Huskers fall flat against Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. - Doc Sadler walked down a hallway outside the postgame interview room, clenching a sheet of final game statistics.

He matter-of-factly, and rather colorfully, confirmed to reporters that his Nebraska basketball team would practice this morning at 5:30.

That's after a late-night flight from the heart of Oklahoma.

Think that's tough? Just wait until practice starts.

“The only thing I know is, to put it bluntly, make it as miserable on them,” Sadler said, “as it was on people that watched it.”

Sadler was referring to Nebraska's 70-53 loss Wednesday night to Oklahoma at Lloyd Noble Center.

A game the Huskers trailed by only four points at halftime quickly disintegrated into Nebraska's worst performance, by far, in Sadler's first season as coach.

That it came against an average-at-best team playing without its leading scorer and rebounder put Sadler in a foul mood.

“I can't imagine sitting there, being a Nebraska fan,” Sadler said, “and not being miserable.”

He apologized to Nebraska fans.

“It's inexcusable,” Sadler said. “It's a direct reflection on their coach to let it happen. I take it personal. It's my responsibility.”

Nebraska (11-5, 0-2 Big 12) shot a season-low 34.9 percent from the field, had a season-low point total and made four - yes, four - two-point baskets. Aleks Maric, the Huskers' leading scorer and rebounder on the season, had eight points and four rebounds.

That was in spite of the fact that Oklahoma's center, Longar Longar, was suspended, and the Sooners played nobody taller than 6-foot-7. Maric is 6-11.

“It wasn't getting him the ball that was the problem,” Sadler said of Maric, who attempted only five shots, making three.

Oklahoma (10-6, 2-2) also outrebounded Nebraska by 16, outscored the Huskers 25-8 in the paint and converted 12 second-chance points off 11 offensive rebounds.

Before wondering if a week between games may have hurt Nebraska, which had Saturday's scheduled game against Oklahoma State postponed, realize that Sadler isn't one for excuses.

“Effortwise,” Sadler said, “that was as bad of a basketball team as I've had play in a long, long time.”

The perplexing thing is, nobody seemed to see this coming. The Huskers, Sadler said, had strong practices throughout the week and were shooting well and diving for loose balls in Wednesday's shootaround.

Then, the teams tipped off.

“We didn't come out with any intensity,” Maric said, “and I don't think we showed any passion for our team.”

Oklahoma won the tip and jumped to an 11-2 lead. Michael Neal, who had a season-high 20 points, had two three-pointers in that span.

Neal, who finished 6-of-10 on three-pointers, was shooting 24.7 percent from three-point range before the game.

Nebraska, with three straight 3-pointers, quickly tied the game. That might not have been a good thing, because the Huskers continued to crank three-pointers, rather than try working the ball inside. The 11 three-pointers they made on 27 attempts weren't sufficient.

“Shoot, 27 three-pointers?” Sadler said. “That just tells you you're soft. That tells you that you don't have any aggressiveness about you at all.”

Sadler credited Oklahoma's effort but said the Sooners did nothing defensively that prevented Nebraska from getting Maric more touches.

“I mean, the game explains itself,” Maric said. “I don't know what to say.”

Oklahoma led 30-26 at halftime and broke the game open with a 13-0 run to lead 54-37 with 11 minutes remaining. Forward Nate Carter, who finished with 19 points, scored seven in that run.

The margin grew to 22.

“It was just one of those games,” said Marcus Perry, who led Nebraska with 14 points. “There's not much to say. They outplayed us and were the better team tonight.”