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Nebraska coach Doc Sadler looks for a call against Missouri. The Cornhuskers edged the Tigers, 61-56, in the first round of the Big 12 tournament Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. Sadler, who is 0-4 against Kansas University in his career, will lead NU against KU at 6 tonight in Sprint Center.
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2008 Big 12 Tournament
2008 Big 12 Tournament
A video tour of the Power & Light District, Sprint Center and College Basketball Experience
On day one of the Big 12 men's basketball tournament, here's a mini-tour of the new Power & Light District, the Sprint Center and the College Basketball Experience.
Big 12 tournament
Kansas City, Mo. — Nebraska basketball coach Doc Sadler has the white flag tucked away in his back pocket. Just in case he needs it tonight when his team plays Kansas University in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals.
Sadler was elated when Nebraska beat Missouri, 61-56, in the first round Thursday night at the Sprint Center. He gushed with pride about locking down the Tigers and improving to 19-11 on the season.
He then was asked about the looming matchup with the Jayhawks, which tips off at 6 p.m. today.
"I am the happiest guy in the gym because if we wouldn't have won, we wouldn't be getting the chance to play again," Sadler said. "The happiness ends there."
Chuckles scattered. But Sadler wasn't done.
"I've gotten the chance to play them four times," Sadler said of KU. ": My question to ya'll is, do ya'll have any suggestions? Because what I've done hasn't worked."
Therein lies the cruelty of the compressed Big 12 tournament schedule. Sadler and the Huskers had all of 10 minutes to enjoy Thursday's victory before turning to the monster upcoming.
Truthfully, they deserved more. Nebraska did a solid job defensively of keeping Missouri from stealing the game late. Down 59-56 with less than a minute to go, Missouri was aspiring for a tying three-point shot but couldn't get a good look. Eventually, Jason Horton unsuccessfully drove the lane, and a Leo Lyons putback was blocked by Nebraska's Aleks Maric with 11 seconds left.
Two free throws stretched the lead to five, and all but ended Missouri's season at 16-16.
"I think it is going to take some recruiting classes, no question about it," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said of turning Mizzou around. "I inherited a team. One thing about me, I never complain about what I don't have. I just work with what I got."
Nebraska, meanwhile, is looking for something extraordinary to make up two poundings KU unleashed early in the Big 12 Conference season.
For Maric, it will be his final time playing the Jayhawks, and the All-Big 12 center's troubles with KU are well-documented. He went scoreless in the game in Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 26.
So knocking off the 28-3 Jayhawks today? That'd be something.
"It would mean a lot," said Maric, who had 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots Thursday. "I think if we're able to pull this one off, it'd be a signature win obviously."
But just in case, Sadler has the punchlines ready. He's 0-4 against Kansas in his two seasons at NU, losing by an average of 32 points per pounding. It's not expected to be too much different this time.
He said it'd take a "near-perfect" effort to knock off the Jayhawks. So yeah, he already was thinking about it, just minutes after the elation of beating Missouri.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I know this: We're going to give an effort for 40 minutes, and we have all four times we've played them," Sadler said. "It's just the score has been way out of whack.
"So I don't know. I'm happy but sad, I guess. Does that make sense?"
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Comments
lance1jhawk (anonymous) says...
I like Doc Sadler. He and Scott Drew of Baylor should have shared the COY title in the Big 12 this year. I think Doc has alot less talent to work with though.
That being said... Stand up and take your beating like a man. This will only hurt for 40 minutes of basketball. Sit back and enjoy the show. RCJGKU!
March 14, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chuckberry32 (anonymous) says...
and his tombstone shall read..."but he couldn't beat Kansas"
March 14, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
didjabuti (anonymous) says...
When I read that Mike Anderson said it would take some recruiting classes, my first thought was that he was saying he needed to take classes on how to recruit. haha. I had to reread it a few times.
March 14, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralphus (anonymous) says...
"One thing about me, I never complain about what I don't have. I just work with what I got."
Interesting. The guy just got outcoached by a mile, yet he takes time to share with the media afterward what a magnanimous fellow he is.
I'm beginning to think this guy is more like Nolan Richardson than I even previously thought.
March 14, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...
Suggestions? Yeah, forfeit the game and go to a movie.
March 14, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leikness (anonymous) says...
I think the Skers will d-up KU today...no, not thinking it will be much of a game, but it will be the best game they've played vs. Kansas under Doc.
March 14, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...
Huskers can . . . SHUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am funny!
Hi, Larry!!!!!!
Go HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SDSurferFan (anonymous) says...
Dude....this is complaining...... "I inherited a team. One thing about me, I never complain about what I don't have. I just work with what I got."
March 14, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nocaljayhawk (anonymous) says...
Mike, don't you mean you need some recruiting classes populated with guys who aren't arrested and dismissed regularly?
March 14, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BCRavenJHawkfan (anonymous) says...
I hope the KU players have not already marked this game in the win column the way most on this post have.
KU should win, I hope they win, but to go in with the attitude that this is an easy victory......can you say Oral Roberts.
From this point on every team has to be looked at as if they are the number one seed!
March 14, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
radiohawk (anonymous) says...
The beatings will continue until morale improves!
March 14, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...
"Watch out for your cornhole, bud ..."
March 14, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
digitalkookie (anonymous) says...
warm up the bus....
March 14, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldrocker (anonymous) says...
Wow, nothing like trashing your own team. "Well, we can't compete in the Big 12 with the players we've got...it's going to take bringing in some better players".
I like this guy even better than Quinn!
March 14, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
5DecadeHawk (anonymous) says...
Comments like that from coaches are very common. I agree that they denigrate the current players and are rather stupid.
Some day I'm waiting for a player for such a coach to say something like,
"We go out there and work hard. We can only do the best we can with the game plan and coaches we have. When we have gone through a few coaches, maybe we'll be ready to compete."
March 14, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lebowski (anonymous) says...
Just once, I want to see a player come out and say "I think we have all the pieces, we just have a young coaching staff... we're not complaining, but when our coaching staff gets better, we'll win more games."
March 14, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mushhawk (anonymous) says...
nice video RG. i've never been there.
could you get more of the KU stuff in the college bball experience?
March 14, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tashe2 (anonymous) says...
I think what Doc said about the game is just a ploy to get KU players to think, "oh yeah this is an easy victory" and then Doc comes out with something up his sleeve. We need to go out and play like we're playing North Carolina for the National Championship.
On a side note, Oklahoma State is beating Texas at halftime. If we can get Texas knocked off, we might cruise to a Big 12 championship. As long as we come out with our heads right. We just need to rattle off a few more and then the National Championship ... then let the party in Lawrence begin.
Rock Chalk Title Talk
March 14, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...
I've got a suggestion: Send a memo to AD Tom Osborne to start printing NIT tickets...or even CBI tickets! Rock Chalk.
March 14, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TtownHawk (anonymous) says...
everyone go here to put Danny Manning where he should be, in the top of ESPNs very biased list of the top players in college history
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsn...
March 14, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...
One more suggestion ...
BOHICA! :D
March 14, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...
Let's rip off nine in a row, fellas!!!!
March 14, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...
any suggestion??
Yes:
4 McDonalds all american plus one thought hearted guy(DJ)
And you will win over Kansas.. haha
March 14, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
darnelljackson32 (anonymous) says...
Vote for Danny Manning and Wilt!!
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsn...
March 14, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kirk (anonymous) says...
Got it. We rule. We kick butt against weak conference opponents.
Check.
March 14, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...
Look at the first place vote Danny Manning is getting...
He is overall 10th and second in first place votes beating Wilt Chamberlain who is overall 2nd and third in first place votes.
March 14, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )