Game Day Essentials: Game #11 vs Central Michigan - 12/22/2012

Central Michigan Info

Mascot: Chippewas

Conference: Mid American Conference

School Location: Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Sombrero not to wear: Maroon

Last game out: Beat Texas St.

Nepotism Level:

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-3)

3-Benny Parker -5-9-Fr.- G

15-Ray Gallegos -6-2-Jr.- G

24-Dylan Talley -6-5-Sr.- G

13-Brandon Ubel -6-10-Sr.- F

32-Andre Almeida-6-11-Sr.- C

Central Michigan (6-4)

12 Kyle Randall Sr. G 5-10

15 Chris Fowler Fr. G 6-0

33 Austin Keel So. G 6-4

25 Olivier Mbaigoto Sr. F 6-6

34 John Simons Fr. F 6-8

Opposing player to watch: Olivier Mbaigoto

Mbaigoto (not pictured above) is the only returning starter left over from the firing of former coach Ernie Ziegler. The top 3 scorers from the team transferred, including the coach's kid Trey Ziegler. Central Michigan lost 75% of their scoring from the last time the Huskers saw them.

Opposing player to watch: Kyle Randall

The senior transfer from UNC-Greensboro is leading the Chippewas in scoring and also part of 11 new players on the team. On a team that typically goes 9-10 deep he's the only player averaging over 30 minutes a game and leads easily leads the team in shot attempts.

Nebraska will win at least one game in this tourney

Keno Davis was one of the numerous coaches that Husker fans brought up last year in their search for a new coach. Keno is the son of former longtime coach Dr. Tom Davis and was an assistant to his father during the Iowa and Drake years. Keno took over for his father at Drake and immediately led the team to one of it's best years and the NCAA tourney. He parlayed this into the Providence job where he only lasted three years after a couple of sub .500 seasons. One Big 10 analyst stint later and he's back in the coaching world with Central Michigan.

The Chippewas had been coached by Ernie Zeigler for the last six years and two years ago the coach brought in his highly touted son two years ago. A combination of losing, boring basketball, and graduating practically none of his players meant the boot for Ernie and a handful of player followed him out of the door. In the meantime Davis has brought in a lot of new faces though none of them over 6' 8".

With absolutely no height, it's probably not too surprising to tell you that Central Michigan is one of the leaders in 3 pt attempts in the country and they make them at a respectable 35% clip. This is also a great passing team with 62.5% of their FGs made involve an assist. Nebraska has emphasized guarding the 3pt line so this game should show how far the Huskers have come. Finally, when they aren't shooting threes the Chips are making their way to the free throw line where the team hits a respectable 70%.

One way the Huskers can win this game is get the ball inside to the big men in position and let them shoot regardless of the double and triple teams they're sure to draw. Andre is always the guy who can't be guarded and can't guard anyone in a game like this so his playing time is solely dependent on his productivity. It would be nice to see Ubel and Shields taking the ball to the hole with confidence and someone finding Ray or Talley if and when the Central Michigan decides to collapse inside.

This is somewhat of a difficult game to predict in terms of score considering that the Chippewas seem to let the other team dictate the tempo and the Huskers do as well to a lesser extent. The scary part about a team like Central Michigan is that we'll probably never put them away so expect a closer game. So far the Huskers have taken care of business against lesser teams and hopefully can do so tonight. Should they win they'll most likely face the home team UTEP fresh off of taking down an Oregon team that destroyed the Huskers. Should they lose they'll probably face cream puff Arkansas St. Pine Bluff and wouldn't lose that game.

Prediction: Huskers 64 - Central Michigan 58