Alecs Maric was nowhere to be found until Monday night when Doc Sadler pushed all the right buttons. The result? 30 points on 13-18 shooting, 9 boards, and 4-7 from the charity stripe in 26 minutes. Nebraska beat Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne 79-62 at the Devaney Center in one of the Husker’s best defensive efforts this year. The Huskers shot 56% for the game while holding IPFW to 48%. The defense gradually loosened up for the Husker’s as they held them to 37% shooting in the first half while building a 42-28 lead. Nebraska forced 13 turnovers while turning the ball over 11 times themselves.
The defense has no time to pat themselves on the back as Arizona State comes in on Sunday riding a 4 game winning streak with hot shooting from McDonald’s All American Freshman James Harden. Harden is averaging 20.6 points a game while connecting on 52% of his shots. ASU also has an athletic forward, Jeff Pendergraph that can be just as explosive. Asu is 4-1 with an impressive OT win over LSU. There only setback was the first regular season game of the year to Illinois, 77-54. ASU is coming off back to back 30 point victories for the first time since 1990 and is playing some high intensity ball on both sides right now.
Nebraska has a chance at home, but must stop Harden and play some intense D. A loud crowd ( weather permitting ) and this being ASU’s first road test has me feeling pretty good about this one. I see it as a defensive battle with Nebraska winning a close one. Nebraska 66 ASU 62
November 29th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Nice first post there HB. Way to put your head on a chopping block right away with that prediction. I hope you are right though, that would be a great win for the program.
I never really paid much attention to it, but today on the Zone they were talking about how slow Maric is. Mainly how slow he looked in the Creighton game. Is there any NCAA rule that prohibits players from wearing Heelys skate shoes? Maybe somebody like Dagunduro could just give him a big shove and send him on his way!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I have said before that Maric is sometimes aloof. One minute he is dominant and the next he’s getting pushed around by a guy a foot shorter. If he shows some consistency this year he could be drafted high I think. I have to wonder if this is one of those players that will be a more productive pro than he was in college ala Mick Rucker.
I got some size 3 Heelys that might fit his toe. Unfortunately they are pink and my daughter might miss them.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Sorry, Mike Rucker, not Mick.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:34 am
@HUSKERBRAD
ya, your daughters right.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
In Maric’s defense he has been double and tiple teamed all year. He will only be effective if the others are hitting the jumper from the outside.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
@ ED
Are they double and tripling teaming him on the defensive end of the floor as well, because it would explain his less the energetic post defense, including his tired looking boxout ability. I agree withe offensive end though pound it inside make the D sag and those open shots will fall