Pre-Game: Nebraska vs. Iowa State
February 24, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Pre-game, News.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-14 (1-11) vs.
Iowa State Cyclones 13-14 (2-10)
February 24 – 6:30 p.m. tipoff
TV: Fox Sports Midwest
Something has to give tonight. A 6-game losing streak will be broken. The question is whose losing streak will come to an end? Both Nebraska have struggled mightily in the Big 12 this season and are battling to stay out of the conference cellar.
Iowa State has had a tough time this year. They had fairly high expectations coming in, but injuries and a player leaving have left them hurting. Coach Greg McDermott has yet to finish with a winning record in his 3 previous seasons at ISU. And it doesn’t look likely that they’ll get above .500 this year either.
NU leading scorers
Ryan Anderson 11.1 ppg
Jorge Brian Diaz 8.6 ppg
Brandon Richardson 8.5 ppg
ISU leading scorers
Craig Brackins 16.5 ppg
Marquis Gilstrap 14.4 ppg
Diante Garrett 8.8 ppg
Coach Doc Sadler has suspended Eshaunte Jones and Quincy Hankins-Cole for tonight’s game due to some academic issues. So the Huskers bench will be a little shorter than usual.
Nonetheless this game is a big one for both teams. Niether one wants to be the worst team in the Big 12, but lose this one and that’s pretty much how you’ll be labeled. Nebraska has to play hard despite the tough atmosphere that awaits them in Ames. A big focus for NU will be to limit opportunities for Brackins and Gilstrap. They can’t afford to give up offensive rebounds that lead to extra attempts.
This is going to be a very competitive game. The Cyclones won a close one in Lincoln back in early January, so the Huskers will want some payback. I think we’ll see a very focused Husker team that finally puts together a strong second half and gets a much needed win.
My pick: Nebraska
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Wildcats survive scare from Huskers 91-87
February 18, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
It’s amazing what good shooting can do for you. Nebraska nearly pulled an upset of #7 ranked Kansas State on Wednesday night. In the end though, KSU held on for a 91-87 victory to improve to 21-4 (8-3) while NU falls to 13-13 (1-10).
Nebraska had 4 guys in double figures for the first time in Big 12 play this season. Leading the way was Ryan Anderson with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Also in double figures was Brandon Richardson with 15 points, Lance Jeter with 12 points (and 12 assists), and Eshaunte Jones with 11 points. Scoring leaders for Kansas State were Denis Clemente and Dominique Sutton each with 21 points.
Turning point in the game:
- Nebraska made a great late push to have a chance at the end but the turning point was really the 6 1/2 minute stretch where the Huskers had their typical scoring drought in the second half. NU jumped out of the gates in the 2nd half grabbing an early 9 point win. But then the Wildcats ratcheted up their defense and went on a 15-0 run to grab control of the game.
Encouraging points:
- Nebraska shot the ball so well, I couldn’t recognize this team. They hit 58% from the floor overall and an amazing 14-21 (67%) on 3s. When you shoot like that, you have a chance to win.
- Lance Jeter had his best game as a Husker. He shot the ball well and was looking to make plays for his teammates. He had a career-high 12 assists.
- Glad to see that the Huskers haven’t given up. They played hard and pushed Kansas State.
So close. NU had a chance at the end but couldn’t convert. Unfortunately turnovers and foul trouble did them in. Richardson and Jeter both fouled out late. This was partially due to Doc Sadler’s late game strategy to put KSU on the line. The Wildcats responded hitting their free throws (80% for the game), but losing 2 starters put the Huskers in a tough situation with some inexperienced players on the court for the last shot.
Nebraska’s losing streak now hits 5 games. It’s the second 5-game losing streak of the season, both in conference play. Not good. Hopefully this game will be a springboard for NU, giving them some confidence as they head into their last 5 games. There are some winnable games on the remaining schedule, but they have to play well to get them.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Lance Jeter
Up next: Missouri.
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Nebraska snatches defeat from the clutches of victory in 55-53 loss to Baylor
February 11, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
When looking for reasons why they lost 55-53 to Baylor, Nebraska only has to look in the mirror. The Huskers held a 3 point lead with 2:00 minutes left, but failed execution on offense allowed the Bears reclaim the lead and sneak out of Lincoln with a win. NU loses it’s third straight game to drop to 13-11 (1-8). BU improves to 18-5 (5-4) to stay in the upper half of the Big 12.
Nebraska was led in scoring by Myles Holley who came off the bench with a career-high 11 points. Joining Holley in double figures were Brandon Richardson and Eshaunte Jones who each had 10 points and also came off the bench for NU. Baylor was led by LaceDarious Dunn’s 19 points. Also key to the Bear’s win was Ekpe Udoh who finished with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks.
Turning point in the game:
- With a little over 1 minute remaining in the game, the Huskers holding a 53-52 lead and the ball, Richardson secured an offensive rebound and called timeout to preserve the possession. Out of the timeout, NU looked to run some clock and get a good shot or foul. It didn’t happen. The Big Red looked unorganized and ended up with a long distance 3-point attempt from Lance Jeter that missed badly. From there, Baylor converted a field goal and a free throw to seal the deal.
Encouraging points:
- You have to like how Myles Holley played on Wednesday night. He brought a lot of energy, had a couple of dunks and also converted a 3-point play late in the game. If he could get his knees healthy, he could refine his game over the next couple of seasons and become a very good role player for the Husker team.
- The Nebraska bench played well against Baylor. The bench outscored the Bears’ bench 37-7.
Let’s be honest, the outcome of this game felt like a punch in the gut. Nebraska had the game right where they wanted it and looked like they were in position to win. Poor execution on offense simply gave the game away. I’m not sure if the Huskers problems on offense are due to the young and inexperienced roster or Doc Sadler. But I’m guessing it’s a combination of both.
NU played well enough to win this game. They shut down Baylor’s offense, had only 3 turnovers and had a great plan attacking the Bears’ 2-3 zone which led to many open shots. The problem was that they couldn’t hit those shots and finished shooting a dismal 31.6% overall and a miserable 19% from 3’s for the game.
Also disappointing was the lack of production they received from senior starters Ryan Anderson and Sek Henry. Neither Anderson or Henry scored a point and shot a combined 0-6. This is almost unbelievable for the team’s senior leaders to not score and not even get to the free throw line. These 2 have to step it up over the final 8 games of the season.
I mentioned the bench play earlier. Not only did they outscore Baylor’s bench but they outscored Nebraska’s starters 37-16. Are the wrong players starting for the Huskers? It’s easy to make the argument that Brandon Richardson could start and possibly Eshaunte Jones or Quincy Hankins-Cole.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Myles Holley
Up next: at Texas
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Pre-Game: Baylor vs. Nebraska
February 10, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Pre-game, News.
Baylor Bears 17-5 (4-4) vs.
Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-10 (1-7)
February 10 – 8 p.m. tipoff
TV: ESPN2
Nebraska returns home to face their 3rd straight ranked opponent in the Baylor Bears. The Bears are currently ranked 24th in the AP poll. The Huskers and the Bears are both coming off road losses last Saturday. NU lost by 11 at Kansas while BU lost by 7 at Texas A&M.
Baylor has had some difficulties on the road in the Big 12 this season. They have a 1-3 road record in conference play. The lone win came in overtime over then #6 Texas in Austin. The Bears have also struggled at the Devaney Center going 1-4 in Lincoln since the start of the Big 12.
Coach Scott Drew has his program on the rise with an influx of talent that has led to 2 consecutive 20-win seasons and likely a 3rd this season. They’ve benefited this season from strong guard play, a 2-3 defense that has stymied many opponents and excellent rebounding.
BU leading scorers
LaceDarius Dunn 18.7 ppg
Tweety Carter 16.7 ppg
Ekpe Udoh 14.1 ppg
NU leading scorers
Ryan Anderson 10.7 ppg
Jorge Brian Diaz 9.0 ppg
Brandon Richardson 8.4 ppg
The question for Nebraska is can they build on their performance at Kansas? The Huskers came close in Lawrence but the offense dried up again in the later half of the 2nd half. But the defensive effort was improved and kept them in reach of the Jayhawks. That game could be the confidence booster this team needs.
Unfortunately the problem for Nebraska is that Baylor brings their 2-3 zone which NU doesn’t get to see that often. To have a chance, they’ll have to shoot well from behind the 3-point line. Look for Eshaunte Jones with his outside shooting ability to play a major role in this game. Although the Huskers are one of the top outside shooting teams in the Big 12, they can’t get too trigger happy and ignore getting the ball inside.
The Bears are strong inside and have very good size, but Nebraska could do some damage if they can somehow get Udoh or Josh Lomers into foul trouble. Obviously this is no easy task.
I think this game could be very close with both defenses making it difficult to put up points. Unfortunately, I think Baylor’s athleticism and 2-3 zone will cause too many dry spells for the Huskers offense leading to NU’s 3rd straight loss.
My pick: Baylor
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Kansas pulls away in 2nd half for 84-72 win over Nebraska
January 13, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
The Huskers gave a good effort, but in the end had no answer for the Jayhawks depth. An 8-0 run and a 7-0 run by Kansas in the 2nd half were too much as KU won 84-72. This was the 13th consecutive win for Kansas over Nebraska. NU drops to 12-5 (0-2) on the season.
Nebraska was led by Brandon Richardson’s career-high 18 points, which included 3-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Joining him in double figures were Jorge Brian Diaz with 15 points on 7-10 shooting and Eshaunte Jones with 12 points on 4-11 shooting on 3’s. Kansas was led by Sherron Collins who had 22 points and Marcus Morris came off the bench to add 19 points.
Turning point in the game:
- NU held a slim 44-43 lead at half and traded leads with KU through the first half of the 2nd half. But Kansas’s 8-0 run a the 11:00 mark gave them a lead they would not surrender. The Huskers did a nice job limiting Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, but Morris’s effort off the bench was a back breaker.
Encouraging points:
- This game may have been Jorge Brian Diaz’s coming out party. He shot well in a variety of spots in the post against pre-season All-Big 12 center Cole Aldrich. Diaz really has a nice finesse game in the post and seems to have good basketball IQ. For a freshman, the sky is the limit.
- Nebraska did a lot of things that were necessary to have a chance in this game. Only 9 turnovers, they hit 11 of 21 (52.4%) 3-pointers, they also got to the free throw line and hit 15 of 21 (71.4%). But they lost the rebounding battle 30 to 17 and couldn’t keep Kansas from draining shots. KU hit 61.9% on 3-pointers and 57.8% overall.
This game had potential to be ugly for the Huskers with Kansas coming off their first loss but they came out with a lot of energy. They hit some shots early and gained confidence. They really looked good in the first half and went basket for basket with Kansas.
Doc Sadler really tightened down his rotation playing only 7 guys. Brandon Ubel and Quincy Hankins-Cole were notably absent from the lineup. Once Diaz got into foul trouble, Christian Standhardinger played the 5 spot. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with Ubel or Hankins-Cole rather Doc is trying to put his best players on the court. So far this season, they haven’t shown much offensively and haven’t shown to be strong rebounders either.
It’s intriguing with the short bench, because Nebraska was going with a 4 guard lineup for most of the night against a Kansas team with talent and size. But it worked for one half. To some degree it looks like we get an extra punch offensively but give up a little on defense. Knowing how important defense is to Doc, we’ll see if he continues with this rotation.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Brandon Richardson
Up next: Nebraska faces a must-win against Iowa State in the Devaney Center this Saturday at 8 p.m.
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McNeaill backs out of commitment to Nebraska
January 13, 2010 by Bret Nellor, under 2010 Recruiting Class, News, Recruiting.
The Lincoln Journal Star reported earlier this week that point guard Kenyon McNeaill has decided to back out of his oral committment to NU and explore his options.
McNeaill mentioned that he didn’t see much playing time available for him since the Husker’s younger guards seemed to be playing well. The guards who will be back next year should include Lance Jeter, Brandon Richardson, Ray Gallegos, Eshaunte Jones, and walk-on Drake Beranek who is sitting out this season to satisfy NCAA transfer guidelines.
I can see where McNeaill is nervous about his playing time possibilities. The competition will be fierce for time between those 5 next year. But I also think it says something about how McNeaill views himself. While I like our collection of perimeter players, nobody is confusing them for NBA caliber players. If he doesn’t believe that he’s good enough to find a spot in the rotation, then he’s probably not going to be the kind of player the Nebraska wants.
Doc Sadler’s reclamation project with NU, looks to be on its way and is arguably a quality point guard away from being special in the next couple of seasons. We’re young and we finally have some size with Jorge Brian Diaz at 6-11, Brandon Ubel at 6-10, Chirstopher Niemann at 6-10, and incoming junior college transfer Andre Almeida at 6-10. Plus forwards Quincy Hankins-Cole at 6-8, Christian Standhardinger at 6-8, and Toney McCray at 6-6. And some decent outside shooting guards in Jones, Richardson, and Gallegos. A difference-making point guard could push the Huskers over the top.
McNeaill’s back-out opens up a scholarship for the 2010 class. Also, with Adrien Coleman’s departure from the team at the semester break that should give Doc 2 scholarships to fill for the 2010 class.
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BYU spanks Nebraska 88-66
December 24, 2009 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
BYU jumped on Nebraska from the start and cruised to an easy win 88-66 to take the Las Vegas Classic Championship. The Cougars built a 32 point lead in the first half to seal this game early.
NU falls to 9-3 on the season with this loss. With Ryan Anderson sitting this game out with a foot injury sustained in yesterday’s win over Tulsa, Nebraska had no answer for BYU. The Huskers were led by Eshaunte “Bear” Jones who finished with 21 points on 5-7 3-point shooting. Brandon Richardson also came off the bench to add 13 points. Jimmer Fredette poured in 24 points and Jackson Emery added 23 points in the win for the Cougars.
Turning point in the game:
- Unfortunately this game was over nearly as soon as it started. Nebraska came out flat and could not match BYU’s intensity or effort. They allowed the Cougars to grab a 37-5 lead by the 8:45 mark of the first half.
Encouraging points:
- Eshaunte Jones had real nice game off the bench. He shot the ball very well form behind the arc, hit 4-4 free throws and added 3 rebounds. He led the team in scoring for the second straight game and has now had a couple of good games where he comes off the bench to provide a good spark offensively for this team. The key issue for him is can he stay healthy for the duration of the season.
Doc Sadler can use this game as a wake-up call for the younger players on this team about the importance of being prepared to play well and matching the opponent’s intensity. The margin for error is thin for this team, and when they don’t bring their best effort this is what can happen.
With his absence, it was apparent how important Ryan Anderson is for this team. His senior leadership provides a calming effect. He also steps up and makes senior plays such as a big shot, rebound, steal, or taking a charge. All those things were missed tonight.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Eshaunte “Bear” Jones
Up next: Nebraska will enjoy 6 days off before facing Southern Utah at home.
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Nebraska hits key free throws to beat Tulsa 74-70
December 22, 2009 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
Brandon Richarsdon sank 6 out of 6 free throws in the final 18 seconds to ice Tulsa’s comeback hopes in a 74-70 Nebraska win in the first round of the Las Vegas Classic. It’s a nice win for the Huskers against a Tulsa team that was sitting just outside the Top 25.
With the win NU improves to 9-2 on the season. Eshaunte “Bear” Jones led a balanced offensive effort for Nebraska with 12 points on 4-5 shooting behind the 3-point line. Also in double figures were Ryan Anderson and Brian Diaz with 11 points. In all, 7 Huskers scored 8 or more points. Senior Ben Uzoh led the Golden Hurricanes with 23 points and nearly willed them to victory.
Turning point in the game:
- Nebraska had built a 13 point lead in the second half only to survive a late surge by Tulsa. If not for Richardson’s clutch free throw shooting at the end, this game could have easily gone the other way.
Encouraging points:
- Nebraska faced an experienced Tulsa team with NBA prospect Jerome Jordan at center and did all the things needed to come away with the win. The Huskers grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and won the battle of the boards 30-24. They took care of the ball only committing 11 turnovers to Tulsa’s 13. They also made 12 of 16 free throws (75%) to help their cause.
- The effort the Huskers put together defensively against Jordan was encouraging. The seven foot center wasn’t a big factor despite nearly getting a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Brain Diaz had a very good game against Jordan with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Diaz is showing he has the potential to be a quality big man for NU. I’m going to give him a pass on his airballed free throw attempt in the final minute. Hopefully that’s the last time we’ll see that.
- Ryan Anderson provided senior leadership with another strong all-around game with 7 rebounds and 4 steals to go along with his 11 points.
This was the kind of game that can really help this young Nebraska team build confidence and momentum heading into Big 12 play. They had strong contributions from all 9 players who played significant minutes. And they showed the kind of mental toughness needed to close out a game against a good opponent. By the time conference play begins this team will be no stranger to close games and should be well prepared to handle the pressure those type of games will bring.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Brandon Richardson
Up next: Nebraska takes on BYU in the championship game of the Las Vegas Classic on Wednesday.
