Two of the hottest teams in the Big 12 Conference will square off Saturday when Nebraska takes its three-game winning streak to Oklahoma State.
The Cornhuskers (17-9, 6-7) are shooting for their first four-game league winning streak since 1999. Nebraska's current winning streak includes victories over two previously ranked teams (Kansas State and Texas A&M), followed by Wednesday night's 63-45 home victory against Oklahoma.
Perhaps the key ingredient to the recent surge has been Nebraska's offensive improvement. The Huskers are shooting 53.3 percent in their last three games and have topped the 50-percent mark from the field in each of those outings.
Why the sudden improvement?
"We are really spending probably 90 percent of our time probably on offense," Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said. "We've got a lot of new guys out there and you don't want to hear that, but as we've said all along, junior college players struggle into late January I don't care what program it is."
Junior college transfer Steve Harley is a perfect example. After a relatively quiet start this season, Harley has shot 65.5 percent (19-of-29) over the past three games and his 17-point outing against Oklahoma gave him six double-figure scoring games in his past seven outings.
Nebraska's veterans have also come around of late. Senior center Aleks Maric is shooting 73.7 percent during the Huskers' streak.
"We're taking open shots, we're taking our time, we're executing and being efficient," Maric said.
Sadler said increased patience and awareness have been key. He said the Huskers have displayed better shot selection and are learning how to better take advantage of having Maric in the low post.
"We're just using Aleks better and taking our time, realizing what's a good shot and what's a bad shot," Nebraska guard Ade Dagunduro said. "Early on, we were taking some bad shots early in shot clock and that was getting us into trouble. Now, I think everybody is more relaxed and knows what's a good shot and what's a bad shot and is taking good shots."
With the 6-11 Maric becoming more effective inside, Sadler said new opportunities have come about for his teammates.
"We've just started doing a really good job moving and cutting to the basket," Sadler said. "One of the oldest plays in basketball is the give-and-go and that's hard to guard, especially if the post guys are going to defend your post guys aggressively. Our guys are starting to understand that everybody likes to score and that's an opportunity, maybe, to score."
Although Nebraska struggled early in conference play, Sadler said he didn't lose confidence in the Huskers' ability to score.
"I've said from day one that we're a decent-shooting basketball team, but if you take 40-percent shots, you're going to be a 40-percent shooter," Sadler said. "And if you take 50-percent shots, you're going to be a 50-percent shooter and I think we're taking 50-percent shots now."
Game notes
* Since Jan. 27, Nebraska's 6-3 mark in conference play is only bettered by Texas (8-1). Oklahoma State, which has won five of its last six, has the league's third-best mark in that span, going 5-3.
* The Huskers' longest conference winning streak since the formation of the Big 12 for the 1996-97 was six games to end the 1998 season the last year Nebraska made it to the NCAA Tournament.
* Nebraska owns a 62-50 lead in the all-time series against Oklahoma State. The Huskers have won three of the last four meetings, but are 15-30 in Stillwater, Okla.
Starting Lineups
Nebraska (17-9, 6-7) Yr. Ht. Ppg. Rpg.
G Sek Henry So. 6-3 5.9 3.2
G Steve Harley Jr. 5-11 8.7 2.6
G Ade Dagunduro Jr. 6-5 8.5 3.9
G Ryan Anderson So. 6-4 9.0 5.6
C Aleks Maric Sr. 6-11 15.9 9.9
Oklahoma St. (15-12, 6-7) Yr. Ht. Ppg. Rpg.
G Byron Eaton Jr. 5-11 11.4 *3.2
G Terrel Harris Jr. 6-5 10.6 4.3
G Obi Muonelo So. 6-5 9.7 3.3
F Marcus Dove Sr. 6-9 9.6 5.5
C Ibrahima Thomas Fr. 6-11 5.8 4.2
*-Assists per game
WHEN: Saturday, 12:47 p.m.
WHERE: Gallagher-Iba Arena Stillwater, Okla.
TV: KLKN (G.I. cable channel 8)
RADIO: KRGI (1430 AM)
SATELLITE RADIO: Sirius (channel 143)
WEB: Huskers.com
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