Opening Night with Husker Hoops kicks off basketball season

It was that kind of night as both Husker hoops teams unofficially kicked off their respective seasons. The basketball was low-intensity. The squeaks of shoes against the floor could be heard in both scrimmages. The quiet, unglamorous evening set the stage for the marathon to come for two teams trying to take the next step in their respective trajectories.

The women shook off a slow start to find their collective shooting stroke in the second running-time half to beat their practice opponents. Coming off of a first-round NIT exit, the Huskers got a boost over the offseason when guard Jaz Shelley decided to return for another collegiate season.

“They get after it,” coach Amy Williams said in an interview at half-court before the first scrimmage. “It’s pretty competitive and spirited in practice, but they really have fun with it, and that’s what I love the most about this group.”

The men didn’t scrimmage, opting instead for an open practice like they did a season ago. They were still responsible for the biggest roar out of an otherwise tepid crowd when Keisei Tominaga was the last Husker announced during introductions.

The team practiced for roughly 20 minutes with a similar itinerary to its open practice Tuesday: transition, shooting and half-court offense.

“It’s a team that shows up every morning and comes ready to work,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “It’s one of the hardest, most competitive teams that I’ve ever been around at any level, and I can promise you this: win or lose you’re gonna appreciate the effort that this team leaves on the floor.”

In the inter-squad competitions, C.J. Wilcher won the 3-point contest with 17 treys, beating Annika Stewart in his head-to-head matchup 17-13. Keisei Tominaga knocked down 14, beating Jaz Shelley. It took overtime for Callin Hake to pick up a 10-9 win over Allick.