Huskers seek advantage in threes from farther out
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By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Say this about Ryan Anderson: The guy does his homework.
Anderson sought the Internet when he learned Brandon Richardson was joining Nebraska’s basketball team.
“I googled him,” he said.
What Anderson learned seems to jibe with what many Nebraska followers have been hearing about Richardson, who redshirted last season.
“He’s a natural scorer,” said Anderson, a junior-to-be. “He can score the ball. I swear. You saw those scrimmage games. How many threes did he hit?”
Anderson then turned to Richardson, who was shaking his head while listening to his teammates’ praise.
“You can shoot the mess out of the ball,” Anderson said.
Even the new three-point line, which has been temporarily marked in white on the Devaney Sports Center court, hasn’t fazed Richardson.
“This guy can shoot, man,” Anderson said. “He can shoot.”
OK, enough already. Richardson didn’t say that, but a roll of his eyes indicated as much.
In all seriousness, though, with the NCAA extending the three-point line by one foot — from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches — having players with Richardson’s range can’t hurt.
“I like it,” Richardson said, squeezing in a word among Anderson’s accolades. “People have to extend their range.”
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said three players who redshirted last season — Richardson, McCray and Alex Chapman — have the ability to boost the Huskers’ perimeter game with the new three-point line, which takes effect next season.
“I think if you’ve got some shooters, it’s going to help you a lot,” said Sadler, adding that he felt the 19-9 line was too close.
“I think eventually, in the next few years, you’re going to get used to it. But these next couple years, you move back a foot, I think it’s going to affect the game.”
Had the new line been installed last year, Sadler said, it might have made a difference inside for now-departed center Aleks Maric.
“If you’ve got a low post presence, that extra foot makes a big difference,” he said. “People have to be out there guarding you, and another foot to recover or dive on the post and double-team, it makes a big difference.”
Sadler had the new line painted on the Devaney court after the end of the regular season so players could begin adjusting immediately. The women’s rules committee decided to keep the original line, so there will be two lines on the court.
“In the corner, you don’t have much space,” Richardson said. “Now, you’re not careful, your foot might be on the out-of-bounds line.”
Briefly
* Nebraska on Tuesday had an unofficial visit from 2009-10 recruit Jemal Farmer, a 6-foot-5 guard who just completed his freshman season at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College. A Chicago native, Farmer averaged 17 points per game. He’s also being recruited by Iowa State, UNLV, Drake and Wichita State.
* Sadler said incoming freshman Christopher Niemann, assuming he qualifies academically, will be on campus this fall and practice with the team next season. The NCAA clearinghouse, however, may take until August to decide whether Niemann, who played on a German club team, is cleared to play his freshman year. If he’s cleared and academically eligible, Niemann will play and not redshirt, Sadler said.
* The earliest Sadler can begin the hiring process for a new assistant coach is the end of next week. Former Oklahoma State assistant James Dickey and current San Diego assistant Walter Roese appear to be the front runners to replace Tony Benford, who received a significant pay raise in taking an assistant job at Marquette.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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