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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: Oklahoma

Robin Washut profile picby: Robin Washut24 hours agoRobinWashut
Jamarques Lawrence Nebraska basketball
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Jamarques Lawrence (10) drives against the West Georgia Wolves during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska is off to a 3-0 start, but after three buy-game warmups, its first big test of the season awaits tonight in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Here is what you need to know going into the Huskers’ showdown with former conference foe Oklahoma at the Sanford Pentagon…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (2-1)

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. CT

Sanford Pentagon (3,250)

TV: BTN

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: FOX Sports App

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Nebraska projected starters

Jamarques LawrenceGSr.6-3/185He only played 18 minutes in the win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, finishing with 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
Sam HoibergGSr.6-0/180He set career highs with 18 points, 7 boards, and 4 steals with 4 assists vs. UMES. Hoiberg leads NU in assists and steals per game while posting a 6.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Pryce SandfortGJr.6-7/210After going 0-for-5 for 3 points in Nebraska’s season opener, he’s averaged 19.5 points on 62.5% shooting over the past two games.
Berke BuyuktuncelFSo.6-10/240He scored 8 points on just 2-of-8 shooting in the win over UMES, but he also hauled in 6 rebounds and matched his career-high with 3 blocked shots.
Rienk MastFSr.6-10/250 He only played 18 minutes and scored 6 points against Maryland-Eastern Shore. However, he still posted Nebraska’s top plus/minus rating at +23 in the win.

Oklahoma projected starters

Xzayvier BrownGJr.6-2/182A former first-team All-Atlantic-10 transfer from St. Joseph’s, he leads Oklahoma in scoring at 18.7 ppg on 54% shooting and assists (3.3 apg).
Nijel PackGSr.5-10/188A transfer from Miami and then Kansas State, he ranks second on the team at 16.3 ppg. He’s shooting 44% on 3-pointers this season, including hitting 5-of-7 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Derrion ReidFSo.6-8/226He averages 10.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. That includes scoring 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Tae DavisFSr.6-9/215He’s averaging a double-double this season with 11.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, along with dishing out 2.7 apg. He had 11 defensive rebounds vs. APBU.
Mohamed WagueF/CSr.6-10/225He averages 8.0 points on 56% shooting while ranking second on the team with 7.7 rebounds per game. His 2.0 blocks per game tie for third in the SEC.

3 keys to victory

Come out firing

Nebraska has been able to work through some slow offensive starts against lower competition by leaning on its defense until its shots start falling. Oklahoma, which comes in averaging 88.3 points per game on 49% shooting, won’t allow much opportunity to ease into things tonight. The Huskers are a different team when their offense clicks from the jump, with the BYU and Florida International games serving as prime examples. It won’t simply be a matter of making 3-pointers, either. NU must get the ball into the paint as much as possible for high-percentage shots or kick-outs for open and in-rhythm threes.

Crash the glass

Oklahoma’s roster is loaded with length and athleticism, including a backcourt full of physical guards who aren’t afraid to battle on the boards. Not only do the Sooners score in bunches, but they also create multiple second-chance opportunities through offensive rebounds. OU currently ranks 53rd nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 38.3%. Wing Tae Davis is at the forefront of that discussion. The 6-foot-8 senior leads the team and ranks 33rd nationally with 10.3 rpg and 23rd with a 21.4% offensive rebounding rate. Nebraska, especially its guards, must be ready to box out and finish defensive possessions after every shot.

Get Essegian going

Following his 0-for-5 shooting debut in the season opener, Pryce Sandfort has been one of Nebraska’s top scorers the last two outings with 19.5 ppg. If the Huskers could get fellow sharpshooter Connor Essegian going at a similar clip, their offense could be dangerous. The senior guard is coming off his own 0-fer performance last time out vs. UMES, missing all five of his shots in the win. He’s shooting just 26.7% (4-of-15) from behind the arc through the first three games. Essegian finished last season at 37.7% from deep while hitting a team-high 78 threes, which tied for the sixth-most in school history. Tonight would be a perfect spot for him to find his groove again.

Quotable

“The mindset of going out there and everything we do has to be with pace and purpose… We’ve done that in all three games where we’ve had really good stretches. It just has to be the consistent 40-minute game that we need to play on both ends.”

-Head coach Fred Hoiberg on Nebraska needing to lock in on offense from start to finish.

Prediction

Nebraska (-2.5) 83, Oklahoma 79

Robin’s season record: 3-0

Vs. the spread: 3-0

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