Tai Webster's Nebraskan Basketball Odyssey

When most people think the University of Nebraska and college sport, they think of the mighty Big Red.

Quite simply, the Nebraska Cornhuskers – a.k.a. Big Red – are one of the most storied teams in college football history, winning five national titles in dominant stretches in the early 70s and mid 90s.

To wear the Big Red in Nebraska is to not only be part of that history; but to embody the essential representation of the Midwestern state's identity built on rural, leather-handed, frontier-driven hard work.

Tai Webster isn't a big American football fan, per say – but knows the unwavering importance of Big Red better than most.

Six weeks ago, the 21-year-old Kiwi had just finished cleaning his vehicle at a car wash in Lincoln, Nebraska when his heart dropped. He realized he'd just locked himself out of his car.

Back in his hometown of Auckland, Webster would just be some unfortunate bastard locked out of his vehicle, trying to figure out what to do next. In Lincoln, it's a different story.

"Some guy just came up to me out of nowhere and was like 'Tai, you need a ride?" Webster, the point guard for the Nebraska college basketball team, says.

"You are always in the eye, here."

One of the first in the impressive current breed of Kiwis in US college basketball, Webster is in his senior - and final - year at Nebraska. In his time in Lincoln, he has experienced the whole gambit of what it means to be an American college baller.

An overhyped first season as a recruit. Condemnation as a second season 'failure'. A resurgent third season - and now? The pressure of being his team's key attacking sparkplug – and head coach Tim Miles' undeniable team leader.

Led by Webster, Nebraska - a Big Ten conference side whose biggest name former player is current Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue - has kicked off this season with two non-conference victories. They will be looking to get back into the NCAA post-season tournament for their first time since Webster's junior year in 2014.

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If Webster's statistical trends from last year are anything to go by, they'll have a good chance to do it.

The Kiwi had his best season at Nebraska last year, posting his highest two point (.510), three point (.350) and foul throw (.740) percentages while at college.

Overall, he averaged his college best of 10.1 total points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, with his season steals total the fourth best in the Big Ten.

Webster is embracing his leadership role for his side, this year. "[That responsibility] is long awaited," Webster says.

The Tall Black point guard is leaning his 1.93m frame against a wall at the Huskers practice gym at the Hendricks Training Complex in Lincoln.

Webster's got that chilled, laconic Kiwi thing going on that Steven Adams has championed in the NBA – but make no mistake: he knows the importance of the weight he is carrying.

Kiwi Tai Webster scoring from an alley-oop last season for Nebraska. Source: Youtube.

"[I know] I can't afford to have bad days," he continues. "If I come to practice and I'm not feeling 100 per cent, it's not good enough.

"I'm in a position now where I can't let that effect my performance, because it just carries on throughout the team.

"They see me and I might be going half-ass in a couple of drills and they'll feel like they can do that as well. That's the biggest change – having the responsibility to guide what others do."

Before I sat down with Webster to talk about his college career, he took me on a tour of the US$18.7 million training complex he calls his office. The basketball programme partially shares it with other Nebraska teams, including the national college champion women's volleyball team, but mostly they get their own territory.

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From the dressing rooms, showers, bathrooms (there are plasma television screens in the toilets) and tape room to the training gym and practice court, it's all seriously top-notch stuff at a level of investment dwarfing anything I'd seen back in New Zealand - especially in basketball.

Since 2011, the New Zealand Breakers have captured four NBL titles to become the dominant force in Australasian basketball, but their facilities look like a high school gym compared to this.

Webster has certainly put his working cap on in a bunch of different places.

Starting out at Westlake Boys High in Auckland, Webster established a reputation as a 'can't miss' Kiwi hoops prospect before joining the Breakers on a developmental contract. He made his debut for New Zealand in 2012, aged only 17.

Webster signed up for Nebraska in late 2012, and headed to the States after parts of NZNBL seasons with the Auckland Pirates and Waikato Pistons.

His first year with the Huskers was strong, but Webster admits he got caught up in the hyperbole of it all.

"There was a crazy amount of hype going around," he says.

"Everyone was like he's this 17-year-old who is on the national team – he's going to come in and rip up straight away. Honestly, I think I did a bad job. I let it feed into me – I expected myself to come out and do the things they expected me too.

"Once I didn't, I was like 'oh shit, what am I going to do now?' I was wondering if college was for me. I started having doubts."

Those doubts were worked through, with his family. His father Tony played college ball in Hawaii, before playing professionally in New Zealand – while his brother Corey – who spent the 2015 NBA pre-season with New Orleans and now plays for the Breakers – had a difficult time at college, at Lambuth.

"My brother was on the side of telling me that college wasn't for everyone," he says. "You have to be careful about where you go – he was in a bad situation.

"So he was on the side of going pro, getting in with the Breakers or going to Europe. He told me about his experience and how he hated it, and obviously how he's glad that he got out of it.

"But my Dad had a great college experience. He got a few injuries and had some hiccups, but he enjoyed college a lot. He refers to it as the best time of his life."

Webster has found his own mix in Lincoln. Outside Husker days, he enjoyed the relaxed rural nature of city and has a good support network there with his girlfriend's family.

His own approach to gameday is one built around keeping a rational, contextual mentality. He'll go without meat for three days before a game, while meditation has also became key for him.

Outside Webster, eight other New Zealanders play for Division I NCAA basketball schools in the US. They are – take a deep breathe – Tai Wynyard (Kentucky), Jack Salt (Virginia), Matt Freeman (Oklahoma), Sam Timmins (Washington), Gus Riley (Bryant), Tom Vodanovich (James Madison), Zach Young (Nicholls State) and Izayah Mauriohooho Le'Afa (Sacremento State).

Webster's advice to the rest of that mob: watch your every move, because others will be too.

"At practice, there's always NBA coaches, scouts, general managers – all sorts," he says.

"Whether it's your Twitter or even in public. It is college – young guys are trying to have fun – but you've got to be careful. The majority of people want you to do well, but there's always those people who want you to slip up. You've got to conduct yourself like that – you're a role model in the community."

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If any of those Kiwi college ballers have a portion of the success of Adams, the health of New Zealand basketball is certainly trending in the right direction.

After being drafted by the Oklahoma City in 2013, the Rotorua-born center has transformed into one of the league's top big men; securing a four-year US$100 million extension with the Thunder last month.

Webster labels Adams "the ultimate inspiration," adding that the moustachoed centre and the current Kiwi college crop could help create the springboard for a New Zealand basketball revolution.

"Everyone always talked about [Adams] when we were in New Zealand – he was like an age group in front of me," he says.

"I got to play him one time in the national finals. Everyone talked about him being an NBA player. He went off to college and then did it. It was like 'wow, if he can do it, what can I do?"

"More and more people are getting into basketball back home," he continues. "Even my friends now say they love watching basketball more than like rugby. It wouldn't surprise me if it really kicked off in New Zealand."

The role of his old team, the Breakers, has been key in the 'revolution' Webster says - and will continue to be crucial in changing the contours of the Kiwi sporting map.

"It's the best springboard we have for young players to come through," he says.

An Ohio State player taunted Tai Webster last season, but the Kiwi wasn't bothered. Source: Youtube.

"They're awesome about their role too – they realize young guys want to go to college. It's the dream – we watch what NBA players do in the movies and we want to. It sort of works in the mentality that people could come back and make the Breakers stronger. It's pretty good to have something like that."

As for his own path to the NBA, Webster remains grounded.

He's flashed a skill level that could easily find him picked up in the later rounds of the Draft, though he knows his college consistency will be held against him at this point.

Webster's formula to give himself the best possible chance following this season? Keep going without meat for three days before a game. Keep meditating. Keep on being part of a winning team.

"Individual success is important but not as important as your team doing well," he says.

"Everyone wants winners on their team, not guys who are going to be selfish. There's million of players like that in the NBA already.

"I'm not going to go to the NBA and be the next LeBron – that's unrealistic. My mentality is to be a winning player. Do all the little things right, on and off the court – everything else comes from that."

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