VI's Leslee Smith is expected to be back on the court for Nebraska in mid-January. Photo: Provided

Nebraska head coach Tim Miles said it could be a few weeks before either is on the floor for the Huskers. “There’s really no change on Moses or  Leslee at this point in time,” Miles said. “I would say we’re at least a couple weeks out on both of them.”

Smith has at least returned to full work outs. “We're hoping to have him ready in mid-January, about a week or two into Big Ten play," Miles said of the 6-8, 255 pound Smith, who averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds last season. "We're hoping to get him live in practice soon and just take it from there."

The addition of Smith would be a critical one for a Nebraska team who many expect will finish in the upper tier of the Big Ten.

The veteran big man was the Cornhuskers' top front court reserve a year ago and would immediately give Miles a seasoned presence defensively on the interior.

Smith is not eligible for a sixth year of eligibility.

Nebraska finished 19-13 last season and lost to Baylor in the Round of 64

Abraham has appeared in seven games this year, but has missed Nebraska’s last five games after breaking his right hand in a drill. Smith is looking to return from a torn ACL that he suffered in July. Miles said Smith had been active in practices earlier this week, but that he was still a way from returning.

“Leslee did the most activity out there today that I’d seen him,” Miles said. “But, the more activity he does, it gets really sore. But he had a pretty traumatic knee injury. It’s not like he just tweaked. I don’t even know that we’ll have them in the first two or three games. We’ll see.”

The Nebraska basketball team erased a 16-point deficit, but could not complete the comeback, as the Huskers lost a hard-fought battle to Indiana, 70-65, in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams on New Year's Eve inside Pinnacle Bank Arena.