Nebraska Basketball Game Day: No. 14 Indiana
Here is what you need to know going into Nebraska’s Big Ten Conference opener at No. 14 Indiana tonight in Bloomington…
Who, What, Where, When
Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-3, 0-0) at Indiana Hoosiers (7-1, 0-1)
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 – 7:30 p.m. CT
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)
TV: BTN
Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Internet: FOX Sports App
Nebraska projected starters
| Sam Griesel | G | Sr. | 6-7/216 | Had 18 points, season-high 12 boards, and 7 assists vs. Creighton. |
| Emmanuel Bandoumel | G | Sr. | 6-4/187 | Posted 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in the win over Creighton. |
| C.J. Wilcher | G | So. | 6-5/208 | Held to 2 points on 1-7 shooting (0-5 on 3-pointers) vs. Creighton. |
| Juwan Gary | F | Jr. | 6-6/215 | Scored 12 points on 5-5 shooting with 9 rebounds against CU. |
| Derrick Walker | F | Sr. | 6-9/245 | Averaged 17.3 ppg (76% FG), 8.6 rpg, and 2.0 apg in last 3 games. |
Indiana projected starters
| Xavier Johnson | G | Sr. | 6-3/200 | Former Nebraska signee. Averages 11.8 ppg and a team-high 4.6 apg. |
| Jalen Hood-Schifino | G | Fr. | 6-6/213 | Former top-25 recruit averaging 8.7 ppg and 4.1 apg as a freshman. |
| Miller Kopp | F | Sr. | 6-7/215 | Scored a team-high 21 points, including five 3-pointers, vs. Rutgers. |
| Race Thompson | F | Sr. | 6-8/235 | Averaging 6.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. |
| Trayce Jackson-Davis | F | Sr. | 6-9/245 | Preseason Big Ten POY. Averages 18.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and 1.9 bpg. |
Turn the page
Nebraska pulled off the most significant win of the Fred Hoiberg era three days ago. But as much as the Huskers would like to celebrate their upset win over then-No. 7 Creighton, there is no time to be fat and happy. Tonight marks the start of a 20-game Big Ten grind against an Indiana team widely picked as the league’s preseason favorite. After that? A Saturday home game against No. 4 Purdue. There is no rest for the weary on NU’s 2022-23 schedule, and it needs to put the rivalry win over the Bluejays in the rearview and focus on the next daunting task at hand.
Control the boards
There might not be a more drastic improvement this season for Nebraska than its rebounding. After being one of the worst rebounding teams in the country the past few years, the Huskers have won the boards in eight of their first nine games. They currently rank sixth in the Big Ten and 71st nationally in rebounding margin (+5.6) after finishing 344th in 2021-22. However, Indiana is as good in that department as any opponent NU will face this season. Nebraska cannot allow IU, which shoots 52.1% as a team, to rack up second-chance opportunities. On the other end, offensive rebounds will be critical against an Indiana defense holding opponents to 36.4% from the field.
Contain Trayce Jackson-Davis
Indiana was voted the best team in the Big Ten coming into the season, and senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis was tabbed the league’s best player. A consensus second-team all-conference selection last year, Jackson-Davis is having an All-American level campaign, averaging 18.3 points on 68% shooting, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound senior has been especially dominant against Nebraska. In six career games vs. the Huskers, Jackson-Davis has averaged 17.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. For NU to have a chance, it must keep him from taking the game over.
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Quotable
“That’s what this game is going to be all about, is toughness. That’s what Indiana does. That’s what they hang their hat on. They’re a very good rebounding team, very physical, and they really get up and underneath you defensively and they have great length. So it’s going to be a tough challenge… It’s a great opportunity for our team, and we’ll see what we’re made of.”
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg on the importance of Nebraska matching Indiana’s physicality tonight.
Prediction
Indiana (-13.5) 68, Nebraska 60
Robin’s overall season record: 6-3
Robin’s record vs. the spread: 5-4
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