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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: Boise State

Robin Washut profile picby:Robin Washut•04/05/25•

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Nebraska basketball College Basketball Crown
Nebraska's players walk onto the court during their win over Georgetown at the College Basketball Crown. (Photo: College Basketball Crown)

Nebraska’s run in the College Basketball Crown continues in today’s semifinal matchup against Boise State.

Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ first-ever showdown with the Broncos in Las Vegas…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-14, 7-13 Big Ten) vs. Boise State Broncos (26-10, 14-6 MWC)

Saturday, April 5, 2025 – 12:30 p.m. CT

T-Mobile Arena (20,000)

TV: FOX

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: FOX Sports App

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Nebraska projected starters

Brice WilliamsGSr.6-7/214He scored a game-high 28 points in Nebraska’s quarterfinal win over Georgetown. He’s averaging 29.0 ppg on 53%
shooting while hitting 47 % from 3-point range in Las Vegas.
Sam HoibergGJr.6-0/185He’s averaged 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game during Nebraska’s two wins at the College Basketball Crown.
Juwan GaryG/FSr.6-6/226He recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds against Georgetown. He’s averaged 17.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, and 2.0 spg at the College Basketball Crown.
Cale JacobsenGSo.6-4/190The walk-on made his first career start against Georgetown. He racked up seven points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks over a career-high 36 minutes.
Berke BuyuktuncelFSo.6-10/240He finished with two points and six boards over 20 minutes in the win over Georgetown. He’s started the last six games since returning from an ankle injury.

Boise State projected starters

Alvaro CardenasGSr.6-1/182With 618 career assists, he has totaled the third-most assists in Mountain West history. He averages 6.9 assists per game on the season.
Andrew MeadowFSo.6-7/218He’s averaged 14.5 ppg through two games at the College Basketball Crown. He now has scored 161 points with three 20-point efforts over the last 10 contests.
Pearson CarmichaelFFr.6-7/208The freshman scored 15 points and swiped a game-high six steals in the win over George Washington. That tied for the school’s single-game steals record.
O’Mar StanleyFSr.6-8/240He’s totaled 665 points, 385 rebounds, and 65 blocks over the past two seasons. He’s one of just three MWC players to eclipse 600/300/60 over the past decade.
Tyson DegenhartFSr.6-8/235With 21 points in the win over Butler, he eclipsed 2,000 for his career points. The first-team All-MWC pick is just the ninth Mountain West conference player to accomplish the feat.

3 keys to victory

All hands on deck

As Fred Hoiberg and his staff scouted Boise State, it was difficult to pinpoint the next priority after Tyson Degenhart. The Broncos’ do-it-all senior forward was the Mountain West Conference Preseason Player of the Year, averaging 18.1 points per game this season. The issue for the Huskers is that it’s pretty much a crapshoot from there. Six BSU players averaged at least 6.6 ppg this year, and any of them could go off for career nights. For example, sixth man Javan Buchanan scored a game-high 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting in Wednesday night’s quarterfinal win over Butler. This is a game where Nebraska can’t afford to hope Brice Williams and Juwan Gary carry all of the load and expect to win. The Huskers need everyone to contribute, just like they did last time out against Georgetown.

Be ready to defend everything

When Hoiberg compares another team’s offensive playbook to Purdue’s, it’s about as high of praise as you’ll hear from him. Like Matt Painter and the Boilermakers, Boise State’s offense will throw some of everything at the Huskers. Not only have the Broncos scored 189 points over their two games in Las Vegas, but they’ve done so in a multitude of ways. Hoiberg said BSU rans 56 different sets in their 74 total possessions against Butler in the quarterfinals. That led to 100 points and hitting 11-of-24 from 3-point range. Hoiberg added that Boise State reminded him physically of what NU saw earlier this season against St. Mary’s. In other words, the two comparisons Hoiberg had for the Broncos came from Husker losses. Nebraska better be dialed in defensively from the jump.

Fight on the glass

Boise State’s roster and playing style are defined by physicality. They might not be the biggest lineup, but the Broncos are strong, athletic, and aggressive at every position. That’s a significant reason why BSU has been one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Boise State owns a +7.7 rebounding margin this season, which tops the Mountain West Conference and ranks 10th nationally. Degenhart led the way with 6.1 rpg during the regular season, including a team-high 2.0 offensive boards per game. That helped the Broncos rank 89th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (39.2) and second in allowed offensive rebounding percentage (22.2).

Quotable

“I think it speaks to the character of our guys that everybody has stuck with it. We’ll see what happens. Once our run is over, anything can happen with a college basketball roster. But I’m happy and proud of these guys for the way that it’s gone down and to get a couple more wins under our belt in the opportunity to continue to compete.”

-Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg on his team making the most of its postseason run in the College Basketball Crown.

Prediction

Boise State 74 (-1.5), Nebraska 71

Robin’s season record: 24-9

Vs. the spread: 16-17

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