Game Day Essentials: Game #27 vs Rutgers: Husker Legends Day

Rutgers Info

Head Coach: Steve Pikiell
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Scarlet Knights

Last time out: Lost to Indiana
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+
Line: Nebraska by 10 (currently at 9.5 as it always drops)

Tempo: Slower

Offense: Hero Ball

Style: Low assist % / Low 3pa%

Fun Fact: Rutgers lost to Steve Pikell's former team Stony Brook

All games

Conference only

Rutgers has drifted down to 349th out of 351 teams in eFG%. Their defensive numbers keep climbing the wrong way as they play more and more B1G opponents.

Halftime: Husker Legends Honored

Anyone who has come back for the 6th annual event will get to walk on the court at halftime.  If you're wonder who the dude is with the afro, it's Wilson Fitzpatrick who was part of the team that defeated a Wilt Chamberlain led squad in 1958

HHC Member Scouting

Most Frequent Lineups over the last 5 games

Nebraska

Rutgers

Both teams have solidified their starting lineups since their last meeting

Notable Injuries:  Eugene Omoruyi and Mile WIlliams

Williams was out before Nebraska played Rutgers and the Senior guard has no timetable for this return from a severe ankle injury. Omoruyi  was a key piece off the bench as he was the most skilled of the not-that-skilled group of Rutgers post players.

Players to watch:  Issa Thiam

This team is desperate for shooting and pencil thin Issa Thiam is the one guy one the team with a consistent 3pt stroke, knocking them down to the tune of 44.6%. A passive player, it's very possible to shut him down but then you look to open up the driving lanes.  Defensively he gave James Palmer some trouble with his length last game.

Players to watch:  Corey Sanders

In terms of shooting percentage, Sanders has been in a Glynn Watson-esque funk for the last two years. Given his overall confidence and Rutgers' lack of option the star PG continues to shoot and leads the team in scoring. Known as one of the better defensive PGs in the league, it will be a fun matchup watching him and Glynn Watson duel.

Miles, Taylor, and Watson Presser

With Rutgers in town this would normally be a situation where a handful of regular reporters would show up and ask Miles some questions on the practice court. Evan Taylor read an opening statement and Miles filled in the gaps on the timeline that led to the Huskers basketball squad being vocal in reaction to a video of a racist student on campus.  Watson seemed to sum up the group's thoughts when he stated 'he wanted everyone to feel safe walking around campus.'  There is bound to be mixed reaction to all of this but given how used we are to seeing different programs suspending players or themselves for doing dumb things you have to credit this team for standing for something.

The Skinny

Here is the thing: we're going to beat this team.  It might be by a lot or it might be a struggle. At the end of the day we'll have a win over Rutgers. What are we leaving in the tank on Tuesday for Maryland? Is the tank fairly limitless at this point?

Prediction: Nebraska 75 - Rutgers 61