LINCOLN, NEB. ? It looks as if it’s the NIT or nothing for Nebraska University’s men’s basketball team.
The Cornhuskers (13-13, 6-7 Big 12) suffered a crushing 65-64 loss to Texas Tech on Wednesday night before just 2,500 fans at the Red Raiders’ United Spirit Arena. That loss will not impress NCAA Tournament committee members.
“It’s really disappointing but we have games to play,” first-year NU coach Barry Collier said. “I think too much is put on, ‘We’re heading to the postseason,’ when we win one game, and then we’re the lowest dredge of the Earth when we lose the next game.
“We are who we are and we’re consistently inconsistent.”
What it all means, of course, is the Jayhawks (20-5, 9-4) will be meeting a fired-up Husker squad today (2:30 p.m., Devaney Center) that’s fighting for its postseason life.
A loss would effectively halt all hopes of a late NCAA bid, unless of course, NU wins the Big 12 tournament and gains the league’s automatic entry.
The Huskers, 7-5 at home this year, will play host to a KU team that’s dropped three straight road games.
“That happens a lot to us,” KU coach Roy Williams said of other teams giving KU its best shot.
NU has put standing-room only tickets on sale.
“We do have to understand they will be enthused,” Williams added. “We’ve had some big crowds on the road this year and it’ll continue to be that way. It’s something our kids understand and something we talk about a heck of a lot.”
Williams wants his players to concentrate on the game, not on the building they are playing in. And Nebraska presents problems for a KU team still without forward Drew Gooden (wrist injury).
NU’s Kimani Ffriend (6-foot-11, 220) and Steffon Bradford (6-6, 240) average 13.7 points and 12.7 points a game respectively with 8.0 and 8.1 boards-per-game averages.
“Nebraska is physical. It’s a concern for us for sure. With their big people up front Steffon Bradford and Kimani Ffriend you can get in foul trouble. They do shoot a lot of free throws,” Williams said.
“So much of their offense goes through their big guys. Kimani is shooting as many free throws as anybody in the league. It means somebody is fouling him. It’s a big worry.”
Ffriend has hit 85 of 190 free throws for 44.7 percent. Bradford has made 69 of 119 charities for 58 percent. Ffriend leads the Big 12 in blocks at 2.96 a game.
“They are strong inside and guys like Cochran (Cary, 67 of 140 threes) can really shoot it from the outside. They’re going to be tough, especially at home,” KU guard Jeff Boschee said. “It’s going to be another big test for us.”
NU’s Ffriend says the Huskers are improved under Collier. Veteran NU coach Danny Nee was fired after last season and replaced by the long-time Butler coach.
“I feel better about this team,” Ffriend told the Lincoln Journal-Star. “When we lost last year, we just lost. It was so hard, nobody cared. This year when we do lose we know we left it on the court. We know we can beat any team on a given night.”
Bradford agrees the Huskers are better than last year’s 11-19 club.
“Last year it was night every day. We never saw the sun,” Bradford said. “Now it’s more like a little rain here and there, but you’ve just got to get yourself dry and look forward to the sun. This time we’re forcing the sun to come out. Last year we didn’t have any say-so.”
Collier’s Huskers suffered a 84-62 defeat on Jan. 17 at Allen Fieldhouse. Kenny Gregory hit 10 of 19 shots for 20 points. Nick Collison had six blocks. Cochran scored 17 points and dished seven assists for NU.
“Kansas is coming in as one of the best teams in the country and we will have to play our best game in order to win,” Collier said. “Kansas is strong inside even with the players they have. One of our goals is to learn from last time we played them.”
“We have to make smart decisions,” gaurd Rodney Fields said. “Kansas likes to speed the game up, but we can’t turn the ball over. If we are in the game come second half, it’ll be a dogfight.”
After all, NU is playing for the postseason.
“I’m a senior, and I know the other seniors on this team fully expect to play after the regular season. I think you’ll see a different team on Sunday,” Fields said.
The Jayhawks will meet Kansas State at 8:05 p.m. next Wednesday in Manhattan.
