Game Day Essentials: Game #14 vs Indiana

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-2) vs Indiana Hoosiers (10-3)

 

Date: Wednesday Jan 3rd,  2024
Time: 8:07 pm
Arena: PBA

Broadcast:  BTN

Indiana Info

Head Coach: Mike Woodson (3rd year)
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Hoosiers

Shirt not to wear: Marvin Harrison Sr. Jersey

Line: Nebraska by 4.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 9+

KenPom rank: 87

Nota bene:  

• Fred Hoiberg vs Mike Woodson is a matchup of former NBA coaches
• Indiana Center Payton Sparks was a teammate of Boogie Coleman last season at Ball St.
• Indiana boasts one of the tallest lineups in D-1, clocking in at #3 in KenPom's average height metric. Nebraska's secret scrimmage foe Utah is #2.
• Mackenzie Mgbako attended Roselle Catholic HS last season, playing with Simeon Wilcher. This is the same HS attended by CJ WIlcher and Jamarques Lawrence.

 

KenPom most used lineups

	PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Pct
1	2 Gabe Cupps 6-2  175  Fr	32 Trey Galloway 6-5  205  Sr	21 Mackenzie Mgbako 6-8  217  Fr	5 Malik Reneau 6-9  233  So	1 Kel'el Ware 7-0  242  So	25.1

 

 

Player to watch: Malik Reneau

While not as dominant as Trayce Jackson-Davis, F/C Reneau has taken over as Indiana's go-to scorer in the paint while also ranking 2nd on the team in assists. Does have 3pt range.

 

Player to watch: Mackenzie Mgbako

The 5 star freshman has become the Hoosier's main 3pt threat with PG Xavier Johnson out of the lineup.

 

Player to watch: Kel'el Ware

Another former 5 star, Ware transferred from Oregon and has started at the 5 for Indiana where he's arguably been their best player. Ware looks like a lottery pick at times but sometimes his motor doesn't match.

 

Others to watch

Trey Galloway is a glue guy having to do more because of limited guard play. Freshman guard Gabe Cupps is mostly just bringing the ball up the court and shoots at a Benny Parker like rate. 6'8" 215# Miami transfer Anthony Walker is nice depth but he's yet another post player who doesn't take outside shots. Xavier Johnson would be a real boost for the Hoosiers in terms of ball handing and 3pt shooting should he play.

 

UNL Game Notes

 

Roster/infirmary report

Will update if needed when the B1G releases their injury 

 

Out indefinitely 

5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Likely out for the season
15  Blaise Keita     6-11    257 lbs    Junior - Ongoing ankle injury recovery

 

Have been showing up on the injury report

35    Henry Burt                  6-7    216 lbs    RS Freshman

2    Ramel Lloyd Jr.             6-6    210 lbs    RS Freshman

 

Game Time Decision

51    Rienk Mast                 6-10    248 lbs    Junior - Knee Scope

 

Possible starters for Nebraska

10    Jamarques Lawrence  6-3    183 lbs    Sophomore

30   Keisei Tominaga           6-2    179 lbs    Senior
3     Brice Williams               6-7    213 lbs    Junior

4   Juwan Gary                   6-6    221 lbs    Junior
53   Josiah Allick                 6-8    231 lbs    Senior

 

Bench

0    C.J. Wilcher                  6-5    214 lbs    Junior

9    Jarron Coleman            6-5    213 lbs    Senior
1    Sam Hoiberg                 6-0    183 lbs    Sophomore
11    Eli Rice                         6-8    213 lbs    Freshman
21    Matar Diop                 6-10    213 lbs    Freshman
31    Cale Jacobsen            6-4    200 lbs    RS Freshman

24    Jeffrey Grace III         6-3    197 lbs    Sophomore 

 

Hoiberg/Wilcher Presser

 

Hoiberg talks about Mast being a game time decision and ramping up on Keita's rehab

 

The Skinny: 

 

2023-24 has been a down enough season for the B1G to the point that Indiana comes in as a Quad 3 opponent. Nebraska is simultaneously looking to rack up conference wins at home while avoiding resume killing loses. Indiana's 3 loses have come against some of the best in the country...can Nebraska make the grade?

 

Indiana presents a great style matchup for the Huskers. There won't be a ton of 3pt shooters for their defense to chase as the Hoosiers are one of the most 2pt heavy teams in D-1. Defensively, the Hoosiers should present plenty of open 3pt shots and expect Nebraska to take advantage. What could decide this one is Nebraska's ability to defend the paint without fouling as Indiana draws plenty of contact and Nebraska could be without Rienk Mast. Things could get real dicey if Nebraska has to play Diop or even CJ Wilcher at center. Despite their height, Indiana isn't an elite rebounding squad so it's possible for Nebraska to limit 2nd chance shots.

 

This is a getable game for the Huskers and look for them to have a great shot in this one, especially with their edge in FT shooting.

 

Prediction: Nebraska 78 - Indiana 73 

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[Nighthawk]

"5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Likely out for the season"

 

so how does that work...will he get another year..or is he pretty much done? Yeah I know he will still have his sr year...but could he forgo that and try to go pro? Will the gambling thing haunt him there too? 

[hhcmatt]

10 minutes ago, Nighthawk said:

"5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Likely out for the season"

 

so how does that work...will he get another year..or is he pretty much done? Yeah I know he will still have his sr year...but could he forgo that and try to go pro? Will the gambling thing haunt him there too? 

 

I'm not sure the NCAA has even ruled on him.  To me the most likely turn of events is that he'll get this one year of suspension and be able to use his last year of eligibility. He could have played overseas this season so seems like he'd chose to stay in college another year. We're not exactly swimming with PGs so I'd think there is a pretty good chance he'd stay here.  

[Nighthawk]

35 minutes ago, hhcmatt said:

 

I'm not sure the NCAA has even ruled on him.  To me the most likely turn of events is that he'll get this one year of suspension and be able to use his last year of eligibility. He could have played overseas this season so seems like he'd chose to stay in college another year. We're not exactly swimming with PGs so I'd think there is a pretty good chance he'd stay here.  

Thanks.