Game Day Essentials: Game #11 vs Gardner Webb

Garnder Webb Info

Head Coach: Tim Craft 
Location: Boiling Springs, NC
Conference: Big South
Nickname: Runnin' Bulldogs
Mascot: Mack the Bulldog

Shirt not to wear: Georgetown pullover
Last time out: Beat Warren Wilson
Typical Rotation Depth: 9+
Line: Nebraska by 13.5
Tempo: Fast Offense
Style: Low Assists/Low 3pt Attempts
4 Factors Good: Get to the line, ball hawks, crash the offensive boards
4 Factors Bad: Turnover prone, foul prone, don't protect their glass

Scouting Gardner Webb

Player to watch: Laquincy Rideau

The PG is the second leading scorer and the catalyst for the defense as he leads the team in steals. Somehow he's a 43.5% 3pt shooter while only shooting 52% from the FT line.

Player to watch: Tyrell Nelson

Nelson was named to the Big South pre-season all conference team and the senior simply makes anywhere within the 3pt line. When Gardner Webb runs an offense they're going to look for Nelson.

The Skinny

The Runnin' Bulldogs are all about attacking.  They get to the line and they're looking to pressure you into mistakes on offense. While they did play a decent Eastern Michigan team tough they haven't exactly hung with any of the good teams they've played including a 28 point drubbing by SMU.  GW has one true center in L'Hassane Niangane but otherwise play a lot of small ball anchored by Senior forward Tyrell Nelson. The damage is done on both ends by the Bulldog guards which bodes well for Nebraska's ability to blow this team out.  On the flip side the Bulldogs are a fairly competent 3pt shooting team so they are capable of hanging around.

When you lose 5 out of 6 against some good competition and have your second half starting lineup changed for the first time during the year in your last game you think of a team that should be plenty motivated against a pay game team. Look for the Huskers to be feisty in this one and much more aggressive on offense which would turn this game into a relative track meet. I expect a different starting lineup for this one with Gill starting for McVeigh as the gun to my head guess. Look for me to be completely wrong about the track meet as the offense stagnates as we spend time trying to figure out viable lineups. 

An easy and an entertaining win would go a long way towards making us feel all warm and fuzzy before conference play.

Prediction: Nebraska 84 - Gardner Webb 69 with a 91% chance of Runzas