Doc Sadler suffered from a bad back long before arriving at Allen Fieldhouse. So ignore what might be easy to assume – the Nebraska basketball coach’s ginger walk wasn’t, in fact, the result of getting beaten mercilessly by Kansas University on Saturday.

Save NU center Aleks Maric suffering from banged-up ribs on a Sasha Kaun elbow, Nebraska’s only scar from Saturday was a massive blow to the ego.

It’s understandable – a 92-39 loss to Kansas can humble just about anyone.

“What do you want me to say?” Sadler said afterward, trying but failing to find an explanation for the 53-point whooping.

Even Sadler had to crack a smile. When the two teams met at Nebraska earlier this season, Kansas started off on a 43-8 run en route to a 21-point win.

The thinking this time around was to hang tight early, then hope the momentum would give the Huskers a chance at the end.

It was 20-18 Kansas midway through the first half Saturday. And then, the Jayhawks outscored the Huskers 72-21 the rest of the way.

Plan C, anyone?

“Obviously, Kansas wasn’t at that magical level that they’re at sometimes, so it allowed us to be in that game,” Sadler said of the first half. “And then the last seven minutes of the first half, we give them 18 points. We can’t score enough points to give 18 free points away in seven minutes.”

Maric led the Huskers with 14 points, but didn’t play the last 13 minutes after getting elbowed by Kaun. He said he was fine and could’ve gone back in, but what was the point? Kansas already was up 25 when he left, and it was about to get a lot worse.

Nebraska fell to 15-10 overall and 4-7 in Big 12 Conference play. But the bar didn’t lower even after the game. The Huskers still are shooting for an NCAA Tournament berth, though it might have to mean winning out or winning the Big 12 tournament.

“If you look at the schedule, we’ve got three more home games and two on the road,” Maric said. “The schedule is in our favor. It’s up to us to produce.”

Afterward, Sadler lobbed praise toward KU, saying freshman Sherron Collins “could be as good a player as (Texas standout) Kevin Durant or anybody” and lauding KU’s balanced attack.

“Who do you help off of?” he said.

He also paid respects to Allen Fieldhouse. He attended once as a fan in the past, but never was a participant until Saturday. Nebraska’s first-year coach reminded his players to soak in the charm before the game.

“It’s a great place for college basketball,” Sadler said. “I told the kids, ‘Anytime you get to play at a place like this, enjoy it.'”

Think they did? Hardly.

“I’m glad,” guard Charles Richardson said, “that it’s over with.”

Memories of ’57?

Were you at the 1957 national championship game to watch KU and North Carolina in Kansas City, Mo.? If so, we want to hear your stories.

Also, if you have mementos of any kind from that game, let us know, so we can make it part of our 50th-anniversary special coming next month in the Lawrence Journal-World and on KUSports.com.

If so, call Ryan Greene at (785) 832-6357 or e-mail to editor@kusports.com