Game Day Essentials: Game #7 vs Cal State Fullerton

California State University, Fullerton

Head Coach: Dedrique Taylor  (11th year)
Location: Fullerton, CA
Conference: Big West
Nickname: Titans
Mascot:  Tuffy the Titan (an elephant)
Last time out: Defeated Rider
Clothes not to wear: Blue, Orange, Dumbo

KenPom Ranking: 209

Opening Line: Nebraska by 16.5

Nota bene:  

• Nebraska is 2-0 all time vs Cal St. Fullerton with the smallest margin of victory at 24 points
• Nebraska is looking to start 7-0 for the first time in over 30 years (92-93 season)
• Bruce Bowen played for the Titans from 89-93
• This was the team that Latrell Wrightsell played for last season

KenPom most used lineup

Player to watch: Max Jones

Jones has gone from a secondary scorer to the primary scorer and his shooting percentages have plummeted. Jones gets to the FT at an elite level.

Others to watch

Vincent Lee converts at high percentage inside and this year he's a perfect 16-16. F/C John Mikey Square has also not missed this season...though that's because he's yet to take a shot. JMS has mostly been in foul trouble or ineffective. Assists and steals leader DJ Brewton is the second leading scorer. He's a terrible shot though so it's typically volume scoring at best. On one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in D-1, Grayson Carper is arguably their best shooter. 6'2" SG Donovan Oday is a scoring option off the bench. One missing piece is returning Big West defensive player of the year Tory San Antonio. The 6'3" senior guard has been unavailable for unknown reasons thus far but would be a boost on both sides of the floor if he played today.

UNL Game Notes

Roster/infirmary report

Out indefinitely 

5   Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Junior - Likely out for the season
15  Blaise Keita     6-11    257 lbs    Junior - Ongoing ankle injury recovery

Possible starters for Nebraska

10    Jamarques Lawrence  6-3    183 lbs    Sophomore

30   Keisei Tominaga           6-2    179 lbs    Senior
3     Brice Williams               6-7    213 lbs    Junior
53   Josiah Allick                 6-8    231 lbs    Senior
51    Rienk Mast                 6-10    248 lbs    Junior

Bench

4   Juwan Gary                   6-6    221 lbs    Junior

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

9    Jarron Coleman            6-5    213 lbs    Senior
1    Sam Hoiberg                 6-0    183 lbs    Sophomore

2    Ramel Lloyd Jr.             6-6    210 lbs    RS Freshman
11    Eli Rice                         6-8    213 lbs    Freshman
21    Matar Diop                 6-10    213 lbs    Freshman
31    Cale Jacobsen            6-4    200 lbs    RS Freshman
35    Henry Burt                  6-7    216 lbs    RS Freshman
24    Jeffrey Grace III         6-3    197 lbs    Sophomore 

The Skinny: 

This is more of a traditional trap game than Duquesne because part of a trap game is underestimating your opponent and Cal St. Fullerton fits the bill much more than the Dukes did. Dedrique Taylor has a very good track record with the Titans and likely will have them playing better ball as the season wears on. Right now, it's a WIP.

The Titans have traditionally been a defensive team under Taylor and typically will try to take away inside looks. Expect Nebraska to continue its outside barrage. Offensively, CSF is a dribble drive type offense with shoddy 3pt shooting....a recipe for disaster against the Huskers. The Titans will attempt to draw contact and score at the FT line....this could get ugly as Nebraska under Hoiberg tends to defend without fouling.

Let's punt on trap game talk until December

Prediction: Nebraska 74 - Cal St. Fullerton 54