Game Day Essentials: Game #32 vs Indiana - B1G Quarterfinals

Indiana Info

Head Coach: Mike Woodson (3rd year)
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Hoosiers

Line: Nebraska by 4.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 8

KenPom rank: 85

Nota bene:  

• Starting SG Trey Galloway is expected to be out in this game having suffered a lower body injury 
• With Xavier Johnson back in the lineup, Indiana has now won 5 straight
• Fred Hoiberg is 0-4 in the B1G tournament
• Fred Hoiberg vs Mike Woodson is a matchup of former NBA coaches
• Indiana Center Payton Sparks was a teammate of Boogie Coleman last season at Ball St.
• Indiana boasts one of the tallest lineups in D-1, clocking in at #3 in KenPom's average height metric. Nebraska's secret scrimmage foe Utah is #2.
• Mackenzie Mgbako attended Roselle Catholic HS last season, playing with Simeon Wilcher. This is the same HS attended by CJ WIlcher and Jamarques Lawrence.
• Nebraska went 2-0 during B1G play vs the Hoosiers including a 85-70 win at Assembly Hall where the Huskers righted the ship after a 2nd half swoon

KenPom most used lineups

Player to watch: Malik Reneau

While not as dominant as Trayce Jackson-Davis, F/C Reneau has taken over as Indiana's go-to scorer in the paint while also ranking 2nd on the team in assists. Does have 3pt range. Is consistently a threat to foul out.

Player to watch: Mackenzie Mgbako

The 5 star freshman has become the Hoosier's main 3pt threat, shooting 37.8% from 3 in conference play.

Player to watch: Kel'el Ware

Another former 5 star, Ware transferred from Oregon and has started at the 5 for Indiana where he's arguably been their best player. Ware looks like a lottery pick at times but sometimes his motor doesn't match. 

Player to watch: Xavier Johnson

Johnson is a mixed bag. At his best you have a pesky defender who can hit outside shots and make flashy passes for easy baskets. At his worst he's jacking bad shots and making freshmen type turnovers. It's worth noting that Indiana has won 5 straight since he's returned to the lineup and is 13-6 this season when he's played.

Others to watch

Freshman guard Gabe Cupps is mostly just bringing the ball up the court and shoots at a Benny Parker like rate. 6'8" 215# Miami transfer Little used Anthony Leal has played his way into this limited rotation and makes good basketball plays. Anthony Walker is nice depth but he's yet another post player who doesn't take outside shots. Guards CJ Gunn provides some end of the bench shooting.

UNL Game Notes

Out indefinitely 

5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Likely out for the season

Questionable

15  Blaise Keita     6-11    257 lbs    Junior - Ongoing ankle injury recovery

11    Eli Rice                         6-8    213 lbs    Freshman - Ankle injury

Possible starters for Nebraska

53   Josiah Allick                 6-8    231 lbs    Senior

30   Keisei Tominaga           6-2    179 lbs    Senior

3     Brice Williams               6-7    213 lbs    Junior

4   Juwan Gary                   6-6    221 lbs    Junior

51    Rienk Mast                 6-10    248 lbs    Junior

Bench

10    Jamarques Lawrence  6-3    183 lbs    Sophomore

0    C.J. Wilcher                  6-5    214 lbs    Junior

1    Sam Hoiberg                 6-0    183 lbs    Sophomore

9    Jarron Coleman            6-5    213 lbs    Senior
21    Matar Diop                 6-10    213 lbs    Freshman

35    Henry Burt                  6-7    216 lbs    RS Freshman

2    Ramel Lloyd Jr.             6-6    210 lbs    RS Freshman

31    Cale Jacobsen            6-4    200 lbs    RS Freshman

24    Jeffrey Grace III         6-3    197 lbs    Sophomore 

The Skinny: 

Nebraska finds themselves in the B1G tournament as a lock for the NCAA tourney for just the second time this century. Nebraska comes in looking to make the semi-finals for the first time and potentially increase their NCAA tourney seeding. The Huskers have been spreading out the minutes and seem to be getting stronger as the season progresses. Expect to see some live legs to start this game.

For the most part, Indiana is a great matchup for the Huskers.  Despite their height, Indiana is a remarkably poor rebounding team. The Hoosiers are careless with the ball and inevitably make poor basketball plays. By default, they're going to concede 3pt shots and Nebraska has certainly hit them against the Hoosiers this year.  While Nebraska tends to defend without fouling, the Hoosiers tend to draw a lot of contact so it's something to keep tabs on. The Hoosiers have been one of the worst FT shooting teams in the country though. 

It's likely that both team will go on runs this game.  The important thing here and going forward is that Nebraska doesn't let a team bury them with one. Between the rest and being overlooked for conference accolades, expect Nebraska to come out with an edge.

Think the Huskers win comfortably here.

Prediction: Nebraska 78  - Indiana 65