Nebraska Basketball Game Day: Iowa
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN
Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-20, 1-15) vs Iowa Hawkeyes (19-8, 9-7)
Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 - 8 p.m. CT
Pinnacle Bank Arena
TV: FS1
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Internet: FOX Sports App
| NAME | HT/WT | YEAR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alonzo Verge Jr. |
6-3/164 |
Sr. |
Finished with 15 points and tied his season-high with four steals in the loss at Northwestern. |
|
Trey McGowens |
6-4/196 |
Jr. |
Had 8 points and 2 steals while going 2-for-3 from behind the arc against Northwestern. |
|
Bryce McGowens |
6-7/179 |
Fr. |
Became NU’s all-time freshman scoring leader with 452 points, passing Dave Hoppen’s school record of 445 set in 1982-83 |
|
Lat Mayen |
6-9/217 |
Jr. |
Posted 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting but posted a team-low plus/minus of -21 in 23 minutes at Northwestern. |
|
Derrick Walker |
6-9/239 |
Jr. |
Scored just 2 points but hauled in 10 rebounds and dished out a season-high 5 assists in the loss to Northwestern. |
| NAME | HT/WT | YEAR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jordan Bohannon |
6-1/175 |
Sr. |
Averages 10.7 points per game and has hit a team-high 66 3-pointers. |
|
Tony Perkins |
6-4/210 |
So. |
Has started the past six games. Averaging 6.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. |
|
Patrick McCaffery |
6-9/200 |
So. |
Team's second-leading scorer at 10.8 points per game while adding 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. |
|
Keegan Murray |
6-8/225 |
So. |
Potential Big Ten Player of the Year who went off for 37 points on 15-of-21 shooting against Nebraska. Leads the Big Ten and ranks 4th nationally with 23.5 ppg. |
|
Filip Rebraca |
6-9/230 |
Sr. |
Former North Dakota transfer who averages 6.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and shoots 56.1% from the floor. |
3 KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Control the pace
The last time Nebraska took on Iowa earlier this month in Iowa City, it fell right into the Hawkeyes' trap of trying to keep up with them in a track meet.
Iowa used a huge first-half run to break the game open, and rather than slowing things down to get the game under control, the Huskers tried to push the pace even faster.
Seeing how the Hawkeyes are one of the best transition teams in college basketball, that decision proved to be an unwise strategy.
Nebraska cannot expect to run with Iowa for 40 minutes and have any chance at winning tonight. While NU wants to play an up-tempo style, it's simply not good enough to beat UI at its own game.
Slow things down, be deliberate with your half-court offense and make the Hawkeyes work for every basket.
2. Play some defense
Nebraska already walks such a fine line in being able to compete right now. The last thing it can afford is to play with half-hearted effort on defense.
Missing shots is one thing, but if the Huskers continue defending as lazily as they have the past few games, they won't stand a chance against anyone.
NU's slow perimeter rotations and close-outs on shooters allowed Northwestern to knock down 13 3-pointers on Tuesday night for the second time this season.
Iowa is the top-scoring team in the Big Ten at 83.6 points per game and averages nearly nine made 3-pointers a contest.
If the Huskers don't play with maximum defensive effort and intensity from start to finish tonight, this one will likely go about as well as the first meeting in Iowa City.
3. Fight for the fans
Nebraska fans have been through a lot over the past two decades. But there has never been a three-year run quite as bad as this.
The Huskers officially recorded their third-straight 20-loss season on Tuesday night. Before that streak, NU had never lost 20 games in program history.
For as dismal as things have been, though, Husker fans - while maybe not in nearly as great of numbers - continue to show up to Pinnacle Bank Arena to support their team.
Everyone involved with the team - from coaches to players - has been blessed with some of the best fan support imaginable, considering the current product on the court.
Tonight is the last Nebraska men's basketball home game until November. It's highly unlikely NU will win, but it's just as important for the Huskers to give their fans something to be proud about.
Losing games is nothing new with Nebraska basketball, but getting embarrassed by conference rivals on your home floor is an entirely different animal.
Husker fans deserve a team that plays as if it cares as much as they do.
QUOTABLE
PREDICTION
Iowa (-11.5) 91, Nebraska 78
Robin's season record: 20-7
vs. the spread: 15-12