Hoops Game Day: Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-17, 1-14) vs Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-11, 6-11)

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021 – 6 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena

TV: BTN

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Internet: FOX Sports App

1. Find a way to fight

This entire season has been a physical and mental drain on everyone, but head coach Fred Hoiberg saw the toll impact his team’s effort in a game at Illinois on Thursday night for maybe the first time.

The Fighting Illini are among the best teams in the country, even without star guard Ayo Dosunmu. But Hoiberg called NU’s performance in the 86-70 loss one of its worst since a blowout defeat at Ohio State earlier this year.

The Huskers were careless, lackadaisical, and at times seemingly disinterested in putting forth the amount of energy necessary to compete with an opponent of that caliber.

Minnesota is hardly the same as Illinois, but if Nebraska plays as uninspired as it did two nights ago, it will get a similarly resounding defeat.

The Huskers have done a great job of fighting through unprecedented adversity this season, and the only way to keep things from completely falling apart is to maintain that for another couple of weeks.

2. Play with some focus

Maybe the thing that irked Hoiberg as much as anything during Nebraska’s loss at Illinois was how, for the second game in a row, the Huskers made one inexplicable mistake with the ball after another.

After turning it over 18 times (with 14 Penn State steals) against the Nittany Lions, NU gave the ball away 17 times to the Illini. Nebraska has now been outscored 42-25 in points off turnovers in its past two outings.

Minnesota is an aggressive defensive team that forced 13.6 opponent turnovers with 6.3 steals per game. Nebraska just so happens to be turning it over 13.6 times per contest on the season and ranks dead last in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.94-to-1).

If the Huskers are sloppy with the basketball like that again tonight, the Gophers are going to feast in transition.

3. Go after Robbins, if he plays

Injuries have hit Minnesota hard over the past couple of weeks, as it’s been without its top 3-point shooter in Gabe Kalscheur (broken finger) and 7-foot center Liam Robbins (sprained ankle).

Kalscheur had struggled with his shot all year but was still one of UM’s best perimeter defenders. But Robbins’ absence has changed the complexion of the Gophers’ frontcourt.

Robbins reaggravated a lingering ankle sprain in Minnesota’s loss to Illinois and missed its last game against Northwestern. The Gophers hope that the former Providence transfer will be able to return to action tonight, but it’s unlikely he’ll be anywhere near 100 percent if he does.

Nebraska has made a bad habit of trying to attack opposing rim protectors, and it’s lost those battles far more often than not.

In this case, though, the Huskers would be wise to go after Robbins early and often to see just how healthy that ankle is.

He had seven points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots vs. NU in the first meeting, so getting him off the floor (assuming he plays) should be a priority.”

Nebraska (+2.5) 68, Minnesota 66

Robin’s season record: 18-4

vs. the spread: 12-10