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A short Christmas break for Nebraska’s basketball players meant Paul Velander was able to enjoy two full days with his family.

Eventually.

“That first night was rough,” said Velander, a senior.


Nebraska's Paul Velander, 25, dribbles around Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Terrance Calvin, 14, during the first half of the game at the Devaney Sports Complex Saturday, November 22nd, 2008. (LJS File)

Seems a home loss to Maryland-Baltimore County put a damper on holiday spirits.

“I was just kind of in disbelief after I went home,” Velander said. “I was happy to be with family, but in the back of my mind, I was like, ‘How did we do that?’”

That’s a question many players, coaches and fans are asking after Nebraska lost for the third time in four games to fall to 7-3. It was the first nonconference home loss under third-year coach Doc Sadler.

“I mean, it’s a hard loss,” Sadler said. “There’s no question about it. Any time you lose a nonconference game at home, it’s difficult. I don’t care who you’re playing against.

“But you’ve got to move on. We sit here and worry about that, South Carolina State will come in here and beat you.”

That’s tonight’s foe, a team that, like UMBC, enters the game with a 5-5 record. The Bulldogs, coached by Kansas graduate and former Moe Iba assistant Tim Carter, were 13-20 last season.

What Sadler has seen in practices since Friday, when players reconvened after their break, has him encouraged.

“They practiced hard,” Sadler said. “Guys always practice hard. That’s one thing about this team. You don’t have to worry about effort. They self-monitor it and they demand it from each other.”

One player who’s caught the coach’s attention the past two days is freshman Alonzo Edwards. Sadler said Edwards will likely see more playing time, especially with junior Ryan Anderson questionable for tonight. Anderson injured his foot early in Sunday’s practice and didn’t practice Monday.

South Carolina State, which hasn’t played since a Dec. 17 loss at Idaho, is the first of three opponents in seven days as Nebraska concludes nonconference play. NU’s three nonconference losses are already more than many people expected through the 13-game schedule before Big 12 play.

Does that change Nebraska’s outlook for the season?

“I don’t think you can let it,” Sadler said. “There are a lot of advantages — we could sit here and name a hundred of them — about being in a BCS league. But the biggest advantage is you’ve got 16 opportunities in your league.”

Velander said he’s been referencing a quote by former NFL coach John Madden.

“He said, paraphrasing, that a loss is sometimes better than a win,” Velander said. “It kind of puts you back on the right track and reminds you of what your strengths are and what your weaknesses are, and how to play the game.

“Hopefully, that will happen with us.”

--Brian Rosenthal
http://huskerextra.com/articles/2008...8779234144.txt