Mavericks Open New Year at Missouri Western
Dec 31, 2010 | General, Men's Basketball
Weekly Release
Live Stats
Live Radio
Live Video
The UNO men's basketball team (5-4, 2-3 MIAA) looks for its third straight MIAA win this weekend, traveling to Missouri Western (5-5, 3-2 MIAA) on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 3:30 p.m.
Nebraska-Omaha last took the court on Saturday, Dec. 18, taking an 83-81 win from league newcomer Lincoln for its second conference victory of the year. Three Mavericks finished with double-figure scoring -- junior guard Mitch Albers (18), senior guard Tyler Bullock (16) and redshirt freshman center John Karhoff (10). Karhoff's mark was a career high, and his team-leading eight rebounds were also a career best.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks lead the series with MWSU 8-5 all-time, having last faced the Griffons on Feb. 10, 2010 in a 90-74 win on the road. Jeff Martin hit six 3-pointers against Western to lead UNO with 20 points, while Tyler Bullock and former Mav Matt Newman added 15 points apiece. Newman and Josh Lynch also tallied seven rebounds each, and Bullock had eight assists.
Mavericks Rank in Top 50 Nationally
UNO has the second-lowest average for turnovers per game in the NCAA's Division II rankings through Dec. 12, as the Mavs have 11.0 turnovers per contest. The mark is just behind West Georgia, which has 10.8 TOPG. Nebraska-Omaha is also 32nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.19) and 42nd in turnover margin (3.8).
Individually, senior guard Tyler Bullock is 32nd in the country in steals per game (2.5 SPG) and 41st in points per game (19.8 PPG).
Harris Emerges as Dual Threat
Senior guard Torrian Harris has had a strong start to his senior season in 2010-11, averaging double-figure scoring and leading the Mavericks on the boards. Harris has 11.6 points per game, which ranks third on the team, as well as a squad-best 6.0 rebounds per contest, which is 12th-best in the MIAA. In addition, the Saginaw, Mich., native started off his final season with a memorable exhibition game at Michigan State, where he faced his half-brother, Draymond Green. Harris has since started all nine games and has hit double-figure scoring in five of those contests.
Martin Continues Climb Up Career Triples Chart
Senior Jeff Martin ranks among the top long-range shooters in program history with 129 career triples. He is eighth all-time entering this weekend's match-up and needs just two more to tie Troy Kloewer (1993-97), who had 131 for seventh place on the list. Martin leads the Mavericks from deep in 2010-11 with 19 3-pointers.
Last season, Martin closed his junior campaign in style, hitting five 3-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game against Tarleton State to set the UNO school record for treys in a season (98). The mark surpassed former Maverick Zac Robinson's 96 3-pointers, set in 2006-07.
UNO Career 3-Point Leaders
1. Zac Robinson (2002-07) -- 248 7. Troy Kloewer (1993-97) -- 131
2. Mike Simons (1996-2000) -- 230 8. Jeff Martin (2008-present) -- 129
3. Dan Morrow (1999-2003) -- 186 9. Denny Johnston (2004-08) -- 125
4. Seth Nelson (1999-2003) -- 181 10. Patrick Voss (1997-2001) -- 121
5. Andrew Bridger (2006-10) -- 164 11. Mitch Albers (2007-present) -- 107
6. Michael Jenkins (2005-09) -- 161
Coming Home
Junior guard Mitch Albers is a familiar face in the Maverick lineup in 2010-11, as he returns to UNO after a year on the Nebraska roster for the 2009-10 season. Albers transferred back to UNO after redshirting a year with the Huskers, and he brings back a major scoring presence for the Mavs.
As a sophomore in 2008-09, Albers made his way into the UNO record books, totaling 440 points for the year, which ranks 20th all-time for a season. The Papillion, Neb., native averaged 15.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game and earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors. Albers, who started all 28 games, also shot .476 from the field, as well as a .434 clip from long range.
Albers ranks 11th in school history with 107 career 3-pointers. He needs 14 more to tie Patrick Voss (1997-2001) for 10th place, and also trails senior Jeff Martin's 129 shots from long-range, which is the eighth-most in the Maverick record books.
Albers notched a team-leading 14 points for the Mavericks in an exhibition at No. 2 Michigan State on Nov. 8, seeing his first action in a UNO uniform since March 2009. He has since averaged 13.9 points in regular-season play, which ranks second on the team, highlighted a season-high 25 points against Northwest Missouri State on Dec. 11.
Preseason Honoree Bullock Leads Mavericks Into 2010-11 Season
Senior guard Tyler Bullock is UNO's top returning player this season, having been named an honorable mention All-American by the Division II Bulletin a year ago. The Bulletin also named Bullock a preseason honorable mention All-American and tabbed him the preseason player of the year for the MIAA.
Through games of Dec. 18, Bullock has averaged 19.3 points per game, highlighted by a season-best 28-point performance at Emporia State on Dec. 8. He tops the Mavericks in scoring, assists (43), steals (21), field goals made (60-of-116) and free throws made (54-of-69).
In 2009-10, Bullock earned first-team All-MIAA status and ranked second in the league in scoring with 19.0 points per game. In addition to his conference and national recognition, he was a second-team all-region pick by Daktronics. Bullock started all 31 games and was 40th in the country in free throw percentage with a .856 clip. The business finance major is also a standout in the classroom, having been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll the last two years.
On the way to a league championship, Bullock averaged 20 points in UNO's three MIAA Tournament games and was subsequently named the tournament's most valuable player. He reached double-figure scoring in 27 of 31 games and also scored 20 or more points on 15 occasions. His 588 total points for the season is the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.
Hansen Takes Mavs to New Heights
Head coach Derrin Hansen is in his sixth season at the helm of the UNO men's basketball program, having taken the job after serving as an assistant coach for seven years with former Maverick head coaches Kevin McKenna and Kevin Lehman. Hansen boasts a career record of 96-63 over the first five-plus years of his head coaching career and needs just four more wins to reach the 100-win mark. He has the second-most victories of any coach in program history, behind only Bob Hanson, who amassed a record of 382-313 from 1969 to 1994.
Hansen has coached or assisted teams that have earned five trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, while also garnering two regular-season league titles and three tournament crowns. In 2007-08, his squad recorded a school-record 25 wins in its final season of North Central Conference play. The Mavs won their final NCC Tournament and earned their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament since 2004-05.
Last year, UNO won its first MIAA championship in only its second season as members of the league. The Mavericks finished with a record of 22-9.
As a player at Nebraska Wesleyan, Hansen's 1988 squad advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals, and while serving as a student coach, the 1990 Plainsmen advanced to the final 16. He graduated with his bachelor's degree from NWU in 1991.
UNO Coming Off Remarkable 2009-10 Season
The UNO men's basketball team had a solid 2009-10 season, capturing the first MIAA tournament championship in program history and qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the 12th time. The Mavericks posted a record of 22-9 (12-8), and Tyler Bullock and Andrew Bridger both garnered All-MIAA recognition. Bullock was also an honorable mention All-America selection by the Division II Bulletin after averaging 19.0 points per game and ranking second in the league in scoring.
Maverick Trio Named to 2009-10 NABC Honors Court
Three Mavericks were named to the 2009-10 NABC Honors Court for their performance in the classroom last year, the NABC announced in July. Former Maverick Andrew Bridger, as well as current seniors Tyler Bullock and Jeff Martin were all part of the list. Criteria includes junior or senior academic standing, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or higher and at least one year of matriculation at his NCAA Division I, II or III or NAIA institution.
Bridger, who is now a graduate assistant with the UNO men's basketball program, graduated with his bachelor's degree in business management in May 2010. Bullock is pursuing a degree in business finance, and Martin graduated alongside Bridger in May with his bachelor's degree in business administration.
Mavs Chosen Third in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
Nebraska-Omaha was picked to finish third in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's 2010-11 preseason polls, the league office announced in October. The preseason conference standings are chosen in a survey of MIAA head coaches and media members.
The Mavericks earned 102 points in the coaches poll and 157 in the media list, as well as two first-place votes in each poll. The 12 conference coaches selected Fort Hays State as their preseason favorite and Central Missouri at No. 2, while media voters picked UCM first, followed by FHSU.
On Exhibit
UNO has a solid recent history of opening the exhibition portion of their schedule with well-known Division I programs, including this year's marquee match-up at Michigan State. Last season, the Mavericks faced Creighton in a cross-town pairing at Qwest Center Omaha, falling 99-77 to the Bluejays.
UNO's Recent Exhibition Games Against Division I Opponents
Season Team Location Conference Result
2010-11 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. Big Ten L, 102-72
2009-10 at Creighton Omaha, Neb. Missouri Valley L, 99-77
2008-09 at Iowa State Ames, Iowa Big 12 L, 74-54
2006-07 at Creighton Omaha, Neb. Missouri Valley L, 73-56
at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Big 12 L, 76-62
2005-06 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Big 12 L, 70-65
Next Up for the Mavs...
UNO returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 5, hosting Truman. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Live Stats
Live Radio
Live Video
The UNO men's basketball team (5-4, 2-3 MIAA) looks for its third straight MIAA win this weekend, traveling to Missouri Western (5-5, 3-2 MIAA) on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 3:30 p.m.
Nebraska-Omaha last took the court on Saturday, Dec. 18, taking an 83-81 win from league newcomer Lincoln for its second conference victory of the year. Three Mavericks finished with double-figure scoring -- junior guard Mitch Albers (18), senior guard Tyler Bullock (16) and redshirt freshman center John Karhoff (10). Karhoff's mark was a career high, and his team-leading eight rebounds were also a career best.
Last Time Out
The Mavericks lead the series with MWSU 8-5 all-time, having last faced the Griffons on Feb. 10, 2010 in a 90-74 win on the road. Jeff Martin hit six 3-pointers against Western to lead UNO with 20 points, while Tyler Bullock and former Mav Matt Newman added 15 points apiece. Newman and Josh Lynch also tallied seven rebounds each, and Bullock had eight assists.
Mavericks Rank in Top 50 Nationally
UNO has the second-lowest average for turnovers per game in the NCAA's Division II rankings through Dec. 12, as the Mavs have 11.0 turnovers per contest. The mark is just behind West Georgia, which has 10.8 TOPG. Nebraska-Omaha is also 32nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.19) and 42nd in turnover margin (3.8).
Individually, senior guard Tyler Bullock is 32nd in the country in steals per game (2.5 SPG) and 41st in points per game (19.8 PPG).
Harris Emerges as Dual Threat
Senior guard Torrian Harris has had a strong start to his senior season in 2010-11, averaging double-figure scoring and leading the Mavericks on the boards. Harris has 11.6 points per game, which ranks third on the team, as well as a squad-best 6.0 rebounds per contest, which is 12th-best in the MIAA. In addition, the Saginaw, Mich., native started off his final season with a memorable exhibition game at Michigan State, where he faced his half-brother, Draymond Green. Harris has since started all nine games and has hit double-figure scoring in five of those contests.
Martin Continues Climb Up Career Triples Chart
Senior Jeff Martin ranks among the top long-range shooters in program history with 129 career triples. He is eighth all-time entering this weekend's match-up and needs just two more to tie Troy Kloewer (1993-97), who had 131 for seventh place on the list. Martin leads the Mavericks from deep in 2010-11 with 19 3-pointers.
Last season, Martin closed his junior campaign in style, hitting five 3-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game against Tarleton State to set the UNO school record for treys in a season (98). The mark surpassed former Maverick Zac Robinson's 96 3-pointers, set in 2006-07.
UNO Career 3-Point Leaders
1. Zac Robinson (2002-07) -- 248 7. Troy Kloewer (1993-97) -- 131
2. Mike Simons (1996-2000) -- 230 8. Jeff Martin (2008-present) -- 129
3. Dan Morrow (1999-2003) -- 186 9. Denny Johnston (2004-08) -- 125
4. Seth Nelson (1999-2003) -- 181 10. Patrick Voss (1997-2001) -- 121
5. Andrew Bridger (2006-10) -- 164 11. Mitch Albers (2007-present) -- 107
6. Michael Jenkins (2005-09) -- 161
Coming Home
Junior guard Mitch Albers is a familiar face in the Maverick lineup in 2010-11, as he returns to UNO after a year on the Nebraska roster for the 2009-10 season. Albers transferred back to UNO after redshirting a year with the Huskers, and he brings back a major scoring presence for the Mavs.
As a sophomore in 2008-09, Albers made his way into the UNO record books, totaling 440 points for the year, which ranks 20th all-time for a season. The Papillion, Neb., native averaged 15.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game and earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors. Albers, who started all 28 games, also shot .476 from the field, as well as a .434 clip from long range.
Albers ranks 11th in school history with 107 career 3-pointers. He needs 14 more to tie Patrick Voss (1997-2001) for 10th place, and also trails senior Jeff Martin's 129 shots from long-range, which is the eighth-most in the Maverick record books.
Albers notched a team-leading 14 points for the Mavericks in an exhibition at No. 2 Michigan State on Nov. 8, seeing his first action in a UNO uniform since March 2009. He has since averaged 13.9 points in regular-season play, which ranks second on the team, highlighted a season-high 25 points against Northwest Missouri State on Dec. 11.
Preseason Honoree Bullock Leads Mavericks Into 2010-11 Season
Senior guard Tyler Bullock is UNO's top returning player this season, having been named an honorable mention All-American by the Division II Bulletin a year ago. The Bulletin also named Bullock a preseason honorable mention All-American and tabbed him the preseason player of the year for the MIAA.
Through games of Dec. 18, Bullock has averaged 19.3 points per game, highlighted by a season-best 28-point performance at Emporia State on Dec. 8. He tops the Mavericks in scoring, assists (43), steals (21), field goals made (60-of-116) and free throws made (54-of-69).
In 2009-10, Bullock earned first-team All-MIAA status and ranked second in the league in scoring with 19.0 points per game. In addition to his conference and national recognition, he was a second-team all-region pick by Daktronics. Bullock started all 31 games and was 40th in the country in free throw percentage with a .856 clip. The business finance major is also a standout in the classroom, having been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll the last two years.
On the way to a league championship, Bullock averaged 20 points in UNO's three MIAA Tournament games and was subsequently named the tournament's most valuable player. He reached double-figure scoring in 27 of 31 games and also scored 20 or more points on 15 occasions. His 588 total points for the season is the fourth-highest single-season total in school history.
Hansen Takes Mavs to New Heights
Head coach Derrin Hansen is in his sixth season at the helm of the UNO men's basketball program, having taken the job after serving as an assistant coach for seven years with former Maverick head coaches Kevin McKenna and Kevin Lehman. Hansen boasts a career record of 96-63 over the first five-plus years of his head coaching career and needs just four more wins to reach the 100-win mark. He has the second-most victories of any coach in program history, behind only Bob Hanson, who amassed a record of 382-313 from 1969 to 1994.
Hansen has coached or assisted teams that have earned five trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, while also garnering two regular-season league titles and three tournament crowns. In 2007-08, his squad recorded a school-record 25 wins in its final season of North Central Conference play. The Mavs won their final NCC Tournament and earned their first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament since 2004-05.
Last year, UNO won its first MIAA championship in only its second season as members of the league. The Mavericks finished with a record of 22-9.
As a player at Nebraska Wesleyan, Hansen's 1988 squad advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals, and while serving as a student coach, the 1990 Plainsmen advanced to the final 16. He graduated with his bachelor's degree from NWU in 1991.
UNO Coming Off Remarkable 2009-10 Season
The UNO men's basketball team had a solid 2009-10 season, capturing the first MIAA tournament championship in program history and qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the 12th time. The Mavericks posted a record of 22-9 (12-8), and Tyler Bullock and Andrew Bridger both garnered All-MIAA recognition. Bullock was also an honorable mention All-America selection by the Division II Bulletin after averaging 19.0 points per game and ranking second in the league in scoring.
Maverick Trio Named to 2009-10 NABC Honors Court
Three Mavericks were named to the 2009-10 NABC Honors Court for their performance in the classroom last year, the NABC announced in July. Former Maverick Andrew Bridger, as well as current seniors Tyler Bullock and Jeff Martin were all part of the list. Criteria includes junior or senior academic standing, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 or higher and at least one year of matriculation at his NCAA Division I, II or III or NAIA institution.
Bridger, who is now a graduate assistant with the UNO men's basketball program, graduated with his bachelor's degree in business management in May 2010. Bullock is pursuing a degree in business finance, and Martin graduated alongside Bridger in May with his bachelor's degree in business administration.
Mavs Chosen Third in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
Nebraska-Omaha was picked to finish third in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's 2010-11 preseason polls, the league office announced in October. The preseason conference standings are chosen in a survey of MIAA head coaches and media members.
The Mavericks earned 102 points in the coaches poll and 157 in the media list, as well as two first-place votes in each poll. The 12 conference coaches selected Fort Hays State as their preseason favorite and Central Missouri at No. 2, while media voters picked UCM first, followed by FHSU.
On Exhibit
UNO has a solid recent history of opening the exhibition portion of their schedule with well-known Division I programs, including this year's marquee match-up at Michigan State. Last season, the Mavericks faced Creighton in a cross-town pairing at Qwest Center Omaha, falling 99-77 to the Bluejays.
UNO's Recent Exhibition Games Against Division I Opponents
Season Team Location Conference Result
2010-11 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. Big Ten L, 102-72
2009-10 at Creighton Omaha, Neb. Missouri Valley L, 99-77
2008-09 at Iowa State Ames, Iowa Big 12 L, 74-54
2006-07 at Creighton Omaha, Neb. Missouri Valley L, 73-56
at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Big 12 L, 76-62
2005-06 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Big 12 L, 70-65
Next Up for the Mavs...
UNO returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 5, hosting Truman. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballTuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
