1997–98 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team American college basketball season
The 1997–98 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team represented the University of Nebraska, Lincoln during the 1997–98 college basketball season. Led by head coach Danny Nee (12th season), the Cornhuskers competed in the Big 12 Conference and played their home games at the Bob Devaney Sports Center . They finished with a record of 20–12 overall and 10–6 in Big 12 Conference play. After placing 4th in the conference standings, and losing in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament , Nebraska received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament – the fifth and final appearance under Coach Nee – as No. 11 seed in the West region. The Cornhuskers were beaten by No. 6 seed Arkansas in the opening round.
Roster
1997–98 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
3
Cary Cochran
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Tri-Center
Minden, IA
C
4
Venson Hamilton
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
Jr
Oak Hill Academy
Forest City, NC
F
5
Larry Florence
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Jr
Central
Phenix City, AL
G
10
Tyronn Lue
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
Jr
Raytown
Mexico, MO
G
11
Rodney Williams
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
The Kinkaid School
Houston, TX
F
15
Chad Johnson
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Fr
Florida A&M
Monticello, FL
G
20
Todd Smith
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
Baldwin
Milledgeville, GA
G
24
Michael Johnette
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Sr
Millard North
Omaha, NE
G
30
Cookie Belcher
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
So
Mexico
Mexico, MO
F
34
Troy Piatkowski
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Jr
Stevens
Rapid City, SD
G
35
Ryan Phifer
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Sr
North Platte
North Platte, NE
F
40
Chad Burbach
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Sr
Scotus
Columbus, NE
F
44
Andy Markowski
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Jr
Ord
Ord, NE
C
52
Brant Harriman
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
Fr
Mason City
Mason City, IA
Head coach
Danny Nee
Assistant coach(es)
Jimmy Williams
Scott Howard
Bill Johnson
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
Site city, state
Regular season
Nov 16, 1997 *
UNC Greensboro
W 75–51
1–0
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Nov 19, 1997 *
Western Illinois
W 86–57
2–0
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Nov 22, 1997 *
New Orleans
W 81–66
3–0
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Nov 25, 1997 *
Colorado State
W 64–57
4–0
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Nov 29, 1997 *
UTSA
W 68–59
5–0
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Dec 1, 1997 *
at Tulsa
L 68–85
5–1
Tulsa Convention Center Tulsa, Oklahoma
Dec 5, 1997 *
UNC Wilmington
W 85–68
6–1
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Dec 6, 1997 *
Grambling
W 85–48
7–1
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Dec 10, 1997 *
at Creighton
L 73–84
7–2
Omaha Civic Auditorium Omaha, Nebraska
Dec 13, 1997 *
at Minnesota
W 70–66
8–2
Williams Arena Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dec 27, 1997 *9:30 p.m.
vs. Virginia Rainbow Classic
W 80–65
9–2
Special Events Arena Honolulu, Hawaii
Dec 28, 1997 *
at Hawaii Rainbow Classic
L 62–87
9–3
Special Events Arena Honolulu, Hawaii
Dec 30, 1997 *
vs. Vanderbilt Rainbow Classic
L 69–80
9–4
Special Events Arena Honolulu, Hawaii
Jan 3, 1998
at No. 2 Kansas
L 76–96
9–5 (0–1)
Allen Fieldhouse Lawrence, Kansas
Jan 7, 1998
at Oklahoma State
W 67–62
10–5 (1–1)
Gallagher-Iba Arena Stillwater, Oklahoma
Jan 11, 1998
Colorado
W 87–72
11–5 (2–1)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Jan 18, 1998
Oklahoma
W 53–43
12–5 (3–1)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Jan 21, 1998
at Texas
L 91–105
12–6 (3–2)
Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas
Jan 24, 1998 12:45 p.m.
Iowa State
W 63–49
13–6 (4–2)
Bob Devaney Sports Center (10,565)Lincoln, Nebraska
Jan 28, 1998
at Kansas State
L 49–72
13–7 (4–3)
Bramlage Coliseum Manhattan, Kansas
Feb 1, 1998
No. 5 Kansas
L 71–82
13–8 (4–4)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Feb 4, 1998
at Missouri
L 76–81 OT
13–9 (4–5)
Hearnes Center Columbia, Missouri
Feb 7, 1998
Kansas State
L 63–69
13–10 (4–6)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Feb 11, 1998
at Texas A&M
W 75–58
14–10 (5–6)
G. Rollie White Coliseum College Station, Texas
Feb 14, 1998
Baylor
W 66–55
15–10 (6–6)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Feb 18, 1998
Missouri
W 67–66 OT
16–10 (7–6)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Feb 21, 1998
at Colorado
W 79–71
17–10 (8–6)
Coors Events Center Boulder, Colorado
Feb 25, 1998
Texas Tech
W 82–65
18–10 (9–6)
Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, Nebraska
Feb 28, 1998 7:00 p.m.
at Iowa State
W 70–62
19–10 (10–6)
Hilton Coliseum (13,465)Ames, Iowa
Big 12 Tournament
Mar 6, 1998 *
(4)
vs. (5) Baylor Quarterfinals
W 65–46
20–10
Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri
Mar 7, 1998 *
(4)
vs. (1) No. 3 Kansas Semifinals
L 59–91
20–11
Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri
NCAA tournament
Mar 12, 1998 *
(11 W)
vs. (6 W) No. 17 Arkansas First Round
L 65–74[ 2]
20–12
BSU Pavilion Boise, Idaho
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in
Central Time .
[ 3]
[ 4]
[ 5]
Team players drafted into the NBA
[ 6]
References
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons
Information related to 1997–98 Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team