Nebraska Hoops Game Day: Ohio State
Nebraska responded from a six-game losing streak to win its last three contests. Another critical matchup awaits today as Ohio State comes to Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ showdown with the Buckeyes this afternoon…
Who, What, Where, When
Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-8, 5-7 Big Ten) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (14-9, 6-6 Big Ten)
Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 – 1:00 p.m. CT
Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Internet/Streaming: Fox Sports App
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Nebraska projected starters
| Brice Williams | G | Sr. | 6-7/214 | He scored a team-high 23 points at Washington, his 11th 20-point effort this season. That made him one of six Huskers in the Big Ten era with at least 10 games with 20 points. |
| Sam Hoiberg | G | Jr. | 6-0/185 | He finished with seven points, four assists, and three steals in the win at Washington. He’s now averaging 1.3 spg while playing 21.3 minutes per game. |
| Juwan Gary | F | Sr. | 6-6/226 | He scored 14 of his 17 points during Nebraska’s second-half comeback at Washington. He also hauled in seven rebounds |
| Berke Buyuktuncel | F | So. | 6-10/244 | He’s led Nebraska in rebounds (nine and nine) and plus/minus rating (12 and 15) over the last two victories at Oregon and Washington. |
| Andrew Morgan | F | Sr. | 6-10/242 | He’s averaged 7.5 points on 67% shooting with 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists over the past four games since joining the starting lineup. |
Ohio State projected starters
| Bruce Thornton | G | Jr. | 6-2/215 | He leads Ohio State in scoring (17.7 ppg) and assists (4.3 apg) while hauling in 3.4 rebounds per contest this season. |
| John Mobley Jr. | G | Fr. | 6-1/175 | One of the top true freshmen in the Big Ten, he’s averaging 12.7 ppg and leads the Buckeyes with 53 made 3-pointers while shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc. |
| Micah Parrish | G | So. | 6-6/205 | A transfer from San Diego State who averages 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game this season. |
| Devin Royal | F | So. | 6-6/220 | He’s the Buckeyes’ second-leading scorer at 14.3 points per game and leads OSU with 7.5 rebounds per game. |
| Sean Stewart | F | So. | 6-9/220 | He averages 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and just under one blocked shot per game (0.8) on the year. |
3 keys to victory
Stay on the attack
Matching Ohio State’s aggressiveness and physicality on both ends of the floor will be paramount for Nebraska today. But while the Buckeyes play a bullying style, it’s led to some vulnerability at the free-throw line. No team in the Big Ten gets whistled than OSU, which comes in committing 20.1 fouls per game this season. As a result, opponents have scored a whopping 24.6% of their points against Ohio State at the charity stripe, the 10th-highest rate in the country. The Huskers are at their best when they attack the rim and create contact in the paint. As long as the officials call the fouls, NU could rack up points and control the game at the FT line.
Contain the perimeter
Defending the 3-point line has been Nebraska’s greatest defensive weakness all season, especially during its six-game losing streak. The Huskers had done a much better job in their wins over Illinois and Oregon. Then Washington made its first seven threes to open the game. Perimeter defense will always be a risk for NU’s pack line scheme, but it can compensate for that with elite effort on closeouts and rotations. Ohio State is more than capable of lighting it up from behind the arc, ranking third in the Big Ten at a 37.4% clip. Freshman John Mobley Jr. is one of the top shooters in the conference, making 53 threes on 40.2% shooting. When the Huskers keep teams in check from downtown, they have a chance against anyone. When they don’t, it generally ends in defeat.
Lock in on Thornton
Point guard Bruce Thornton is the head of the snake for Ohio State. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior sets the tone for everything the Buckeyes do. Not only is he a bulldog on both ends of the floor with his strength and physicality, but he’s also extremely efficient. Thornton ranks 33rd nationally with an offensive rating of 131.4, helping OSU rank 32nd in adjusted offensive efficiency. He’s always under control and rarely makes mistakes with the basketball. In his lone meeting vs. Nebraska last season, Thornton (11 points and four assists) scored or assisted on 20 of OSU’s 35 points in the first half. Head coach Fred Hoiberg switched out Keisei Tominaga for Sam Hoiberg to guard Thornton in the second half. Thornton scored just two points on two shots over the final 16 minutes and only had one assist the rest of the game. The Huskers won 83-69.
Quotable
“I think we saw exactly who we are as a team. When we get off to good starts, when we come out with that edge, we’re a pretty darn good basketball team.”
-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on what Nebraska had shown during its three-game winning streak.
Prediction
Nebraska (-1.5) 75, Ohio State 71
Robin’s season record: 18-5
Vs. the spread: 11-12
