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With starting point guard Cookie Miller returning to the court Sunday for the first time after missing three games with a shoulder injury, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said the Cornhuskers are in about as good of shape as he could've hoped for entering the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
"Being as small as we are, physically like most people this time of year you're not going to be 100 percent healthy," Sadler said. "But at the same time, I don't foresee any issues with anybody not being able to play Thursday."
Nebraska (18-11, 7-9 Big 12) will be the No. 7 seed for the Big 12 Tournament and will face No. 10 seed Missouri (16-15, 6-10) in a first-round game. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Thursday in The Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Miller came off the bench and had three assists and three turnovers in 19 minutes Sunday as Nebraska closed its regular season with a 68-49 home win over Colorado. The 5-foot-7 freshman, who leads the Huskers with 104 assists, had been sidelined since Feb. 23 when he was injured with six minutes to play at Texas A&M.
Although Miller is back in action, Sadler said he isn't certain whether or not the freshman will be 100 percent for the Big 12 Tournament.
"Conditioning is a thing I'm concerned about," Sadler said. "Even though we've had to fight every game, the intensity in the tournament is just going to increase and so we can't get into a situation and be concerned about minutes. Quality is more important than quantity as far as that's concerned.
"We'll be looking at that more than just the number he gets."
Sadler said one side benefit to Miller's absence has been that sophomore Sek Henry has gotten more experience at the point-guard position and the injury also created more minutes for guard Paul Velander off the bench. Velander took advantage of his opportunity Sunday, scoring 16 points while hitting 5-of-9 3-point attempts.
"Obviously, going into the tournament, depth becomes an issue, especially when you're as thin as we are," Sadler said. "It has probably allowed Paul Velander, for example, to get the minutes that he's gotten and the confidence that he's maybe going to have going into the tournament.
"It has gotten the confidence of Sek Henry up a little bit, so I would say that we're probably a little bit deeper basketball team now than we were before that."
Nebraska and Missouri split their two regular-season games. The Huskers beat a short-handed Tiger team, which had five players out due to suspensions, 66-62 back on Jan. 26 at Columbia, Mo. Mizzou turned the tables on Feb. 13, winning 86-78 in overtime at Lincoln.
Sadler said playing a team for the third time in a season really makes no difference to him or his team's preparation.
"I don't think there are any secrets," Sadler said. "We're going to get ready just like we're playing somebody for the third time or the second time."
Men's Big 12 Tournament
At The Sprint Center
Kansas City, Mo.
First Round
Thursday, March 13
Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State, 11:30 a.m.
Baylor vs. Colorado, 2 p.m.
Nebraska vs. Missouri, 6 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Iowa State, 8:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Friday, March 14
Texas vs. Texas Tech-Oklahoma State winner, 11:30 a.m.
Oklahoma vs. Baylor-Colorado winner, 2 p.m.
Kansas vs. Nebraska-Missouri winner, 6 p.m.
Kansas State vs. Texas A&M-Iowa State winner, 8:20 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, March 15
Texas/Texas Tech-Oklahoma State winner vs. Oklahoma/Baylor-Colorado winner, 1 p.m.
Kansas/Nebraska-Missouri winner vs. Kansas State/Texas A&M-Iowa State winner, 3:20 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, March 16
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
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