When Nebraska steps on the floor Saturday to play Baylor, they won’t be playing for an at-large spot in the NCAA tournament.
The Cornhuskers are currently 17-11 and 7-8 in conference play and only one Big 12 Conference team has ever made the NCAA tournament with an 8-8 record.
Most have accepted that NU’s only chance at the “big dance” is a Big 12 tournament championship or maybe a runner-up finish.
But that’s a tall task for any Big 12 team that isn’t a top-four seed in the tournament. Those top four teams enjoy a day of relaxation as the bottom eight beat each other up on the court, hoping to advance to the next round.
So an NCAA tournament bid isn’t likely for NU, but there’s still reason for positive thinking going into the season finale in Waco, Texas.
If the Huskers win, they‘ll finish with a .500 league record for the first time in a decade.
NU’s last .500 or better season was in 1998-99 when Danny Nee led the Huskers to a 10-6 record and a fifth-place finish in the league.
Nebraska has the NIT tournament in its sights and could possibly host a first-round game at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Despite losing three of its last four games, Nebraska seems to be getting better offensively.
The Huskers have had back-to-back games with more than 70 points, although it took them awhile to get started against Iowa State on Wednesday.
“We are making a lot of shots,” said NU point guard Cookie Miller, who scored 14 points against the Cyclones. “We are penetrating and kicking, but we have to make sure we come out in the first half and throw the first punch.”
Nebraska has consistently been a top defensive team, but have struggled scoring points all season.
NU coach Doc Sadler said he’s pleased with how his team has picked it up offensively, but said points are easy to come by if players make shots. It’s the stingy NU defense that still makes him proud.
“We shot 52 percent (against Iowa State),” Sadler said. “We just made some shots and that’s what it all comes down to. I’m happy we scored 77 points, don’t get me wrong, but I’m just as happy that we held (ISU) to 61.” Baylor entered the season with a lot of hype and were expected to finish in the upper half of the conference, but have disappointed with a 5-10 league record. The Bears sit in ninth-place just behind the eighth-place Huskers.
Since the eight and nine seeds play in the first round of the conference tournament, Saturday’s game likely will be a preview of Wednesday.
Sadler said even though Baylor isn’t living up to preseason hype, it‘s still going to be a tough game.
“Baylor’s guys are talented and breaks just haven’t gone their way,” Sadler said. “I know they’re a very, very talented basketball team. If they’re shooting it, we’ll have difficulties.”
Lukenichols@dailynebraskan.com
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