[Husker] Huskers Host Western Kentucky at the Devaney Center Tonight

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in Lincoln.  The Cornhuskers head into their  final 
pre-conference game with a record of 10-3 while Western Kentucky comes in  to 
Lincoln with a respectable 12-4 mark.
 
Looking at Western Kentucky’s schedule and results, they beat Georgia in  
Athens, then got pounded by defending national champion Florida (no shame  
there).  They also chalked up wins against the likes of Ball State and UAB  and lost 
to Tennessee and Southern Illinois.  They lost to North Texas by  one at home 
(“home” is in Bowling Green, KY).  NU beat North Texas this  year in Lincoln 
by 19.
 
The Hilltoppers’ leading scorer, Courtney Lee, hit a three-pointer at the  
buzzer against 
Troy a couple of days ago to send the game into OT, where  Western Kentucky 
eventually won.  They average right at 80 points per game  and shoot over 40 
percent beyond the 3-point arc as a team.  They’re  coached by Darrin Horn.  One 
of his assistants is Paul Sanderford -- ex-NU  women’s coach (and very 
successful Hilltopper women’s coach prior to that) who’s  in his third season on 
the bench for the men’s program. 
 
Coach Doc Sadler was quoted in the paper today saying that Thursday’s  Husker 
practice was “the worst of the year.”  Freshman Ryan Anderson’s  status for 
tonight’s game is still somewhere between unknown and doubtful.   Still 
recovering from a lower leg strain.  NU needs him and his 14.3  scoring average back 
healthy and ready-to-roll as soon as possible.
 
Lots of talk in the print editions today about NU needing this one  badly.  
Charles Richardson, Jamel White and Coach Doc Sadler all saying  that this is 
the kind of game that can keep you out of the NCAA tourney if you  lose it.  11 
and 3 in non-conference would be a big accomplishment for the  Huskers.  The 
Lincoln Journal-Star on-line edition said that according to  Jerry Palm’s RPI, 
NU is at #40 while Western Kentucky sits at #41.
 
After tonight’s game, NU starts Big XII play by visiting Ames on Wednesday  
evening.  Conference action actually starts without us this  weekend.  NU and 
Kansas don’t begin league competition until next  week.  Today it’ll be 
Oklahoma at Texas Tech, Texas at Colorado, Iowa State  at Missouri, Baylor at 
Oklahoma State and Kansas State at Texas A&M.   Kansas plays out-of-conference 
Sunday at South Carolina.  Texas Tech,  K-State, A&M and Baylor will all play twice 
in conference before NU and KU  play once.
 
Plenty of good seats still available, I’m sure. 
 
Dave Norris