It is Nebraska‘s swan song in the Big 12 as they will be moving to the Big Ten for the 2011-2012 season. For a team that has not won an outright conference title since 1916, the Cornhuskers have more times than not been an easy victory for their opponents. Our 99 team college basketball preview in 99 days continues with their last hurrah. Click here for The Sports Bank‘s previous “99 in 99” previews.
By: David Kay
Nebraska Cornhuskers (12th, 2-14 in Big 12, 15-18 overall)
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Brian Diaz (So)/Andre Almeida (Jr)/Christopher Niemann (So)
F: Christian Standhardinger (So)/Brandon Ubel (So)
G/F: Toney McCray (Jr)/Eshaunte Jones (So)
G: Brandon Richardson (Jr)/Ray Gallegos (So)/Caleb Walker (Jr)
PG: Lance Jeter (Sr)/Kamyron Brown (Jr)
Gone: G-Ryan Anderson, G-Sek Henry, F-Quincy Hankins-Cole (transfer-Pikeville College), G-Myles Holley (transfer-USC Aiken), SG-Adrien Coleman (transfer)
2010-2011 Outlook:
Doc Sadler’s program is heading in the wrong direction. After making back-to-back trips to the NIT, the Huskers took a turn for the worst last season finishing dead last in the Big 12. They lacked any real true threat on the offensive end and figure to be in the same position this season.
Junior guard Brandon Richardson is the best of the returning talent and he averaged a mere 8.9 points per game last season. Lance Jeter played well in his first season at Nebraska while swingman Toney McCray returns after missing all but three games with an elbow injury. The young frontcourt of Brian Diaz and Christian Standhardinger showed promise in their freshmen season and should provide an inside presence. The Huskers also add Oregon transfer Kamyron Brown to the roster after he sat out last season. But this group just cannot hold their own against the majority of the Big 12.
With a new basketball venue in the works and the future move to the Big Ten, the future figures to be much brighter for the Huskers basketball program. For this season though, Big 12 opponents will likely have one final field day when they take on Nebraska.
Player to Watch: Brian Diaz, C
In his first season at Nebraska, the 6-11 Puerto Rico native showed flashes of being a solid big man, highlighted by his 20 point, 9 rebound game against Kansas’ Cole Aldrich. Diaz is still a work in progress though. He needs to become more aggressive on the boards as his rebound per six minutes is pretty pathetic for a guy his size. Diaz would give a major boost to the Huskers if he could establish himself on a nightly basis and open up some space on the perimeter for the shooters.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/18 vs. Vanderbilt (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/19 vs. West Virginia/Davidson (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/21 vs. North Carolina/Hofstra/Minnesota/Western Kentucky (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)
11/27 vs. USC
12/5 vs. Creighton