Nebraska is facing a big challenge Sunday in its NCAA Tournament opener.
Actually, make that two big challenges.
Xavier, the Cornhuskers' first-round opponent, starts a front line that features 6-foot-6 freshman Ta'Shia Phillips and 6-5 sophomore Amber Harris. Both are double-double machines as Harris averages 15.5 points and nine rebounds and Phillips averages 14.3 points and 11 boards.
Nebraska coach Connie Yori said Phillips resembles Oklahoma All-American Courtney Paris, but is unlike any other player the Huskers have faced this season.
"Phillips is a Courtney Paris play-a-like and Harris is just a great rebounder she's really, really physical," Yori said. "We weren't that big and physical inside, particularly in our starting lineup, so it's hard for us to match that size."
No. 8-seeded Nebraska (20-11) will face No. 9 Xavier (24-8) in an 11 a.m. Sunday tipoff at the Comcast Center in College Park, Md. ESPN2 will televise the contest.
Rebounding will obviously be a major factor, Yori said. The Musketeers outrebound their opponents by nearly 12 boards per game.
"Their strengths aren't necessarily our strengths, so just in terms of plain and simple matchups, it's a tough team for us to match up with," Yori said. "So we've got to try to find out strengths and utilize those."
With Xavier using just seven players in its 47-42 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament championship game victory over Temple, it appears the Huskers are counting on their depth to be the difference.
"They're gargantuan," Nebraska junior forward Kelsey Griffin said of Xavier's front line. "That's not something you really see in the Big 12 as much, but I think our athleticism and our ability to get up and down the floor and play 10 players compared to their seven or eight will really be a key factor."
In many ways, Yori said Xavier resembles the Temple squad also from the A-10 that eliminated Nebraska 64-61 in the first round of last year's tournament. The main difference? The Musketeers have more size.
"When you first start talking about them, you've got to talk about their inside game," Yori said. "You don't see 6-6, 6-5 every day."
In contrast, Nebraska is a much different team than last year. Griffin is the only returning starter from last year's NCAA Tournament game.
"We have different types of players this year and we have different types of athleticism," Nebraska guard Yvonne Turner said.
Griffin is hopeful the Huskers are also taking a different approach.
"Last year, we were happy just to be in the tournament and we didn't really come ready to make a run in it," Griffin said. "Now, we expect ourselves to be in the tournament, so now it's time to play."
Despite a first-round exit after a loss to Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament on March 11 at Kansas City, Mo., Yori said she has a good feeling that the Huskers will bounce back and play well.
"I've said it since the very beginning: I like this team," Yori said. "They work hard. We're athletic enough that we can compete.
"We've got good character in our program I'm repeating myself from what I said a long time ago in the preseason, but that has held true in this program."
Game notes
* Nebraska is makings its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance, previously qualifying in 1988, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2007. The Huskers are 2-7 all-time in the tournament with their last win coming in 1998 against New Mexico (76-59) at Norfolk, Va.
* Xavier was 11-3 in A-10 play and finished third in the regular-season standings. The Musketeers knocked off then-No. 17 George Washington in the semifinals of their conference tournament.
* NU and Xavier have three common opponents this season in Akron, Florida and Kansas. Both teams defeated Akron handily, while the Musketeers lost at Florida (82-71) and at Kansas (62-20). Nebraska beat Florida 90-63 at home, but lost two of three games against the Jayhawks.
Starting Lineups
Nebraska (20-11) Ht. Yr. Ppg. Rpg.
FKelsey Griffin 6-2 Jr. 15.1 7.3
FDanielle Page 6-2 Sr. 12.5 6.5
GYvonne Turner 5-8 So. 8.2 3.3
GDominique Kelley 5-7 Fr. 6.5 2.9
GTay Hester 5-10 Jr. 6.4 4.2
Xavier (24-8) Ht. Yr. Ppg. Rpg.
FAmber Harris 6-5 So. 15.5 9.0
FMaureen Hester 6-1 So. 6.1 4.1
CTa'Shia Phillips 6-6 Fr. 14.3 11.0
GSpecial Jennings 5-6 Fr. 3.8 1.6
GJerri Taylor 5-7 Jr. 10.8 2.3
WHAT: No. 8 seed Nebraska (20-11) vs. No. 9 seed Xavier (24-8)
WHEN: Sunday, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Comcast Center College Park, Md.
TV: ESPN2
RADIO: Star 97-3
WEB: Huskers.com (live radio)
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