Game Day Essentials: Game #3 vs North Dakota St

North Dakota St. Info

Head Coach: Dave Richman 
Location: Fargo, ND
Conference: Summit
Nickname: Bison

Mascots: Thundar
Last season: 25-8
Line: Nebraska by 9

Bench

Player to watch: C Rocky Kreuser

The shot blocking senior post player is the anchor of Dave Richman's defense, guarding the rim as the guards run the other teams off the 3pt line. Kreuser is a threat from 3 though you have to think North Dakota will make an effort to attack Nebraska in the paint.

Player to watch: G Boden Skunburg

The 6'5" freshman was the two time player of the year in North Dakota and brings an individual scoring punch that this team lacks.

The Rest of the Roster

SF Tyree Eady led the Bison with 11 points in game one. Lincoln native Sam Grisel as well as Jarius Cook will be leaned on to initiate the offense at times. Maleeck Harden-Hayes is the rebounder that compliments Kreuser's shot blocking. Deszmond McKinney is a true PG but not ready to run the team. Sr Tyler Witz and Fr Grant Nelson are secondary post depth. Witz is the only player who isn't a true 3pt threat.

The Skinny:

North Dakota St has won a lot in the Dave Richman era but between two high scoring guards graduating, another one transferring, and a prized Juco PG breaking a leg, the Bison find themselves untested in the guard area, tough for a team that runs as much pick and roll as North Dakota. Like Nebraska, most everyone will shoot from the outside.  Unlike the Huskers they are methodical, running one of the slower offenses in Div. 1.

Defensively, NDSU will fall back to prevent the break and try to goad the Huskers into mid-range shots.  Nebraska should get on track penetrating again, it's just a matter of whether or not they'll work for a high percentage shot.

NDSU ends up frustrating the Huskers by slowing this game down but ultimately look for Nebraska to have too much firepower and length.

Prediction: Nebraska 73 - NDSU 63