KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It appears that Nebraska's basketball season is over, though no one in charge has officially ruled out pursuing a spot in one of two privately run 16-team tournaments, the CBI and the CIT.

“It's something I haven't really thought about,” coach Doc Sadler said after Thursday's 70-64 loss to Texas A&M in the Big 12 tournament. “So when we get back ... I don't know.

“Spring break is next week. These guys have been through a tough year. They've given me everything they've got. We'll see.”

Sadler said he wasn't sure what the Big 12's stance was on its teams playing in tournaments besides the NCAA and the NIT. John Underwood, the league's associate commissioner for men's basketball, said no league policy prohibits a Big 12 team from going to the CBI or CIT.

Yes, a zone

Yes, that was a 2-3 zone defense Nebraska used extensively against Texas A&M. Sadler, a longtime man-to-man disciple, would still rather get in your face but noted the zone was effective.

Texas A&M was up 27-15 in the first half when the Huskers changed defenses. They closed to five points before trailing 37-28 at half.

Nebraska returned to man to man to start the second half and gave up seven straight points to fall behind by 16.

Sadler called time and reinstalled the 2-3 zone. Nebraska outscored A&M over the next 13 minutes 25-10 to close to 54-53 with 4:22 to play.

“I thought it was a big part of the game,” he said. “It was a positive.”

Husker senior guard Sek Henry said the zone was “lovely.”

“It was very, very effective,” he said. “I enjoyed the zone. We did well in it. They just hit some big shots at the end.”

Bits and pieces

• Nebraska's Ryan Anderson had a team-high 16 points. Over the senior's final seven games, he averaged 15 points and seven rebounds.

• With his 14 points, Jorge Brian Diaz moved into 10th on NU's all-time freshman scoring chart with 301 points.

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share