Maric leads Huskers to rout of Colorado
Aleks Maric figured he’d shed too many tears before the game.
So Nebraska’s lone senior, after being recognized in an emotional pre-game ceremony, tried to lighten things up.
“I told Cookie when he came on later in the second half, ‘Just pretend like you’re at the West Virginia State Fair, and just have fun,” Maric said, referring to Cookie Miller, a West Virginia native.
“He sort of turned around and started laughing at me. I don’t know if he thought it was funny or he thought I was stupid, but he was laughing.”
That was the point, right?
Maric and his Nebraska basketball teammates had plenty of fun in Sunday’s 68-49 victory against Colorado before 10,915 fans at the Devaney Sports Center.
The victory likely secured a spot in postseason play after this week’s Big 12 Tournament, where the Huskers (18-11, 7-9) will play Missouri in the first round Thursday.
Maric, the 6-foot-11 center, contributed Sunday with 17 points, 16 rebounds, a career-high six assists and no turnovers. He had three steals and two blocks.
“What more can you ask of a guy?” Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said.
Nothing, really, which is probably why Sadler didn’t squawk too much when Maric attempted three three-pointers in his final regular-season home game. He swished one, but missed the other two.
Said Sadler: “He probably thought, ‘What’s the guy going to do, take me out?’”
Not on Senior Day.
When Maric did leave, with 2:03 remaining, it was to a loud, standing ovation. Fans also stood and applauded during a pre-game ceremony that included Maric with his mother and father. A special message from his sisters and nephews, read over the public-address system, especially touched Maric, he said.
“Very emotional. I’m not going to lie,” Maric said. “We spoke about it in the locker room. We told each other, ‘Keep the emotions behind, try to be a man,’ and if one person lets the tears go, it’s going to go down the track.
“It’s my fault. A river started coming out of my eyes, actually.”
The floodgates then overtook Colorado.
Nebraska, in its most lopsided Big 12 victory this season, scored the game’s first nine points and never trailed.
The Huskers led 36-14 at halftime, marking the sixth time this season Nebraska’s held an opponent to 16 points or fewer in the first half. Three of those have been Big 12 foes.
Nebraska stretched its lead to 34 points in the second half, avenging a 55-51 loss to the Buffaloes from nearly two months ago.
Colorado (11-19, 3-13) double- and triple-teamed Maric, but he countered by kicking the ball out, where the Huskers hit nine three-pointers.
Their 26 three-point attempts — a season high — were too many for Sadler’s liking, but he wasn’t complaining about Sunday’s results.
Walk-on guard Paul Velander was 5-of-9 from three-point range, a career best. He’s 11-of-23 on three-pointers in Nebraska’s last four games. In the Huskers’ eight games prior to that, Velander had made one three-pointer.
“It’s just confidence, really,” said Velander, who scored a season-high 16 points. “Sometimes I shoot the ball hoping to make it instead of having the confidence knowing it’s going to go in.”
Sunday also featured the return of Miller, the freshman point guard who’d missed the previous three games with a shoulder sprain. He came off the bench and played 19 minutes. After two early turnovers, he settled in and finished with three assists, three turnovers, three steals and four rebounds.
Nebraska now heads to the Big 12 Tournament, where the Huskers hope to maintain momentum. After an 0-4 start to conference play, the Huskers went 7-5.
“We really finished off the second half of the Big 12 very strong,” Maric said. “We got some key wins, and we’re going to Kansas City with confidence, energy and excitement.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
So Nebraska’s lone senior, after being recognized in an emotional pre-game ceremony, tried to lighten things up.
“I told Cookie when he came on later in the second half, ‘Just pretend like you’re at the West Virginia State Fair, and just have fun,” Maric said, referring to Cookie Miller, a West Virginia native.
“He sort of turned around and started laughing at me. I don’t know if he thought it was funny or he thought I was stupid, but he was laughing.”
That was the point, right?
Maric and his Nebraska basketball teammates had plenty of fun in Sunday’s 68-49 victory against Colorado before 10,915 fans at the Devaney Sports Center.
The victory likely secured a spot in postseason play after this week’s Big 12 Tournament, where the Huskers (18-11, 7-9) will play Missouri in the first round Thursday.
Maric, the 6-foot-11 center, contributed Sunday with 17 points, 16 rebounds, a career-high six assists and no turnovers. He had three steals and two blocks.
“What more can you ask of a guy?” Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said.
Nothing, really, which is probably why Sadler didn’t squawk too much when Maric attempted three three-pointers in his final regular-season home game. He swished one, but missed the other two.
Said Sadler: “He probably thought, ‘What’s the guy going to do, take me out?’”
Not on Senior Day.
When Maric did leave, with 2:03 remaining, it was to a loud, standing ovation. Fans also stood and applauded during a pre-game ceremony that included Maric with his mother and father. A special message from his sisters and nephews, read over the public-address system, especially touched Maric, he said.
“Very emotional. I’m not going to lie,” Maric said. “We spoke about it in the locker room. We told each other, ‘Keep the emotions behind, try to be a man,’ and if one person lets the tears go, it’s going to go down the track.
“It’s my fault. A river started coming out of my eyes, actually.”
The floodgates then overtook Colorado.
Nebraska, in its most lopsided Big 12 victory this season, scored the game’s first nine points and never trailed.
The Huskers led 36-14 at halftime, marking the sixth time this season Nebraska’s held an opponent to 16 points or fewer in the first half. Three of those have been Big 12 foes.
Nebraska stretched its lead to 34 points in the second half, avenging a 55-51 loss to the Buffaloes from nearly two months ago.
Colorado (11-19, 3-13) double- and triple-teamed Maric, but he countered by kicking the ball out, where the Huskers hit nine three-pointers.
Their 26 three-point attempts — a season high — were too many for Sadler’s liking, but he wasn’t complaining about Sunday’s results.
Walk-on guard Paul Velander was 5-of-9 from three-point range, a career best. He’s 11-of-23 on three-pointers in Nebraska’s last four games. In the Huskers’ eight games prior to that, Velander had made one three-pointer.
“It’s just confidence, really,” said Velander, who scored a season-high 16 points. “Sometimes I shoot the ball hoping to make it instead of having the confidence knowing it’s going to go in.”
Sunday also featured the return of Miller, the freshman point guard who’d missed the previous three games with a shoulder sprain. He came off the bench and played 19 minutes. After two early turnovers, he settled in and finished with three assists, three turnovers, three steals and four rebounds.
Nebraska now heads to the Big 12 Tournament, where the Huskers hope to maintain momentum. After an 0-4 start to conference play, the Huskers went 7-5.
“We really finished off the second half of the Big 12 very strong,” Maric said. “We got some key wins, and we’re going to Kansas City with confidence, energy and excitement.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.