Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.LINCOLN — How much time has the Nebraska men's basketball team spent basking in the glow of Wednesday's upset of No. 11 Indiana?
None.
And it's for two very good reasons. First, NU coach Doc Sadler wouldn't allow it.
"When you're 2-5, you better not," he said Friday. "I'm not saying you shouldn't enjoy it because you should. Wins are so hard to get."
Nebraska didn't exactly overwhelm Indiana. The Huskers were outshot 51 percent to 37.7 percent, and led for just 3 minutes, 13 seconds.
"So by the time you wake up the next morning, you better be moving on," Sadler said. "That's as a player. As a coach, you better enjoy it for a couple of hours and then be moving on."
The second reason for not wasting time reflecting is because of what Big Ten schedule-makers handed the Huskers (10-8, 2-5).
The next opponent at 7 p.m. Saturday is No. 6 Ohio State (16-3, 4-2). That's the team that 18 days ago demolished NU 71-40.
Nebraska wing Dylan Talley watched that night from the bench in street clothes. A chronic thigh condition sidelined him.
Since returning from a five-game absence, the 6-foot-5 junior from Camden, N.J., has averaged 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds a game. And he can't wait to get on the court with the Buckeyes.
"We want to prove to ourselves that it wasn't as bad as the last game," Talley said Friday. "It was real hard to sit through last time because we got down early. As soon as the game started, they jumped right on us."
Ohio State has that ability. Four Buckeyes have scored at least 28 points in a game this season, and not just against no-name opponents. The roll call:
Forward DeShaun Thomas 30 vs. South Carolina-Upstate; guard Lenzelle Smith 28 vs. Indiana; forward Jared Sullinger 28 vs. Iowa; and guard William Buford 28 vs. Northwestern.
The lone "slacker" in the starting lineup without a 28-point performance is point guard Aaron Craft, who has to settle for a best game of 17 points and eight assists — against Duke.
Coaches like to formulate defensive plans to stop a foe's best player or two. Sadler wonders where to start against Ohio State.
"The first thing would be to try to keep them from bringing some of these guys with them," he said. "Now, if they all show up, I don't think you can. They are all too talented. They've got pros sitting on the bench."
The biggest NBA prospect is Sullinger, the 6-9, 265-pound sophomore who was a consensus preseason pick as national player of the year. He hasn't hurt his cause by averaging 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds a game.
Against Nebraska, Sullinger had 19 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes.
"He's a very physical player," Sadler said. "When he gets it down there on the block, he's a handful. He finishes plays. He creates issues for you."
Nebraska could see hope in that Ohio State is just 2-3 this season in road games.
But the losses aren't anything to be ashamed of — 11 points at Kansas, with Sullinger sidelined by back spasms; three points at Indiana; and five points at Illinois, where Illini guard Brandon Paul exploded for 43 points.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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