LINCOLN Playing in the MasterCard National Invitation Tournament certainly wasn't the ultimate goal for Nebraska this season, but for a Cornhusker team that sat home last year during the postseason, it at least represents progress.
"Obviously, we're very excited to be still playing," Nebraska second-year coach Doc Sadler said. "When you go into your second year and you have the opportunity to be playing in postseason play, you've got to appreciate it and then hope that, even though it's not the tournament that we ultimately want to get into, it is another positive step in the right direction."
No. 3-seeded Nebraska (19-12) opens play in the NIT at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday by hosting sixth-seeded Charlotte (20-13). ESPN Classic will televise the game live from the Devaney Sports Center.
The Huskers finished the season by winning eight of their last 14 games in Big 12 Conference play. Only Big 12 co-champions Texas (12 victories) and Kansas (11) had more conference wins than Nebraska after Jan. 27.
NU went 1-1 in the Big 12 Tournament, beating Missouri (61-56) and falling to eventual champion Kansas (64-54). The Huskers led the Jayhawks by five at halftime after having lost to KU by 21 points and 35 points in two regular-season meetings.
In the view of Nebraska executive associate athletics director Marc Boehm, the Huskers made solid progress in season two under Sadler.
"Everybody, administratively on down, is very excited about this basketball program," Boehm said Monday during a radio interview. "Sometimes you hear that we're not a basketball school and we don't care about basketball, which is so very, very unfair. We put a lot of resources, we put a lot of money into making this program where we want it and that's to the NCAA Tournament every year.
"I really think after this Big 12 Tournament and going through the entire year, you've got to believe and you can see progress with your own eyes."
With just one senior on the roster All-Big 12 center Aleks Maric Boehm said Sadler has done an excellent job developing a relatively young team this season.
"What Doc Sadler has done in a very, very short time is really extraordinary," Boehm said. "The kids play with heart, they play with determination and it's just a great time to see them playing so hard."
Charlotte comes to Lincoln sporting victories this season over teams such as Wake Forest, Davidson, Southern Illinois, Clemson, Saint Joseph's, Temple and Rhode Island. The 49ers, who finished 7-9 in the Atlantic 10, have played in 21 games decided by six points or less this season, posting an 11-10 record in those contests.
Leemire Goldwire leads Charlotte, averaging 19 points per game. The senior guard has topped the 30-point mark six times this season.
Game notes
& Nebraska, which has made six NCAA Tournament appearances, will be playing in the NIT for the 15th time. The Huskers are 22-13 in the tournament, advancing to the semifinals three times (1983, 1987 and 1996) and winning the title in 1996.
& The Huskers are one of 19 programs to have at least 14 NIT appearances. NU has lost two straight NIT games, including its last appearance in 2006 at Hofstra.
& Nebraska is 9-0 in first-round NIT teams at Lincoln. Overall, the Huskers are 14-1 in NIT games played in the Devaney Sports Center.
& Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz is the winningest coach in the program's history with a 188-125 record.
Starting Lineups
Charlotte (20-13) Yr. Ht. Ppg. Rpg.
G Leemire Goldwire Sr. 5-11 19.0 4.4
G Dijuan Harris So. 5-9 3.5 *3.2
F Charlie Coley Jr. 6-7 8.6 6.1
F An'Juan Wilderness Fr. 6-6 8.3 4.9
F Lamont Mack Jr. 6-7 12.8 5.2
Nebraska (19-12) Yr. Ht. Ppg. Rpg.
G Sek Henry So. 6-3 5.9 3.4
G Steve Harley Jr. 5-11 9.2 2.6
G Ade Dagunduro Jr. 6-5 8.5 3.6
G Ryan Anderson So. 6-4 8.6 5.4
C Aleks Maric Sr. 6-11 15.9 10.2
*-Assists per game
WHEN: Wednesday, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln
TV: ESPN Classic
RADIO: KRGI (1430 AM)
SATELLITE RADIO: None
WEB: Huskers.com (live radio)
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