Nebraska College Sports

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Husker Men’s, Women’s Teams are ‘On Fire’


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Connie Yori has a title-contending team. Tim Miles’ team is on fire, too.

NCAA Women’s Regional Basketball Tickets on Sale

By Randy York

Connie Yori’s Nebraska women’s basketball team has won seven consecutive Big Ten Conference games. Tim Miles’ men’s team has won four straight Big Ten games and seven of its last nine conference contests, marking the first time in 15 years the Huskers can make such a statement. Nebraska’s women are ranked No. 17 in the AP poll and rank eighth nationally in attendance.

The Husker men own sixth place by themselves in the Big Ten standings, and all five teams ranked above them are nationally ranked, including No. 13 Michigan State, which remains No. 1 in the conference standings despite losing to the Huskers, 60-51, last Sunday in East Lansing. The other four are No. 15 Iowa, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 20 Michigan and No. 24 Ohio State.

If you’re looking for an exclamation point to whatever Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat Miles puts over his shoulders every game day, consider this – the 7-6 team that was projected to finish 12th and dead last in the 2014 final Big Ten standings is only one conference win behind No. 3 Iowa (8-4), No. 4 Wisconsin (8-5) and No. 5 Ohio State (8-6). If you want a double exclamation point, Nebraska’s men rank 12th nationally in basketball attendance this season, averaging 15,295 fans per game and enhancing a conference that has led the NCAA in attendance for nearly four consecutive decades.

Combined Expectation, Anticipation at Rare Level

What a Fabulous February in advance of March Madness. In a combined sense, postseason expectations are higher than they’ve been for more than a decade. “Both of our teams are on fire. Connie’s team is in contention for the Big Ten Championship and eager to embrace the challenge of hosting one of the four major NCAA regionals, and Tim’s team has worked its tail off to battle back and get into the NCAA Tournament conversation,” said Marc Boehm, Nebraska’s Executive Associate Athletic Director who oversees both basketball programs.

“I’m excited for the coaches and the players of both teams and just as excited for each fan base,” Boehm said before adding: “I just want to thank every fan out there. You’ve given us your unconditional support and made our first season in Pinnacle Bank Arena great in every way possible. In my mind, this season is for all of you who have helped make this journey so memorable. We really do have fire and momentum going for both teams and hope to make a few more memorable moments into the experience down the stretch.”

Boehm points out that both Husker basketball teams are young programs. The men (15-10 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten) start a freshman (Tai Webster), three sophomores (Terran Petteway, Walter Pitchford and Shavon Shields) and a junior (David Rivers).

Husker-Penn State Game Has Title Possibilities

The women (20-5 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten) start a sophomore (Rachel Theriot), three juniors (Emily Cady, Tear’a Laudermill and Hailie Sample) and the only senior starter on either team (All-American Jordan Hooper). The juniors helped produced a 25-win season as freshmen and 24 wins as sophomores. They have been an integral part of two of the top three seasons in Nebraska women’s basketball history. With 20 wins this season and three regular-season games remaining, plus the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments, the historical stakes could go up another notch.

Sunday at 3:15 p.m., the Husker men host Purdue in a game that will be nationally televised on BTN. Nebraska then will play at Illinois, at home against Northwestern, at Indiana and host Wisconsin in the regular-season finale before traveling to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament March 13-16.

Monday at 6 p.m., the Husker women will try to win their 14th straight game during the month of February when they host Big Ten leader Penn State. The game is set for national TV on ESPN2. The Nittany Lions (21-5 overall and 12-2 in the Big Ten) are the defending Big Ten Champions. The game will push Nebraska’s season attendance over the 100,000 fan milestone. The Huskers have averaged more than 6,000 fans a game throughout the inaugural season in PBA.

Pinnacle Bank Arena Hosts Lincoln Regional

Next Thursday, the Huskers will host Illinois before playing their regular-season finale on Sunday, March 2, at Purdue in another nationally televised game on ESPN 2. The Big Ten Women’s Tournament is March 6-9 in Indianapolis. First and second-round NCAA Regional games are March 22-25 before Lincoln hosts the Midwest Regional semifinals and finals on March 29 and March 31 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

“We’re so proud of what Coach Yori’s team and Coach Miles’ team have accomplished up to this point,” Boehm said. “We’ve worked hard to be in the positions we’re in, and we appreciate everyone’s support in the weeks ahead. It’ll be fun to watch.”

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Nebraska Athletics Reaches Unprecedented Milestone

Nebraska Athletics has reached an unprecedented milestone in athletic performance this season. Nebraska became one of two NCAA institutions, and the first Big Ten program to qualify for a bowl game, plus NCAA postseason play in each of the following sports in the same calendar year— football, volleyball, and soccer in the fall; men’s basketball and women’s basketball in the winter; and baseball and softball in the spring.

Nebraska and Louisville were the only two schools to qualify for postseason play in those seven sports, and Nebraska was the only institution to win at least one game in six of those seven sports. Even if soccer wasn’t included, only Texas and Arizona State would be the only two other institutions to join Nebraska and Louisville in this shared achievement.

Nebraska is the first and only school to accomplish this rare seven-sport feat among current Big Ten institutions, dating back to 1982, the year the NCAA launched postseason play in women’s basketball and softball.



2013-14 Postseason Recap for the Huskers

To recap postseason play for the Huskers:

· The football team defeated Georgia in the Gator Bowl;

· Volleyball advanced to the Elite Eight;

· Soccer won the Big Ten regular-season title as well as the postseason tournament and defeated Southeastern Louisiana in hosting an NCAA Regional

· Women’s basketball won the Big Ten Conference postseason tournament and for the second-straight year earned a win in the NCAA Tournament

· Men’s basketball team made its first appearance in the Big Dance in 16 years

· Softball tied for the Big Ten regular-season championship, won an NCAA Regional and advanced to a Super Regional for the second straight year, taking eventual national runner-up Alabama to the wire.

· Baseball won one game in its Stillwater regional against Binghamton.

Overall, it was a productive season in more than just the seven sports listed above. Seven other Husker sports competed in NCAA postseason action over this past year:

· The women’s bowling team was the NCAA Championship runner up

· The rifle team finished fifth at the NCAA Championships

· Women’s gymnastics shared the Big Ten regular-season championship and made it to the Super Six

· Men’s gymnastics placed eighth at the national meet

· Wrestling finished 11th at NCAA Championships

· Men’s track and field placed 17th indoors and 12th outdoors

· Women’s track and field placed 19th last weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Championships



First for Husker Men’s Basketball and Baseball

This calendar year also brought about another Husker first. The 2013-14 season qualified as the first time in Nebraska Athletics history that our men’s basketball and baseball teams qualified for NCAA Tournaments in the same year. It was also just the third time that both the men’s and women’s programs qualified for the NCAA basketball tournament the same year and the first since 1998 (1993 was the first time).

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After a disappointing 6-7 record in coach Mike Riley’s first season, Nebraska is off to a 5-0 start and ranked No. 12 in the latest Associated Press top 25. The Cornhuskers started the year by defeating non-conference foes Fresno State, Wyoming and Oregon, followed by Big Ten victories over Northwestern and Illinois. The schedule is going to get tougher over the next seven games, but Riley has this program trending in the right direction in his second year at the helm.

Why is Nebraska 5-0 and poised to challenge for the Big Ten West Division title? Here are five stats that show why the Cornhuskers are a better team in 2016 and provide insight into the 5-0 start:

5 Stats to Show Why Nebraska is off to a 5-0 Start 2016

78-6: Nebraska’s Scoring Edge in the Fourth Quarter
Finishing games was a problem for Nebraska last year. The Cornhuskers lost six games by eight points or less in 2015, including games to BYU on a last-second Hail Mary pass, in overtime to Miami and a 28-20 defeat to Iowa in the regular season finale. This year’s team seems to have a different edge in the fourth quarter. Nebraska is outscoring its opponents 78-6 in 2016 in the final 15 minutes, which was critical in comeback victories over Illinois and Oregon this season.

Related: College Football's Post-Week 5 Bowl Projections

288.8: QB Tommy Armstrong’s Total Yards Per Game
Armstrong’s play is the biggest key to Nebraska’s Big Ten West title hopes. In his first year under coach Mike Riley last year, Armstrong had an up and down season. However, the senior is off to a good start in 2016 and looks like a quarterback more comfortable with the scheme and coaching staff. Armstrong averages 288.8 total yards per game and 7.64 yards per play. Additionally, the senior has only two interceptions through 129 pass attempts and has increased his completion percentage to 58.9.

+4: Nebraska’s Turnover Margin
Luck plays a role in turnover margin, but Nebraska also has to do a better job in this area after posting a minus-12 total last season. So far, the Cornhuskers have accomplished that, posting a plus-four margin through five games. The 10 forced turnovers by Nebraska in five games is nearly as many as this team had in all of 2015 (15). A positive turnover margin could be the difference in a couple of close games this year.

234.2: Nebraska’s Rushing Yards Per Game
Total yards in any category isn’t the best way to judge the performance of a team, but the increase in rushing yards is critical for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers averaged 180 rushing yards per game last season and have increased that total to 234.2 in 2016. Additionally, the 47.4 average carries per game ranks second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. Why is this total important? The Cornhuskers have balance on offense, can control the time of possession and help their defense – especially a rebuilt defensive line – by limiting the plays of the opposing offense.

Also worth noting: Nebraska's offensive line lost guard Jerald Foster to a preseason injury and had to break in three new starters. Additionally, Tanner Farmer has been dealing with a high ankle sprain. Despite the injuries and turnover, this group has allowed only three sacks and is clearing plenty of rushing lanes for a talented stable of running backs.

Related: Predictions for Every College Football Game in Week 6

3: Passing Plays Allowed of 30 Yards or More
Every stat mentioned here has to come with an asterisk. Nebraska has played only five games, so these numbers are going to change quite a bit over the next seven matchups. However, the early signs are encouraging for the Cornhusker secondary. This unit ranked 10th in the Big Ten in pass efficiency defense last season but is third after five weeks in 2016. Why the reason for the improvement? Senior safety Nate Gerry is having a strong start to the year, and cornerbacks Chris Jones and Joshua Kalu have stepped up in their second season as starters. These two corners have combined for seven pass breakups and have limited opposing offenses to just three passing plays of 30 yards or more. That’s on track for major improvement after Nebraska surrendered 26 passes of 30 yards or more in 2015. athlonsports.com/college-football/5-stats-show-why-nebraska-5-0-start-2016

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What a difference a year makes.

A year ago, after (what was then) the ugliest and most painful loss of the 2015 season, I wrote this*. Rereading it brings back all of the struggles and difficulties Nebraska was facing a year ago: highly questionable play calling, horrible game and clock management, not utilizing talent correctly, abandoning the run, players with horrible attitudes, a secondary that couldn't cover their own shadow, fourth quarter collapses, and other things that you and I have still managed to repress.

*And given that I used a song title last year, I'll continue the theme this year with a horrible pun that I absolutely love.

A year later, the transition is dramatic. Danny Langsdorf called another strong game, playing to the strengths of his personnel. Clock management was not an issue. Nebraska is running the ball - and sticking with it. After what could have been a divisive week the team unity and focus seems to be strong. I thought the secondary played one of their worst games of the season on Saturday and they held Illinois to 14-23 for 146. The Illini had almost 100 more passing yards a year ago, despite ridiculously windy conditions. Finally, Nebraska's biggest transformation may be in how they are owning the fourth quarter.

Now let's be clear: everything is not magically fixed. There are plenty of flaws to be found in this game and where the team is at today. There is a ton of work left to be done and room for improvement. Heck, another 5-7 season is not out of the question at this point.

But take a moment to acknowledge the progress that has been made so far.

So what did we learn?

The Huskers are literally limping into their bye week. Thank goodness the bye week is in the middle of the season, instead of at the end like last year. Here is a partial list of guys who did not play - or did not finish the game - on Saturday: Nebraska's best receiver, their NFL-caliber tight end, arguably their best running back, their fastest receiver, two starting offensive linemen, and it feels like I'm missing a couple more.

Depth continues to be a major concern for the Huskers. There are a number of positions where the drop-off between starter and backup - in terms of talent, experience, or both - is dramatic. There was a play in the 3rd quarter where the guys on the field resembled a lineup you might see in the 3rd quarter of a Red-White Scrimmage.

The bye week, and the opportunity to rest and heal it provides, could not come at a better time for this team.

Milt Tenopir would be proud of the last four Husker drives. When word came out about legendary line coach Milt Tenopir's passing, I said the best way for Nebraska to honor him would be to have the team rush for 300+ yards. While that didn't happen, the team did the next best thing: they dominated the ball in the second half. Look at these two drives:

18 plays, 75 yards, 10:42 of possession. Touchdown. A drive for the ages. 18 plays??? Almost 11 minutes of possession??? And by the way, Nebraska took the lead with the score.
11 plays, 59 yards, 5:49 of possession. Touchdown. This drive opened up with seven straight runs.
Those are numbers straight out of Milt Tenopir's heart. You can picture the old coach getting a little misty eyed watching his boys control the line of scrimmage for most of the second half. And just like in Milt's day, those two drives played a huge role in the last two drives of the day:

2 plays, 70 yards, 0:54 of possession. Touchdown. First play: a run up the middle for seven yards. Second play: an offtackle run for 63 yards and a giant nail in the coffin.
2 plays, -1 yard, 1:14 of possession. End of game.
Rest in peace, Milt. You will be missed.

One of the Big Ten's "sleeping giants" may be waking up. Illinois is often described as a "sleeping giant" program - one with resources, deep pools of in-state talent, and the biggest obstacle to success being themselves. Think Missouri prior to Gary Pinkel. The Illini have talent within their borders, the ability to recruit Chicago, and are the only big time public school in the state. Big Ten membership gives them money for anything they might need, namely coaches buy-outs and new training facilities. All that is left is for the administration to care, and to find the guy who can build something sustainable.

There is a chance that Lovie Smith may be that guy. His first team may be 1-3, but you can see his blueprint coming together already: build from the lines out, make your name on defense, and play physical football. Illinois is clearly a couple of years away talent-wise, but Lovie has the NFL cred that is valuable in recruiting.

Don't be shocked if in the next few years Illinois gets out of their own way long enough to become a contender in the West.

So what don't we know?

Does NU win this game a year ago? Walking out of the stadium, enjoying the glow of victory, a thought crossed my mind: Trailing by six headed into the fourth quarter, would the Huskers have won this game a year ago? Obviously there are a lot of factors that make it tough to compare and impossible to know for sure, but my gut says Nebraska loses this game.

For me, the only question is how Nebraska would have lost. Do promising drives end with interceptions, with a pick-six to ice the game? Maybe the Huskers reclaim the lead, but Illinois proceeds to march down the field and win in the final minute. Is the spot on the 4th and 1 carry by Newby marked short (or overturned on replay) stalling all momentum?

Was the reaction to the National Anthem protests a distraction? The offense got off to a slow start, only scoring 10 points in the first three quarters. Meanwhile, the defense had issues with soft coverage and softer tackling. As Husker fans tried to understand why this was happening (without giving any credit to the Illinois defensive line) one of the theories tossed out was the national anthem protest was a distraction. Or more specifically, the reaction by media, fans, and elected officials was a distraction.

To that, I say: Bull.

Yes, that protest - and the various reactions it spawned - were the hot topic of conversation across the state all week long, and across all mediums. But aside from Michael Rose-Ivey having a conversation with the Governor, and a few extra questions during the team's media availability, I truly believe it was a non-issue in the locker room. You may doubt the validity (or the sincerity) of Riley's team being a "melting pot". I'm willing to guarantee multiple players on the team did not care for the protest, but I'll also guarantee that the culture of respect is fully in place.

Who knows how it would have played out if Rose-Ivey knelt in Riley's first year - or in one of Pelini's last two seasons. My guess is it would not be nearly as seamless as we've seen so far.

Can Nebraska clean up their sloppiness? Your Huskers are 5-0, but not without their flaws. The good news is, three of the biggest warts are things they can control.

Red zone turnovers. Brandon Vogel of Hail Varsity pointed out that five of Nebraska's six turnovers occurred inside the opponent's 15 yard line. Since I consider Drew Brown to be automatic inside 35 yards, red zone turnovers cost the Huskers at least three points every time. Protect the ball and get your points.
15 yard flags. It says something about how sloppy this team can be that picking up two 15 yard penalties in a game is a major improvement.
Quarterback decision-making. Tommy Armstrong is trending in a bad direction with his decision making. His one interception was a ball under thrown into triple coverage. He deserved a second INT when he was flushed out of the pocket, rolled to his right and threw a lob back to the middle of the field.
It's actually rather impressive that Nebraska has made it to 5-0 as sloppy as they can be. But unless those things get cleaned up - or at least drastically reduced - they will lead to losses.

The best thing I saw on Saturday: The defensive intensity in the second half. In the first half, Illinois had 169 yards on 24 plays (an average of 7 yds per play). But in the second half, the Blackshirts raised their game allowing just 101 yards on 20 plays (5 yards per play).

Remember those amazing ball control drives in the 3rd and 4th quarters that won the game? Don't forget the defense's role in that. After giving up a 74 yard field goal drive to get the score to 16-10, Illinois had three more possessions. The Illini gained just 18 yards on 10 plays, with no first downs.

The worst thing I saw on Saturday: Two of Nebraska's best receivers being taken to the locker room with injuries. Get better soon, boys.

5 Players I Loved

Terrell Newby. After an injury to Ozigbo and a fumble by Wilbon, the much maligned Newby was asked to be a workhorse in the second half. And did he respond. He gained 143 on 27 carries, and scored two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 26 yards. Newby is probably the least respected NU I-Back since Dahrran Diedrick or Josh Davis, but he has been a much improved player in 2016.
Sam Cotton. Speaking of much maligned Huskers, let's take a minute to appreciate the youngest member of the Cotton clan. Watch any clip of a Nebraska back running, and you'll likely see Cotton somewhere in the frame blocking his man, setting an edge, or chopping down opposing players. And I have a hard time thinking of a better catch by a Husker than his fingertips grab of a Tommy Armstrong missile for a big first down.
Kevin Maurice. The stats (2 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 hurry) don't really show it, but the "Space Cowboy" has been playing at a very high level of late.
Stanley Morgan, Jr. When you see him blocking defensive backs to the sideline, or making big catches on third down, it is tough to remember that he is just a true sophomore. This kid Stan has a bright future - and with Westerkamp and Carter out, a big opportunity to increase his role.
De'Mornay Pierson-El. I love watching him return punts. The way he moves in space, accelerates, and finds creases cannot be taught. I like seeing him getting touches in multiple facets of the game (returns, receptions, and rushes). Finally, his work as a perimeter blocker was equally impressive.
Honorable Mention: Trey Foster, Jordan Westerkamp, Joshua Kalu, Michael Rose-Ivey, Dedrick Young, Freedom Akinmoladun, Ross Dzuris's old-school black cleats, Corey Whitaker

5 Areas for Improvement

Tackling. As impressive as the overall defensive performance was, I'd love to see how it would have looked if the first (or even second) defender would have made the tackle. Far too often, an Illinois player was bouncing off two or three guys before going down.
Loose coverage. The secondary spent most of the game playing way off the Illinois receivers. It was not uncommon for there to be an 8-10 yard cushion between Chris Jones, Kalu, or one of the Williams boys and the receiver. Illinois gained a lot of yards on basic pitch and catch throws that could have been avoided with tighter coverage.
Option Football. Let's set the stage: 3rd & 2 from the Illinois 5. NU is down six and on play 14 of their marathon drive. Settling for a field goal is not an option. So what play does Danny Langsdorf opt for when he needs two yards? An option to the left. Armstrong had to pitch the ball early and Newby was fortunate to get a yard. Hopefully, we all know by now that I love me some option football. But that was not the right time or situation for Nebraska to run their first option of the year. From the execution, it looked like they could use a little more work.
Referee Don Capron's Microphone Etiquette. Dear Don - I'm not sure how long you've been a referee for major conference football, but here is a pro tip for you: After you explain a penalty or other procedural thing, you will want to always - ALWAYS - turn off your microphone before blowing your whistle. Otherwise, you end up rupturing eardrums, shattering eyeglasses, and pissing off every dog for 30 miles. And you really don't want to do it three times because 90,000 of the greatest fans in college football will boo the crap out of you. forum.huskermax.com/index.php?articles/you-cant-hide-your-illini.57/

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After outlasting Indiana 27-22 Saturday, Nebraska is 6-0 for the first time in 15 years. Back in 2001, the Huskers played for the BCS national championship. But what to make of this team’s first half?

Not even Mike Riley is sure.

Nebraska head coach Mike Riley.
Sam Riche, AP
“I think at times we’re pretty good,” the Huskers’ second-year coach said Sunday afternoon. “But I don’t think we’ve put together a whole football game yet like we’re capable of. But I like our team a lot.”
Several Huskers claimed to be upset Saturday morning by a moment on ESPN’s College GameDay when the analysts debated the question: Is Nebraska, ranked No. 9 in the Amway Coaches Poll, for real? Desmond Howard said he “could come up with 10 teams that are better than them,” and later in the segment the group laughed.
“We want to be taken seriously,” linebacker Josh Banderas said, according to the Omaha World-Herald. “We’ve put in the work. We’re 6-0. Not many teams in the country are 6-0. No matter who you play. You have to come out and play every game. … If it was easy, everybody would be 6-0.”


USA TODAY
Misery Index Week 7: Anguish in Athens

Leaving aside the mathematical impossibility of Banderas’ assertion, he has a point. But it’s also fair, considering the combined record of Nebraska’s opponents (15-22, .405), and that the Huskers’ best win is probably a home escape of 2-4 Oregon, to wonder.
It’s not just the national types, either. After Saturday’s victory, an Omaha World-Herald columnist suggested the Huskers are essentially this season’s version of last season’s Iowa, which worked its way through a mushy schedule 12-0, winning the Big Ten West. That seems less likely for the Huskers. Unlike the 2015 Hawkeyes, who skipped Big Ten East powers Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan last season, Nebraska has Ohio State (and Wisconsin, too) looming.
It’s certainly possible Nebraska actually is pretty good, or moving in that direction, and that the Huskers might put together some of those complete games in the season’s second half.
“Some of the kids were mad about it,” Riley said of the perceived College GameDay slight. “The only way to prove anybody wrong is to keep winning. I don’t know if it’s fuel to the fire or the reality of our schedule so far. I don’t really care.

“The most important thing is to win the game and get ready for the next one. That’s the only way to prove who we are.”
Whatever Nebraska is, it’s clearly much better than 2015, at least in the most important statistical gauge. In Riley’s first season in Lincoln, Neb., the Huskers finished the regular season 5-7 (they went bowling when there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams and beat UCLA to finish 6-7).

USA TODAY
College football's Week 7 winners and losers

That bunch of Huskers struggled to hold leads and finish games. This season, Nebraska has outscored opponents 88-13 in the fourth quarter. Riley believes it’s in part because of an emphasis during the offseason, especially during spring practices and preseason camp, on two-minute drills for both the offense and defense, and four-minute possessions for the offense.
“We were giving up those points in the fourth quarters to lose,” he said. “(The preparation) is a part of it, but it’s also the makeup and mentality of these kids. They’ve kept their poise in the fourth quarter, made plays to win in the fourth quarter.”

Against Indiana, in a possession that probably warmed the hearts of longtime fans, the Huskers stacked 15 consecutive running plays, moving 60 yards and consuming almost eight minutes en route to a field goal, and doing it with a patchwork offensive line. The drive stretched a two-point lead to five, and left Indiana only 45 seconds to try for a touchdown; Aaron Williams intercepted Ricky Lagow’s pass on the Hoosiers’ second play, sealing victory.
So what is Nebraska? We’ll wait and see. But the first half of the season has been the Huskers’ best in a very long time.
“We know what’s in front of us, but we’re trying to live in the moment,” Riley said. “All the coachspeak you’ve got, it’s there. There’s a lot ahead of us.” www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/columnist/george-schroeder/2016/10/16/final-whistle-nebraska-mike-riley-big-12-expansion-jalen-hurts-alabama/92215258/

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KEY STATS

image: www.huskermax.com/images/husk.png

husker logo
image: www.huskermax.com/images/bigten/wisconsin2.png

opponent logo
NEBRASKA
7-0 overall, 4-0 Big Ten

WISCONSIN
5-2 overall, 2-2 Big Ten

Avg. Natl. Rank Avg. Natl. Rank
Rushing offense 211.4 35 173.0 65
Passing offense 236.0 59 209.0 90
Pass efficiency 142.38 41 128.28 75
Total offense 447.4 39 382.0 89
Scoring offense 34.1 39 24.3 96
Rushing defense 124.4 27 102.9 10
Pass defense 218.4 55 197.7 29
Pass eff. defense 108.74 18 109.60 20
Total defense 342.9 21 300.6 9
Scoring defense 17.7 14 14.3 4
Net punting 30.79 128 33.28 119
Punt returns 9.91 37 6.90 76
Kickoff returns 27.23 9 20.58 74
Turnover margin 0.71 T-25 -0.14 T-76
Tackles for loss 6.0 T-62 5.7 T-75
Sacks 2.43 T-50 2.71 T-34
Sacks allowed 0.71 T-6 2.00 T-56
Third-down conversion 0.490 12 0.422 51
Third-down defense 0.323 23 0.247 4
Fourth-down conversion 0.667 T-18 0.429 T-92
Fourth-down defense 0.353 23 0.375 25
Red zone offense 0.828 70 0.750 112
Red zone defense 0.800 44 0.684 9
First downs offense 159 T-54 143 92
First downs defense 119 T-16 115 T-12
Fewest penalties 6.29 61 3.14 T-2
Fewest penalty yards 63.29 92 32.43 6
Time of possession 34:14 12 34:24 10


• Season-to-date stats: NU | Wisconsin • Big Ten stats • Game page

Read more at www.huskermax.com/games/2016/files/08wisconsin_nu_stats16.html#pXpIiqRtWc5yzPJ3.99

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Not sweating it: Calm halftime locker room helps Nebraska overcome slow starts, finish strong

Chris Heady CHRIS HEADY
Land Of 10 Staff
@heady_CHRIS

LINCOLN, Neb. — For the third time this season, Nebraska ran off Tom Osborne Field into the locker room at halftime trailing its opponent.

This isn’t anything new. Last year, Nebraska trailed BYU, Northwestern, Michigan State and Iowa at home, and trailed Oregon and Illinois earlier this season at the half.

What is new, senior wide receiver Brandon Reilly said, is the attitude behind those closed doors.


A year ago, while going over adjustments and decoding the first half, there was a lot of doubt, Reilly said.

“This year,” he said, “everyone is still relaxed even though the first half wasn’t too pretty.”

Nebraska is 7-0 this year and 10-1 in its last 11 games, primarily because of its second half play.

Saturday was much of the same. In the first half against Purdue, Nebraska couldn’t stop the Boilermakers’ air raid, couldn’t get anything going on offense and trailed 14-10.

Defensive coordinator Mark Banker said his halftime talk was mostly about the pass defense. Nebraska gave up 231 passing yards in the first half to Purdue quarterback David Blough, including an 88-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

But instead of freaking out, instead of giving the secondary an earful, Banker said they just went over what they already knew.


“Bottom line was nothing changed,” Banker said. “We just get back to basics. The players were talking positive to each other and talking about what transpired, and it was acceptable, and then we ended up playing much better as the game progressed.”

Safety Kieron Williams said there was no panic in the locker room. They just had to lock in and recognize some different concepts.

“They kind of ran out of stuff to do, we were able to see tendencies and just make light on the ball,” Williams said.

Nebraska only allowed 78 passing yards in the second half.

On the offensive side of the ball, Nebraska struggled in the first half to do pretty much anything.

The Huskers were committed to the run game, despite not having a fully healthy offensive line and one of their main running backs, Devine Ozigbo, who was out with an ankle injury. But Nebraska just couldn’t find a rhythm running between the tackles. So at halftime, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdoft gathered his squad and said they needed to try to find a way to get to the perimeter.


“We just went into halftime just saying that we have to finish,” senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong said. “We left a lot of points off the board, and we found ourselves not scoring.”

As they’ve done all season, the Huskers were able to find a way to score in the second half, even in the run game, and put away Purdue 27-14.

But the biggest difference, beyond the schematic changes, might be the trust in coach Mike Riley and the coaching staff, kicker Drew Brown said.

After an ugly exit by former coach Bo Pelini, who recruited most of the team to Nebraska, and a rocky 3-6 start in 2015, trust in the coaching staff might not have been very strong. But after going 10-1 in the past 11 games, with comebacks on the road and in a bowl game and wins over ranked teams, wins that include long fourth-quarter drives and big defensive stops, the team is more comfortable in its own skin, kicker Drew Brown said.

And when things go bad, be it in the first half or second, Brown said Riley knows how to alleviate the nerves.

“He really just knows how to calm us down,” Brown said. “On the field, when things go wrong or at halftime or in practice, that’s what he does really well.”

[nu5ncbigred]

Versatile Receivers Gear Up for Wisconsin Showdown

Alonzo Moore (left) and Brandon Reilly flank ESPN.com columnist Elizabeth Merrill at Saturday's press conference.
Photo Courtesy Randy York
Courtesy: NU Athletic Communications
10/23/2016



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Randy York

Official Blog of the Huskers

At Saturday night’s press conference, Mike Riley acknowledged that Nebraska’s offensive line was so beat up that the Huskers had a difficult time finding rhythm in their 27-14 win over Purdue at Memorial Stadium.

Fortunately, “our guys found a way to make plays intermittently to win the game, particularly in the fourth quarter,” Riley said, referring primarily to Alonzo Moore. A senior wide receiver from Winnfield, La., Moore tight-roped the northeast sideline on a 24-yard touchdown run that capped Nebraska’s 11-play, 82-yard, fourth-quarter drive.

The touchdown consumed the clock, elevated a 17-14 lead to 24-14 and dramatically defined Nebraska’s first 7-0 start since 2001 and Riley’s first 7-0 start in his college coaching career.

“We are so fortunate because we could have been in trouble,” Riley said, praising Brandon Reilly, another senior wide receiver who helped save the day, the season and the opportunity for the Huskers to move up in Sunday’s polls. Moving to the slot, Reilly caught four passes Saturday for 73 yards, including a 28-yard reception.



Pierson-El's 40-Yard Touchdown Reception Gave Huskers Third-Quarter Lead

Riley recognized junior wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El, who caught three passes for 69 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown that gave Nebraska a 17-14 third-quarter lead. Nebraska's second-year head coach also mentioned senior tight end Sam Cotton (three catches for 27 yards) and sophomore wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. (two receptions for 43 yards).

The Huskers are now tied with Baylor for 6th-place in USA Today’s Amway Coaches Poll and are ranked 7th in the Associated Press Poll, one spot ahead of Baylor and one position below once-beaten Ohio State.

Moore and Reilly – pictured above at Saturday night’s postgame press conference – are poised to fill significant gaps and help the Huskers continue their 2016 magic carpet ride after a 5-7 regular season in 2015.



Moore's Parents Drive 14 Hours to See Son's Pivotal 24-Yard Touchdown Run

Moore's fourth-quarter gallup elicited one of Memorial Stadium's loudest roars of the day. It changed the momentum and helped a senior who has been battling his own injuries a chance to thrill his parents, Janice and Charlie, who drove from Louisiana to Lincoln to see their son play in person for the third time in his career.

"I love it here," Janice said. "It's worth the 14-hour drive."

Even though Alonzo (No. 82 above) didn't catch a pass Saturday, his acceleration was exceptional when it mattered most.

"I always keep my cool," his dad said with a smile. "My wife's the one who jumps up and down, and that run got her jumping as high as she can go."

Alonzo was his typical mild-mannered self. "You treat every game as a big game," he told me. "Purdue was a big game just like Wisconsin is going to be a big game next Saturday. They're all big and they all count. We just go out and play. We're beat up, so we have to do our part.



Williams Helped Give Moore Something He Never Had, Patience and Trust

"Coach Dub (Keith Williams, pictured above) has helped give me something I've never had in my life – patience and trust in the process," Moore said. "I never had that until he emphasized it and put it into my mind. I've been hurt this year, but didn't get frustrated. I can still make big plays. I don't get frustrated if I don't get the ball. When my name's called, I'll make the most of the opportunity.

"We're a team," Moore said. "We care more about the scoreboard than ourselves. We're a brotherhood. We trust each other out there. No matter how many of us get hurt, we're going to fight to the end for each other. Whatever the play is, we're going to do the best we can for our team.

"That's the way we came together offensively this year," Moore said. "We're going to follow our leaders. Some days, we stumble, but we pick each other up and fix what we can for the team. It's like our offensive line. They're all banged up, so we got to go out there and help 'em out. That's what teams do. We're going to treat Wisconsin like we do everybody else. It's another game. It won't be easy. Both teams and both coaches will do the best we can, just like both fan bases do."

Moore's parents will watch the Wisconsin game at home, but intend to see the Huskers play at Ohio State a week later.



Matt Davison Says Husker Wide Receiver Corps a Complement to Each Other

Former Husker wide receiver Matt Davison says Nebraska's wide receiver corps is a great complement to each other. "They all block well for each other and they all support each other when someone makes a big play," Davison told me before interviewing Mike Riley and Brandon Reilly Saturday night for the Big Ten Network.

"Alonzo is verstaile," Davison said. "He can catch the deep ball because he has great speed and great athleticism. He can also go up after the ball because of his long arms, and he's tough enough to make great catches in traffic. He's shown us that whenever he crosses the middle."

One of Moore's greatest strengths resonated Saturday. "Even when Moore (pictured above) doesn't catch the ball, you can hand it to him and let him run," Davison said. "He has such great athleticism he can get to the corner and stay in bounds to score just like he did tonight.

"I was excited for Alonzo," Davison said. "He made the big play of the game in the fourth quarter. He's a scary guy for any defensive back. He's a do-it-all kind of guy. His shoulder has really bothered him this year, but he's been there every minute for the team. I'm really proud of him."



Brandon Reilly: Mindset Has Changed; The Fourth Quarter Triggers Everyone

Reilly (pictured above) embraces shared leadership. "It goes all the way around the room," he said. "Everyone takes on a leadership role, through their actions and with their words. Coach Dub does a great job of getting us ready to play, and it's our job to do what we're supposed to do. With Westy out, I've been playing a little more slot. I don't mind it at all. I'll do everything I can to help this team.

"It's changed a lot from last year," Reilly said. "Last year, at halftime, we'd be kind of down. We're more confident this year. That first half today was not pretty at all, but as we all went into the locker room, there was no doubt how we were going to come back out. It seems like when that fourth quarter starts, it triggers the best in everyone. We're focused and together as a team."

Riley appreciates the communication and collaboration of the Husker receivers. "Brandon can go into the slot and make plays like he does," he said. "De'Mornay Pierson-El is making more plays. Alonzo gets in there. Stanley Morgan and Sam Cotton have stepped in and made plays. We have guys who are ready to do whatever they're asked to do. I really like this football team.

"Playing at Wisconsin will be good for our team and great for our conference," Riley said. "When you play later in the year, there's a little more definition of who the best teams are. We're heading into the third-quarter area of the season. It's one of those games with two teams who have done well, so it'll be good and we'll have to be ready."

[drjensen]

Iowa 40, Nebraska 10, Cornhuskers are going to have to live with that for another year.