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Nebraska Hoops Game Day: USC Upstate

Robin Washut profile picby: Robin Washut15 hours agoRobinWashut

Nebraska improved its stellar start to the season with a hard-fought home win over Winthrop. Now, the Huskers must lock in again for another buy-game test today against South Carolina Upstate.

Here is what you need to know going into the game and what NU must do to move to 8-0 on the year…

Who, What, Where, When

Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-0) vs. USC Upstate Spartans (4-4)

Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 – 1:00 p.m. CT

Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,500)

TV: BTN+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network

Internet/Streaming: BTN+

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Nebraska projected starters

Jamarques LawrenceGSr.6-3/185He had 5 points, 4 assists, and only 1 turnover over 26 minutes vs. Winthrop. He’s averaging 9.7 ppg and a career-high 3.9 apg while shooting 48% from 3-point range.
Sam HoibergGSr.6-0/180After his 2 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals vs. Winthrop, he leads the team with 2.4 spg and 4.3 apg and is third with 5.6 rpg. He owns a 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Pryce SandfortGJr.6-7/210Even after shooting just 4-13 for 10 points vs. Winthrop, he’s
averaging 17.7 ppg on 58% shooting with 5.0 rpg and 2.8 apg over the past six games. 
Braden FragerG/FRFr.6-7/215The Lincoln native made his first-career start vs. Winthrop with Berke Buyuktuncel (ankle) out. He finished with 11 points on 4-13 shooting with 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
Rienk MastFSr.6-10/250 He scored a season-high 31 points on 7-of-10 shooting from three. He leads NU in scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg) while averaging 3.5 assists per game.

USC Upstate projected starters

Karmani GregoryGJr.6-1/175He ranks second on the team with 15.4 points per game this season while adding 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
Carmelo AdkinsGSo.6-4/185USC Upstate’s leading scorer at 15.4 pgg, he made his first start of the season last time out. He’s shooting 48% from three and makes more than 3.0 per game.
Mason BendingerGJr.6-4/210He comes in scoring 13.8 points while averaging 2.4 rebounds and a team-high 2.5 assists per game on the year.
Nic BookFSo.6-8/216He’s averaging only 5.3 points per game but is shooting a blistering 81.3% from the field this season.
Coen CollierCJr.7-1/226The junior college transfer is averaging 2.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a team-high 1.0 blocks per game.

3 keys to victory

Start fast

Nebraska is 7-0 this season because of how well it’s finished games. The issue, though, is that the Huskers have often been slow out of the gates, especially at home. With students on fall break and a matchup KenPom gives NU a 99% chance of victory, this game will be all about bringing your own energy. A fast start would go a long way toward making Nebraska’s post-Thanksgiving tune-up unnecessarily stressful. Don’t wait until halftime to kick things into gear.

Empty the bench

Not only would a hot start help Nebraska cruise to an expected lopsided victory, but it would also keep its top players from playing extended minutes. Because the Huskers could never break the game open against Winthrop, starters like Rienk Mast (33), Sam Hoiberg (31), and Pryce Sandfort (30) all saw heavier workloads than Fred Hoiberg wanted. If NU can take care of business, it could keep some wear and tear off its go-to guys and provide quality minutes for the back end of its rotation.

Win the paint

One factor in Nebraska’s slow starts is when its 3-pointers don’t fall early. That was the case last time out vs. Winthrop, as the Huskers started just 4-of-19 from behind the arc. NU eventually got the game under control by not forcing perimeter shots and attacking the rim. While Nebraska must continue to get the ball in the paint today, that’s also been USC Upstate’s strength this season. The Spartans rank 57th nationally in 2-point field goal percentage (54.2%) and 64th in 2-point defense (53.0%). They’re also 38th in defensive block rate (13.9%), meaning points at the basket won’t come easily.

Quotable

“We’ve got to come out to a better start in this place. In Sioux Falls, we came out hot. In Kansas City, we came out hot. But in our four starts here (at home), we haven’t had a good first 10 minutes. That’s when we need to get our fans on our back … So we need to make a hustle play, to get something going early in the game to let our fans – they keep showing up, and we really appreciate it. But we’ve got to give them something to cheer for early in games.”

-Junior guard Cale Jacobsen on Nebraska needing to get out to faster starts at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Prediction

Nebraska (-24.5) 90, USC Upstate 68

Robin’s season record: 7-0

Vs. the spread: 6-1

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