretch. Next up: Texas A&M and @ Oklahoma.
5. Missouri (6, 20-7, 8-4) Mizzou should push into the Top 25 with their recent victories. Next up: Colorado and @ Kansas State.
6. Texas (5, 20-5, 6-4) The Longhorns have lost 6 of their last 10 games. It won’t be any easier this week. Next up: Oklahoma State and @ Texas A&M.
7. Oklahoma State (7, 19-7, 7-5) This week will be huge for the Cowboys NCAA tourney chances. Next up: @ Texas and Kansas.
8. Texas Tech (18, 16-10, 4-8) The Red Raider’s bubble may have burst with their recent 3-game losing streak. Next up: Kansas State and @ Nebraska.
9. Colorado (11, 12-14, 3-9) CU is looking to end their 3-year stretch of finishing last in the Big 12. Next up: @ Missouri and Iowa State.
10. Oklahoma (9, 13-13, 4-8) OU is suffering through a 4-game losing streak with a very tough schedule remaining. Next up: @ Kansas and Baylor.
11. Iowa State (10, 13-14, 2-10) The Cyclones have lost 6 straight. This week offers their best chance to grab a win. Next up: Nebraska and @ Colorado.
12. Nebraska (12, 13-14, 1-11) The Huskers finally catch a break and will not have to face a ranked team down the stretch. Next up: @Iowa State and Texas Tech.
