Nebraska true freshman point guard Cookie Miller is listed as "questionable" for Tuesday's game at Texas.
BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, March 3, 2008 6:00 pm
AUSTIN, Texas — Cookie Miller walked into the foyer of Nebraska’s team hotel lugging a large duffel bag over his shoulder.
Uh, well, his good shoulder.
Miller’s other one, while better than a few days ago, is still far from 100 percent. The freshman point guard, did, however, participate in no-contact drills Monday in Lincoln.
That involved shooting — a positive, considering Miller’s right shooting shoulder is the one that’s severely sprained.
The likelihood of Miller playing tonight against No. 9 Texas?
“He’s probably questionable,” Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said, “at best.”
Sadler, speaking with a reporter at the hotel lobby, said Miller “could make a big difference” against the Longhorns, who boast D.J. Augustin.
A sophomore guard, Augustin averages 19.7 points and 5.8 assists. If there’s anybody to seriously challenge Kansas State’s Michael Beasley for Big 12 player of the year, it’s Augustin.
As much as the Huskers miss Miller’s offensive leadership and ball-handling, they perhaps miss his defensive prowess even more.
“He can contain the ball,” Sadler said. “That’s where it all starts.”
Nebraska had a difficult time Saturday without Miller in Stillwater, Okla., when the Huskers turned the ball over 19 times in a 77-63 loss to Oklahoma State. Cowboys guard Byron Eaton also had a game-high 20 points.
“We turned the ball over, but I was more disappointed in our defense than I was our offense,” Sadler said. “We should’ve done a better job defensively. Fouled too much. We let ’em have nine threes.”
Sadler said the Huskers didn’t execute in at least two key areas — transition, and keeping OSU out of the lane (and consequently, the free-throw line.)
The same key areas apply tonight with Texas.
The Longhorns (24-5, 11-3) are coming off an 83-80 upset loss Saturday at Texas Tech. At home, Texas is unbeaten in Big 12 play, and has only one loss on the season, to Wisconsin.
Nebraska (17-10, 6-8) remains in the picture for postseason play, most likely the inaugural College Basketball Invitational or the National Invitation Tournament.
What about that other tournament?
“Dude, we win (today),” Sadler said, “I definitely think we’ve got a shot at getting in the NCAA Tournament.”
Sadler won’t discuss that with his team, though. So don’t expect any big NCAA talk at today’s shootaround, or in the pre-game pep talk.
“If you get caught up in that stuff right now … it’s nothing you can control,” Sadler said. “All we can control is playing. I think we’ll finish strong, but if we finish stronger … all those things take care of themselves.
“We’ve got enough on our plate just worrying about Texas instead of having three or four other things to worry about.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.