Nebraska Hoops Game Day: at Michigan State
Riding an impressive three-game winning streak, Nebraska faces its next big test in today’s Big Ten opener at Michigan State.
Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ conference debut in East Lansing…
Who, What, Where, When
Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State Spartans (7-2, 1-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 – 11:00 a.m. CT
Breslin Center (15,000)
TV: BTN
Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Internet/Streaming: BTN+
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Nebraska projected starters
| Rollie Worster | G | Sr. | 6-5/210 | Finished with 4 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in the win over North Florida. Has posted a 5.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over the last three games. |
| Brice Williams | G | Sr. | 6-7/214 | Had 17 points with 6 assists against North Florida, marking his 11th straight game scoring in double figures dating back to last season. |
| Connor Essegian | G | Jr. | 6-4/190 | Led NU with 22 points while going 6-of-8 on 3-pointers vs. UNF. He’s averaged 22.0 points on 58% shooting over the past three games. |
| Juwan Gary | F | Sr. | 6-6/226 | Racked up 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots in the win over North Florida. He’s 4 boards away from reaching 500 for his career. |
| Braxton Meah | F | Sr. | 7-1/264 | Averages 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 70.6% from the field this season. He hasn’t missed a FG since the loss to St. Mary’s on Nov. 17. |
Michigan State projected starters
Nebraska projected starters
| Jeremy Fears | G | RFr. | 6-2/190 | Scoring 7.8 points per game. His 5.7 assists per game lead Michigan State and rank sixth in the Big Ten. |
| Tre Holloman | G | Jr. | 6-2/185 | Averaging 7.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while ranking second on the team with 4.0 assists per game. |
| Jaden Akins | G | Sr. | 6-4/195 | Leads with 12.4 ppg and is one of only two MSU players averaging double figures this season. |
| Jaxon Kohler | F | Jr. | 6-9/245 | Averages 8.4 points and leads the Spartans with 7.9 rebounds per game. |
| Szymon Zapala | C | Sr. | 7-0/245 | Scoring 5.3 points per game on 67.9% shooting from the field. He’s third on the team with 4.7 rpg. |
3 keys to victory
Stay out of a track meet
Michigan State might not play at the breakneck speed it has in previous years, but this is still a Tom Izzo team, and the Spartans will still run. Fred Hoiberg has preached to his team all week about MSU’s offensive pace, but he still expects Nebraska will have to adjust to it once the game tips off. The key for the Huskers is the same as it was a couple of weeks ago at Creighton. They must control the tempo on offense and operate with top-rate efficiency. On defense, they need to get back after every miss and turnover to prevent Michigan State from getting rolling with fastbreak opportunities.
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Protect the basketball
A critical component to Nebraska keeping the game at an ideal tempo will be valuing the basketball. The Huskers’ ball security has been significantly better over the past few outings than it was early in the year. That includes dishing out 22 assists to a season-low six turnovers last time out vs. North Florida. The best way to keep Michigan State out of transition is to eliminate costly giveaways that immediately turn into fastbreak points. The other key is proper shot selection, as forced attempts and blocked shots can fuel the Spartans’ pace just as much.
Finish possessions
Nebraska’s improved post depth has been immediately noticeable this season, but today, it will face its most daunting test yet on the boards. One of Michigan State’s greatest strengths has been cleaning up the glass on both ends of the floor. The Spartans rank inside the top 60 nationally in rebounding, including 15th in defensive rebounding percentage (23.5). Adding to that concern for NU is that its top rebounder, Berke Buyuktuncel (6.7 rpg), is a game-time decision with a groin injury. If he can’t go, the onus will be on everyone else – frontcourt and backcourt alike – to initiate first contact and, as Juwan Gary said, “be the hammer” after every shot.
Quotable
“It’s a mindset, and if you don’t make first contact, they’re getting it. They will drive you all the way under almost into the stanchion. If you allow that to happen, it’s going to be a long afternoon.”
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg on the Huskers’ needing to be the aggressors on the glass vs. Michigan State.
Prediction
Michigan State (-4.5) 75, Nebraska 68
Robin’s season record: 6-1
Vs. the spread: 3-4
