Game Day Essentials: Game #7 vs North Florida

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Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) vs North Florida Ospreys (5-2)

 

Date: Sunday Dec 1,  2024
Time: 3:00 pm
Arena: PBA

Broadcast:  BTN

North Florida Info

 

Head Coach: Matthew Driscoll (15th year)
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Nickname: Ospreys

Mascots: Ozzie Osprey
Rotation Depth: 9
Last time out: Defeated SIUE

Opening Line: Nebraska by 16.5

Nota bene:  

• This is the first meeting between North Florida an Nebraska. Nebraska is 7-0 all-time vs ASUN opponents
• North Florida is a relatively new university, having been formed in 1965. Their basketball program started in 1992 and current coach Matthew Discoll is their 4th head coach in school history
• An osprey is a large fish-eating bird of prey. Because North Florida is known for shooting 3s under Driscoll, North Florida is often referred to as the "Birds of Trey"
• Senior Forward Nate Lliteras is from Seward, Nebraska. His brother Noah Lliteras was a basketball manager for Nebraska under both Tim Miles and Fred Hoiberg
• In the last 5 seasons UNF has finished in the top 15 in 3pt attempt percentage. Conversely, during that time they've ranked in the top 15 of 3pt attempt percentage allowed as they focus on running their opponents off the 3pt line

Player to watch: Josh Harris

At 6'8" 210 lbs, Harris is one of the largest players for the Ospreys. The freshman stretch 4 slots in at center for the Ospreys and leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Harris is one of the team's few inside threats though he'll occasionally pop a 3. The freshman post can be foul prone.  Will look to hit a hook shot in the paint after a fake on some post feeds.

 

Player to watch: Jaylen Smith

The 5'11" pg isn't a very good 3pt shooter, hitting at 30.6% after 29.5% last year.  Backup pg Ametri Moss rarely shoots 3s.

 

North Florida Roster

Player	#	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	Summary
Josh Harris	10	FR	F	6-8	210	15.4 Pts 7.1 Reb 0.4 Ast
Nate Lliteras	2	SR	G	6-7	210	14.3 Pts 4.9 Reb 0.7 Ast
Liam Murphy	7	SR	F	6-7	210	13.4 Pts 3.7 Reb 1.0 Ast
Jasai Miles	0	SO	G	6-6	205	11.7 Pts 7.7 Reb 2.3 Ast
Kamrin Oriol	11	JR	G	6-3	180	11.0 Pts 2.9 Reb 1.3 Ast
Jaylen Smith	4	SO	G	5-11	175	10.9 Pts 2.6 Reb 5.6 Ast
Ametri Moss	55	SR	G	6-0	163	4.3 Pts 2.3 Reb 2.6 Ast
Oscar Berry	33	SR	G	6-4	190	1.9 Pts 3.0 Reb 0.9 Ast
Nestor Dyachok	24	SR	F	6-9	210	4.3 Pts 0.7 Reb 0.7 Ast
Dante Oliver	5	FR	G	6-5	185	1.3 Pts 1.7 Reb 0.7 Ast
Mason Lee	3	FR	G	6-7	187	1.3 Pts 0.8 Reb 1.0 Ast

UNL Game Notes

 

Roster/infirmary report

9    Forward    Berke Büyüktuncel     6-10    244 lbs    Sophomore (out, hip)

 

Possible starters for Nebraska

3    Guard    Brice Williams     6-7    214 lbs    Senior

4    Forward    Juwan Gary     6-6    226 lbs    Senior

24    Guard    Rollie Worster     6-5    210 lbs    Senior

34    Center    Braxton Meah     7-1    264 lbs    Senior

0    Guard    Connor Essegian     6-4    190 lbs    Junior

 

Bench

2    Guard    Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Senior
5    Forward    Braden Frager     6-7    220 lbs    Freshman
8    Guard    Jeffrey Grace III     6-3    200 lbs    Junior
12    Guard    Gavin Griffiths     6-7    193 lbs    Sophomore
20    Forward    Justin Bolis     6-8    225 lbs    Sophomore
25    Guard    Nick Janowski     6-4    208 lbs    Freshman
31    Guard    Cale Jacobsen     6-4    195 lbs    Sophomore

1    Guard    Sam Hoiberg     6-0    185 lbs    Junior

23    Forward    Andrew Morgan     6-10    242 lbs    Senior 

35    Forward    Henry Burt     6-7    222 lbs    Sophomore

 

Out for year
51    Forward    Rienk Mast     6-10    260 lbs    Senior

 

The Skinny: 

This is an extremely dangerous North Florida squad that has road wins at Georgia Tech and South Carolina as well as hanging with Georgia. The formula for the Ospreys is very simple: keep firing 3s. If you thought Creighton taking 42 3s was a bit much, North Florida already has games where they've taken 41 and 42. Last season they had a game with 50 3s taken. They'll take them in transition, behind screens, from NBA range, and even covered. Nebraska is used to doubling a post player but this team barely has one. We'll see if Nebraska will run anything different on defense today. We'll find out how playable someone like Braxton Meah is against this sort of team.  It's possible that Cale Jacobsen might be a better fit at center today.  It might be a Andrew Morgan day.

 

Defensively, the Ospreys will try and run you off the 3pt line but offer little resistance inside. If he can stay on the court, Braxton Meah might take a run at his game dunk record of 8. As long as Nebraska as the transition covered, there will be offensive rebounds to be had. North Florida will mix in some 1-3-1 zone to keep you guessing but Nebraska should score a bunch in this game.

 

I'm skeptical that Nebraska will put this team away as they've yet to really show up against lesser opponents. Given a Sunday afternoon crowd and the ability of UNF to go on runs, it might be a nerve-racking afternoon.

 

Prediction: Nebraska 91 - North Florida 75

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