Murray State Info
Head Coach: Steve Prohm (3rd year/7th overall)
Location: Murray, Kentucky
Conference: Missouri Valley Conference
Nickname: Racers
Mascot: Racer One (Live Horse), Dunker (Costume)
Line: Nebraska by 9.5
Rotation Depth: 8
Last time out: Lost to Indiana St
Nota bene:
- Nebraska is 0-2 all-time vs Murray St. Nebraska lost in the 1990 San Juan Shootout Championship game 81-79. They also dropped a home game 79-71 on Dec 30, 2000 during Barry Collier's first season
- This is Steve Prohm's second stint at Murray St. as he was the coach for the Racers from 2006-2011. From 2011-15 he was the coach at Iowa St, taking over after Fred Hoiberg left for the Bulls. Thus this season Hoiberg will coach against the coach that preceded him (Greg McDermott) and proceeded him at Iowa St.
- Murray St is currently ranked #9 in 3 point attempt % allowed and #1 in Assist per FGM %. This is the analytical way of saying their running teams of the 3pt line. This is a complete flip of defensively philosophy/numbers from Prohm's first 2 seasons back at Murray St.
- Murray St. ranks 346th in KenPom's bench minutes stat as four of their starters average over 27 minutes per game
- This marks the Huskers’ seventh trip to the islands for a tournament and the first since the 2014 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic
- Fred Hoiberg led Iowa St to the championship of the 2013 Diamond Head Classic. There is an infamous report that Iowa St made the team sleep in a ballroom before their flight home to save money.
Player to watch: Jacobi Wood
Everything starts with the 6'2" 5th year PG who at 36 mpg, rarely leaves the court. Wood leads the team in scoring and assists while currently shooting 38% from 3.
Murray St Roster
| Player | # | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | Summary |
| JaCobi Wood | 24 | SR | G | 6-2 | 180 | 15.0 Pts 4.2 Reb 5.4 Ast |
| AJ Ferguson | 7 | SR | G | 6-6 | 185 | 12.3 Pts 6.0 Reb 1.4 Ast |
| Terence Harcum | 9 | SR | G | 6-3 | 190 | 12.0 Pts 2.0 Reb 1.5 Ast |
| Kylen Milton | 0 | SR | G | 6-4 | 190 | 11.2 Pts 4.1 Reb 1.6 Ast |
| Nick Ellington | 23 | SR | F | 6-8 | 220 | 9.7 Pts 4.5 Reb 0.6 Ast |
| KyeRon Lindsay | 2 | JR | F | 6-7 | 215 | 8.3 Pts 5.3 Reb 0.9 Ast |
| Alden Applewhite | 13 | JR | F | 6-7 | 200 | 6.5 Pts 4.4 Reb 1.6 Ast |
| Justin Morgan | 11 | JR | G | 6-6 | 215 | 2.3 Pts 1.6 Reb 0.4 Ast |
Nick Ellington and KyeRon Lindsay rotate at the 5 where neither of them are threats from 3. Ellington is a better scorer, more experienced at Murray St., and gets to the FT line a ton. Lindsay is a bouncy former 4 star. Along with Wood, Terrance Harcum is the main 3pt shooting threat on the team. AJ Ferguson doesn't shoot a ton but he's ultra-efficient with a 65.3 eFG% along with impressive ability to draw contact. Arkansas Pine-Bluff Kylen Milton isn't a great shooter but is yet another guy who draws contact.
UNL Game Notes
Roster/infirmary report
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
9 Forward Berke Büyüktuncel 6-10 244 lbs Sophomore
Bench
0 Guard Connor Essegian 6-4 190 lbs Junior
1 Guard Sam Hoiberg 6-0 185 lbs Junior
23 Forward Andrew Morgan 6-10 242 lbs Senior
2 Guard Ahron Ulis 6-3 190 lbs Senior
31 Guard Cale Jacobsen 6-4 195 lbs Sophomore
12 Guard Gavin Griffiths 6-7 193 lbs Sophomore
5 Forward Braden Frager 6-7 220 lbs Freshman
8 Guard Jeffrey Grace III 6-3 200 lbs Junior
20 Forward Justin Bolis 6-8 225 lbs Sophomore
25 Guard Nick Janowski 6-4 208 lbs Freshman
35 Forward Henry Burt 6-7 222 lbs Sophomore
Out for year
51 Forward Rienk Mast 6-10 260 lbs Senior
Tourney Schedule
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Diamond Head Classic Schedule |
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Dec. 22 |
Oregon St. vs. Col. of Charleston |
2 p.m. |
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Loyola Chicago vs. Oakland |
4 p.m. |
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Nebraska vs. Murray State |
8 p.m. |
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Charlotte vs. Hawai'i |
10:30 p.m. |
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Dec. 23 |
Consolation #1 |
4:30 p.m. |
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Semifinal #1 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Semifinal #2 |
9:30 p.m. |
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Consolation #2 |
11:30 p.m. |
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Dec. 25 |
Seventh Place Game |
12:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. |
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Fifth Place Game |
12:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. |
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Third Place Game |
5:30 p.m. |
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Championship Game |
7:30 p.m. |
The Skinny:
Nebraska finds themselves as arguably the favorite to win the Diamond Head Classic. This first game against Murray St is absolutely critical considering that a loss hurts your tourney resume on a couple of different levels as losing likely lines you up with lesser opponents.
The Racers are one of the best at taking away the 3pt shot so look for Nebraska to be content with spending the entire day trying to drive into the paint. Between drawing fouls and scoring easily over the undersized Murray St post players, it would be surprising to see Nebraska take over 20 3pt attempts today.
On the defensive end it's all about being able to guard without fouling as this will turn the Racers into a desperate 3pt shooting team. While they're a very good 3pt shooting team, it's not their focal point.
Expect Nebraska to control this game and hopefully to win without a struggle
Prediction: Nebraska 82 - Murray St 71
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