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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: South Dakota

Robin Washut profile picby:Robin Washut•11/27/24•

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Andrew Morgan Nebraska basketball Creighton 2024-25
Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Andrew Morgan (23) dribbles around Creighton Bluejays center Fredrick King (33) during the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

On the heels of a massive road upset over instate rival Creighton, Nebraska hopes to keep things rolling tonight against South Dakota.

Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ home matchup with the Coyotes…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1, 0-0) vs. South Dakota (6-2, 0-0)

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 – 5:30 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: BTN

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: BTN+

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Nebraska projected starters

Rollie WorsterGSr.6-5/210Finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 turnover over 30 minutes of work in Nebraska’s upset victory at No. 14 Creighton.
Brice WilliamsGSr.6-7/214Posted a team-high 16 points at Creighton, reaching double figures for the ninth straight game. That matches the longest stretch of his career.
Juwan GaryFSr.6-6/226Tied for the team with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two steals to finish a team-high +11 at Creighton. He improved to 2-0 at CHI Health Center for his career.
Berke BuyuktuncelFSo.6-10/240Scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting with a team-high 9 rebounds in the win over Creighton. He reached double figures for the third consecutive game.
Braxton MeahFSr.7-1/264 Only played 11 minutes but hauled in 6 rebounds and helped hold CU All-American Ryan Kalkbrenner to just 4 points on 0-1 shooting.

South Dakota projected starters

Paul BrunsGSr.6-4/190Former North Dakota transfer. Averaging 10.0 points. 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 85% at the free throw line.
Kaleb StewartGSr.6-3/185Former transfer from Louisiana Tech who was named
Preseason All-Summit League. Averages 10.8 ppg and scored 22 in USD’s loss at Iowa.
Chase ForteGSr.6-4/190Previously played at UNC Asheville, Gulf Coast State, and Northwestern State. Averages 12.0 ppg and leads the team with 3.1 apg and 1.8 spg.
Max BurchillGSr.6-4/200Scoring 6.4 points and ranks second on the team with 2.4 assists per game. Shooting 41.2% on 3-pointers and 85.7 on free throws.
Cameron FensCJr.7-0/255Transfer from Illinois-Chicago. Averages 9.3 points on 64.6% shooting and leads USD in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.4 bpg).

3 keys to victory

Keep your foot on the gas

According to the KenPom projections, tonight ties for Nebraska’s best remaining opportunity at a win (along with Southern) with a 96% chance of victory. However, if the Huskers think they can show up to PBA and go through the motions, South Dakota could make things a bit uncomfortable. The last time NU upset Creighton in 2022, it followed with a 16-point loss to Indiana. Obviously, USD isn’t the Hoosiers, but the Coyotes are pesky enough to make life difficult if Nebraska isn’t ready to play. This is a game where all those veteran leaders must step up and ensure the Huskers have no emotional hangover.

Stay in control and execute

There’s a reason head coach Fred Hoiberg compared South Dakota’s style to what Nebraska saw in its season opener against Texas Rio Grande Valley. Like the Vaqueros, USD will present some unique challenges on both ends of the floor. The Coyotes are nearly the same threat on the perimeter, but they crash the offensive glass with all five players (and rank 12th nationally in average possession length at just 15.3 seconds. The Huskers must keep things under control on offense and not let South Dakota bait them into sloppy mistakes. Defensive rebounding will be a top priority, as will defending without fouling. The Yotes rank in the top 100 with a 38.2 free-throw rate (FTA divided by FGA).

Continue to get Essegian going

Nebraska did pretty much everything right in its win at Creighton. However, one of the more potentially notable developments was how it prioritized getting Connor Essegian more involved offensively. The transfer guard from Wisconsin had a modest impact through his first four games as a Husker. He only scored in double figures once while shooting 38% from the field and 35% on 3-pointers. However, Essegian was as active, assertive, and effective in Omaha as he’d been all year. That started with his off-ball movement. There were possessions where he never stopped moving and utilized multiple screens to get the ball. The next part was how Essegian didn’t just settle for 3-point looks. Of his six shots vs. the Bluejays, only two were threes. Keisei Tominaga did the same things to spark his breakout finish in 2022-23, and Essegian would be well served to follow a similar path.

Quotable

“If you’re satisfied, if you go out there and you have a little hangover from the Creighton game, it’s not gonna end well. We try to warn our guys and talk to our guys a lot about that these last couple games.”

-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on why Nebraska must turn the page from its win at Creighton and lock in on South Dakota.

Prediction

Nebraska (-18) 87, South Dakota 66

Robin’s season record: 4-1

Vs. the spread: 3-2

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