Nebraska Cornhuskers
Overall Rank: #104
Conference Rank: #10 Big Ten
Nebraska Team Page
2010-11: 19-13, 7-9
2010-11 postseason: NIT
Coach: Doc Sadler (89-71 at Nebraska, 137-89 overall)
Coach Doc Sadler has done a superb job turning Nebraska into a relatively consistent program. Their level of consistency is not yet where they hope, but consistently making the NIT is not a bad thing. The Cornhuskers have gone to the NIT in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Making the move to the Big Ten will not make it any easier to earn an NCAA berth, but another postseason berth is certainly obtainable.
Who’s Out:
With the graduation of Lance Jeter, Nebraska has lost their leader. He topped the Cornhuskers with 11.7 points, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals. He made the offense go and he took a majority of the big shots for Coach Sadler’s team during the 2010-2011 campaign. He was the defensive stopper and the heart and soul of the team. Replacing him will not be easy. Losing fellow guards Drake Beranek, Eshaunte Jones and Matt Karn does not make things any better. Beranek always worked hard and earned quite a few minutes during his senior season and Jones was a nice shooter off of the bench, but opted to transfer.
Who’s In:
For a team that lost just a few players, the list of newcomers is a big one. Bo Spencer highlights the group. The senior transfer from LSU averaged 14.5 points and 2.7 assists two years ago for the Tigers and should step right into a starting role for Nebraska. The backcourt will also get the services of redshirt freshmen Trevor Menke and Kye Kurkowski. Corey Hilliard, Josiah Moore and David Rivers will find it difficult to separate themselves from the pack as incoming freshmen, but they are not a bad group of true freshmen. They just have a lot of competition this season. Dylan Talley is a newcomer who will likely rise above the rest. Talley was rated by many as one of the best junior college transfers heading to the Division I ranks in 2011 and should immediately provide a nice offensive threat off of the bench. The big guys could use some depth and redshirt freshman Kye Kurkowski and junior college transfer Marshall Parker will have to provide some of it.
Who to Watch:
Despite the loss of Jeter, the Cornhuskers have plenty of guards with starting experience. That is what happens when a team runs a four guard offense at times. Brandon Richardson was Jeter’s backup at the point last season and the starting two guard. He is not a great scorer or shooter, so if he can run the point effectively, he will start there. Spencer can run the point as well, but Spencer is a better scorer and ideally would work off of the ball. Caleb Walker is a 6-4 wing who can attack the basket and hit the glass. His size and versatility earned him a regular starting job, but that could change this year if the Huskers play bigger. At times they will play small and that is when Walker’s ability to hit the glass will be most useful. Ray Gallegos will have to battle it out with the newcomers for minutes off of the bench. The most intriguing guard is Toney McCray. The 6-6 wing is another reason Nebraska could pull off playing four guards. He is big enough and strong enough to defend most power forwards. On the other end of the floor he can run right past most defenders. McCray is also a fine outside shooter and could be in for a huge season if he starts taking more shots and aggressively attacking the basket.
Final Projection:
Thanks to the emergence of sophomore Brandon Ubel, Nebraska can put a more traditional team out on the floor. Against many Big Ten opponents, that will be necessary. At 6-10 and 240 pounds, Ubel is a big power forward. His offensive game is still developing, but the end of his sophomore campaign was very promising. The leader of the frontcourt will be Jorge Brian Diaz. The 6-11 junior averaged 10.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks during 2010-2011. When Ubel and Diaz are hanging out in the paint, the opposition will not find it easy to get anywhere near the basket. The problem is the lack of depth in the frontcourt. Andre Almeida can eat up 15 to 20 minutes per game, but otherwise Nebraska will have to rely on a couple newcomers or play small.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
Projected Starting Five:
Brandon Richardson, Senior, Guard, 6.4 points per game
Bo Spencer, Senior, Guard, DNP last season
Toney McCray, Senior, Guard, 8.5 points per game
Brandon Ubel, Junior, Forward, 6.1 points per game
Jorge Brian Diaz, Junior, Center, 10.5 points per game
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