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The basketball has a mind of its own, so says Nebraska forward Ryan Anderson.
“The ball is just going to go in or it’s not,” Anderson. “You can’t change it. You can just prepare and continue putting shots up. You just let it go and hope it goes in. That ball does what it wants to.”
After a rough start, the Cornhusker basketball team found its shooting stroke last Saturday. Nebraska converted on 11 of 20 3-pointers, far exceeding the team’s 23 percent success in shooting from behind the arc during the two previous exhibitions.
“I don’t think we have a problem shooting the ball,” Anderson said. “This team can score, man, from many different angles.”
Anderson said the Husker team has the ability to attack teams from a distance, helping spread out the floor. Anderson accounted for just one of the team’s total but said he’s not worried about his numbers.
“The only thing I can control is putting in the work,” Anderson said. “I do that from the beginning to the end, but it’s kind of frustrating when the ball doesn’t go in. You just have to be persistent and keep doing what you do, and at the end of the season, the numbers will go up. That’s how it goes.”
Coach Doc Sadler said his team’s hot shooting will need to continue during a difficult test Wednesday against the Saint Louis Billikens. Last year, St. Louis finished with a 17-13 record, including a 71-57 loss to Nebraska. Sadler said this Husker team will struggle to keep from forcing the action.
“Patience that you have to have in the Big 12 is not there, and we are going to be exposed early by Saint Louis,” Sadler said. “I know even though we’ve worked hard and want to be there, I’m concerned with being on the road with so many new guys.”
Sadler said he expects the Billikens to play very conservatively and put a premium on each possession.
“Our patience is going to be tested on both ends because they are not going to gamble,” Sadler said. “They are going to make you make shots and not give you anything easy.”
He added that his team needs to adjust early to Saint Louis’ style and work the offense all the way through. Doing that will help open up the floor for shots, according to Sadler.
“We are not good enough shooters to take contested 3-point shots, especially in the first 25 seconds of the shot clock,” Sadler said.
The fourth-year NU coach said he’s spent the past couple of weeks preaching the importance of running the offense and making the extra pass. He believes his team hasn’t reached an acceptable effort level yet, which will explain any discrepancy in shooting throughout the season.
“I think the harder they work, the better we get at executing,” Sadler said. “I’m not sure we’ve got either one consistently.”
One player Sadler will count on is Eshaunte “Bear” Jones. Jones shot 67 percent from the field on 4-of-6 shooting against South Carolina Upstate on Saturday. The redshirt freshman said he enjoyed getting out on the court after sitting out last year.
“I’ve been out for about two years, so it seems like it’s been forever,” Jones said. “I think I help the team a lot on shooting. I’m just trying to contribute like everyone else.”
Jones said he and his teammates went to practice early last week to work on their shooting before their season-opening game with South Carolina Upstate.
“It’s going to be paying off in the long run,” Jones said.
He said the other difference between Saturday’s game and the two exhibitions was the passing. Jones felt his teammates helped give him open looks at the basket. The guard said most players have a favorite spot on the floor. Anderson, for instance, loves shooting 3-pointers from the top of the key.
“My favorite spot is if I’m open,” Jones said in between laughs. “Hopefully, I’m open every time.”
michaelschaefer@dailynebrskan.com
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