KANSAS CITY, Mo. — You can spare Nebraska men’s basketball coach Doc Sadler the happy talk about the Big 12 tournament being the start of a new season.

After the Huskers finished last in the league by two full games, he doesn’t need to hear it.

“Things aren’t going good. Let’s don’t try to say that they are,” Sadler said ahead of today’s 2 p.m. first-round tournament game against Missouri at the Sprint Center.

“The only thing I know to do when things aren’t going good is to continue to do the things you believe in. I think we’ve gotten back to that the last week. That’s been my fault, not their fault.”

Sadler believes in defense and effort and has consistently praised his team’s work in those areas even while it has set a school record for most conference losses.

He has said such work should be rewarded soon. But is that kind of talk wearing thin on the players?

“I don’t know if it’s wearing thin on them or not, but 2-14 is wearing thin on me,” Sadler said. “Hopefully we’ll see something turn around.”

Sadler created some chatter last week by holding a 5 a.m. and a 5:30 a.m. practice after a home loss to Colorado. He said he heard two schools of thought.

“One was, ‘Doc’s panicking,’ “ he said. “Heck, panicking was way before then.

“Or, ‘He’s already given up and gone on to next year.’ That’s not the case at all. It was to try to get ready for Oklahoma State. I thought the team responded both days. But the result was not very good.”

Do the players want to keep playing?

“Oh, yes,” junior point guard Lance Jeter said. “Baylor did last year what we want to do this year (win three games to get to the finals). I feel we can do that, too.”

Jeter was one of two Huskers to get some all-league recognition this week. He was voted to the all-newcomer team and senior guard Ryan Anderson to the all-underrated team.

“It’s an honor to be recognized, but I’m not here for that,” Jeter said. “I’m a team player, and all I care about is winning and trying to make a run in the Big 12 tournament.”

Jeter, a transfer from Polk (Fla.) College, said the grind of going through a Big 12 season has been eye-opening.

“You’ve got to be tough physically and mentally,” he said. “It’s a drag traveling a lot and playing a lot. You just have to keep playing because it’s not going to be easy.”

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

NU NOTES

• Would Nebraska try to pursue a spot in the CBI tournament? “I’ve not even thought about it,” NU coach Doc Sadler said. “I have no feelings right now.”

• Ryan Anderson (ankle) and sophomore guard Brandon Richardson (foot) practiced with the first team Tuesday and are expected to start.

• The Huskers, after their court time at the Sprint Center, spent about 45 minutes touring the adjacent College Basketball Experience at the Hall of Fame.

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