The Nebraska Cornhuskers are headed to Honolulu, Hawaii as they get ready to face Murray State in the first game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Sunday.
The Huskers are coming off a 85-68 win against the Indiana Hoosiers last Friday night, in a game that was very much back and forth, until the Huskers pulled away with a 17-1 run during the final 7 minutes of the second half.
Senior guard Brice Williams was a tough guard all night for the Hoosiers, scoring a season high 30 points on 66% shooting.
The Huskers will have to be ready to compete for a full 40 minutes, considering that this game won’t be played in PBA where the Huskers have found most of their success.
Since the Start of the 2023-2024 season, the Huskers have struggled playing in games that are not played inside PBA.
The Huskers have a record of 4-9 in away games, and 2-3 in games played at a neutral site, while posting an impressive home record of 24-1.
Unlike the Hoosiers, Murray State doesn’t bring the height to the starting lineup, as the tallest starter for the Racers stands at just 6’7.
As a team, the Racers shoot 38.6% from three, including two of their starters in A.J. Ferguson and Jacobi Wood, who both shoot over 40% from behind the line.
Players to Watch for Murray State:
Jacobi Wood:
15 PTS 4.2 REB 5.4 AST 1.1 STL
The Huskers will have to put their best defender on Wood.
The Racers leading scorer will shoot at will, and can make you pay if you don’t put a hand in his face, as he shoots 40.4 % from three.
Wood is catching fire at the right time for the Racers, as he has scored at least 20 points in three of his last four game, while also shooting 46% from three.
Nick Ellington:
9.7 PTS 4.5 REB 58.5% FG
Every team needs a big man that doesn’t shoot the three, that they can stuff in the paint to make it difficult for opponents, and that’s what Ellington brings to the Racers.
The post-up big plays tough defense and plays much bigger than his 6’7 frame.
Ellington has scored in double figures in half of the Racers games, including a season high of 19 earlier this season against Maryland Eastern.
Players to Watch for Nebraska:
Brice Williams:
18.9 PTS 2.9 REB 2.1 AST 49.5% FG
Brice Williams is playing like one of the best players in the Big Ten right now, so we have to imagine the Huskers are going to let Williams go to work against the Racers.
The Huskers shouldn’t need another 30 point outing from Williams to win this game, but don’t be surprised if the Huskers rely on Williams when they need a big basket.
Braxton Meah:
3.8 PTS 3.9 REB 70% FG
Meah doesn’t tend to “wow” anyone on the stat sheet, but his 7’1 frame is the perfect defense against the Racers.
Meah will have one job on Saturday, control the paint and make life hard on Nick Ellington.
Meah was excellent in his last two games defending Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Indiana’s Oumar Ballo, so expect much of the same from the senior center.
Prediction:
Husker fans have the right to be worried about this one, considering the road woes and poor play that has plagued the Huskers so many times in big moments.
While Murray State is a sneaky team that can shoot the three, the Huskers bring in far too much experience for the Racers and should win this one by at least double digits.
Sunday, December 22nd.
8:00 PM CT ESPN
