Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoFor most Kansas University men’s basketball fans, tonight’s game against Nebraska isn’t as exciting compared to playing teams like Missouri or Oklahoma State.
But don’t tell that to KU sophomore guard Nick Bahe, who hails from Lincoln, Neb. — the home of the Cornhuskers.
“I always mark this one on my calendar. I’m really excited,” Bahe said. “I know all these guys real well. It’s a lot of fun to get a chance to go and play against Nebraska again.”
Bahe, a standout in both basketball and football at Lincoln Southeast High, has even more reason to bleed the Huskers’ colors because both his father, Ritch, and his uncle, Chip, played football for the Big Red in the 1970s and 1980s.
Growing up, Bahe couldn’t even shoot baskets without being reminded of his Nebraska football ties, because he lived on the same cul-de-sac as former coach Frank Solich.
And if that wasn’t enough pressure for the 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard, Bahe’s father is an accountant and does legendary Cornhusker football coach Tom Osborne’s taxes.
Somehow, Bahe, the 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year in Nebraska, chose to walk-on at Kansas over nearby Creighton. He also declined scholarship offers from Boise State, Ohio, Bowling Green, Marist and Cal Poly.
“There’s definitely a connection there with my dad and Nebraska football, but he’s real supportive of me and he loves Kansas basketball,” Bahe said. “Obviously, they’re Nebraska football fans, but family comes first. They’ll definitely be in Kansas shirts Wednesday night.”
Perhaps Bahe’s love for Nebraska football influenced him to go to a basketball program that equally was beloved.
“Both places are rich in tradition,” he said. “I’m just so happy that I’ve gotten the opportunity now to write my chapter in the Kansas basketball history book. It’s a lot of fun and I’m glad I got to be part of it.”
Bahe — who will have a dozen or so family members and friends making the trip to Lawrence — said he hoped tonight’s game wouldn’t be similar to his best game in a KU uniform.
“Going down there I got a chance to get in the game a little bit, obviously the game didn’t go good from a team standpoint, but it was fun to get in there and make some shots,” said Bahe, who scored a career-high six points on two three-pointers last year in Lincoln when the Jayhawks suffered a 74-55 loss.
Bahe said he thought that loss would serve as plenty of motivation and warned that Nebraska, which is 2-1 in conference, was a dangerous foe.
“This is just another Big 12 game that we really need to win. You can’t win the Big 12 unless you win them all, take ’em game by game,” said Bahe, who over the summer played pickup games with the Cornhuskers and is a good friend of NU guard Jake Muhleisen, who also attended Lincoln Southeast.
“You never want to get caught looking ahead. That’s when you let one slip. We don’t worry about the next game, or what’s coming next week. I think that’s why we’re so successful right now is because we are focusing on the task at hand.”
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