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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: Bethune-Cookman

Robin Washut profile picby:Robin Washut•11/09/24•

RobinWashut

Gavin Griffiths Nebraska basketball
Nebraska guard Gavin Griffiths blocks a shot against Grand Valley State. (Photo: Nebraska Athletics)

Nebraska basketball will get another early non-conference test tonight when Bethune-Cookman comes to Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ showdown with the Wildcats…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0, 0-0) vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (0-1, 0-0)

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: None

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: B1G+

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Nebraska projected starters

Rollie WorsterGSr.6-5/210Finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and led NU with 4 steals and 3 assists in the opener vs. UTRGV.
Brice WilliamsGSr.6-7/214Led Nebraska with a game-high 27 points against UTRGV, five shy of his career high.
Juwan GaryFSr.6-6/226Posted 9 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal in the win over Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Berke BuyuktuncelFSo.6-10/240UCLA transfer made his first start as a Husker vs. UTRGV. Had 6 points, a career-high 6 boards, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
Braxton MeahFSr.7-1/264 Played just 10 minutes in his Nebraska debut vs. UTRGV. He did not score but had four rebounds and two assists.

Bethune-Cookman projected starters

Brayon FreemanGSr.6-2/180Transfer from George Washington/Rhode Island who averaged 14.3 ppg in 2022-23. Had 12 points and 3 assists vs. TTU.
Gianni HuntGSr.6-4/190Transfer from Cal State Northridge. Held scoreless over 26 minutes against Texas Tech.
Antwann JonesGSr.6-6/215Transfer from Creighton/UCF who scored 5 points in 6 minutes vs. Texas Tech before exiting the game due to an injury.
Reggie Ward Jr.FSr.6-6/230BCU’s top returner from last season (9.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg). He scored a team-high 15 points on 7-10 shooting with 7 rebounds vs. Texas Tech.
Daniel RouzanFJr.6-8/235Transfer from Manhattan (11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Finished with 6 points and a rebound over 13 minutes vs. TTU.

3 keys to victory

Finish on the glass

Head coach Fred Hoiberg held a “lengthy” film session with his team following the season opener vs. UTRGV. A heavy point of emphasis was rebounding, notably finishing defensive possessions on the glass. The Huskers were +10 on the boards in the opener, but they also allowed nine offensive rebounds to the Vaqueros for 15 second-chance points. Bethune-Cookman will present a much different offensive approach tonight. UTRGV lived behind the 3-point line, while the Wildcats rely heavily on an isolation/mid-range approach. If NU needs to limit BCU to one shot per possession and turn defensive rebounds into transition offense.

Control the pace

If there’s a hallmark of a Reggie Theus team, it’s that it thrives in pace and transition. Bethune-Cookman will slow things down if it has to, but if there’s a chance to get out and run, the Wildcats will take it. Hoiberg mentioned that Nebraska “got sped up” at times vs. UTRGV, which led to nine turnovers in the first half alone. The Huskers settled things down in the second half and allowed them to pull away eventually. They need to continue that control tonight and not let BCU dictate the pace. Take the fastbreak opportunities when they’re there, but don’t let tempo turn to sloppy possessions.

Find ‘a killer mentality’

After struggling to put Texas Rio Grande Valley away in the first half, Nebraska eventually jumped out to a 15-point lead with 15 minutes left to play. Rather than slam the door on the victory, NU let the Vaqueros hang around. Seven minutes of play later, that lead was down to four. The Huskers finally put the game out of reach and won by 20, but they made it much more uncomfortable than needed. Hoiberg challenged his team this week to develop a “killer mentality.” If Nebraska takes another 15-point lead in the second half tonight, Hoiberg wants his team to push it up to 25 or 30 and never look back.

Quotable

“The other thing is developing a killer mentality and finding a way when you get up 15 to hopefully push that thing up to 25 or 30 and not letting it get down within five, and that’s what happened (vs. UTRGV). Adversity, I thought we handled it pretty well for the most part.” 

-Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg on his team needing to finish games better than it did against UTRGV.

Prediction

Nebraska (-25) 86, Bethune-Cookman 60

Robin’s season record: 1-0

Vs. the spread: 1-0

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