Nebraska Basketball Game Day: Ohio State
Here is what you need to know going into Nebraska’s important home game against Ohio State tonight at Pinnacle Bank Arena…
Who, What, Where, When
Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-9, 2-5) at Ohio State Buckeyes (10-7, 2-4)
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)
TV: BTN
Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Internet: FOX Sports App
Nebraska projected starters
| Sam Griesel | G | Sr. | 6-7/216 | Did not play at Purdue due to hip injury; expected to return tonight. |
| Emmanuel Bandoumel | G | Sr. | 6-4/187 | Had 10 points and a team-worst -24 +/- in 37 minutes at Purdue. |
| C.J. Wilcher | G | So. | 6-5/208 | Scored 2 points on 1-4 shooting in 21 minutes against Purdue. |
| Wilhelm Breidenbach | F | So. | 6-10/231 | Made first career start at Purdue; went scoreless on 0-6 shooting. |
| Derrick Walker | F | Sr. | 6-9/245 | Had a team-high 19 points at Purdue, including 13 in the first half. |
Ohio State projected starters
| Sean McNeil | G | Sr. | 6-4/205 | Scoring 9.8 ppg on 40% 3-point shooting while going 18-18 on FTs. |
| Bruce Thornton | G | Fr. | 6-2/215 | Leads the team with 3.1 assists per game while averaging 9.6 points. |
| Isaac Likekele | G | Sr. | 6-5/215 | Oklahoma State transfer who averages 3.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, and 2.8 apg. |
| Justice Sueing | F | Sr. | 6-6/210 | Ranks second on the team with 13.6 points and 2.1 assists per game. |
| Felix Okpara | C | Fr. | 6-11/220 | Averaging 3.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and a team-high 1.2 blocks per game. |
Lockdown on D
On paper, Ohio State boasts one of the country’s most effective and efficient offenses. The Buckeyes come into tonight’s game ranked fourth nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (118.6). They’re also 51st in effective field goal percentage (53.4), 47th in turnover percentage (16.5), and 16th in 3-point percentage (38.7). However, OSU has struggled noticeably with the ball during its current four-game losing streak. It’s failed to break 70 points in three of the last four outings and has been held under 40% shooting the past two games. Nebraska must make life as difficult as possible defensively to keep Ohio State from getting back to its old self.
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Battle on the boards
The last four losses aside, what’s made Ohio State so effective has been its domination on the offensive and defensive glass. The Buckeyes rank second in the Big Ten in rebounding behind only Purdue at 39.4 per game and boast a +6.2 rebounding margin. They average 12.4 offensive boards per contest and rank 20th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (35.4). It will be critical for Nebraska to limit OSU’s second-chance opportunities while also crashing the glass on offense to extend possessions after misses. The absence of Juwan Gary (shoulder), NU’s second-leading rebounder, puts even more pressure on the rest of the cast.
All hands on deck
As mentioned, Nebraska will be without one of its most critical pieces in Gary, who remains out indefinitely with a shoulder injury he suffered against Illinois. The good news is that point guard Sam Griesel (hip) is expected to return tonight after missing the Purdue game. The Huskers will need a full-team effort against Ohio State, which boasts one of the deepest benches in the conference. The Buckeyes have arguably the frontrunner for the league’s Freshman of the Year in Brice Sensabaugh, who ranks seventh in the Big Ten at 16.9 ppg off the bench. Zed Key has averaged 29.0 minutes off the bench the past two games and ranks eighth in the conference with 7.9 rpg. Like Nebraska. OSU can have a different player take over on any given night.
Quotable
“One of our main focuses of the year is protecting home court, and we’ve let a couple get away from us. It stings me and I hope everyone else. So, yeah, there’s a lot of pressure with this one just because we’ve got to prove it to ourselves and we’re trying to climb and climb and make it as far as we can for the postseason. This one’s important. Every game’s important in the Big Ten.”
Senior forward Derrick Walker on the importance of winning at home this season.
Prediction
Ohio State (-5) 72, Nebraska 69
Robin’s overall season record: 12-6
Robin’s record vs. the spread: 9-9
