Coming off a Victory to Seton Hall, Miles Looks Ahead to Kansas City Tournament – the Hall of Fame Classic

The Hall of Fame classic tips of in Kansas City starting next Monday. The tournament consists of four teams including Nebraska – Missouri State, Texas Tech, and USC.

The Huskers open up the tournament by facing off against the Missouri State Bearcats at 6 o’ clock Monday evening. Then at 8:30, the Trojans will take on the Red Raiders.

The winners of Monday’s games will play in the championship game at 8:30 Tuesday night and the loser will participate in the consolation game that tips off two and a half hours before that, at 6:30.

The format of the tournament gives Nebraska head coach Tim Miles a dilemma – either you prepare for three teams and risk throwing too much at your players, or you focus on the one known opponent and come into Tuesday’s contest less prepared. Speaking to reporters from the Hendricks Training Complex, Miles addressed his thought process on the situation.

“I think that you don’t want to confuse guys,” head coach Tim Miles said. “You don’t want to do too much, either. It’s a big week (but) I think we’re in good shape.”

Nebraska’s Monday opponent, Missouri State, hails from the Missouri Valley Conference. Like Nebraska, the Bearcats are 3-0 on the season. Missouri State have a pair of prominent scoring targets in upperclassmen guards Jarred Dixon and Keandre Cook. Thus far, they’re averaging 18.7 and 17.3 points per game respectively.

Missouri State also boast a pair of Polish players; twins Jan and Szymon Wojcik, who Miles tried to recruit to come to Nebraska. Defensively, the Bearcats look to Obediah Church, a senior forward who averages two blocks a game. Miles was complimentary of Missouri State’s squad.

“Obediah Church and the young Dixon kid are a really good inside-out combo,” Miles said. “I like their aggressiveness and Obediah (Church’s) ability to protect the rim.”

Missouri State are led by first year head coach, Dana Ford. Ford spent four seasons at Tennessee State before making the jump to the Bearcats in 2018. “(Ford’s) done a good job getting his system in,” Miles said. “It’s not always easy. Sometimes, you’ve got a square peg you’re trying to fit into a round hole, but he’s done a good job.”

You can get coverage of the Bearcats taking on Missouri State next Monday starting at 5 o’ clock on 1400, KLIN.

-Tim Curran

(Photo by Kenny Larabee)