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UNL men's basketball get sluggish win in opening exhibition game
Katelyn Kerkhove
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Sports
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It was obviously the Cornhuskers' first game back on the hardwood Friday night.
Taking on Nebraska-Wesleyan, Nebraska looked lethargic in the first half compared to its second-half energy.
But the much-needed spark after halftime was enough to help the Huskers pull away to a 70-50 victory over the Prairie Wolves.
"I was not happy with our effort, especially the first half," said NU Coach Doc Sadler. "To me, to not get the loose balls, to not get the rebounding and eventually get outrebounded for the game, I can sit here and give them credit and all that, but that's inexcusable."
The Husker held Wesleyan scoreless for the first five minutes of play until Brandon Arp hit a 3-pointer with 14:51 remaining. The only other Prairie Wolves able to find the basket during the opening period were senior Marcus Minzel and sophomore Ryan Thramer who added 13 and 14 points, respectively.
Up by six for a majority of the first half, the Huskers played back-and-forth basketball with their crosstown foe.
The Prairie Wolves took the lead at 26-25 with 3:11 left, but NU tied it up at 30 by the buzzer.
"We came out very slow and rusty," NU senior Aleks Maric said. "We came out strong in the second half, but still, it's not where we want to be. Obviously, being the first game, it's going to be a bit rusty on both sides, but we thought we were better than that, in the first half especially."
Nebraska's athleticism took over five minutes into the second half as the Huskers pounded to a 44-34 lead.
Forcing several Wesleyan turnovers, NU outscored the Prairie Wolves 14-4 in the opening minutes of the second period.
Maric had scored 10 points in the opening period and added 12 more after the break. His 14 rebounds gave the 6-foot-11, 275-pounder a quiet double-double on the night.
Much of the Huskers' struggles came from the eight newcomers on the squad. NU turned the ball over 13 times and was outrebounded 47-46.
Sadler played 13 different players during the contest and said that could have affected the rhythm of the squad.
The only thing that worked to get his players going was to open up the game to 94 feet, he said. The Huskers remained in a full-court defense for the rest of the contest.
"I can sit here and say that we had some young guys for the first time, but it's not the first time as a basketball player to play," Sadler said. "Our practices have been so much more competitive, and practicing so much harder than we did tonight.
"But that's what exhibitions are for. I played a lot of people, they couldn't get into a rhythm maybe, but it's the fundamental things that we've got to get better at."
KATELYNKERKHOVE@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
Taking on Nebraska-Wesleyan, Nebraska looked lethargic in the first half compared to its second-half energy.
But the much-needed spark after halftime was enough to help the Huskers pull away to a 70-50 victory over the Prairie Wolves.
"I was not happy with our effort, especially the first half," said NU Coach Doc Sadler. "To me, to not get the loose balls, to not get the rebounding and eventually get outrebounded for the game, I can sit here and give them credit and all that, but that's inexcusable."
The Husker held Wesleyan scoreless for the first five minutes of play until Brandon Arp hit a 3-pointer with 14:51 remaining. The only other Prairie Wolves able to find the basket during the opening period were senior Marcus Minzel and sophomore Ryan Thramer who added 13 and 14 points, respectively.
Up by six for a majority of the first half, the Huskers played back-and-forth basketball with their crosstown foe.
The Prairie Wolves took the lead at 26-25 with 3:11 left, but NU tied it up at 30 by the buzzer.
"We came out very slow and rusty," NU senior Aleks Maric said. "We came out strong in the second half, but still, it's not where we want to be. Obviously, being the first game, it's going to be a bit rusty on both sides, but we thought we were better than that, in the first half especially."
Nebraska's athleticism took over five minutes into the second half as the Huskers pounded to a 44-34 lead.
Forcing several Wesleyan turnovers, NU outscored the Prairie Wolves 14-4 in the opening minutes of the second period.
Maric had scored 10 points in the opening period and added 12 more after the break. His 14 rebounds gave the 6-foot-11, 275-pounder a quiet double-double on the night.
Much of the Huskers' struggles came from the eight newcomers on the squad. NU turned the ball over 13 times and was outrebounded 47-46.
Sadler played 13 different players during the contest and said that could have affected the rhythm of the squad.
The only thing that worked to get his players going was to open up the game to 94 feet, he said. The Huskers remained in a full-court defense for the rest of the contest.
"I can sit here and say that we had some young guys for the first time, but it's not the first time as a basketball player to play," Sadler said. "Our practices have been so much more competitive, and practicing so much harder than we did tonight.
"But that's what exhibitions are for. I played a lot of people, they couldn't get into a rhythm maybe, but it's the fundamental things that we've got to get better at."
KATELYNKERKHOVE@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
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