Nebraska Basketball Game Day: Northwestern

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-21, 4-16) vs Northwestern Wildcats (14-15, 7-13)

Wednesday, Mar. 9, 2022 – 5 p.m. CT

Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Ind.)

TV: BTN

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Internet: FOX Sports App

1. Keep it rolling

Nebraska has been playing some of its best basketball in years over the past three games, and it’s arguably as hot as any team in the country going into this week’s Big Ten Tournament.

The Huskers have banded together and finally looked like the team most expected they’d be this year. Unfortunately, it took until the end of February for it to click, but at least it happened.

Now NU is presented with an opportunity in Indianapolis to build up even more momentum heading into the offseason.

If Nebraska can play anywhere close to the level it did during its three-game road winning streak last week; there’s no reason why it couldn’t continue its run and exact revenge on Northwestern.

The Wildcats handed the Huskers two of their most embarrassing losses of the season, so there should be no shortage of motivation for NU to keep things rolling.

2. Defend with effort

Head coach Fred Hoiberg called Nebraska’s 87-63 home loss to Northwestern on Feb. 5 one of his team’s worst efforts of the season. Two weeks later, things didn’t go any better in a 77-65 road defeat in the rematch.

While the play offensively in those losses was nothing to write home about, what bothered Hoiberg most was how uninspired the Huskers were defensively.

With lazy close-outs on shooters, way-too-late rotations on the perimeter, and half-hearted switches off of screens, NU made life about as easy as possible for the Wildcats.

As a result, Northwestern torched them for 10 made 3-pointers in the first half alone and led by 22 at halftime in the first meeting. The Wildcats then did it again in Evanston, hitting 13 threes and shooting 50% from the field.

3. Protect the basketball

Nebraska’s defense was awful in its two losses to Northwestern, but it certainly didn’t help its cause on the other end of the floor, either.

Sloppy passes and ball-handling led to the Wildcats scoring a combined 34 points off 30 NU turnovers this season.

When the Huskers have struggled, they’ve almost always been careless with the basketball. It’s no coincidence that Nebraska has only averaged 10.0 turnovers during its three-game winning streak.

The good news was that NU has been disruptive in its own right on defense.

The Huskers forced 11 and 12 turnovers in its losses to Northwestern, a team that is as good as anyone in protecting the ball.

The Wildcats rank sixth nationally in offensive turnovers percentage (14.0) and eighth in offensive steal percentage (7.0).

Nebraska (+4) 71, Northwestern 67

Robin’s season record: 21-10

vs. the spread: 16-15