Game Day Essentials: Game #28 vs Minnesota

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-8) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-9)

 

Date: Sunday Feb 25th, 2024
Time: 5:30 pm
Arena: PBA

Broadcast:  BTN

Minnesota Info

Head Coach: Ben Johnson (3rd year)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Golden Gophers

Mascot: Goldie the Gopher

Line: Nebraska by 6.5

Shirt not to wear: Yellow, Gold
Typical Rotation Depth: 7+

KenPom rank: 63

Nota bene:  

• The last time Minnesota won in Lincoln was in 2012 during Nebraska's first year in the B1G.  Tubby Smith was the coach for the Gophers in a game played at the Bob Devaney Center.
• In other words, Minnesota has never won at Pinnacle Bank Arena
• Minnesota is 23-3 against the spread
• The Gophers and Cornhuskers have faced off 86 times, the most Nebraska has faced a B1G opponent

 

KenPom most used lineups

PG SG SF PF C Pct 1 0 Elijah Hawkins 5-11  165  Jr 2 Mike Mitchell 6-2  185  Jr 24 Cam Christie 6-6  190  Fr 3 Dawson Garcia 6-11  230  Jr 21 Pharrel Payne 6-9  255  So 28.6

 

 

 

Player to watch: Elijah Hawkins

Above are the win/loss splits for Elijah Hawkins which illustrate that the Gophers tend to go as he does. The B1G's leader in assists sets the tone on both ends for the Gophers.

 

Player to watch: Dawson Garcia

Garcia currently is leading the Gophers in scoring and rebounds.  He also has the ability to pass out of the post.  His outside shot hasn't been great this season, just 31.8%.

 

Player to watch: Pharrel Payne

The emergence of the sophomore post player has put the shot blocker in the middle and allowed Garcia to shift to the 4. Is an elite finisher and rebounder. Currently shooting FTs at a 40.6% clip, Payne is almost singlehandedly tanking the Gopher team FT%.

 

Player to watch: Cam Christie

The younger brother of Max Christie is a star in the making and has been a remarkable jump shooter, hitting 42.1% from 3 this season. 

 

Others to watch

Mike Mitchell is one of the main 3pt threats on the team. Braeden Carrington has been a disappointment offensively but look for him to be all over Tominaga when he's in the game. Former D-II star Parker Fox has worked himself into the lineup as a reliable glue-guy post player. Wing Joshua Ola-Joseph killed Nebraska the first time they met but hasn't played much in February. F Isaiah Ihnen also rarely is used in Ben Johnson's currently tight rotation.

 

UNL Game Notes

 

Roster/infirmary report

 

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

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

 

Possible starters for Nebraska

 

30   Keisei Tominaga           6-2    179 lbs    Senior
3     Brice Williams               6-7    213 lbs    Junior
53   Josiah Allick                 6-8    231 lbs    Senior
51    Rienk Mast                 6-10    248 lbs    Junior

4   Juwan Gary                   6-6    221 lbs    Junior

 

Bench

0    C.J. Wilcher                  6-5    214 lbs    Junior
1    Sam Hoiberg                 6-0    183 lbs    Sophomore

10    Jamarques Lawrence  6-3    183 lbs    Sophomore

9    Jarron Coleman            6-5    213 lbs    Senior

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
35    Henry Burt                  6-7    216 lbs    RS Freshman
24    Jeffrey Grace III         6-3    197 lbs    Sophomore 

 

 

The Skinny: 

Ben Johnson started the season squarely on the hot seat and was staring down a 17 point deficit and a 0-2 B1G start at home vs Nebraska in December before the Gophers flipped the script.  Currently at 17-9, they are a win at Nebraska and Illinois away from being a legit NCAA bubble team.  Minnesota will be highly motivated to win at Nebraska today.

 

The Gophers are a bad matchup for the Huskers as much of their offense comes from the 3 while they take away the 3pt line.  Guys like Keisei and CJ will find their looks from the perimeter rarely and rushed. The Huskers will need to keep out of foul trouble, crash the boards on defense, and keep out of foul trouble if they want to grab win #20.  Nebraska should find some points off of Gopher turnovers and second chance points off of misses.

 

Look for Nebraska to get the benefit of calls at home and to weather at least one Minnesota run. 

 

Prediction: Nebraska 79 - Minnesota 72

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[49r]

1 hour ago, hhcmatt said:

KenPom rank: 113