[Husker] Baylor 63, Nebraska 59

[nustlnorris at aol.com]

I thought that, with all due respect to the blowout losses to KU, this was the most disappointing performance of the year for the Huskers.  Nebraska shot 28 percent in the first half en route to 34 percent for the game.  Baylor wasn't much better from the floor overall, but they did nail 11 out of 22 from behind the arc.  
 
Senior Charles Richardson led NU with 16 points.  Senior Marcus Perry, who's been a very consistent outside threat this season, had probably his worst shooting night of the year, finishing one for six from the field.  Center Aleks Maric continued to struggle finishing on the inside, throwing up some rather feeble jump hooks, turning it over seven times and finishing 3 for 10 from the field.  He had 12 rebounds but he just wasn't good tonight.  Nebraska took 50 shots tonight -- 33 from behind the arc (making 12).  Baylor out-rebounded NU by 39-28.  Five offensive rebounds for the Huskers, and that's usually the way the offensive rebounding numbers have been this year.  Reinforcements needed.  
 
Sadler's radio show just concluded.  He lamented the poor shooting and said that was about the only downfall.  He took full responsibility for his team's poor play.  I thought NU's perimeter defense was poor at times, running behind instead of over-the-top of screens, allowing Baylor some real good looks from behind the arc.  But we'll go with Doc's take on it over mine.
 
NU trailed 29-26 at the half, then came out with Ryan Anderson and Jay-R Strowbridge hitting 3s on the first two possessions to put the Huskers up 32-29 and then ... sssssstt.  Baylor got up by 12 in the second half before Nebraska closed with a charge.  But they were never close enough to where they had a legitimate chance late.
 
The Huskers lost one they shouldn't have tonight.  It's been a long year with high highs and low lows.  Saturday's 12:30 p.m. tip-off with a hot Missouri team looms next.
 
Dave Norris
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