Almost any sporting success starts with a simple concept -experience.
Freshmen aren't supposed to have an immediate impact on any team. They're supposed to show up and shut up, follow the examples set by the upperclassman, and do the laundry.
The Nebraska men's basketball team is defying this normal "law" of sports with high-flying freshmen who have helped propel the Cornhuskers to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 1992-93 season, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 71-42 on Monday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
"Yeah, I'm pretty pleased," NU Coach Doc Sadler said of his four key freshman. "You can't expect freshmen to contribute this much. They're playing way too many minutes."
NU freshmen are averaging a combined 82.5 minutes played through the first four contests.
Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Ryan Anderson led the freshman quartet with eight points.
Sek Henry scored seven points, including a spectacular up-and-under layup that brought the Devaney faithful to their feet.
Jay-R Snowbridge tossed in six points.
Kris Douse was held scoreless in six minutes but provided key minutes off the bench to help an injury-depleted roster that included the likes of sophomore forward Kyle Marks.
Anderson led the team in rebounding and steals, pulling down 10 and swiping two.
This game wasn't a coincidence - the freshmen have been carrying quite a load this season.
Shooting a combined 69.1 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from beyond the arc so far this season, the four freshmen in the regular lineup are making the most of their possessions while trying to cut down on turnovers.
Sadler mentioned the team is still having trouble with turnovers, mostly because of carelessness.
Defense is a heavily stressed aspect of Sadler's game, and the freshmen's intensity is improving.
The four are only averaging a combined 2.5 steals per game but are coming down with 8.5 rebounds per contest.
"You have to get the freshmen to understand that you have to give 110 percent on defense every play," senior guard Marcus Perry said.
The NU freshmen will get their first taste of road blood as the Huskers make a road trip to play Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday and then back across three time zones to take on Oregon in Portland on Dec. 9.
