The dire predictions SLU coach Rick Majerus had for his team’s first two games didn’t fully materialize. SLU played Kent State tough and lost in overtime in a game they very easily could have won had they been able to shoot free throws a little better or, of course, stop Kent’s Al Fisher.
Then SLU took on an ACC team, Boston College, and despite bad shooting by its two best players, Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell, hung close for a long time before pulling away at the end and getting a win. Brian Conklin and Kwamain Mitchell are emerging as freshmen who can contribute from the start at this level, though each still is prone to mistakes.
Now, SLU goes on the road for the first time, to play Nebraska of the Big 12 and Majerus still has his doubts. “Tuesday will be a tough game, very tough,” he said. “With freshmen going on the road for the first time, you don’t want to be doing their laundry the next day, I’ll tell you that.”
The train wreck Majerus forecast for his team hasn’t come yet, and this is the latest chance for it. SLU’s freshmen haven’t played outside of Chaifetz Arena yet, and while Nebraska isn’t the toughest place a team will go play, it won’t be a deserted gym either.
Lisch isn’t concerned.
“We’ll make sure they get to bed,” he said. “We might have to read them a night time story. I think they’ll be fine. They all played AAU basketball where they traveled all the time. It’s not that big a deal.”
Yes, but most AAU games are played in front of no one. There will be between 6,000 and 9,000 fans on hand at the Devaney Center for this one. They have to do something when the football team isn’t doing well.
Nebraska is 3-0, with wins over San Jose State, TCU and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They’ve been better on defense so far, so there’s the potential for this to be a low-scoring game. Though this could be a game where SLU’s inside game is able to get some easy points.
Nebraska is also short, with only two players over 6-5 who get significant playing time. It’s a game which doesn’t figure to give SLU the matchup problems it had in the BC game, though when Nebraska goes with four guards, it’s presumably quicker. SLU has the potential to do well on the boards. Nebraska’s tallest player is 6-8.
Huskers coach Doc Sadler was not too pleased with his team’s effort against Arkansas Pine Bluff. The team’s stats are here.