[personal] [Husker] Kansas 69, Nebraska 48

[Skylar Dodds]

I was at the game for this one, and it was still pretty close with
about 7 or 8 minutes to play (9 points).  In fact, the crowd REALLY
was getting loud and it seemed like we had the momentum, then they
come down and get a wide open dunk or a three-bomb that took the wind
out of our sails.

Really 3 things beat us tonight.  1) Offensive glass for KU.  They had
SOOO many second and third chances.  You never upset a team when they
get that many chances.  2) Dumb Turnovers.  I hate to say it, because
he is one of my favorite playes on the team, but quite a few of these
were Wes trying to feed Maric when it wasn't there.  3) Big shots.
They always seemed to hit the big 3 or get an easy basket just when we
had fought back.  Finally, I think it just broke the guys.

The score is a little misleading, Really for 3/4 of the game, it was a
pretty good game with KU up 5-10 points, but not much more. The 'Skers
just gave up in the end.

I will say, I (and from the tone of the fans I was not the only one)
thought the officiating was VERY poor.  I know Rush is a great player,
but he walked with the ball 3 times in the first half and got no call,
enough to make BC rip of the jacket and throw it on the floor.  Plus
Maric was getting hammered every time he got the ball in the post, but
no calls.  Just some really blatant missed calls all game.  I was
sitting by about 10 KU fans and they agreed that NU was getting hosed
by the officials.  Bottom line, officials did not cause us to lose by
25.  Although, if we had gotten some breaks and KU in some foul
trouble early, the boys would not have given up and it would have been
a lot closer.

-- 
Best regards,
 Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net


Hello NUStLNorris,

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 9:10:38 PM, you wrote:

Nac> Nebraska put forth a disappointing performance tonight, but these Kansas  
Nac> freshmen and sophomores aren't playing like underclassmen anymore.  They  were 
Nac> extermely impressive.  Nebraska was outclassed in about every  way.  Kansas is a 
Nac> very young team ... but man, are they talented.   I knew they were on a 
Nac> five-game winning streak, but I didn't know they were  jelling quite like this.  
Nac> They're starting to mesh -- a scary team for  the rest of this year and for the 
Nac> rest of the Big XII to deal with for  who-knows-how-long.  I was asking myself 
Nac> early, "how are we going to  stay with these guys?"  Turns out, the Huskers 
Nac> didn't.  I think  it's too early to concede the conference regular-season 
Nac> top-seed to  Texas.  Kansas goes to 7-2 (Texas is 8-1) while Nebraska falls to 5 
Nac> and  4.
 
Nac> Wes Wilkinson had his worst night of the year and Aleks Maric started  really 
Nac> slow.  Nebraska came out missing short shots and Kansas just  exploded on the 
Nac> offensive boards.  The officials "let 'em play" and THEN  some, especially in 
Nac> the first half.  It reminded me of a post-season  tourney-style officiated 
Nac> game.  But Kansas realized the way the game was  going to be called and adjusted 
Nac> a lot quicker than Nebraska did.  
 
Nac> Late in the first half, NU threatened to get back in it, but KU finished  
Nac> strong for a 32-24 lead.  Nebraska made a noticeable effort to pound it in  low 
Nac> to Maric to begin the second half.  He responded and played really  well for 
Nac> the first eight minutes or so, before getting into foul trouble and  eventually 
Nac> fouling out.  The game was called a lot closer in the second  half -- but the 
Nac> officiating offered an advantage to no one this evening.  
 
Nac> I remember NU pulling to within 37-30 in the second half, but I never  really 
Nac> thought we were going to catch this team.  The turnovers started in  the 
Nac> first half (33 percent from the field and seven turnovers at halftime), and  they 
Nac> got worse in the second.  Careless turnovers ... frustrating.
 
Nac> Kansas was very good, but it was a disappointing effort by Nebraska  tonight. 
Nac>  The Huskers had some chances to get back into it in the  second half, and 
Nac> even got some good looks, but Wilkinson missed some open  shots that you want 
Nac> him to take.  He was noticeably off tonight.  It  doesn't get any easier as 
Nac> back-to-back road games loom against Texas on Saturday  at 3 p.m. and Iowa State a 
Nac> week from tonight at 7 p.m.
 
Nac> Chalmers had 20 for KU.  Hawkins shot well and Giles can  jump 
Nac> out-of-the-gym.  Rush didn't put up great numbers, but he  did some impressive athletic 
Nac> things.  Bill Self has these youngsters  playing well.  They bring some studs in 
Nac> off the bench, too.  I thought  their point guard play was outstanding.
 
Nac> Maric was good in the second half and Jason Drousseau played o.k., but  after 
Nac> that, there wasn't much to write home about.  Blame it on the  Kansas 
Nac> Jayhawks.
 
Nac> Dave Norris 
Nac> _______________________________________________
Nac> husker site list
Nac> husker at tssi.com
Nac> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/husker