Shatel: NU tougher, or flaws exposed?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nobody's perfect.

Connie Yori knows this. So do Kelsey Griffin and Vonnie Turner. And the rest of the formerly undefeated Nebraska women's basketball team.

That's why there were no tears after NU's first blemish of the season, an 80-70 loss to Texas A&M — a first loss, mind you, on March 13 in the second round of the Big 12 postseason tournament.

No mood swings. No excuses. No controversies.

Let's say this right here. Yori, the eighth-year NU coach, didn't sandbag her team's chances or pull back on the reins by resting her starters. The regulars played. And were outplayed.

Meanwhile, player of the year Griffin logged 26 minutes, but that had more to do with her picking up three fouls in the first half and a fourth early in the second half. Griffin benched herself.

In fact, Yori still had her starters playing at the end of a lopsided game.

“I didn't want to lose by 20,'' Yori said.

They lost by 10, but the only thing it changes is their record.

Nebraska (30-1) still expects a No. 1 seed when the NCAA women's bracket is announced Monday night. The Huskers still figure to start in Minneapolis, play the Sweet 16 round in Kansas City (Sprint Center) and have a decent shot at going to the school's first basketball final four.

No, Connecticut and Tennessee aren't shaking in their sneakers. But they weren't, anyway.

“Stanford, Connecticut and Tennessee are all sitting back watching this ballgame to find out if either one of us are for real,'' Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said.

What did the big three learn? Nothing that they, or anyone else, didn't already know about NU.

Nebraska plays a mean team game, built on effort and chemistry, with a very good starting five. They have to play almost perfect to beat talented, deep teams. If they let down in one area, they better pick it up in another.

The Huskers had done that all season — until Saturday. They went 22 of 59 from the field, clanging seven of 20 from 3-point range. They've struggled before, like at Baylor. But there, they made 12 3s. In other games, they've won on rebounding and defense when the ball wasn't going in.

Against the Aggies, NU was outrebounded 46-32 while allowing A&M open shot after open shot. The Aggies made 34 of 64, including some transition layups when the Huskers were caught napping.

Is that what happened here? Or did Texas A&M, one of the more talented bunches in the league, make them look bad?

And is that supposed to be an omen for later in March?

“They have more talent than us,'' Yori said. “Before the season, I picked them to win the league. We rely on the little things, team play. When they come to play, they have the talent to do this.''

What Saturday said is that Griffin has to stay on the floor. She blamed herself for the foul trouble, saying she didn't play smart. What will it be like when the NCAA refs show up? Sometimes they call the tournament tighter than the regular season.

“I think this will be good because it will take the pressure off, send them up to Minneapolis as a No. 1 seed and let Nebraska Nation all show up there,'' Blair said. “This could help because now they saw a little chink in their armor.''

Blair was more than happy to point out that chink.

“When somebody gets into foul trouble, their bench cannot just come in and play, their bench has to score,'' Blair said. “We outscored them 32-6 (bench points). They've been holding down the fort all season, coming in and making hustle plays. Now I think they have to find a legitimate scorer off that bench.''

Yori also better hope she doesn't see another inside force like Danielle Adams, a nimble big presence who dominated NU with inside position for layups and blocked shots on the other end. Chances are, she won't — until the Sweet 16.

“I'm ready to play another team,'' Yori said. “The Big 12 is such a grind. Historically, the coaches in this league say going to the first rounds (NCAA) is like a relief.''

Put it this way: Nebraska won't see a team as talented as Texas A&M again until the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight level. NU should handle the first two rounds in Minnesota — or wherever — and get to the Sweet 16.

But there, the Huskers will play two 50-50 games against teams that can end their season if there's foul trouble or they have the kind of fundamental letdown they had Saturday. If they see a matchup zone, like Texas A&M threw at them, they need to make the defense pay.

“We're a much better shooting team than we showed,'' Griffin said. “I'm still extremely excited with what we've been able to accomplish and the exciting part is just going to start on Monday.''

The perfect record is over. But the perfect ending awaits.

Contact the writer:

444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

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