Copeland's resurgence providing big boost for Huskers

As Isaac Copeland scored and rebounded his way to his first double-double as a Husker in Saturday’s loss at Creighton, Nebraska head coach Tim Miles saw the type of player he hoped he was getting when Copeland committed back January.

The first ever five-star recruit in program history, Copeland ended up with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds against the Bluejays.

While the effort came in a disappointing loss, it was the best sign yet that the former Georgetown transfer might live up to all of the hype that has surrounded him for the past 11 months.

“I thought Isaac could be a difference maker,” Miles said during the Big Ten coaches’ teleconference on Monday. “The best predictor of future success is past performance, and he’s been a guy who’s gone in as a freshman and a sophomore in the Big East and played well, really well at times.

“The key was just getting him healthy and getting him acclaimed to what we’re doing and what’s going on that way. He’s still acclimating. There were still some times (vs. Crieghton) where he was kind of confused on some things, which is really natural, especially in that difficult environment.”

The 6-foot-9, 221-pound native of Raleigh, N.C., now leads the team in rebounding at 6.6 boards per game, ranks third in scoring at 12.7 points per game, and is tied for second in blocks with 13.

One of three Huskers to attempt over 100 shots through the first 11 games, Copeland is shooting an impressive 46.8 percent from the field (52-of-111), and his 53 defensive rebounds so far are 19 more than any other NU player.

Over the past eight games, the former 23rd-ranked player in the 2014 class has averaged 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and is shooting 51 percent from the field.

It’s taken some time for Copeland to work his way back from surgery in February on a herniated disc in his back, but with every game he gets under his belt, he’s looking more and more like the five-star player the Huskers have been counting on.

“When you look at it, Isaac’s just going to keep getting better and better, and I think our team’s just going to get better and better,” Miles said. “He’s a guy who can put up big numbers in college basketball, and we certainly need a go-to guy like that.”