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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: vs. Michigan

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

RobinWashut

Andrew Morgan Nebraska basketball Creighton 2024-25
Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Andrew Morgan (23) looks to pass the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) defends during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Nebraska 89-72. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

After splitting a two-game road trip at Northwestern and Penn State, Nebraska returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena for a showdown vs. No. 12 Michigan.

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

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-10, 7-9 Big Ten) vs. Michigan Wolverines (20-6, 12-3 Big Ten)

Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: FS1

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: Fox Sports App

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Nebraska projected starters

Brice WilliamsGSr.6-7/214He has 14 games with 20 points or more this season, trailing only James Palmer Jr. (18 in 2018-19) for the most in program history. He needs 22 points to reach 1,000 as a Husker.
Sam HoibergGJr.6-0/185He missed his only shot and went scoreless with one assist, one steal, and four turnovers over 13 minutes at Penn State.
Rollie WorsterGSr.6-5/210He finished with six points, three rebounds, two assists, and three turnovers at Penn State to post a team-low plus/minus rating of -23.
Juwan GaryFSr.6-6/226He scored six points on just 1-of-7 shooting with three assists and three steals in Nebraska’s loss to Penn State. That marked his lowest-scoring output in seven games.
Andrew MorganFSr.6-10/242Early foul trouble limited him to just 16 minutes at Penn State, but he still scored a season-high 18 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the field.

Michigan projected starters

Tre DonaldsonGJr.6-3/195A transfer from Auburn who averages 12.3 points and a team-high 3.9 assists per game. He also shoots 40% from 3-point range.
Nimari BurnettGSr.6-5/200The lone returning starter from last season, he averages
Roddy Gayle Jr.GJr.6-5/205A transfer from Ohio State who averages 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game this season.
Danny WolfF/CJr.7-0/250A transfer from Yale who averages 12.8 points and leads the Big Ten with 9.9 rebounds per game. He also dishes out 3.5 assists per game.
Vladislav GoldinCSr.7-1/250A transfer from Florida Atlantic who leads Michigan with 15.9 points per game while shooting 64 percent from the field.

3 keys to victory

Be ready to play

Nebraska split its two-game road trip at Northwestern and Penn State, but both games couldn’t have gotten off to much worse starts. The Huskers fell behind by 20 points in both contests. They managed to battle back from down 20 in Evanston but dug a 26-point hole too deep to overcome in State College. If NU sleepwalks through the first 20 minutes again tonight, you might as well chalk this one up as another lopsided loss. Want some staggering numbers? Nebraska is -46 on the season at the first media timeout and -60 at the second media timeout. The Wolverines average over 80 points per game and shoot better than 48 percent as a team. For Nebraska to pull off the upset, it must lock in from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

Try to contain Wolf

Fred Hoiberg is always complimentary of all of Nebraska’s opponents, but listening to him talk about Michigan’s Danny Wolf on Saturday felt a bit different. At 7 feet, 250 pounds, Wolf is, as Hoiberg described, a basketball “unicorn.” The Yale transfer blends his formidable size with elite skill, athleticism, and on-court IQ. One of the frontrunners for Big Ten Player of the Year, Wolf averages 12.8 points and leads the conference with 9.9 rebounds per game. He’s also second on his team at 3.5 assists and ranks third in the Big Ten at 1.5 blocks per game. In other words, Wolf does it all for the Wolverines. The Huskers don’t have one player who can stop him, so it will take a committee effort to keep him in check.

Get Berke going again

The most significant key for Nebraska to match up with Wolf and the rest of Michigan’s talented lineup is getting Berke Buyuktuncel back on the floor. The 6-foot-10 forward has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle, but Hoiberg said he was close to rejoining the Huskers tonight. During his recent absence, we saw how critical Buyuktuncel is to NU’s success. Northwestern hauled in a whopping 23 offensive rebounds, while Penn State racked up 52 points in the paint. Buyuktuncel is the one player on Nebraska’s roster with the size and mobility to stick with Wolf. He remains a game-time decision, but the sophomore should be a fixture in Nebraska’s rotation tonight if he can go.

Quotable

“We’re a quiet group, man. We’re a quiet group and we’ve got we’ve got find a way to come out with our hair on fire, talking, foaming at the mouth, make and effort play early… That’s what it takes early. You’ve got to se the tone. If you don’t, teams get comfortable on you and things happen like they did the other night at Penn State.”

-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to bring more energy and get off to faster starts.

Prediction

Michigan (-1.5) 76, Nebraska 72

Robin’s season record: 20-7

Vs. the spread: 12-15

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