Game Day Essentials: Game #12 vs Kansas State

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-6) vs Kansas State Wildcats (6-3)

 

Date: Sunday, Dec 19,  2021
Time: 5:00 pm
Arena: PBA

Broadcast:  BTN

Kansas St Info

 

Head Coach: Bruce Weber
Location: Manhattan, KS
Conference: Big 12
Nickname: Wildcats

Mascot: Willie the Wildcat

Shirt not to wear: Purple

Last time out: Beat Green Bay
Line: Kansas St by 1
Typical Rotation Depth: 10

KenPom rank: 69

 

Other:  

• First meeting since 2011
• These teams first played back in 1906
• This is the first game a of a three game series. Next year's game will be played in Kansas City and the 2023 game will be played in Manhattan.
• Bruce Weber is1-1 all-time vs Nebraska as the coach at Illilnois

 

Player to watch: Nijel Pack

The 6'0" sophomore PG is lightning quick and is deadly from outside, hitting 47.5% from 3 thus far. The Wildcat's leading scorer has been sidelined because of a concussion but should be back in full for this game.

 

Player to watch: Markquis Nowell

5'8" Jr Little-Rock transfer Nowell is also a dynamic scoring pg, 2nd in scoring while first in assists and steals. His time picked up with Pack out. While they do play together, Weber typically staggers their time on the bench.

 

Possible Michigan Starters

24 Nijel Pack G 6-0 180 So.-1L Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence Central) 

00 Mike McGuirl G 6-3 200 Sr.-4L Ellington, Conn. (East Catholic)

 13 Mark Smith G 6-4 225 Sr.-TR Edwardsville, Ill. (Edwardsville/Illinois/Missouri)

 25 Ismael [Ish] Massoud F 6-9 210 So.-TR East Harlem, N.Y. (The MacDuffie School/Wake Forest)

 20 Kaosi Ezeagu F 6-10 255 Jr.-1L Brampton, Ontario (GTA Prep/UTEP)

 

Probable Rotation

 1 Markquis Nowell G 5-8 160 Jr.-TR Harlem, N.Y. (St. Patrick/Little Rock)

 3 Selton Miguel G 6-4 210 So.-1L Luanda, Angola (West Oaks Academy [Fla.])

 22 Luke Kasubke G 6-5 190 So.-1L St. Louis, Mo. (Chaminade)

 33 Logan Landers F 6-9 215 Fr.-HS Cedarburg, Wis. (Cedarburg)

 21 Davion Bradford F 7-0 270 So.-1L St. Louis, Mo. (Mehlville)
 

Bench

2 Maximus Edwards G 6-5 220 Fr.-HS Stratford, Conn. (Our Saviour Lutheran School [N.Y.]
 4 Seryee Lewis^ F 6-9 230 So.-1L Chicago, Ill. (Compass Prep [Ariz.])
 12 Carlton Linguard, Jr. F 7-0 220 Jr.-1L San Antonio, Texas (Stevens/Temple College [Texas])
 14 Drew Honas* G 6-0 170 Jr.-TR Medicine Lodge, Kan. (Medicine Lodge/Pratt Community College)
 15 Trey Harris* G 5-11 165 So.-TR Bloomington, Ill. (Bloomington/Indian Hills Community College)
 23 Jordan Brooks* F 6-4 190 So.-TR Grayson, Ky. (East Carter/Bosco Institute [Ind.]/Iona)

 

The Rest of the Roster

Senior transfer (Illinois/Missouri) Mark Smith is a dude. The 6'4" guard leads the team in rebound and gets to the line. Nebraska almost landed him during the Tim Miles era. Massoud slots as their stretch 4. Canadian center Kaosi Ezeagu cleans up the glass well and is deadly when he gets the ball in the paint. Backup center Bradford is equally as serviceable. 5th year guard Mike McGuirl is the 'glue guy' in the backcourt. Selton Miguel slots in similarly. Logan Landers is depth at the 4.

 

UNL Game Notes

 

 

 

Probable starters for Nebraska
1  Alonzo  Verge    G    6-3

30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2

5  Bryce  McGowens    G    6-7

11  Lat Mayen    F    6-9

13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9

 

Bench

23   Keon Edwards    G    6-7

0    C.J.  Wilcher    G    6-5

35    Eduardo Andre    F    6-11

10  Kobe Webster    G    6-0

14  Trevor Lakes    F    6-8
3   Quaran McPherson    G    6-3

33    Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0
4    Jackson Cronin    G    6-1

12    Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0
15    Chris McGraw    G    6-0
21    Jace Piatkowski    G    6-3

 

Out

32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10

2  Trey  McGowens    G    6-4

 

The Skinny: 

December has been a nightmare for the Huskers as they've gone through a stretch of 4 losses and during their week off have been under the buzz of controversy.  11 games in with a team built to shoot from the outside that can't make outside shots, Fred Hoiberg's presser included a report of change in the offense.  Mentions of the 2017 Bulls that didn't have 3pt shooters and involving Derrick Walker indicate Nebraska intends to work more into the paint. Perhaps they'll even work into the shot clock.  Change very much appears to be necessary as the offense hasn't had a good game against anyone but schools they paid to fill out the schedule.

 

 

 

Defensively, Fred mentioned effort and he's not wrong. The problem there is the frontrunning culture of this team as constructed; The players aren't chewing each other out and the coaches are in AAU mode. Honestly there isn't a fix for it because Fred Hoiberg isn't bought into fixing it. Until that changes, expect bad losses this season to veer towards historical losses. The sliver lining about last weeks' cloud of controversy was not having to think about the last two games, bada-bing.

 

One ironic thing about potentially playing inside more offensively is that Bruce Weber's Wildcat team by default is going to pack inside the 3 line. They're not as aggressive as Auburn, but KSU's quick guards will jump passing lanes and turn defense into offense. Not a ton of shot blocking though if Nebraska can work its way into the paint. Maybe this is the game where those open looks from three will start falling. KSU will put you on the FT line which is quite important for a team in search of offense.  Defensively the Huskers will run their same stuff and Kansas State has good shooters capable of exploiting it.  Will the effort be there this game?

 

Teams like this Nebraska one tend to focus up and try harder after getting their teeth kicked in and this isn't an overwhelming Kansas St team.  As long as the pilot light isn't out, this is a winnable game for the Huskers.

 

Prediction: Nebraska 67 - Kansas St 64

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