Nebraska basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg called out the Nebraska basketball team for their lack of effort and preparation heading into the Huskers 89-52 loss last Saturday to Michigan State.
Hoiberg spoke to Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen after the loss, saying “we did not prepare going into this one like we needed to,”
With the Indiana Hoosiers in town for the Huskers Big Ten home opener, it gives the Huskers a big opportunity to get back on track, but it definitely won’t be a walk in the park.
The 8-2 Hoosiers, led by head coach Mike Woodson and a stacked transfer portal class, are riding a four game winning streak, which included victories over Providence and Minnesota.
Indiana started the season ranked #17 in the country with a record of 4-0, before dropping back to back games to a top 10 Gonzaga team and the Louisville Cardinals in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The Hoosiers will be a tough out for whoever has to face them this season, as three players in their starting lineup stand at 6 feet 9 inches or taller.
Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln was by far one of the toughest home venues for any team in the country last season, and should be rocking on a Friday night.
The Huskers were 18-1 at home last season, which included upsets of #1 Purdue and #6 Wisconsin by a combined total of 24 points.
Players to Watch for Indiana:
Oumar Ballo:
13.2 PTS 9.1 REB 2.5 AST 2 BLK
Ballo is one of the best centers in the country, and certainly one of the best centers that the Huskers will have to face all season.
Ballos unique 7 foot 265 pound frame will make it almost impossible to slow him down, and while the Hoosiers wont look to feed him much, he makes his moneys worth rebounding the ball and playing defense.
The Huskers had an excellent game plan defending Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, so it will be key for the Huskers to try and force Ballos big presence outside of the paint, taking him out of this ball game.
Mackenzie Mgbako:
15.1 PTS 5.1 REB 1.6 AST 43.9% 3 PT
After an up and down true freshman season from Mgbako, the former 5 star recruit decided to return to the Hoosiers for his sophomore season, and now projects to be a first round NBA draft pick in 2025.
Mgbako may stand at 6 feet 9 inches tall, but he can make a plethora of shots from both inside and outside the 3 point line.
The Hoosiers love to get Mgbako quick and easy looks on pick and pop situations, much like they tried to do last season when the Hoosiers came to Lincoln, so the intensity on defense has to be there tonight for the Huskers.
Players to Watch for Nebraska:
Brice Williams:
17.5 PTS 2.5 REB 1.8 AST
Brice Williams was a essentially a non factor for the Huskers in their loss to the Spartans, but that can not be the method for success tonight at PBA.
Against the Hoosiers last season, Williams scored 15 points on 5/10 shooting, while being overlooked by former Huskers star Keisei Tominaga who finished with 28.
If the Huskers want things to go smoothly on offense, Williams has to quickly establish himself offensively in this game.
Rollie Worster:
8.9 PTS 4.0 REB 2.6 AST 1.5 STL
Worster may be one of the main ball handlers on this Husker team, but the most important job for Worster tonight will most likely come on the defensive side.
Worster will have a tough matchup tonight guarding Washington State transfer Myles Rice, who averages 11 PPG and shoots 42% from 3.
Worster will have to use his quick hands and feet on defense tonight to defend Rice, who has averaged 2.6 turnovers per game in each of his last two seasons.
Prediction:
It just feels like Big Ten Basketball weather today in Lincoln, and this is a far more important game for the Huskers than it is for the Hoosiers.
The crowd at PBA will be the biggest factor tonight.
If the Hoosiers come out and start quickly making shots and getting defensive stops to quiet PBA, it might be over relatively quickly.
If the Huskers can dial in defensively after a poor showing against Michigan State, then this should be a game that comes down to the final minutes.
Friday, December 13th
7:00 PM CT FOX
Nebraska: 79 Indiana: 74
