Husker men seek big win over conference leader Indiana

Nebraska men's basketball practices don't start slowly.

From the get-go the Huskers try and simulate an intensity that they want to start games off with, and it's key for players to kick games off with a bang.

"If you watch practice, the coaches come out and we all intense the first five minutes of practice. We come out and start getting up and down the floor," guard Toney McCray said. "And that's what we like to do because that translates to how the game is gonna be going ... to set the tone."

Nebraska will need to come out firing on all cylinders for its test Wednesday against No. 11 Indiana, McCray said, and making sure IU understands who will dictate play is a key for the Huskers.

"We're gonna try and set the tone in the first five minutes of the game," McCray said.

The Hoosiers lead the conference with an average of 80.8 points per game and a 49.7 field goal percentage.

But that offensive explosiveness plays right into the hands of the defensive-minded Huskers, McCray said.

"We were really happy with our defense and our intensity and our attention to detail really carried through in that game," McCray said. "And we're really hoping to carry that into our next game, especially playing at home."

One player the Huskers will need to keep an eye on is freshman Cody Zeller, one of 25 finalists for the John Wooden Player of the Year Award.

Zeller averages 14.8 points a game on 65 percent shooting and his overall ability will be a handful for the Huskers.

"He runs the floor as well as any big guy in the country and they do a nice job of running a lot of things and getting him the basketball," NU coach Doc Sadler said. "There's no doubt about it he's one of the best freshmen in the country and he doesn't play like a freshman."

But Nebraska is coming off its best defensive performance in six seasons, NU coach Doc Sadler said, and this week's practices have just made the Huskers look even better in his eyes.

"I don't know if we've had as good of a defensive practice all year, as far as attentiveness and intensity, as we did (Monday)," Sadler said.

Sadler also sees a squad that has the ability to beat higher ranked opponents.

Last season, NU knocked off No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 3 Texas and No. 24 Missouri, and these Huskers can win games like that just like all of Sadler's teams in the past.

"I think we've got it in us, but I don't think we've got it consistently," Sadler said. "We've been in a lot of close ballgames. My teams here at Nebraska have always competed and put themselves in positions (to win)."

And the Huskers aren't out of hope just yet. Sadler cited a Big Ten squad that went dancing last March as proof that a weak Big Ten start doesn't mean it's time to start writing a 2012 Husker basketball eulogy.

"There's no reason to be down, as I told the team," Sadler said. "You go back and look at Michigan a year ago they started out 1-6. That doesn't mean that it's automatically gonna happen, but it gives you hope."

But what Nebraska really needs is wins over quality opponents fast to pad its tournament resume. And these two ranked squads might be the perfect opportunity to get what one reporter termed a "signature win."

"I don't know what a signature win is," Sadler said. "If you look at four or five teams in this league and they're ranked, if that's what you go for a signature win, then you've got two good opportunities this week.

"But it looks like every week in this league you're going to get an opportunity to get one of those so-called signature wins."

robbykorth@dailynebraskan.com