Game Day Essentials: Game #1 vs Lindenwood

Lindenwood

Head Coach: Kyle Gerdeman (5th year)
Location: St Charles, Missouri
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference
Nickname: Lions
Mascot:     Leo the Lion
Last time out: Last year went 
Shirt not to wear: Gold, Black, University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff gear

Opening Line: Nebraska by 21

Nota bene:  

• This is the first ever meeting in Men's basketball between Lindenwood and Nebraska
• The Lions lost 5 of their top 6 leading scorers from 2022-23 (Keenon Cole returns).  The new team spent time gelling on a summer trip to Italy.
• Prior to becoming the head coach at Lindenwood, Kyle Gerderman was an assistant under Keno Davis at Central Michigan
• This is Lindenwood's 2nd year as a D-1 school though the school as claim to being the 'Second oldest higher-education institution west of the Mississippi River', originally founded as 'The Lindenwood School for Girls' in 1832. (St Louis University was founded in 1812)
• Prior to moving to D-1, Lindenwood was a D-2 school from 2010 to 2021. Prior to that time they competed as a NAIA school.
• St Charles is a suburb of St Louis

Player to watch: Keenon Cole

Cole is a small ball center/forward who shot 46% from 3 last season. Capable of scoring from all 3 levels; foul prone

Others to watch

• Darius Beane -Spent last season sitting out due to transfer rules; driving scorer, poor 3pt shooter; appears to be a combo guard attempting to play PG
• Keith Haymon - 6'7" transfer from Northern Arizona is Keenon Cole lite
• Amoro Lado - 6'4" transfer from Hawaii slotted to start at guard
• Jaylon McDaniel - the 6'7" 230# juco product appears to be the starting center per Lindenwood's game notes. 
• Isaac Ondekane - Clocks in at 6'8" 275. You'll know it if he's on the court; another juco product
• Colin Ruffin - Freshman pg from local new powerhouse Link Academy who might get some run
• Jordan Wildy - *OUT WITH ACL TEAR* - The former Iona recruit for Rick Pitino and juco product seemed like he's be a big contributor to the Lion's backcourt before tearing his ACL this summer during a practice

Roster/infirmary report

CONFIRMED OUT

5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Waiting to hear from NCAA re gambling
15  Blaise Keita     6-11    257 lbs    Junior - Ongoing ankle injury recovery
4   Juwan Gary     6-6    221 lbs    Junior - Violation of team rules

30   Keisei Tominaga           6-2    179 lbs    Senior

Possible starters for Nebraska

10    Jamarques Lawrence  6-3    183 lbs    Sophomore
0    C.J. Wilcher                  6-5    214 lbs    Junior
3     Brice Williams               6-7    213 lbs    Junior
53   Josiah Allick                 6-8    231 lbs    Senior
51    Rienk Mast                 6-10    248 lbs    Junior

Bench

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
2    Ramel Lloyd Jr.             6-6    210 lbs    RS Freshan
31    Cale Jacobsen            6-4    200 lbs    RS Freshan
35    Henry Burt                  6-7    216 lbs    RS Freshan
24    Jeffrey Grace III         6-3    197 lbs    Sophomore 

Hoiberg presser - NOTES HERE

The Skinny: 

Continuity....it's the driving force behind the reasonable expectations and optimism for Fred Hoiberg's 5th year at Nebraska.  The Huskers return their entire coaching staff that seemed to finally stabilize the ship last year with a system that Nebraska went out and recruited to over the summer. Nebraska lost cornerstone players like Sam Griesel and Derrick Walker but went and replaced them with veterans like Mast, Williams, Coleman, and Allick while also keeping the core of players that won 9 conference games last season.  It's already necessary depth (already being tested) and experience that has Nebraska hoping to dance at the end of the season.

You never want to overlook an opponent but as fans you have that luxury; Lindenwood should be an easy buy win for Nebraska. The Lions and their ball screen offense project to take a lot of jumpers so the shooting prowess of the Lions should dictate how long they can hang around trying for the upset. Look for Nebraska to capitalize off of turnovers for easy points and both teams to up their pace from last season

Prediction: Nebraska 91 - Lindenwood 64