[Husker] Nebraska 82, Western Kentucky 71

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

The Cornhuskers concluded non-conference play tonight with a big win over a  
good team at the Devaney Center, improving to 11-3 heading in to Ames on  
Wednesday night.  It was the long-awaited breakout game for 6-foot-3  sophomore 
guard Jamel White.  White went for 23 points, had six assists,  got some big 
rebounds late and was primarily responsible for puttin’ the clamps  on Hilltopper 
star Courtney Lee.
 
This was a very physical game as the officials really let ‘em play  early.  
It had the feel of a tournament game.  The Huskers had to  grind it out on a 
night when they didn’t play their best, but nevertheless found  a way to get the 
job done.  Frankly, 6-foot-11 center Aleks Maric struggled  tonight.  He went 
for 16 points, had five rebounds but turned the ball over  8 times.  
 
Courtney Lee turned the ball over 9 times for Western Kentucky.  He  really 
elevates on his jumper -- you could see why Doc Sadler was raving about  this 
guy’s ability prior to the game.  But Jamel White was more than up to  the 
task.  Sadler just said on his radio show that White tonight for the  first time “
played the kind of defense that we know he can play.”  Jamel  was huge for the 
Huskers tonight and it was good to see -- he’s going to have  to be a 
consistent contributor if NU wants to accomplish their goals this  year.
 
Marcus Perry, who's been outta' sight recently from 3-point land, had  
something prohibit him from being available in the first half.  He didn't  get a 
shot off tonight all game.  Ryan Anderson returned for the first time  in three 
games, but he was hobbling noticeably and reserve Kyle Marks is also  running 
with a limp.
 
In fairness to Maric, he’s really having to carry most all of the load  
inside.  Nebraska plays four guards and a center most of the time.  He  doesn’t 
have much help.  NU made free throws down the stretch and  'finished' like they 
knew what they were doing.
 
Tyrone Brazelton for Western Kentucky and Charles Richardson were a great  
match-up at point guard.  They both wore #3 and were about the same  size-wise.  
Brazelton continually got to the hole in the second half (Doc  said he 
recruited Brazelton when he was at UTEP).  
 
I sat closer than I usually do tonight -- first row of “B” section behind  
the basket.  It’s easy to see how much “in charge” 5-foot-8 Charles  
Richardson is of Nebraska’s operation on the floor.  He’s a tough, gritty,  
experienced senior leader who’s constantly getting people in position and  matched-up on 
O and D.  He’s twice the offensive threat he used to be and  he plays about 
39 minutes a game.  Tonight he finished with around 16  points and hit the 
critical free throws down the stretch. 
 
Both teams shot very well.  I just heard that NU shot an unreal 68  percent 
in the second half.  Maybe we played better than I thought we did  tonight?  
Western Kentucky turned the ball over more than NU (who turned it  over 17 times 
themselves), but they also had a significant rebound advantage  over the 
Cornhuskers most of the night.   Still, Doc Sadler’s bunch  reflected the tenacity 
of their coach.  They are undersized on the  baseline, save for Maric, but 
they scrap and play very hard all the time.
 
There will probably be times in conference play when the Huskers lack of  
baseline size will be too much to overcome.  But their guards have been  trying 
to focus on rebounding and they’ve scrapped their way to an 11 and 3  start.  
Western Kentucky was one of the best teams NU has played to date  (did you see 
that Oregon, who NU lost to on December 9, beat #1-ranked UCLA  today?).  
 
I just heard that Iowa State, who NU plays in Ames on Wednesday night, won  
today AT Missouri.  Ready or not, here comes the Big XII.
 
Great to see Jamel White deliver tonight when his team really needed  him.
 
Dave Norris