cookie-miller.jpgJust for you RTD

Box Score [via Huskers.com]

Cookie Miller shed his corn rows and his ability to throw away the ball went with them.  Miller did what no Freshman has done in 25 years and had 10 assists with no turnovers in a 77-53 win against Alcorn St. in front of 8000 fans at the Devaney Center.  Miller also was 2 of 3 behind the arc after starting the season 2-16 for his best game of the season,  also adding 5 steals and 4 rebounds.

Nebraska jumped out against the Braves early posting a 19-6 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.  After shooting the ball well 10-20, Nebraska went on a dry spell from the field finishing the half 12-31 for only 39%.  Still holding on to a 36-23 lead at half,  Nebraska played a little sloppy in holding Alcorn St. to only 7-21 from the field.   When the second half started, it was the offense that picked up the D this time, starting the half 12-16 and outscored the Braves 30-10 to double them up at 66-33 with 12 minutes to go.  This is when the reserves and walk ons came out and got some meaningful playing time against the 338th ranked team in Division I ball.

Ade Dagunduro led three huskers in double figures (14), followed by Maric (13), and Strowbridge (10).  Nebraska played in a zone most of the second half and worked on some line ups for conference play which starts January 12th at home with Kansas.  That being said, let’s look at what Nebraska needs to do to have a successful conference schedule followed by a prediction.

On Saturday Nebraska worked on some zone defense.  This will come in handy for the Big 12 season for a couple of reasons.  The first is the Huskers will not have to tire themselves out running around chasing much better talent than they have faced so far this year and the second  is it will allow Shang and Maric to be on the floor at the same time.  Having Shang and Maric on the floor will only help if it is done right.  We don’t need Ping out there trying to cash in on 3’s.  Shang needs to be our mid range guy and with Miller, Harley, and Dagunduro driving to the hoop, this will only open up the un-guarded 3’s for Anderson and Strowbridge and the open dunk for Maric.  Of course moving Ping out on the perimeter as a decoy will likely bring a big body with him,  softening up the lane even more for Maric.  Playing a zone will conserve energy for offense and keep guys out of foul trouble and believe me, we will need these in conference. 

Now for some predictions……..  The magic eight ball loves the Husker’s chances this season.  Last season, Doc’s first year, Nebraska went 6-10 in conference with a little less talent and and not a full grasp of Sadler’s system.  These guys are playing great this year, with the exception of turnovers, but I feel they will have made great strides by the end of the year.  That being said, I see a 10-6 record in the Big 12 and a record of 21-8 heading into the conference tournament in March.  There they will go 2-1 and be 23-9 heading into the NCAA as a number 8 seed in the OMAHA regional.  So if you have some Creighton fans as friends, be nice to them so they give you their tickets.  CHALK IT.  The magic eight ball hasn’t lied yet!

NEBRASKA    79              KANSAS   56