Lincoln – The Nebraska basketball program will honor one of its most colorful personalities for its annual Legends Weekend game against Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 22. Tipoff for the matchup is at 2 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena and will be carried on BTN and the Husker Sports Radio Network.

Legends Weekend has quickly become a popular event on the schedule, as nearly 50 former players have signed up for the 2015 event. The weekend’s activities include a team reception with the Husker coaches and staff on Saturday night, halftime recognition during the Iowa game as well as opportunities to watch the Huskers practice and interact with the current Husker team.

In addition, the Huskers have partnered with adidas on a special jersey to wear for the occasion. Details on the jersey will be announced next week.

This year’s event will celebrate the career of Jerry Bush, who guided the Husker basketball program from the 1954-55 season to the 1962-63 campaign. Bush was affectionately known as the “Big Bear of the Coliseum” for his colorful personality and uncanny ability to fashion upsets during his nine seasons at Nebraska.

Bush, who was chosen to the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, guided Nebraska to several memorable wins in his tenure, including wins over No. 3 Kansas and No. 1 Kansas State in consecutive games during the 1957-58 season. The 43-41 win over the Wilt Chamberlain-led Kansas squad came on Jim Kubacki’s jumper with two seconds left, while the 55-48 triumph over a Bob Boozer-led Kansas State squad marked the Huskers’ first-ever win over a No. 1 team on the hardwood.

Bush coached All-American Herschell Turner, who earned first-team All-Big Eight honors in 1960 and became the first Husker to score 1,000 career points. In addition, Bush’s tenure also featured Rex Ekwall, who is still Nebraska’s rebounding leader, as he averaged 10.4 rebounds per game during his three seasons (1955-57) in the program. In all, nine of his former players have joined Bush in the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame.

An outstanding college player at St. John’s, Bush came to Nebraska from the University of Toledo, where he guided the Rockets to a 129-59 record in seven seasons, including the school’s first Mid-American Conference Championship in 1953-54.

Bush, who passed away at age 62 in 1976, is a member of the athletic hall of fame at both St. John’s and Toledo and will be represented by his daughters Karen Hoiberg & Jane Loewe as well as several family members who will be in town for the event.