Jaz Shelley, Alexis Markowski hungry for extra Nebraska basketball success

The Huskers are coming off a 24-9 season and their first NCAA Match look since 2018. They’re ranked No. 22 in each main polls and are picked to complete fifth within the Large Ten. Most of their roster is again from final spring.

The items are in place for one more profitable run and so they have final March to construct on. However for individuals who return, final spring is within the rearview mirror.

“It was an incredible expertise, however we are able to positively go additional this yr and now we have to maneuver on,” stated junior guard Jaz Shelley. “And everybody on our staff is anticipating extra.

“We don’t wish to combine up anticipating extra with incomes extra, as a result of we all know that we are able to’t anticipate something. Now we have to exit and earn every part. However I believe simply having that mindset all of us anticipate to carry out higher than we did final yr.”

Particularly with Sam Haiby possible out for the season, this staff is Shelley’s for the foreseeable future. A second-team All-Large Ten decide, Shelley led the Huskers in factors per sport, assists, steals and blocked pictures final season. She heads into this season with a listing of accolades and is one among 20 gamers on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch Listing.

Extra importantly, she’s coming in motivated because the Huskers “offered themselves brief.”

The Huskers are days away from getting the 2022-23 season underway. Nebraska took the ground final Sunday with a 70-27 exhibition win over Washburn that featured a mix of lineup rotations and a glimpse of what newcomers resembling Maddie Krull and Callin Hake can add to the combo.

What lies forward are eight nonconference video games after which the beginning of Large Ten play, a convention that at present has six ranked groups.

“It’s good to have individuals on the surface be capable of validate what we really feel like in our locker room — that’s, we will be among the finest groups within the nation if we care for enterprise, keep wholesome and proceed to play for one another,” coach Amy Williams stated. “It’s good to have some validation on that for certain, however we’re going to be far more thinking about what the postseason polls say than the preseason.”

Nebraska opens the common season on Monday in opposition to Omaha. Tip-off is ready for midday at Pinnacle Financial institution Enviornment.

Shelley in 12 months 2: Many Husker followers are questioning what sort of encore the Australian guard has up her sleeve. The Oregon switch is extra comfy each on and off the courtroom in her second yr at Nebraska.

“I simply wish to see extra of the identical,” Williams stated of Shelley. “She was actually a catalyst that made a number of issues occur for us one yr in the past. So if we are able to proceed to have her bringing these issues to the desk, she makes all people on the ground higher.”

Shelley needs to tackle extra of a management function.

“Final yr I used to be looking for my toes and never overstep anybody,” she stated. “However I believe now I’ve earned the respect of my teammates and I’m capable of have extra powerful conversations and folks will hearken to me as a result of they know I’ve the most effective pursuits of our staff in thoughts.

“So I wish to be extra vocal and extra concerned and am taking it on my shoulders to be a very good chief for this staff.”

Motivated Markowski: The reigning Large Ten Freshman of the 12 months picked up the place she left off in Sunday’s exhibition sport. Williams talked final month about Markowski’s deal with her footwork and perimeter sport over the summer time, two issues that have been on show in opposition to Washburn.

Markowski led Nebraska with 18 factors and 10 rebounds.

“I believed we noticed any individual that’s wanting to determine herself as an enormous presence for our staff,” Williams stated. “And I believed she did that.”

“We noticed a number of good issues and in addition a number of issues that we have to work on,” Markowski added. “Now we have some new items which are looking for their function and the place they match within the staff, however I like what I see.”

Trinity Brady wholesome and in beginning 5: The junior has performed in simply 19 video games in her Husker profession, 17 as a freshman. Brady has handled a collection of accidents the previous few years however has been wholesome all summer time.

Brady performed 17 minutes in opposition to Washburn and was a member of the beginning 5. She completed with 5 factors and 4 rebounds, and is set to be greater than a feel-good story this season.

“It virtually type of makes me a little bit teary-eyed and choked up simply due to how a lot she’s needed to persevere by means of to get again on the market and be contributing,” Williams stated. “I believe all of her teammates really feel the identical approach and it is only a deal with for them.”

Haiby replace: The most important storyline heading into this season, the Huskers will likely be with out Sam Haiby. Initially believed to be a season-ending damage, the Huskers did get some constructive information. Haiby’s surgical procedure revealed her damage isn’t as vital as initially believed.

Though there’s no timeline for a possible return but — if one even occurs — it’s a constructive signal. A four-year starter, Haiby has put up 1,000 factors in her profession and ranks eighth and fifteenth in program historical past in assists and factors, respectively. And at the least to start out the season, the Huskers should substitute 117 video games price of expertise.

“We all know that it’s not going to be one participant coming in to step in and take her place,” Williams stated. “However it may be contributions from our whole roster and all people having to raise their sport.”