Wildcats hope to avoid big problem

Exhibit A of the best-case scenario of how to handle Nebraska center Aleks Maric, the reigning Big 12 co-player of the week who will attempt to propel the Cornhuskers to an upset of No. 20 Kansas State tonight at Bramlage Coliseum:

Just 11 days ago in Lawrence, Kansas held the 6-foot-11 senior without a point for the first time since his sophomore season as the Jayhawks rolled to an 84-49 victory. Maric missed all six of his field goal attempts in 21 minutes.

And now, Exhibit A of the worst-case scenario of dealing with Maric:

Last February in Lincoln, Maric couldn't be stopped -- at least not by the visiting Wildcats. He finished with 41 points, one shy of a school single-game record, shooting 12 more free throws than K-State attempted as a team (13) in a 74-63 triumph.

Tonight, the Wildcats will gladly settle for something in between, such as last season's first meeting with Nebraska.

Sophomore forward Luis Colon played a starring role in K-State's 61-45 win, lauded by then-head coach Bob Huggins for his defense on the big Australian. Maric struggled, scoring 10 points, and the Cornhuskers didn't have a chance.

What's realistic? Not shutting out Nebraska's leading scorer (15.4 points) again.

The Jayhawks, according to Cornhuskers coach Doc Sadler, were committed to stifling Maric, but NU also abandoned its attempts to deliver him the ball.

'It was a combination of what we didn't do and what they did do, and what they did do was a lot better than what we didn't do,' Sadler said.

According to KU coach Bill Self, it was a fluke.

'We didn't do anything other than try to pressure their perimeter and not make it easy to throw it inside,' he said. 'And then we also caught a break. What was he? 0 for 6 from the field, or something like that? Even if he has an average game, he's 3 for 6.'

The Wildcats will take 'an average game' instead of what they were subjected to the last time they saw Nebraska. Asked Monday if he remembered that game, Colon said, '(Heck), yeah -- I remember that guy scoring 41 points.'

He also remembers the aftermath, a locker room so enraged that yelling could be heard in the halls outside. Jason Bennett, who has since transferred to Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College, stormed out at least 10 minutes before any of his teammates exited.

'It was just frustration between the players,' Colon said. 'We were all arguing. It was nothing personal.... No fighting. We love each other, we hate each other. We're a family.'

Now, perhaps, but following that game they were feuding -- and Maric was the main reason why.

How the game was called was a point of contention, an issue Sadler touched lightly upon Monday.

' (Maric) made a lot of free throws,' he said. 'Bob's teams played real physical.... I guess we're not allowed to comment on officiating so I can't say anything about that except that he made a lot of free throws.

'At the same time, we make a conscious effort to get him the basketball. And we'll continue to do that.'

Listening to Colon, who expects to be called upon again tonight, if Maric goes for 41 again, that would be fine -- as long as the Wildcats prevail.

'This is a different team with different players,' Colon said. 'We don't expect him to score 41 points. If he does, great for him. We just want to win. If we have one more point than them and he scores 100, we'll be happy.'

[More at www.topix.net]