Hoops Gameday: Nebraska vs. Iowa

NAME	HT/WT	YEAR	NOTES

Glynn Watson	6-0/174	Jr.	Scored 10 points with four rebonds and three assists in Nebraska's win at Rutgers
Anton Gill	6-3/185	Sr.	Has shot just 7-of-22 from the field since joining the starting lineup, including going scoreless on 0-3 shooting at Rutgers
James Palmer	6-6/210	Jr.	Averaging 23.7 points over the past four games since being benched for the second half and OT at Penn State
Isaac Copeland	6-9/221	Jr.	Led Nebraska with 23 points and seven rebounds in win over Rutgers
Isaiah Roby	6-8/225	So.	Posted eight points (was 6-of-8 from the FT line), eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assists at Rutgers

Iowa projected starters

NAME	HT/WT	YEAR	NOTES

Jordan Bohannon	6-0/180	So.	Averaging 13.3 points and a team-high 5.1 assists per game
Isaiah Moss	6-5/205	So.	Averaging 11.4 points 2.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game
Nicholas Baer	6-7/210	Jr.	Scoring 6.4 points with 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game
Tyler Cook	6-9/255	So.	Leads team with 14.6 points per game along with 6.5 rebounds per game
Luka Garza	6-11/235	Fr.	Averages 11.2 ppg and a team-high 6.8 rpg. Had 17 points and 16 rebounds in win over Wisconsin

3 KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Don't give Iowa second chances

Nebraska has been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the country all season, and that was as apparent as ever in its win at Rutgers on Wednesday night. The Scarlet Knights hauled in a staggering 20 offensive rebounds on 43 missed shots, and while it only resulted in a 14-10 edge in second-chance points, the Huskers gave up far too many extra possessions in a very close game. Iowa is another team that thrives on the offensive glass, ranking 25th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (35.0). Nebraska cannot allow the Hawkeyes to get multiple shots per possession, because if there's one thing UI does well, it's capitalizing at the rim.

2. Dictate the pace

It's no secret that Nebraska is at its best when it pushes the tempo and creates its offensive through transition. Iowa, on the other hand, is a team that is going to try to slow things down and control the pace as much as possible. With an extremely limited backcourt rotation, the last thing the Hawkeyes want to do is get out and run all night. That's why NU's guards need to turn up the pressure and create turnovers, as Iowa ranks 286th nationally in offensive steal percentage (9.9). The fewer opportunities the Hawkeyes have to set up their offense in the halfcourt and dump the ball into their bigs, the better it will be for Nebraska.

3. Feed off the PBA energy

Nebraska is going through a brutal stretch of its schedule where it has to play four games in a span of just eight days, including three road contests. The Huskers just got back to Lincoln late Wednesday night after spending the previous three days on the road at Ohio State and Rutgers. There's no way that type of grind won't take some sort of physical toll on NU's players, which makes the energy of Pinnacle Bank Arena one of the biggest X-factors of all tonight. Nebraska needs its crowd to be dialed in from the opening tip to provide the adrenaline boost the Huskers need to overcome their tired legs.

QUOTABLE

"I'll tell you his grin from ear to ear in the locker room tells me his confidence is doing okay right now. He made some really tough plays, the charge he took late and then that layup right before that. Those were big-time plays, and plays that we needed. I hope Glynn can build off that because those are winning plays. You don't win without them."

Head coach Tim Miles on the importance of Glynn Watson's bounce-back game at Rutgers after going through a recent slump

PREDICTION

Nebraska 80-74

Robin's season record: 19-4

vs. the spread: 13-10

FUTURECAST

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