NU keeping season in perspective after big road win

Monday night’s 66-51 road upset over No. 25 Indiana was significant for Nebraska in a multitude of ways, but even before the Huskers boarded their plane back to Lincoln, the game had already been put into perspective.

Now at 13-4 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten Conference play, NU picked up a critical league road win over a top-25 opponent that will almost certainly count as a coveted Quadrant 1 victory, something head coach Tim Miles’ crew glaringly lacked during last season’s NCAA Tournament omission.

Including the win at Clemson back in November, a neutral-site victory over Oklahoma State, and then beating Creighton and Seton Hall at home, the Huskers now own two Quad 1 and three Quad 2 wins in their first 17 games.

Last year they had only won Quad 1 win (Michigan) and two in Quad 2 (Maryland, at Wisconsin) all season.

But with 14 more Big Ten games still to play, including No. 6 Michigan State coming to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Thursday night, Nebraska is well aware that plenty of work remains to be done.

“They were happy; maybe relieved, so to speak, to get a road win after being so close a couple other times,” Miles told reporters of the mood in the locker room after the game. “I don’t care who you are – when you’ve been there and thought you were in control and ready to win, and it doesn’t happen, and then it doesn’t happen again, that kind of gets on you.

“So to be able to keep Indiana at arm’s length and win in this environment, one of the best environments in the country, and be able to win against a high-quality, well-coached team is really a feather in our cap.”

Per KenPom.com, Nebraska is projected as only a two-point underdog vs. the Spartans, who have won 18-straight Big Ten games dating back to last year while NU has claimed 20 home victories in a row.

After that, the Huskers are picked to win nine of their next 10 games, with the next predicted loss coming on the road at Purdue – another two-point spread with Nebraska having a 42-percent chance of victory.

In a year where the Big Ten is expected to get eight or more NCAA Tournament bids and with what NU has already accomplished thus far, a run like that alone would make NU a lock for the Big Dance and potentially a top-five seed.

“Last year we didn’t get a lot of respect, but I think this year we’re going to have a lot more respect come March,” senior forward Isaac Copeland told reports after Monday’s win.

First thing’s first, though, and that’s finding a way to deal with a Michigan State team that comes in at 15-2 and a perfect 6-0 in the league.

“I started watching Michigan State, turned it off and turned on The Shining just to make myself feel better…” Miles joked. “The one thing about playing Coach (Tom) Izzo’s teams at Michigan State is you always learn about yourself. They make you better every time you play them, so regardless, I know that we’re going to come out on Friday and be a better basketball team…

“I feel great about this win, but it only counts as one. Hopefully the guys are confident and ready to go, but Michigan State’s is its own beast.”