Nebraska Basketball Game Day: Ohio State
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN
Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-21, 2-16) at Ohio State Buckeyes (18-8, 11-6)
Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2022 - 6 p.m. CT
Value City Arena
TV: BTN
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Internet: FOX Sports App
| NAME | HT/WT | YEAR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alonzo Verge Jr. |
6-3/164 |
Sr. |
Had 15 points, a team-high five assists, and four rebounds in Nebraska's road win at Penn State. |
|
Trey McGowens |
6-4/196 |
Jr. |
Finished with season highs in both points (12) and steals (4) in the win over Penn State. |
|
Bryce McGowens |
6-7/179 |
Fr. |
Posted his 10th 20-point game of the season at PSU, tying the NU freshman record (10 by Joe McCray in 2004-05). |
|
Lat Mayen |
6-9/217 |
Jr. |
Scored a season-high 13 points at Penn State. It marked his second double-figure game of 2021-22. |
|
Derrick Walker |
6-9/239 |
Jr. |
Finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting while adding a team-high 7 rebounds and 4 assists at PSU. |
| NAME | HT/WT | YEAR | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jamari Wheeler |
6-1/170 |
Sr. |
Averaging 7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and a team-high 3.2 assists per game. Had 16 point and hit 4-of-5 3-pointers in OSU's win over Nebraska on Jan. 2. |
|
Malaki Branham |
6-5/180 |
Fr. |
Scoring 12.6 points per game and is shooting nearly 50% from the field. Scored 35 in the first meeting vs. Nebraska. |
|
Eugene Brown III |
6-6/195 |
So. |
Averages 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. |
|
Zed Key |
6-8/245 |
So. |
Averaging 8.3 points on 56.5% shooting and ranks second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game. |
|
E.J. Liddell |
6-7/240 |
Jr. |
Ranks 4th in the conference in scoring at 19.3 ppg while shooting |
3 KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Stay in rhythm
Nebraska is coming off arguably its best offensive performance of the Fred Hoiberg era last time out at Penn State.
The Huskers went crazy in State College, shooting 58% from the field and hitting 12 3-pointers at a 65% clip along with 14 assists.
Everything was working for NU on Sunday night, and it has to find a way to carry over at least some of that offensive rhythm into tonight.
A big part of Nebraska's success in that win was that it finally hit shots, but so many of those makes resulted from excellent ball movement and flow in the halfcourt.
The Huskers might not be able to replicate that unconscious shooting performance. Still, they proved they were capable of running a significantly more functional and competent offense than what we've seen much of this season.
2. Keep battling in the paint
Another reason why Nebraska was so successful against Penn State because it beat the Nittany Lions at their biggest strength.
Despite going up against one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Ten and the conference's second-leading rebounder in John Harrar, the Huskers ended up dominating the boards 34-22 overall and 10-6 on the offensive glass.
NU will face another daunting challenge in the paint tonight at Ohio State, so that effort from Sunday night must continue.
The Buckeyes boast a formidable frontcourt, led by former first-team all-conference forward E.J. Liddell. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound junior ranks fourth in the league with 19.3 points per game and leads OSU in rebounds (7.5) and blocks 2.5).
But Ohio State also features Zed Key (6-8, 245) and Kyle Young (6-8, 225), who combine to average 16.8 points and 10.4 rebounds.
3. Bryce bests Branham
The two frontrunners for Big Ten Freshman of the Year honor will go head-to-head for the second time this season when Nebraska's Bryce McGowens takes on Ohio State's Malaki Branham.
McGowens has been playing his best basketball of the season, and he currently leads all Big Ten freshmen in scoring (16.9 ppg) and ranks in the top three in both rebounds (5.3, 2nd) and assists (1.5, 3rd).
Branham might not have as impressive of overall numbers, but he's been as good as any freshman in the conference over the past couple of weeks.
The 6-5 guard is second on his team with 12.5 ppg and has averaged a whopping 23.3 points over the last four outings. That includes a 31-point performance at Illinois, which helped him win the latest Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Branham was the difference in the Buckeyes' 87-79 overtime win in Lincoln earlier this season, as he went off for a career-high 35 points with six made 3-pointers. McGowens scored a team-high 18, but it wasn't enough.
QUOTABLE
PREDICTION
Ohio State (-14.5) 78, Nebraska 67
Robin's season record: 21-8
vs. the spread: 15-14