LINCOLN — Rumor has it that Nebraska's opponent Saturday night in men's basketball is 1-7 Alcorn State.
You wouldn't know it, though, from talking to Husker coach Doc Sadler, who said his focus is on Nebraska, Nebraska and nothing but Nebraska.
"That's not to disrespect Alcorn,'' Sadler said. "We've still got so much to work on as far as Nebraska is concerned that we don't spend much time on our opponents.''
The Huskers (6-3) will continue their spit-and-polish routine ahead of Big Ten play without junior center Jorge Brian Diaz.
Sadler said NU's second-leading scorer (10.9) and rebounder (4.9) will rest his chronically sore feet Saturday and could miss Tuesday's game with Central Michigan, too. A return trip for Diaz to a North Carolina foot specialist is being considered.
Sadler has promised that his team "will be ready'' Dec. 27 when NU opens play in its new conference against No. 14 Wisconsin.
The to-do list in order to be ready is getting shorter, Sadler said. Atop the list currently is offensive execution.
"At times, I think we're doing a good job of understanding what we're looking for,'' he said. "At other times, I think we've still got a lot of cleaning up to do.
"It's just the patience of understanding that good things will happen if you make one more pass. You don't have to go make a play in the first 10 seconds if it's not there.''
The execution woes have shown up in Nebraska's 3-point shooting.
In the first three games, the Huskers shot 45.6 percent (26 of 57). In the past six games, the rate dropped to 31.8 percent (35 of 110), either from shooting too quickly or under duress at the end of a shot clock.
"We've got guys who can shoot it,'' senior wing Caleb Walker said. "It's not going to be perfect, but we can do it.
"With time in the gym, guys are going to make those shots. I don't think that's too much of a worry.''
Nebraska, which in recent years has struggled shooting free throws, is hitting 76.5 percent (114 of 149). Sadler's concern there is not getting enough opportunities. NU averages just 16.5 attempts a game.
"We want to get there 20 times a game,'' Sadler said. "How do you do that? You've got to get fouled inside. But our inside game is not a game that is physical and draws a lot of fouls.''
Nebraska has worked repeatedly with the 6-foot-11, 244-pound Diaz on drawing more fouls.
"But he doesn't have the body that officials give him the calls,'' Sadler said. "And he shoots a lot of little swing shots that don't draw a lot of contact.
"The other thing is you've got to drive it from the perimeter. That's why we're setting so many ball screens. We're trying to get the ball in the lane off the dribble drive.''
• NOTES: Alcorn State's lone victory was 106-101 in double overtime this week against Point University, an NAIA school. The Braves' seven losses have all been away from home, including Texas A&M, West Virginia, Tulane and South Alabama. ... Alcorn's top returning scorer, guard Marquiz Baker, will miss the game with a broken foot. Baker scored 32 points last season against Nebraska. ... Floor-level tickets for Nebraska's home games during the semester break are available to the general public.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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