Nebraska’s basketball team has been called many things entering this season – taller, younger and more inexperienced come to mind – but ask Ryan Anderson about this year’s roster, and he’ll bring up botany.
“Have you ever seen a group of flowers of a bunch of different colors?” Anderson said. “It’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. We’ve just got to let this team develop into their own flowers and be who they are, but at the same time be together. “
Anderson knows he’ll have to step up as a more productive scorer and a key leader this year if the Huskers have any chance of flourishing this season in a challenging Big 12 Conference.
After starting all 33 games of his sophomore season, Anderson came off the bench in 17 of NU’s 30 games last season and saw his minutes decrease by more than 25 percent.
He’s not interested in talking about last year, though. Anderson has turned all his attention to his senior year and doing whatever it takes to get NU to its first NCAA tournament berth in over a decade.
“It’s a new year,” he said. “I don’t want to bring up that old stuff. I want to focus on what’s ahead of us and help this team make its own identity.”
Before he could start to help define the team’s identity, Anderson had to get a better sense of where his own game stood during the offseason.
Anderson declared for June’s NBA Draft in the hopes of finding out how far away he was from accomplishing a lifelong dream.
He quickly realized he’d need another year of seasoning. The 6-foot-4 wing wasn’t invited to any draft combines and decided to withdraw from the draft.
“I pulled my name out to focus o n school and certain areas of my game,” Anderson said. “The goal is just overall improvement. I wanted to get into the combines to see what it was like, but I take it with a grain of salt.”
Anderson spent his summer in Lincoln refocusing on his game and his goals. He decided to lose 20 pounds, increasing his speed and quickness without losing any strength, and he looked to hone the finer aspects of his game.
“I worked on creating shots for other people and not being someone who stands around and waits for the ball,” he said. “I’m still doing what I’m good at; I’m just making my weaknesses a little stronger.”
NU coach Doc Sadler said Anderson’s minutes will likely remain the same as they were last year, but the fourth-year coach said the improvements his senior leader has made since arriving in Lincoln in 2006 are clear.
“His athleticism and strength have gotten so much better,” Sadler said. “But Ryan’s pretty much been a guy who’s always led by playing hard, so that hasn’t changed. From day one, Ryan’s been a guy who’s always done things by effort.”
With only four returning scholarship letter-winners on the Huskers’ roster, Anderson knew going into the summer he’d have to take on a significant leadership role this season.
He joined the program at the same time as Sadler, so Anderson didn’t have anybody around to help him adjust to Sadler’s demanding approach to the game. He doesn’t want that to be the case for this season’s newcomers.
“I’ll be a vocal leader and help them, because Coach Doc, he has a style about him that’s not normal,” Anderson said. “It’s different, but it’s going to make them stronger, and I’m just trying to help show them the ropes.”
Anderson and his teammates will get a chance to put their offseason improvements to the test tonight against Arkansas-Fort Smith. The exhibition game starts at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
“I’m so excited, man, I can’t even tell you,” he said. “These guys really worked hard to get ready, and a lot of extra work has been put in.”
maxolson@dailynebraskan.com
