Game Day Essentials: Game #9 at Minnesota

Minnesota Info

Head Coach: Ben Johnson (3rd year)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Golden Gophers

Mascot: Goldie the Gopher

Line: Nebraska by 2.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 8+

KenPom rank: 113

Nota bene:  

• This is the first time Nebraska has been favored in a true road game since the last time they played the Gophers at the Barn
• Fred Hoiberg is 3-1 vs Ben Johnson 
• The Gophers and Cornhuskers have faced off 85 times, the most Nebraska has faced a B1G opponent

KenPom most used lineups

Player to watch: Dawson Garcia

Garcia is currently averaging 20.5 points and 8 rebounds per game as well as drawing fouls at an elite rate.  He also has the ability to pass out of the post.  His outside shot hasn't been great this season, just 28% at this time

Player to watch: Cam Christie

The younger brother of Max Christie is a star in the making and has been a remarkable jump shooter, hitting from 50% from non-paint 2s and 51.7% from 3 thus far. 

Others to watch

Pharrel Payne is a load down low and an elite finisher. He's no threat at the 3 and is a lousy at the FT line. Mitchell is the main 3pt shooter on the team and hit from well over 40% at Pepperdine; currently hitting 35% with the Gophers. Hawkins is small at PG but lightning quick and able to draw contact to get to the FT line though not a great finisher in the paint; 3pt shot has been off this year. Joshua Ola-Joseph is a glue-guy type having a nice shooting year thus far. Isaiah Ihnen is a stretch 4 who appears to be struggling at the moment so his playing time and shooting are down in favor of Payne. SG Braeden Carrington has been struggling from 3 this season, shooting 17.4%. 

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 

Fred Hoiberg presser

Look for a Mast-Allick-Gary big lineup potentially to be used

The Skinny: 

The Huskers get a chance to go on the road and try and wash the taste of a 29 point home loss out of their mouth.  On one had, putting up a KenPom level bad 3pt shooting night isn't going to happen most games. On the other hand, this is a team that can't afford to get into a rut of becoming unfocused defensively and short on effort when the ball isn't going in the hoop.  This game is a chance to try and get right vs an opponent with issues of their own.

This is likely a make or break year for Ben Johnson who has some nice pieces around Dawson Garcia. Defensively the Gophers are a bit like Creighton where they'll run you off the FT line and are pretty good at defending without fouling which is a problem for a team like Nebraska that isn't keen on scoring inside. One thing that should help is that the Gopher offense tends to be sloppy with the ball which should lead to some easy runouts.  We'll see what adjustments the Huskers might have in mind though. 

Defensively look for the Huskers to continue to double team the post while running guys at Garcia from different spots. Part to focus on limiting Garcia is that you're likely to have some secondary player have a career night against the Huskers. The key is to not give up both.

Minnesota is talented and will go on runs but they provide a winnable road game opportunity because they're also wildly inconsistent. Win or lose how Nebraska handles this adversity and its business on the defensive end will be what's going to define this team.

Prediction: Nebraska 68 - Minnesota 64