LINCOLN — On Thursday afternoon, Nebraska basketball coach Doc Sadler posted the following to his Twitter account:

“We are really struggling defensively. Must get a passion for it.''

That message didn't sink in with the Huskers in time for Friday night's exhibition opener against Division II Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Yes, NU pulled away for an 86-66 win in front of 5,547 fans at the Devaney Center. But it was 47-45 with 16 minutes to play.

Fort Smith was at 50 percent or better from the field at all four media breaks in the first half, at halftime and at the first break of the second half.

It wasn't until there was 11:55 left that the Lions slipped to 48.8 percent. They finished at 43.9 percent.

NU coach Doc Sadler said the defensive effort was OK. As for the execution ...

“The execution was as bad as it gets,'' he said. “It ain't even close to being there.''

Nebraska gave up 30 points in transition. The goal is six. The Huskers allowed the ball to enter the lane 35 times. The goal is 23.

But the defensive struggles weren't a surprise, with eight first-timers in uniform.

“When you've got as many new guys as we've got, the mistakes you've been making in practice are what you expect to see in the game,'' Sadler said. “And that's what you saw.''

Transfer point guard Lance Jeter said it took him awhile to get comfortable.

“I was so nervous when I first came out,'' he said. “My hands were so sweaty. Coming out of high school, I was supposed to play football (at Cincinnati) but I reshirted.

“Then I went to juco in Florida and that was small. So it was like I finally got my shot at a big-time school. The first couple of minutes were kind of hard, then I got settled in.''

Jeter, who Sadler called “a winner,'' finished with eight points, five rebounds and two assists in a team-high 29 minutes.

“His game, without a doubt, was the best of anybody on our team,'' the coach said. “That doesn't surprise me.''

Senior forward Ryan Anderson led all scorers with 18 points. Freshman forward Christian Standhardinger, in 19 minutes, had 17 points and seven rebounds.

“When you score almost a point a minute, that's pretty impressive,'' Sadler said. “He's really aggressive offensively, and that's OK.

“I have no problem with guys being aggressive if they're going to be aggressive all over the floor.''

Other things of note:

• Almost a triple-double: Nebraska has never had a player produce a statistical triple-double. Freshman forward Brian Diaz almost did, though the third leg is one he'll want to avoid. Diaz had 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight turnovers.

• The Husker playing rotation: NU started seniors Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson, junior Lance Jeter and freshmen Jorge Brian Diaz and Brandon Ubel. First-half subs in order: sophomore Brandon Richardson, then four freshmen: Christian Standhardinger, Bear Jones, Ray Gallegos and Adrien Coleman. Second-half subs in order: junior Quincy Hankins-Cole and sophomores Toney McCray and Myles Holley.

“There's going to be some great competition,'' Sadler said.

• NOTES: Nebraska's 2 for 13 shooting on 3-pointers puzzled Sadler. “We won't shoot that number very often,'' he said. ... Nebraska's second exhibition is Tuesday night against Hastings College.


Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com