14 BIG 12
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Injuries can't keep guard off the court
By Max Olson
Daily Nebraskan — Wednesday, Jan. 20
For Brandon Richardson, a week off couldn't have come at a better time.
The Nebraska guard can't seem to catch a break lately, and he's ready to put a particularly tough week behind him as NU prepares for Saturday's road test at Missouri. In addition to a back injury that's bothered him all season, Richardson missed time while suffering from the flu and a severe thigh bruise.
"If it's not one injury, it's another," he said with a smile.
But NU's third-leading scorer - raking in 8.6 points per game - isn't going to let a few setbacks keep him off the court.
"You've got to call the cops to come get me if I can't play," he said. "I refuse to just sit and watch. I don't care if it's for 30 seconds, I want to be out there helping my guys."
Richardson had to sit out practice on Monday and Tuesday last week while batting the flu, and the illness caused him to shed eight pounds.
He was still far from healthy by the time Wednesday night's game against Kansas
began. Richardson didn't start, but the bug didn't stop him from making a key contribution for NU. After Kansas quickly regained momentum early in the second half, Richardson sank two threes and a jumper in a span of less than 90 seconds.
His eight-point explosion gave NU a 54-53 lead over the No. 3 Jayhawks, though it was the last time the Huskers led the game.
"This is a big game," Richardson said following the loss. "So it was time to put up or shut up."
Richardson's 18 points against Kansas was a career-high, but they came with a price. He suffered the deep bruise to his thigh late in the game, and it forced him to limp considerably the rest of the week.
NU coach Doc Sadler considered the ailing guard "very questionable" for Saturday's game against Iowa State, but Richardson came off the bench late in the first half and provided a spark.
NU trailed the Cyclones 28-20 with just more than four minutes left in the half before the Huskers went on a 12-3 run, led by two treys from Richardson, to take a 32-31 halftime lead. He finished with eight points in 18 minutes in NU's 56-53 loss.
Nebraska's Brandon Richardson, right, and Kansas' Markeck Morris compete for a rebound in the first half of the Jayhawks' 84-72 victory. Richardson has been hampered by injuries but has still contributed 8.6 points per game for the Cornhuskers.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLORADO BUFFALOES
Buffaloes off to tough start in conference play
By Murray Evans Associated Press — Thursday, Jan. 21
STILLWATER, Okla. — James Anderson scored 26 points, Marshall Moses had 20 points and 18 rebounds and Oklahoma State snapped a two-game losing streak by beating Colorado 90-78 on Wednesday night.
Anderson, the Big 12 Conference's leading scorer, fueled a 10-2 run early in the second half that gave Oklahoma State (14-4, 2-2) a 15-point lead and went 11-for-13 from the free-throw line. Anderson has scored in double figures in 32 straight games, matching the third-longest streak in school history.
Alec Burks led Colorado with a careerhigh 24 points. Colorado (10-8, 1-3) has lost 31 straight conference road games since Feb. 5, 2006, when the Buffaloes won at
Oklahoma State, and 23 in a row on the road against NCAA Division I foes, dating to December 2007.
Moses matched his career rebounding high as Oklahoma State outrebounded the Buffaloes 38-23 to move to 10-0 this season at Gallagher-lba Arena. The Cowboys also shot a season-high 55.4 percent from the field.
Of Oklahoma State's 14 wins this season,12 have come by double digits.
Oklahoma State, coming off road losses to Oklahoma and Baylor, jumped to an 11-0 lead, as the Buffalooes opened the game with five turnovers and five missed shots. Colorado cut the margin to 27-24 at the 4:46 mark but Oklahoma State led 37-30 at halftime.
With the Cowboys up 40-33, Obi Muonelo started a 10-2 run with a 3-pointer and Anderson finished it with another, making it 50-35 with 16:33 left.
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
Cyclones prepare for talented Kansas team
By Nate Sandell Iowa State Daily Thursday, Jan. 21
Sitting at No. 3 in the national polls, the Kansas Jayhawks have boasted the results this season to legitimize their high ranking.
In the wake of off-court distractions during the pre-season — a scuffle that broke out between the basketball team and the Kansas football team in September, and the suspension of guard Brady Morningstar in the wake of his DUI — the Jayhawks have remained unfazed.
En route to its 17-1 start Kansas has posted a Big 12 best scoring margin average of 23.5 points. The only blemish for the Jayhawks this season was a 76-68 loss to Tennessee earlier this month.
Kansas ranks first or second in the Big 12 in 10 of the major statistical categories, including scoring offense (No.2, 85 ppg.), scoring defense (No.2, 61.5 ppg) and assists (No. 1, 18.50).
The Jayhawks have recovered from their loss to the Volunteers by opening the conference season with three straight victories (Nebraska, 84-72; Texas Tech, 89-63; Baylor, 81-75).
At the heart of this year's Kansas squad is All-American senior guard Sherron Collins. Although his scoring average is down from last season (18.9 ppg). Collins has still posted a team-leading 16.3 ppg.
Collins is one of four players on the Jayhawks averaging double figures, along with guard Xavier Henry (14.9 ppg), forward Marcus Morris (12.2) and center Cole Aldrich (10.8) follow.
The scoring doesn't stop there. Seven other Jayhawks are averaging at least 3.5 points per game, giving Kansas the depth to rival Texas. That depth is likely to play a major role in Saturday's matchup between Kansas and Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.
THE WAVE JANUARY 25,2010
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN