Nebraska is looking for payback against Creighton

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska has been lying in wait for Creighton since getting run out of the CenturyLink Center in Omaha last year.

The Cornhuskers haven't forgotten how the Bluejays, led by national player of the year Doug McDermott, got out to a 38-8 lead on their way to an 82-67 win.

''We were all embarrassed last year,'' coach Tim Miles said. ''We have a lot to prove in this rivalry to make it a rivalry - like try winning a game on occasion.''

Nebraska leads 25-22 in the series against its in-state rival, but Creighton goes into Sunday's game at Pinnacle Bank Arena having won three straight meetings by a total of 47 points and 13 of the last 17 since 1997.

''I want to win as bad as any other game,'' senior forward David Rivers said. ''A win against Creighton would erase a lot of bad memories.''

Nebraska (5-1) has won three straight since losing in overtime at Rhode Island. Creighton (6-2) has lost two of three after a 5-0 start that included an upset of then-No. 18 Oklahoma.

Creighton coach Greg McDermott said the series' vibe has changed. The Bluejays lost Doug McDermott and three other senior starters from a year ago and are still trying to find their identity. The Huskers have all their starters back.

''We are going to be the underdog,'' Greg McDermott said. ''I'm confident we'll go in there and compete.''

The Huskers have the Big Ten's second- and third-leading scorers in Terran Petteway (21 ppg) and Shavon Shields (20 ppg). Creighton's Isaiah Zierden is shooting 45 percent on 3-pointers and Austin Chatman's assist-turnover ratio of 3.7 to 1 leads the Big East.

''Basketball is as good as it's been in a long time in the state of Nebraska,'' Miles said. ''The rivalry is a big deal to me and a big deal to our program. It's one of those games, whether you like it or not, that gets marked on your calendar. You try not to get into a big-game mentality, but you can't avoid it with this one.''