22-win season leaves improved Cornhuskers wanting more
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska won 10 more games than it did last season and set a school record for conference victories. Most years that would be reason for celebration in a program with such a dismal basketball history.
There was no sense of satisfaction from how things turned out.
The Cornhuskers believed they met the eye test, if not the metrics, and deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament after tying with Michigan for fourth in the Big Ten.
The disappointment from not hearing their name called on Selection Sunday turned to rage when they were made a No. 5 seed in the NIT and denied a first-round home game. They took a ''we'll show them'' attitude to Mississippi State on Wednesday - and lost 66-59 in their first game since a March 2 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
''This is only our third game in 22 days, so you lose a little bit of your competitive edge and your sharpness,'' coach Tim Miles said. ''Just sitting around waiting to play this long was difficult. Mississippi State outplayed us. They were solid defensively, made it very hard, and then they made enough shots.''
The Huskers finished 22-11 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten after going 12-19 and 6-12 a year ago.
James Palmer Jr. scored in double figures 31 times, averaged 17.9 points per game and made The Associated Press All-Big Ten second team.
Isaac Copeland averaged 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds and Isaiah Roby, the team's most versatile player, averaged 8.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Glynn Watson averaged 10.5 points and 3.2 assists.
Nebraska has had considerable player turnover in Miles' six seasons, so there is uncertainty about which players will be back.
If Miles can keep his roster intact, starters Palmer, Copeland and Watson would be seniors and Roby a junior. Big man Jordy Tshimanga, who came off the bench the second half of the season, would be a junior.
Three-star recruits Xavier Johnson out of Bishop O'Connell in Arlington, Virginia, and Karrington Davis of Chaminade Prep in St. Louis could provide immediate help in the backcourt. Brady Heiman, a 6-foot-10 center from Platteview High in Springfield, is the first in-state scholarship player in 16 years to sign with the Huskers.
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