Hoops Game Day: Nebraska vs. Rutgers

Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-17, 2-14) vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (13-9, 9-9)

Monday, Mar. 1, 2021 – 6 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena

TV: BTN

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Internet: FOX Sports App

1. Continue the offensive chemistry

It’s amazing how much actually making open shots can do for your offensive efficiency, huh?

Nebraska had arguably its best collective shooting performance of the season in Saturday night’s win over Minnesota, going a Big Ten-best 54.5 percent from the field and a season-high 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from 3-point range while matching its conference-high with 19 assists on 30 made baskets.

Five Huskers scored in double-figures, and it marked the first game since Washington State on Nov. 25, 2019, that they hit better than 50 percent from behind the arc.

Now, it wasn’t a perfect performance, as NU still turned the ball over 18 times.

But the overall rhythm and execution on offense were as good as we’ve seen it this season. The high-level ball movement set up numerous wide-open shots, and Nebraska finally knocked them down at an efficient rate.

2. Keep the seniors rolling

Nebraska changed up its starting lineup against Minnesota mainly in honor of Senior Night, as seniors Thorir Thorbjarnarson and Kobe Webster got the nod over junior Teddy Allen and sophomore Dalano Banton.

But Thorbjarnarson and Webster were two of the biggest reasons why the Huskers’ offense was so good on Saturday night.

Time and again, NU’s two seniors made the extra pass or knocked down the clutch shot to carry their team to a victory. It wasn’t just against Minnesota, either.

Thorbjarnarson has played the best basketball of his career over the past four games, averaging nearly 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and only 1.0 turnover during that stretch.

The same can be said for Webster, who has scored 8.4 points and shot 43.4 percent (10-of-23) on 3-pointers over the last five contests.

Whether they stay in the starting lineup or not, Nebraska needs to keep its senior leaders heavily involved the rest of the way.

3. Handle Rutgers’ physicality

Nebraska has already faced plenty of daunting front courts this season, but there might not be a more bruising group in the Big Ten than Rutgers.

Led by center Myles Johnson (6-11, 255), who ranks second in the conference with 2.5 blocks and fourth with 8.5 rebounds per game, the Scarlet Knights’ primary rotation averages 6 feet, 7 inches, and 221 pounds.

They lead the league with 5.36 blocks per game and rank second with 7.91 steals.

That’s a major concern for the Huskers, who come into tonight’s game ranked 274th nationally in offensive blocked shot percentage (10.1) and 194th in offensive turnover percentage (19.3).

Rutgers (-7) 69, Nebraska 61

Robin’s season record: 19-4

vs. the spread: 13-10