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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: Creighton

Robin Washut profile picby: Robin Washut12/07/25RobinWashut

Off to its best start in nearly 50 years, Nebraska now faces its final marquee non-conference test with today’s annual in-state rivalry game vs. Creighton.

Here is what you need to know going into the game and what the Huskers must do to beat the Bluejays for the third time in four meetings…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-0) vs. Creighton Bluejays (5-3)

Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 – 4:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: FS1

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: FOX Sports Live

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Nebraska projected starters

Jamarques LawrenceGSr.6-3/185Battling foul trouble and an illness, Lawrence managed just 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists over 23 minutes in the win over USC Upstate.
Sam HoibergGSr.6-0/180Hoiberg leads the team with 2.1 steals and 3.9 assists per game this season. That includes a 4.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio while ranking second in the Big Ten in steals per game.
Pryce SandfortGJr.6-7/210The Iowa transfer is averaging 16.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg with a team-high 23 made 3-pointers at a 37% clip. He also owns a 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season.
Berke BuyuktuncelFJr.6-10/240After missing the Winthrop win due to injury, Buyuktuncel returned vs. USC Upstate and posted 4 points, 7 rebounds (3 offensive), and a team-high 2 blocked shots.
Rienk MastFSr.6-10/250 Averaging a career-best 17.9 ppg on 55% shooting (43% on 3-pointers), Mast is one of 23 players nationally with at least 15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg.

Creighton projected starters

Nik GravesGSr.6-2/190A transfer from Charlotte, Graves leads Creighton with 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 turnovers per game. He’s also averaging 9.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest.
Blake HarperGSo.6-7/220A transfer from Howard, Harper is second on the team with 10.9 ppg on 45.9% shooting from the field. He also leads CU with 6.0 rebounds along with 2.0 assists per game.
Josh DixGSr.6-6/205The Iowa transfer leads Creighton with 12.0 ppg while hitting a team-high 15 threes at a 34% clip this season. He’s also second on the team with 3.4 apg.
Jasen GreenFJr.6-8/235The former Millard North standout ranks third on the team with 10.3 ppg on 53.3% shooting from the field. That includes 16 made 3-pointers (44.4%) with 3.9 rpg and 2.7 apg.
Owen FreemanFJr.6-10/240Another Iowa transfer, Freeman averages 10.1 points on 71.2% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, and a team-high 1.0 blocks per game this season.

3 keys to victory

Make the crowd an X-factor

One of the most disappointing trends during Nebraska’s otherwise impressive 8-0 start has been its slow starts at home. For whatever reason, it’s taken the Huskers far too long to get things rolling at Pinnacle Bank Arena this season. They can’t afford to do that again against an opponent of Creighton’s caliber. Beyond not falling into another early deficit, NU must do all it can to get and keep its sold-out crowd rocking from start to finish. PBA can be one of the most daunting home-court advantages in college basketball, especially in an emotionally charged rivalry. Nebraska has to come out firing and make an electric home crowd an X-factor.

Set the tone on both ends

Unlike the previous few meetings, Nebraska might actually be the team that wants to push the pace more than Creighton today. The Bluejays come in ranked just 271st in adjusted offensive tempo (67.0) and 227th in average possession length (17.7). The Huskers are 67th (71.0) and 49th (15.6), respectively. That means the more NU can get out and run, the better. On the other end of the floor, Nebraska needs to pressure a turnover-prone CU squad on and off the ball. Creighton ranks 245th in offensive steal percentage (10.6) and just 322nd in defensive turnover percentage (14.5). That means the Jays can give the ball away under pressure and don’t force many takeaways on defense. If the Huskers push the tempo on offense and fluster Creighton on defense, it could set the tone for the entire game.

Free throws could be the difference

Capitalizing at the free-throw line has not been a strength for Nebraska this season. The Huskers are shooting 72.4% from the stripe (169th), which is respectable, but they own just a 30.5 FT rate (284th). As it turns out, that area has been an even bigger problem for Creighton. While the Bluejays are hitting a solid 74%, their free-throw rate (26.1) ranks 335th out of 365 D1 teams. In a game featuring two teams who are excellent at defending without fouling, whoever draws more whistles and gets to the charity stripe the most could have a significant advantage.

Quotable

“With a game like this, we better be ready. We got smacked in the face here a couple years ago in this building, and it wasn’t pretty.”

-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to be locked in from start to finish to avoid a repeat of its lopsided 2023-24 home loss to Creighton.

Prediction

Nebraska (-4.5) 82, Creighton 78

Robin’s season record: 8-0

Vs. the spread: 7-1

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