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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: at Purdue

Robin Washut profile picby:Robin Washut•about 9 hours•

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Sam Hoiberg Nebraska basketball 2024-25
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) controls the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes guard Carter Kingsbury (14) defends during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

After a frustrating overtime loss at Iowa, Nebraska faces another daunting road test today at No. 20 Purdue.

Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ trip to Mackey Arena to take on the Boilermakers…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) at Purdue Boilermakers (12-4, 4-1 Big Ten)

Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 – 11:00 p.m. CT

Mackey Arena (14,240)

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: Fox Sports App

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Nebraska projected starters

Rollie WorsterGSr.6-5/210He posted his sixth double-figure scoring effort of the season with 14 points on 6-9 shooting at Iowa. However, he shot just 2-of-7 at the FT line in the loss.
Brice WilliamsGSr.6-7/214His 28 points at Iowa moved him to 19.4 ppg on the season, good for a tie for second in the Big Ten. He’s also shooting 49.2% from the field and 90.9% on free throws.
Juwan GaryFSr.6-6/226Hauled in a season-high 13 rebounds (8 offensive) vs. Iowa, the most by any Husker since Gary’s career-high 18 boards at Kansas State on Dec. 17, 2023.
Berke BuyuktuncelFSo.6-10/224Played just 19 minutes at Iowa but had eight points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocked shots in the loss.
Braxton MeahFSr.7-1/264 Had four points, two rebounds, and two assists in the loss at Iowa. He only played 17 minutes but was the only Nebraska starter to finish with a positive +/- at 1.

Purdue projected starters

Braden SmithGJr.6-0/170Preseason All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year. He averages 15.4 ppg and leads the conference with 8.9 apg while
shooting 42% from 3-point range. 
Fletcher LoyerGJr.6-5/180He’s scoring 13.9 points per game while hitting 46 percent from behind the arc this season.
C.J. CoxGFr.6-3/200Only held one high-major offer before committing to Purdue in October. He’s averaging 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.8 apg this season.
Caleb FurstFSr.6-10/235He’s averaging 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while hitting 53.5 percent of his shots from the field on the year.
Trey Kaufman-RennFJr.6-9/230He leads the Boilermakers in scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg) and is second on the team in assists (2.3 apg).

3 keys to victory

Get back to defense

When Nebraska is at its best, it’s one of the top defensive teams in the Big Ten Conference. The Huskers were at that level in the first half at Iowa, holding the league’s top-scoring offense to 31 points at the break. However, as missed shots at the rim and free throws started to add up over the second half and overtime, NU let those frustrations carry over to the other end of the floor. Nebraska is a team that must be locked in defensively from start to finish. That will be especially true on the road against a Purdue team that ranks in the top-25 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (11th, 121.5), effective field goal percentage (22nd, 56.5), and 3-point percentage (25th, 38.1).

Play under control

Head coach Fred Hoiberg said Nebraska charted 40 shots at the rim in its loss at Iowa. The Huskers missed 18 of those. A significant reason why was that many of those shots were rushed and off-balance. Juwan Gary was the biggest culprit in that regard. While he snagged a season-high eight offensive rebounds, he followed many of those by out-of-control putbacks. As a result, Gary shot just 5-of-21 from the field. Against one of the most efficient teams in all of college basketball today at Purdue, Nebraska must remain steady and not let emotion and frustration lead to forcing shots that aren’t there.

Handle Mackey

Mackey Arena has long been one of the most daunting homecourt advantages in the country. For Nebraska, it’s been a true house of horrors. The Huskers have never won in West Lafayette, losing all eight trips since joining the Big Ten. Not only that, but those eight defeats came at an average margin of 15.9 points per game. That includes a 73-55 loss last season and a 92-65 drubbing two years ago. The Boilermakers will inevitably go on some runs today, but it will be critical for NU to weather the storm and not let the game fall apart like it has in years past.

Quotable

“It’s fun to be offense, yeah, but if you want to win and have a chance when that thing’s not going in the hoop, you’d rather have a gritty, tough-minded team.”

Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to lean on its defensive identity better on the road.

Prediction

Purdue (-8.5) 79, Nebraska 68

Robin’s season record: 14-1

Vs. the spread: 8-7

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