It took Nebraska six games into its Big 12 Conference schedule before it shot better than 40 percent from the field.

Now, the Huskers have shot at least 50 percent in three straight games.

What took so long?

“Bad coaching, I guess,” Nebraska men’s basketball coach Doc Sadler said.

Aleks Maric would disagree, whether Sadler was joking or not.

“Coaches have done an outstanding job,” said Maric, Nebraska’s only senior. “They do their job and we do our job on the court. We combine the two, and we have a good team.”

Good enough for a three-game winning streak heading into March, when the Huskers can make a serious run toward an upper-half Big 12 finish.

Nebraska (17-9, 6-7) enters Saturday’s game at Oklahoma State (15-12, 6-7) in a four-way tie for sixth place, and only one game out of fourth. That’s after an 0-4 start to league play.

Improved offensive production has been the biggest factor in the Huskers’ late-season turnaround.

Nebraska shot 50 percent in Wednesday’s 63-45 victory against Oklahoma, marking the first time the Huskers have shot 50 percent or better in three straight Big 12 games since the conference was formed in 1996-97.

Saturday, the Huskers shot 59 percent at Texas A&M. It was Nebraska’s second-best shooting performance ever in a Big 12 game — the Huskers shot 66 percent in a 96-81 victory at Oklahoma in 1999.

“I’ve said from day one that we’re a decent shooting basketball team,” said Sadler, noting he’s been spending about 90 percent of recent practices on offense.

“But if you take 40 percent shots, you’re going to be a 40 percent shooter. And if you take 50 percent shots, you’re going to be a 50 percent shooter. And we’re taking 50 percent shots now.”

That, Sadler said, is partly the result of funneling the offense through Maric. Remember, it was only a couple of weeks ago when Nebraska’s big man barely touched the ball during overtime, when the Huskers lost at home to Missouri.

“We’re just using Al better and taking our time, realizing what’s a good shot and what’s a bad shot,” Nebraska guard Ade Dagunduro said. “Earlier, we were taking some bad shots early in the shot clock, and that was getting us into a lot of trouble.”

Dagunduro sparked the Huskers with 13 points against OU, only his third double-digit scoring performance in league play.

Another junior college transfer, Steve Harley, has caught fire after a slow start. Harley is shooting 57.6 percent over Nebraska’s last six games.

“Guys, we’ve got a lot of new guys out there, and you don’t want to hear that, but as we’ve said all along, junior college players struggle into late January,” Sadler said. “I don’t care what program it is. Now we’re in February, and these guys are getting more confident.”

At least one player has emerged with a solid shooting performance in each of Nebraska’s last three victories. Against K-State, Harley scored on a barrage of backdoor cuts and layups en route to 9-of-12 shooting. Sek Henry was 4-of-6, with two late three-pointers at Texas A&M.

Wednesday, walk-on Paul Velander was 3-for-3 from three-point range. He’d had only one three-pointer in Nebraska’s previous eight games combined, one of which Velander didn’t play.

“It’s been a bad deal for Paul,” Sadler said. “The rotation just hasn’t allowed him to get as much time. I asked him (Wednesday) if he was good for any threes, and he said four, so maybe he’s got an extra one later on down the road in his pocket.”

Briefly

Sadler said freshman point guard Cookie Miller “has a chance” of playing Saturday. Miller missed Wednesday’s game with a sprained shoulder he suffered at Texas A&M. He did not practice Thursday. “I can’t say yes or no,” Sadler said, when asked if Miller could play, “but he’s got a chance.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.