LINCOLN — Not all of the 300-plus RPI teams are off the Nebraska men's basketball nonconference schedule.
But the upgrade for 2011-12 is significant enough — including a surprise visit from Oregon, coached by Nebraska native Dana Altman — that it wouldn't torpedo any hopes NU might have of catching the NCAA tournament committee's eyes.
The Huskers are talking about breaking NU's 13-year tournament drought. That won't happen without some nonconference wins of note in an 11-game slate.
"One of our goals," Nebraska administrator Marc Boehm said, "was to put together a nonconference schedule that was going to help us build our NCAA tournament résumé if we are in that position.''
Boehm, the executive associate athletic director in charge of basketball, said an offseason survey of ticket holders also showed strong fan interest in a stronger schedule.
Nebraska will have home games against Rhode Island on Nov. 20 (20-14, 101 RPI); Oregon on Nov. 23 (21-18, 135); and Wake Forest on Nov. 30 (8-24, 258).
Road trips against name opponents are Nov. 14 at USC (19-15, 67); Dec. 4 at Creighton (23-16, 123); and Dec. 10 at TCU (11-22, 208).
Three teams on the schedule were ranked in the bottom 10 percent of college basketball last season: Alcorn State (4-24, 337); South Dakota (14-15, 316); and Central Michigan (10-21, 307).
Nebraska should learn its 18-game Big Ten schedule next week.
The Huskers will play Doane College in an exhibition game, and hold a closed scrimmage per NCAA rules with Iowa State.
NU was 19-13 last season, returns four starters and adds LSU transfer Bo Spencer, who started on an NCAA tournament team for the Tigers.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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