Fred Hoiberg urges Nebraska to crank up defensive intensity in 2nd half vs. Illinois in Big Ten Tournament semifinal

Nebraska out-scored Illinois en route to a 51-40 halftime lead in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday afternoon. But head coach Fred Hoiberg was pleased with a defensive turn for the Cornhuskers at the half.

A little more than 10 minutes into the game, Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was shredding the Cornhuskers defense to the tune of 18 points — the Illini had 24 total at the time. But after a made free throw with 8:52 left in the half, Shannon didn’t score again.

Even still, Hoiberg was urging continued defensive intensity throughout the second half.

“We have to do a better job of making them work for everything they get,” Hoiberg said to CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson. “Finishing off possessions. They’re getting too many offensive rebounds, balls are going off our hands. We have to do a better job finishing off possessions and when we do that, we do a great job getting out in transition.”

And if the torrid offensive pace keeps up — Nebraska shot 58% from the field in the first half and assisted on 11 of 16 made field goals, making six 3s — the Cornhuskers might just play into a spot in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.

“Well we just need to come out of the gates strong,” Hoiberg said. “I loved our movement offensively, I loved our unselfishness.”

Illinois was a slight favorite to win vs. Nebraska

The Fighting Illini opened up as 4.5 point favorites over the Cornhuskers, according to FanDuel. The over/under is set at 157.5 total points.

On the money line, Illinois is -188 and Nebraska is +155.

Final score predictions for Nebraska vs. Illinois

KenPom Predicted final score: Illinois 81, Nebraska 77
KenPom Win probability (for Illinois): 64%

The two teams met once prior this season. That matchup ended up going to overtime, where Illinois outlasted Nebraska, 87-84, in Champaign.

And given that both teams have been strong down the stretch since that Feb. 4 meeting, it’s not a surprise that KenPom has the matchup projected to be fairly close. Unsurprisingly, Illinois gets a slight edge, though.

How to watch Nebraska vs. Illinois

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET (approx.)
Channel: CBS, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Minneapolis

After games being carried by the Big Ten Network during the weekday slate, the action moves to CBS on the weekend. The Cornhuskers and Fighting Illini face off in the second semifinal matchup.

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Illinois comes in after surviving a serious test from a surging Ohio State team, coming back late in the second half to win, 77-74. But with enough late defense and some key baskets, the Illini scraped through to the semifinals.

Nebraska, on the other hand, dominated Indiana for much of the game on Friday, burying the Hoosiers beneath a barrage from deep. Keisei Tominaga and Brice Williams each had 23 points as the Cornhuskers rolled to a 93-66 win.

The winner between Illinois and Nebraska will face the winner of Wisconsin and Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon.