Our Picks

Memphis

 
Head Coach: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
Location: Memphis, TN<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#353c41; font-size:14px; text-align:left">Conference: AAC<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#353c41; font-size:14px; text-align:left">Nickname: Tigers<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#353c41; font-size:14px; text-align:left">Mascot: TOM (deceased), Pouncer
Last time out: Lost to Seton Hall<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#353c41; font-size:14px; text-align:left">Opening Line: KenPom has the Tigers by 9
Other:  
First ever meeting between Memphis and Nebraska Kendric Davis and Emmanuel Bandoumel were teammates for three years at SMU Penny's son Jayden is on the team and thus both coaches have sons that play for them  
Player to watch: Kendric Davis
The SMU transfer is the reigning AAC player of the year and has picked up where he left off averaging 20.5 ppg and 5.8 apg. Nebraska will struggle to keep in front of this three level scorer all game.
 
 
KenPom most used lineup
PG SG SF PF C Pct 1 3 Kendric Davis
6-0  177  Sr 2 Alex Lomax
6-0  190  Sr 1 Keonte Kennedy
6-5  180  Sr 12 DeAndre Williams
6-9  205  Sr 23 Malcolm Dandridge
6-9  260  Sr 9.0  
 
Probable starters for Nebraska
5    Sam Griesel    G    6-7
25  Emmanuel Bandoumel    G    6-4
0   C.J. Wilcher    G    6-5
4   Juwan Gary  F  6-6
13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9
 
Bench
15   Blaise Keita C   6-11
30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2
32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10
10  Jamarques Lawrence - G  6-3
12  Denim Dawson - F  6-6
33  Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0
12   Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0
31  Cale Jacobsen  G  6-4
35  Henry Burt  F  6-6
24  Jeffrey Grace III  G  6-3
 
Injured
3   Quaran McPherson   G   6-3 - Out for the Year
 
*Availability Unknown
 
 
The Skinny: 
First things first, Derrick Walker will play his first regular season game on Friday and I'm expecting him to start and play 20+ in this game.  While he likely won't magically have Nebraska making 3pt shots or FTs, his ability to score inside and distribute from the post should help this offense that hasn't scored over 60 points against a Power 5 opponent.
 
The likely way Nebraska wins this game is that they dominate in FT differential while Memphis turns the ball over and misses 3s. Seems much more likely that Memphis is able to throttle the Huskers offensively enough to break them defensively. 
 
Prediction: Memphis 73 - Nebraska 60

HOLY SH...!!!
 
That was one of the grittiest, grinding win I've ever seen a Nebraska team get. Unreal to pull this one out today! 

Wisconsin Info

Head Coach: Greg Gard
Location: Madison, WI
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Badgers
Mascot: Bucky Badger
Line: Wisconsin by 11.5
Rotation Depth: 8+
Last Game: Win vs Purdue
KenPom: 26
 
Other:  
Wisconsin won by 8 in Lincoln though the game was never in question after the start of the second half. Bryce McGowens paced the way with 23 points.  Brad Davison had another good game against Nebraska, pouring in 21.  
Player to watch: Johnny Davis
Davis was decent as a freshman but has become a star in his sophomore year.  He's currently top 5 in D-1 in scoring and has become a projected lottery pick in this year's draft. Unlike the first game, Nebraska will have Trey McGowens available to try and slow down Davis.
 
The Skinny: 
Wisconsin is fresh off of big emotional win over Purdue on Tuesday to grab at least a share of the B1G regular season title.  While Wisconsin can win the title outright with a win over Nebraska today, the fans won't be wearing matching shirts like they did on Tuesday.  This is a game Wisconsin doesn't need to get and I'd expect their effort to reflect that.
 
Nebraska, the team built to try and outgun opponents has been winning by....outgunning opponents. The defense has been so-so over the last 3 games; the shot making has been how the Huskers have won two consecutive home games. One thing that seems to be driving their scoring has been their collective resolve.  At moments in the last few games the Huskers could have folded like they have most of the season; they haven't.  Why this is happening at this point isn't as important as whether or not it will continue.
 
Look for Nebraska to keep scoring. Will it be enough?  It's an unexpected feeling at this point in the season like it could be against a top 15 team on the road.
 
Prediction: Wisconsin 82 - Nebraska 75

Penn St. Info

Head Coach: Micah Shrewsberry
Location: University Park, PA
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Nittany Lions
Mascot: The Nittany Lion
Typical Rotation Depth: 6+
Spread: Penn State by 10.5
KenPom rank: 81
 
 
Other:
First meeting this season This is technically Penn St's 3rd coach in 3 years.  Jim Ferry was the interim coach last season after Pat Chambers was let go. Penn St. got a pretty big basketball name in  Micah Shrewsberry who was an assistant under Brad Stevens at Butler and Boston and Matt Painter at Purdue.  
Player to watch: John Harrar
Harrar is a lot like Derrick Walker whereas he's a PF playing center and converts in the paint at a high rate.  Harrar outshines Walker on the boards though and is fresh off pulling down 20 boards vs. Northwestern.  At times during the last 4 seasons three guys aren't enough to block him out.
 
The Skinny: 
This isn't a particularly good Penn St team but they're still tough and bring plenty of effort. They have wins at home vs Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan St.  With a lineup that has 6 guys who make up most of the minutes, PSU has one of the slowest paces in D-1.  They're essentially hunting for open 3s which doesn't seem hard to do vs Nebraska.  Defensively, they're packing the paint. Nebraska needs to attack the paint because of how helpful getting PSU in foul trouble will be but expect a lot of 3s today.
 
I think Nebraska still has some fight in them but they'll need all the effort they can muster to keep Penn St from rebounding them to death.
 
Prediction: Penn St 82 - Nebraska 68

Iowa Info

Head Coach: Fran McCaffery
Location: Iowa City, IA
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Hawks
Coach's Nickname: White Magic
Mascot: Herky the Hawk
KenPom rank: 17
Point Spread: Iowa by 16.5
Typical Rotation Depth: 10
KenPom rank: 74
 
Other:
This game will feature three sets of brothers: Trey and Bryce McGowenss, Connor and Patrick McCaffery, Keegan and Kris Murray North Dakota transfer center Filip Rebraca was part of the 2020 ND team that came into Lincoln and beat Nebraska in Hoiberg's first year  
Player to watch: Keegan Murray
Murray had a noteworthy freshman campaign and has followed that up with an All-American type season. Murray is 4th in the nation in scoring at 22.7 per game and the 6'8" wing seems like a lock to be a NBA lottery pick this year.
 
The Skinny: 
Thanks to the emergence of Keegan Murray, the transition from the Luka Garza era has been pretty seamless. Murray is a one-man wrecking crew and this Iowa team has one of the best offenses in Div 1.  The defense is so-so but isn't very foul prone so Nebraska will have a hard time keeping pace.  Look for neither Nebraska nor Iowa to care to slow down their fast paced offenses today and if the Cornhuskers are playing extremely well they'll keep this game within double digits.  Hope you stored up some good feelings from that Minnesota win because Iowa has kicked in Nebraska's teeth in Iowa City for the last couple of years.
 
Prediction: Iowa 94 - Nebraska 76

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
vs. Wyoming Cowgirls (4-4, 0-0 Mountain West)
Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, Noon (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, Nebraska
Tickets: Huskers.com / 800-8-BIG-RED<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#231f20; font-size:16px; text-align:start">Halftime Performance: Red Panda<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#231f20; font-size:16px; text-align:start">Live Video: B1G+ (Matt Coatney, Jeff Griesch)<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#231f20; font-size:16px; text-align:start">Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (11:45 a.m.)<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#231f20; font-size:16px; text-align:start">Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#231f20; font-size:16px; text-align:start">Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App<br style="background-color:#ffffff; color:#231f20; font-size:16px; text-align:start">  

#Nebrasketball has reportedly landed JUCO freshman Blaise Keita from Mali.
Keita is a 6'10" 230# traditional post player with 3 years of eligibility left.
 
Keita currently is playing for Coffeyville Community College and is averaging 12pts and 8 reb through 8 games.  Another familiar name on the Coffeyville roster is Nebraska offer Markeith Browning.  Prior to college, Keita attended prep powerhouse Sunrise Academy in Kansas where he was a teammate of current Creighton player Shereef Mitchell.  Keita also played for the Mali U17 national team.  
 
Blaise Keita is the first known commit for Nebraska's class of 2022

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

Nevada Info

 
Head Coach: Steve Alford 
Location: Reno, NV
Conference: MWC
Nickname: Wolf Pack
Mascots: Alphie, Wolfie Jr. and Luna
Last season: 19-12
Line: Nebraska by 3.5

Welcome to Season 13 of the Postgame Chatter!
 
There's a lot to be excited about coming into this year! It's going to be a strange season to be sure, but I'm glad we're going to be able to watch them play this year!

2020-21 Uniforms

(This summary of the presser isn't in order, it's more grouped by topic/person. First was HCFH followed by Banton and Yvan)
 
Hoiberg checking in for the first time this year
Work ethic is good, has to kick guys out of the gym Guys are working out without the coaches Had one positive Covid test in the group thus far, which is no longer active Had their first 'real' intersquad scrimmage on Friday and the players have taken a break from practice until Wednesday Multiple guys will initiate the offense (mentions by name Webster, McGowens, Banton) List Banton's playmaking ability as his biggest asset though brings up turnovers at this point. 
Lists Thor, Webster, McGowens, Mayan, Allen, and Stevenson when listing 3pt shooers.

Breienbach clocks in at 6'9" 210# and his combination of height, high motor, and ability to stretch the floor on offense via outside shooting is specifically what Nebraska is looking for in the post. This in-person review from one of our members spells out in detail what we might expect in the future at Nebraska from Breienbach:
 
  
 
 
Nebraska currently has all of their scholarships for 2021 filled though they're continuing to actively recruit that class with the foregone conclusion that player attrition is inevitable.

Coach Fred Hoiberg on Dalano Banton - "Dalano brings a lot to the table with his combination of size and skill set. At 6-foot-8, he will be a tough matchup for opponents, as we can take advantage of his size and passing ability. He has shown the ability to play at a high level and having a year to grow and develop in our program will put Dalano in position to make an immediate impact when he becomes eligible.”
 
 
 

uneblinstu’s postgame chatter: vol 11, ed 10 - creighton

I’m so happy!

- My DVR didn't start right away so I missed the first couple of minutes of the game. I came in right in the middle of the review. Kinda weird to me that kicking a player has the same penalty as a shove, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
- Palmer getting into the lane early is a good sign.
- Of course tonight is the night Clemson hits 3s...
- I like having Nana and Tom on the floor at the same time.
- Heiman changes shots in the paint...
- Palmer picked up a garbage offensive foul that should have been called on Clemson's Thomas. The very next trip down the court, he picked up another silly foul. Sneaky hidden no-call that may or may not have had a significant outcome...
- Loved how these guys have hung in there. That's the benefit of a veteran crew.
- Roby's just, IDK, not locked in or something. He's a total team player because he shouldn't be playing the 5 and it's costing him minutes.
- When Nebraska's defense is good, it's really, really good.
- Some really good minutes from Tanner with Roby on the bench. Maybe the best of his career.
- This is the Nebrasketball we saw last year. Scrappy, attacking and relentless. 
- NU made some huge plays down the stretch, despite Clemson pushing it to 2 points.
- This is a win that will resonate in February and March. This is a win they didn't have last year. 

Via UNL
 
Ames, Iowa – Sunday’s closed scrimmage was a tale of two games, as the Huskers and Iowa State split a pair of 20-minute games at Hilton Coliseum.  The Cyclones won the opening 20-minute scrimmage, 45-31, with the Huskers prevailing 43-33, in the nightcap.
In the first portion of the scrimmage, Iowa State’s Marial Shayok keyed the Cyclones with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. In all, ISU shot 50 percent, including 8-of-14 from 3-point range.  James Palmer Jr. and Isaac Copeland combined for 19 of NU’s 31 points, as the Huskers shot just 43 percent, including 3-of-11 from 3-point range, and were out-rebounded 21-11 in the opening 20 minutes.
Nebraska regrouped in the second portion of the scrimmage, shooting 49 percent from the field while holding the Cyclones to 37 percent shooting. Glynn Watson Jr. paced NU in the second portion of the scrimmage with nine points and four assists, while Copeland and Tanner Borchardt combined for 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Copeland had nine points while Borchardt hit all four of his shots in the second half, as the Huskers got off to an 8-2 lead and never trailed.  NU had 12 assists on its 17 baskets in the second 20-minutes with Palmer, who also had seven rebounds, and Watson dishing out four assists apiece.