hhcmatt

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-2) vs #15 UCLA Bruins (10-2) ** Alumni Weekend ** Date: Saturday Jan. 4th, 2025 Time: 1:00 pm CST Arena: Pinnacle Bank Arena Broadcast: Fox UCLA Head Coach: Mick Cronin (6th year) Location: Los Angeles, CA Conference: B1G Nickname: Bruins Mascot: Joe & Josephine (Josie) Bruin Shirt Not to Wear: Blue, Gold Last time out: Beat Gonzaga Line: Nebraska by 1.5 Rotation Depth: 8+ Nota bene: 40+ Nebraska alumni are expected at the game and will be honored at half time The Huskers are 2-6 against UCLA all-time and last faced off in 2016. The last time UCLA came to Lincoln was in 1955 when first year Nebraska coach Jerry Bush, Fred Hoiberg's grandfather, came away victorious with a 71-65 win This is Mick Cronin's 2nd trip to Nebraska. While Cronin was the coach of Cincinnati, the Huskers were able to outlast the Bearcats 56-55 in 2OT in 2014 UCLA currently has KenPom's 4th best defense fueled by KenPom's #1 TO% defense. Former Bellevue West star William Kyle plays for the Bruins though will be unavailable for this game as he recovers from a medical procedure Berke Buyuktuncel transferred to Nebraska from UCLA Rollie Worster is 6 points away from 1,000 career points With a win Nebraska would tie their record of 20 consecutive home wins Player to watch: Tyler Bilodeau The Junior post player is one of several high level portal acquisitions the Bruins made in the off-season. Cronin has Bilodeau playing at the 5 where he's often a mis-match with his ability to hit from 3. Player to watch: Kobe Johnson The USC transfer is more of a glue-guy type player but he's likely the man to draw the task of slowing down Brice Williams. He leads the Bruins in steals and assists. UCLA Roster Player # Class Pos Height Weight Summary Tyler Bilodeau 34 JR F 6-9 220 14.5 Pts 5.2 Reb 1.4 Ast Eric Dailey 3 SO F 6-8 230 11.4 Pts 4.6 Reb 1.8 Ast Sebastian Mack 12 SO G 6-3 200 9.8 Pts 1.4 Reb 2.0 Ast Kobe Johnson 0 SR F 6-5 170 7.5 Pts 5.5 Reb 3.4 Ast Dylan Andrews 2 JR G 6-2 170 8.1 Pts 1.5 Reb 2.8 Ast Skyy Clark 55 JR G 6-3 200 6.7 Pts 2.8 Reb 2.8 Ast Lazar Stefanovic 10 SR G 6-7 186 6.2 Pts 1.8 Reb 0.5 Ast Trent Perry 1 FR G 6-4 180 4.9 Pts 1.9 Reb 1.0 Ast Aday Mara 15 SO C 7-3 240 4.8 Pts 3.8 Reb 0.8 Ast William Kyle 24 JR F 6-9 215 4.2 Pts 3.1 Reb 0.7 Ast UNL Game Notes Roster/infirmary report 2 Guard Ahron Ulis 6-3 190 lbs Senior (Game-time decision) Possible starters for Nebraska 3 Guard Brice Williams 6-7 214 lbs Senior 4 Forward Juwan Gary 6-6 226 lbs Senior 24 Guard Rollie Worster 6-5 210 lbs Senior 34 Center Braxton Meah 7-1 264 lbs Senior 9 Forward Berke Büyüktuncel 6-10 244 lbs Bench 0 Guard Connor Essegian 6-4 190 lbs Junior 1 Guard Sam Hoiberg 6-0 185 lbs Junior 23 Forward Andrew Morgan 6-10 242 lbs Senior 31 Guard Cale Jacobsen 6-4 195 lbs Sophomore 12 Guard Gavin Griffiths 6-7 193 lbs Sophomore 5 Forward Braden Frager 6-7 220 lbs Freshman 8 Guard Jeffrey Grace III 6-3 200 lbs Junior 20 Forward Justin Bolis 6-8 225 lbs Sophomore 25 Guard Nick Janowski 6-4 208 lbs Freshman 35 Forward Henry Burt 6-7 222 lbs Sophomore Out for year 51 Forward Rienk Mast 6-10 260 lbs Senior Hoiberg/Williams Presser Good listen as far as pressers go. Hoiberg emphasizes the turnover prowess of UCLA's defense The Skinny: Opportunity abounds in the B1G schedule for a Nebraska team who currently is without a Quad 1 win. UCLA represents an opportunity to obtain one of these wins on the Husker's home court as the Bruins seemed poised to finish towards the top of the conference. This projects to be a close game and physical game as both teams currently sport top 20 KenPom defenses and top 100 height. Nebraska is going to turn the ball over...it's more a matter of if this number is manageable enough for Nebraska to put itself into a position to win. Given how low scoring and close this game could be, Nebraska can't afford to give up easy points via turnovers. The Bruins will force Nebraska to move the ball around much like Southern and the Fred Hoiberg's Huskers are capable most days. Any offense Nebraska can generate at the FT line will be quite helpful. While there should be concern about UCLA creating mis-matches with their post players and with UCLA shooting well from 3, Nebraska likely sticks to their game plan of doubling the post and scrambling as UCLA isn't a team that wants to shoot 3s. In a season where Nebraska doesn't have many strong wins, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, not B1G home loses Prediction: Nebraska 67 - UCLA 64 View full article

A big part of that is that he's playing with better personnel, specifically instead of having to the 4 alongside Oregon St's collection of stiffs he's at the 5 where he gets a lot of mis-matches on the perimeter. They're loaded in the sense that Cronin got so much NIL money they could tell Berke to leave because they're bringing in better guys. Thus far they look like a top 4 team in the conference though i'd agree that they aren't unbeatable.

The year we made a youtube video version of the Tower of Babel

It's good for us to get older! You'll see more guys either go more Juco or D-II instead of rounding out D-1 rosters and then you'll get more transfers from those places.

It only took tanking our entire season to make Verge a great Hoiberg system PG for the last 4 games

Alumni Weekend as this is the only Saturday home game left on the schedule Expected Husker Alumni Weekend Participants Drake Beranek (2010-11); Steffon Bradford (1999-2001); Henry T. Buchanan (1986-88); Bruce Chubick (1990-94); Brennon Clemmons (2001-03); Stan Cloudy (1983-84); Bernard Day (1985-87); Kedrick Ford (2000-02); Mike Fox (2009-12); Ryan Hinckley (1996-97); Dave Hoppen (1983-86); Chad Ideus (1994-96); Bill Jackman (1984-87); Michael Johnette (1996-98); Kelly Lively (1987-91); Matt Mar (1991-92); Andy Markowski (1995-99); John Matzke (1981-86); Albert Maxey (1958-60); Trevor Menke (2010-15); Jay Moreno (1986-87); Jake Muhleisen (2001-05); Terry Novak (1974-78); Thomas Novak (1970-74); Jason Peterson (1991-92); Walter Pitchford (2012-15); David Ponce (1983-84); Beau Reid (1987-91); Jeff Rekeweg (1986-88); Charles Richardson (2003-07); Bronson Schliep (2002-06); Andy Schwindt (1996-97); Joel Sealer (1984-87); Rick Seidel (1973-74); Jerry Shoecraft (1978-82); Bob Siegel (1973-74); Ryan Thomas (1999-2001); Derrick Vick (1986-88); Tom Wald (1993-96); Tony Wilbrand (2001-06); Eric Williams (1979-84); Mark Woita (1971-72)

Papio South

Box Score

Post game Presser

Radio Broadcast https://huskerhoopscentral.com/2024-25/RadioBroadcasts/2024-12-30 Nebraska vs Southern.mp3

I'd like to snaz the ol' girl up with a rotating background of Meah dunking if I get around to it

"Buy Game" might be a more apt statement. We haven't lost one of those since the Matt A era.

We're now at a respectable 34.4% on the season, 126th in D-1

One off his career high of 3

Notes from UNL Nebraska Postgame Notes *-Nebraska improves to 11-2 on the season for the second straight season. It matches NU’s best record since opening the 1991-92 season with a 12-1 mark after 13 games. *-Nebraska finishes its non-conference slate with a 10-1 mark, marking the sixth time since WW2 that Nebraska has finished non-conference action with one loss (2023-24; 2018-19, 2003-04, 1991-92, 1977-78). *-With the win, Nebraska has now won 19 straight at home dating back to December of 2023. The Huskers are one shy of the program record of 20 set two previous times. *-With tonight’s win, NU is 19-1 at home in non-conference action over the last three seasons. *-Nebraska had an 11-0 run in the first half, the 11th double-figure run of the season. *-Connor Essegian (20) and Andrew Morgan (11) both finished in double figures off the bench. NU now has 14 double-figure efforts from the bench this season. *-Essegian led all scorers with 20 points, his third 20-point game of the season and fifth of his career. It marks the 10th time in Fred Hoiberg’s six seasons that NU has had a player come off the bench and finish with at least 20 points. *-Essegian matched his career high with six 3-pointers (also vs. South Dakota and North Florida). He has hit five-or-more 3-pointers four times this season. *-Nebraska finished with 22 assists, its second-highest total of the year. In addition to Rollie Worster, who had six assists without a turnover, Sam Hoiberg added a career-high five assists. *-Brice Williams has reached double figures in 12 of NU’s 13 games, finishing with 11 points. He went over the 1,500-point mark for his career. Williams also matched his season high with seven boards. *-Nebraska tied a season high with 13 3-pointers, the third time this season NU hit 10-or-more 3-pointers in a game. *-Nebraska’s defense posted season lows in field goal percentage (25.4%), 3-point percentage (12.5%), 3-pointers made (3) and free throw percentage (37.5%). *-The 43 points allowed and 25.4 percent field goal percentage by Southern were the lowest since Mississippi Valley State had 37 points and 19.1 percent shooting on Nov. 6, 2018. *-Berke Büyüktuncel tied his career high nine rebounds, the fourth time this season he has grabbed nine or more rebounds.

Frequently, in my experience

Gary is only about 3-5 years away from becoming a 40% 3pt shooter

I doubt this number went into your calculations but the final score was 69-55

Tidjiane Dioumassi is a 6'5" PG who started every game for Southern last year and in Southern's first game this season scored 30 points. He has not played in 4 of the last 5 games, no idea why.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-2) vs Southern Jaguars (10-2) Date: Monday Dec. 30th, 2024 Time: 8:00 pm CST Arena: Pinnacle Bank Arena Broadcast: BTN Southern Head Coach: Kevin Johnson Location: Baton Rouge, LA Conference: SWAC Nickname: Jaguars Last time out: Lost to USC Shirt not to wear: Yellow, Leopard Line: Nebraska by Rotation Depth: 12+ Nota bene: This will be the 3rd time that Nebraska has hosted Southern during the Fred Hoiberg era. Nebraska is 29-1 all-time vs the SWAC Southern is #2 in KenPom's Bench Minutes % stat with 47.7% of their minutes coming off the bench Southern is last (364th) in D-1 in KenPom's shot block % by an offense. The Jaguar's are a poor 3pt shooting team who tries to run their offense through the paint. They also happen to be a relatively small team so the end result is getting their shots blocked repeatedly. (Nebraska's first team under Fred Hoiberg suffered from this same phenomenon) The Huskers have been notorious this season for forcing teams to take 3pt shots, currently ranked 358th in D-1 for 3pa/fga percentage. The Jaguars however rank 342nd in this stat so we might see a bunch of 3s tonight Rollie Worster is 14 points away from 1,000 career points Brice Williams is 8 points away from 1,500 career points Player to watch: Jordan Johnson The sophomore shooting guard easily leads the team in 3pt attempts. After hitting on 35.8% from deep as a freshman last season, Johnson is hitting a respectable 33.8% on the season. Johnson also leads a team that focuses on generating turnovers in steals Southern Roster Player # Class Pos Height Weight Summary Michael Jacobs 10 JR G 6-2 200 10.6 Pts 2.2 Reb 2.8 Ast Jordan Johnson 11 SO G 6-4 195 10.4 Pts 1.9 Reb 0.7 Ast Derrick Tezeno 4 SR G 6-5 205 7.7 Pts 4.6 Reb 0.6 Ast DaMariee Jones 1 SR F 6-5 185 7.0 Pts 4.3 Reb 0.6 Ast AJ Barnes 12 JR F 6-6 210 6.3 Pts 4.3 Reb 0.7 Ast Tidjiane Dioumassi 22 SR G 6-4 200 9.0 Pts 3.8 Reb 5.0 Ast Cam Amboree 3 JR G 6-2 160 5.8 Pts 1.2 Reb 2.3 Ast Joe Manning 2 JR G 6-2 175 5.8 Pts 1.0 Reb 0.9 Ast PJ Dobuol 24 JR G 6-8 180 5.6 Pts 4.0 Reb 0.5 Ast Dionjahe Thomas 8 SO F 6-8 230 5.2 Pts 3.1 Reb 0.3 Ast Brentay Noel 0 JR F 6-10 220 4.1 Pts 2.9 Reb 0.5 Ast Jayce Depron 5 FR G 6-3 175 3.3 Pts 1.0 Reb 0.2 Ast Andre Nunley 9 SR G 5-10 180 1.8 Pts 1.4 Reb 0.5 Ast UNL Game Notes Roster/infirmary report 2 Guard Ahron Ulis 6-3 190 lbs Senior (Could be out with an ankle) Possible starters for Nebraska 3 Guard Brice Williams 6-7 214 lbs Senior 4 Forward Juwan Gary 6-6 226 lbs Senior 24 Guard Rollie Worster 6-5 210 lbs Senior 34 Center Braxton Meah 7-1 264 lbs Senior 9 Forward Berke Büyüktuncel 6-10 244 lbs Bench 0 Guard Connor Essegian 6-4 190 lbs Junior 1 Guard Sam Hoiberg 6-0 185 lbs Junior 23 Forward Andrew Morgan 6-10 242 lbs Senior 31 Guard Cale Jacobsen 6-4 195 lbs Sophomore 12 Guard Gavin Griffiths 6-7 193 lbs Sophomore 5 Forward Braden Frager 6-7 220 lbs Freshman 8 Guard Jeffrey Grace III 6-3 200 lbs Junior 20 Forward Justin Bolis 6-8 225 lbs Sophomore 25 Guard Nick Janowski 6-4 208 lbs Freshman 35 Forward Henry Burt 6-7 222 lbs Sophomore Out for year 51 Forward Rienk Mast 6-10 260 lbs Senior The Skinny: The key to Southern's wins this season has been offensive rebounds. The key to Nebraska keeping this a winnable game is to keep this undersized but springy Jaguar team off the glass. Southern will pressure the ball but Nebraska won't be rattled much by this. The Jags don't possess the 3pt firepower needed to give Nebraska a run. With Nebraska playing their last pay game of the season, it'd be as good as any time to fire up Gavin Griffiths and Cale Jacobsen, especially if Ahron Ulis is still unavailable. In a winnable game where the defense will give you threes, it should be safe to go deeper into the bench. Prediction: Nebraska 81 - Southern 62 View full article

Nebraska 81 - Southern 62

JL on his worst day is a better 3pt shooter than Rollie. If you're looking for a guy who can be a spot of 3pt shooter, it's JL and it's a no brainer. I think there is also a lot to be said for having experience in our system. If you think that Rollie with his size and JL with his quickness are equal defenders, then the edge goes to JL because he had two years of working in a Loesner defense. On the other hand, Rollie can get into the lane in a way that JL cannot through driving and/or booty ball. His 2pt shooting percentage and ability to get to the line reflect the advantage there. He's a better rebounder than JL. It seems like he has better instincts at the point though maybe JL would have been there after a summer. Seems like a wash from overall production and individual game matchups might dictate which one might have the advantage on a given night.